Trends in HIV prevalence from 2008 to 2012 among young adults in Port Harcourt,Nigeria

BackgroundThe pandemic of HIV lines amongst the utmost infectious disease menaces in antiquity. HIV remains a problem worldwide and it''s a grave health snags in developing nations particularly in Nigeria.ObjectiveThis study focused on “trends in HIV reporting from 2008 to 2012 among young adults in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.MethodsSecondary data were collected from BMSH, Port Harcourt using a Performa specifically intended for this determination. Socio-demographic data for the subjects were recovered from coded patients'' medical records kept at BMSH. The data generated was exposed to Fisher''s Exact Test.ResultsThe study showed that a total of 3081 HIV-positive cases were reported between 2008 and 2012. The HIV trend were not well defined, it peaked in 2009(36.6%) and 2008(32.8%) and a decrease in 2011(16.6%), 2012(8.3%) and 2010(5.7%). A 3.8% increase was observed between 2008 and 2009 and 30.9% decrease between 2009 and 2010. However, the prevalence seemed to stabilize between 2009 and 2012. HIV patterns among various age-groups is not well-defined, it rose with increasing age and peaked at 26–30 years (35.7%) after which it declined. Sex differences (P<0.05) in the trend was observed. Males ages 26–30 years showed uniform pattern with an increasing trend while 36–40 years showed decreasing trend except in 2009(34.1%). Females ages 26–30 years showed uniform pattern with an increasing trend from 2008(21.7%) to 2010(41.9%) and decreased from 41.9% (2010) to 36.5%(2012). The low HIV prevalence in 2010 could be attributed to the fact that the proportion of centers giving ART enlarged from 2005 to date. Health care facilities providing HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services also increased.ConclusionThe long decades fight against HIV especially in Rivers State is making progress, though an unstable one. The observed increase in years with high HIV prevalences calls for an intensified focus of intervention.     

HIV单阳家庭未接受抗病毒药物治疗的原因调查

目的了解艾滋病病毒（HIV）单阳家庭未接受抗病毒治疗的原因。方法选择河南、广西、云南和新疆部分县区作为调查现场,在2012年2-8月,通过问卷调查,了解2011年1-12月期间有过随访记录的单阳家庭阳性方未治疗的原因。结果 4个省12个地区共调查单阳家庭阳性方3192例,其中11例为重复报告病例,实际调查3181例,平均年龄为（39.9±12.5）岁。未治疗的原因主要有：＂因CD^＋_4T淋巴细胞水平较高,认为无需治疗＂的占17.6%（560/3181）,＂调查对象不在本地＂的占12.8%（407/3181）,＂担心信息泄露后遭遇歧视＂的占9.6%（305/3181）,以及其他,如配偶未告知也是未能接受治疗的重要原因。结论积极转变治疗观念,加强对医务人员治疗咨询能力的培训,强化配偶告知和配偶检测工作,提高HIV单阳家庭的治疗覆盖率,减少家庭内的传播。     

Personal barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence: case studies from a rural Uganda prospective clinical cohort

Background

Although good adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential for successful treatment outcomes, some patients may have specific personal barriers to ART adherence.

Objectives

To study specific personal barriers to ART adherence.

Methods

Quantitative data on patients'' health status, ART adherence, CD4 cell counts and viral loads were collected, and qualitative data on life experiences of five patients with poor ART outcomes and adherence were also collected.

Results

Out of 35 patients with poor immunological and virological ART outcomes, 17 (49%) also had poor ART adherence. Patient 1 had no living child and did not disclose her HIV serostatus to her spouse because she wanted to have a child. Patient 2 was an orphan with neither social nor family support. Patient 3 stopped ART when she conceived, returned to the study clinic when pregnant again and was sickly. She was switched to second-line ART with satisfactory outcomes. Patient 4, a 14 year old orphan had missed ART for 2 months when his treatment supporter was away. Patient 5 aged 66 years stopped ART which he blamed for his erectile dysfunction.

Conclusion

ART adherence counselling should target specific personal barriers to ART adherence like: lack of family support, health and sexual life concerns, desire to have children and family instability.     

Introduction of the ART approach in Egypt: Intentions,clinical effects and perceived barriers. A cohort study

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the effect of the introduction of ART in Upper-Egypt and assess the participating General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) opinions, intentions, expectations and experiences regarding barriers related to using ART. Methods. Thirty-five GDPs were selected and trained on ART for 5 days. Knowledge assessments were done immediately before and after the training, using a questionnaire. Regular evaluation and assessment data were collected after 6 and 12 months, through questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions. Clinical data in government and private clinics were collected, using clinical record-forms. GDPs' opinions, intentions, expectations and experiences regarding barriers related to ART were assessed, through questionnaires, at the start and after 1 year. The control group comprised 35 other GPDs. Results. At the start, the most GDPs were intended to make ART restorations. After 1 year 65% and 97% actually made ART restorations in their government and private clinics, respectively. The barriers faced by the GDPs to making ART restorations in the government clinics were mainly unavailability of suitable restoration material and of hand instruments. After 1 year post-training, ART restorations constituted 41% of the total plastic restorations made. Finally, the majority of GDPs believe that ART is suitable for use in their government and private practices. Conclusion. All participating GDPs intended to introduce ART in their government and private clinics. They successfully introduced this technique in their private clinics but, owing to the unavailability of suitable instruments and restoration materials, failed to do so in the government clinics. They liked the simplicity of the technique.     

Growth patterns and anaemia status of HIV‐infected children living in an institutional facility in India

Objective  To understand the health status of HIV orphans in a well‐structured institutional facility in India. Method  Prospective longitudinal analysis of growth and anaemia prevalence among these children, between June 2008 and May 2011. Results  A total of 85 HIV‐infected orphan children residing at Sneha Care Home, Bangalore, for at least 1 year, were included in the analysis. Prevalence of anaemia at entry into the home was 40%, with the cumulative incidence of anaemia during the study period being 85%. At baseline, 79% were underweight and 72% were stunted. All children, irrespective of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, showed an improvement in nutritional status over time as demonstrated by a significant increase in weight (median weight‐for‐age Z‐score: ?2.75 to ?1.74, P < 0.001) and height Z‐scores (median height‐for‐age Z‐score: ?2.69 to ?1.63, P < 0.001). Conclusion  These findings suggest that good nutrition even in the absence of ART can bring about improvement in growth. The Sneha Care Home model indicates that the holistic approach used in the Home may have been helpful in combating HIV and poor nutritional status in severely malnourished orphaned children.     

Preservation of sperm of cancer patients: extent of use and pregnancy outcome in a tertiary infertility center

Sperm cryopreservation is the best modality to ensure future fertility for males diagnosed with cancer. The extent to which cryopreserved sperm is actually used for impregnation, the fertility treatment options that are available and the success rates of these treatments have not been investigated in depth. The medical records of 682 patients who cryopreserved sperm cells due to cancer treatment were analyzed. Seventy of these patients withdrew their frozen sperm for fertility treatments over a 20-year period (most within the first 4 years after cryopreservation). Sperm quality of different malignancies and outcomes of assisted reproduction treatment (ART) for pregnancy achievement in relation to the type of treatment and the type of malignancy were evaluated. The results showed that the rate of using cryo-thawed sperm from cancer patients for fertility treatments in our unit was 10.3%. Sperm quality indices differed between different types of malignancies, with the poorest quality measured in testicular cancer. Conception was achieved in 46 of the 184 ART cycles (25%), and resulted in 36 deliveries. The use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) methodology yielded a significantly higher pregnancy rate (37.4%) than intrauterine insemination (IUI; 11.5%) and was similar to other groups of infertile couples using these modalities. In vitro fertilization (IVF) failed to produce pregnancies. In conclusion, the rate of use of cryopresseved sperm in cancer patients is relatively low (10.3%). Achievement of pregnancies by ICSI presents the best option but when there are enough stored sperm samples and adequate quality, IUI can be employed. Cryopreservation is nevertheless the best option to preserve future fertility potential and hope for cancer patients.     

体外受精/卵胞质内单精子显微注射-胚胎移植技术出生的学龄期儿童内分泌状况的随访研究

目的:探讨通过体外受精/卵胞质内单精子显微注射-胚胎移植(IVF/ICSI-ET)技术出生的学龄期儿童内分泌状况是否与同年龄段自然受孕出生儿童存在差异。方法:选择通过IVF/ICSI-ET出生的6~11岁学龄期儿童(IVF/ICSI组)87例,检测其代谢及内分泌情况,并随机抽取同年龄段自然受孕出生儿童(NC组)74例作为对照。结果:IVF/ICSI组平均血红蛋白浓度(MCHC)(334.59±10.17 g/L vs 330.74±13.58 g/L)、血糖水平(4.57±0.33 mmol/L vs 4.45±0.27 mmol/L)均高于NC组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。红细胞数、白细胞数、血小板数、平均红细胞体积(MCV)、红细胞平均血红蛋白量(MCH)、三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)、促甲状腺素(TSH)、空腹胰岛素(0 h INS)及空腹生长激素(0 h GH)组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。对影响MCHC的因素进行多重线性回归,是否为双胎、儿童身高对MCHC有影响;对影响血糖的因素进行多重线性回归,结果是否为试管婴儿、儿童性别、身高对血糖有影响。结论:IVF/ICSI-ET出生儿童内分泌状况与自然妊娠出生儿童无明显差异,空腹血糖(0 h GLU)水平高于自然妊娠出生儿童,但均在正常范围内。