The role of electronic medical records in improving health care quality: A quasi-experimental study

The Teleprimary Care—Oral Health Clinical Information System (TPC-OHCIS) is an updated electronic medical record (EMR) that has been applied in Malaysian primary healthcare. Recognizing the level of patient satisfaction following EMR implementation is crucial for assessing the performance of health care services. Hence, the main objective of this study was to compare the level of patient satisfaction between EMR-based clinics and paper-based clinics.The study was a quasi-experimental design that used a control group and was conducted among patients in 14 public primary healthcare facilities in the Seremban district of Malaysia from May 10, to June 30, 2021. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the validated Short-Form Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, which consisted of 7 subscales. All data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.A total of 321 patients consented to participate in this study, and 48.9% of them were from EMR clinics. The mean score for the communication subscale was the highest at 4.08 and 3.96 at EMR-adopted clinics and paper-based record clinics. There were significant differences in general satisfaction and communication subscales, with higher patient satisfaction found in clinics using EMR.With the utilization of EMR, patient satisfaction and communication in delivering healthcare services have improved.     

HIV/AIDS patient satisfaction with a food assistance programme in Sofala province,Mozambique

Food insecurity is one of the main factors affecting access and adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) in middle- and low-income countries. To mitigate this problem, food assistance interventions are being integrated in ART programmes. As evidence of effectiveness of these interventions has been mixed, evaluating their implementation is important. We measured the satisfaction of HIV/AIDS patients with a food assistance programme in Sofala province in Mozambique. This was an observational study that used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. HIV/AIDS patients receiving food assistance took part in focus group discussions (FDGs) and completed a semi-structured questionnaire about their opinions about the programme. Data were analysed using content and factor analysis, percentages of the maximum attainable scores (PMAS) and regression. Patients were satisfied with food assistance and rated it well above 60% of PMAS. Four factors were identified as underlying factors of satisfaction with food assistance. From these factors, patients were satisfied with 2, product availability and the distribution process, and rated these above 60%. They were dissatisfied with the other 2, quantity of products and the enrolment period, and rated these below 60%. From the four factors, only the distribution process was significantly associated with satisfaction with food assistance (p = 0.001). Satisfaction and the helpfulness of food assistance in adherence to ART, as perceived by patients, were significantly associated (p < 0.001). Patients were satisfied with food assistance. Programme managers should focus on the distribution process, quantity of products and enrolment period to further improve satisfaction of patients receiving food assistance.     

Spectrum of opportunistic and other parasites among HIV/AIDS patients attending a tertiary care hospital

ObjectiveTo determine the spectrum of opportunistic as well as non-opportunistic parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients.MethodsA total of 250 HIV sero-positive individuals are included in study. Among them, 76 clinical cases of diarrhea and 8 clinically suspected cases of toxoplasmosis were identified. Fresh stool samples were collected in a suitable container on three consecutive days and processed immediately for identification of oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli and Cyclospora. Blood sample was collected from suspected cases of toxoplasmosis and tested for antitoxoplasma immunoglobulin M antibodies using immunoComb Toxo IgM test. Estimation of CD4 counts was also done by flow cytometry from these patients.ResultsThe opportunistic parasites identified in total HIV sero-positive patients were Cryptosporidium spp. (20.8%) and Isospora belli (0.8%). While the non-opportunistic parasite identified were Entamoeba histolytica (4%), Giardia intestinalis (1.6%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.8%). Toxoplasmosis was identified in 2.4% HIV sero-positive patients.ConclusionsIncreasing prevalence of parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients suggests that simple steps such as drinking safe water, maintaining high level of environmental and personal hygiene and avoiding contact with contaminated soil are necessary to prevent the occurrence of these diseases in AIDS patients     

Pattern of linkage and retention in HIV care continuum among patients attending referral HIV care clinic in private sector in India

Continued engagement throughout the HIV care continuum, from HIV diagnosis through retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART), is crucial for enhancing impact of HIV care programs. We assessed linkage and retention in HIV care among people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled at a private HIV care clinic in Pune, India. Of 1220 patients, 28% delayed linkage after HIV diagnosis with a median delay of 24 months (IQR = 8–43). Younger people, women, low socioeconomic status, and those diagnosed at facilities other than the study clinic were more likely to delay linkage. Those with advanced HIV disease at diagnosis and testing for HIV due to HIV-related illness were linked to care immediately. Of a total of 629 patients eligible for ART at first CD4 count, 68% initiated ART within 3 months. Among those not eligible for ART, only 46% of patients sought subsequent CD4 count in time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with initial CD4 count of 350–500 cells/cu mm (OR: 2, 95% CI: 1.1–3.5) and >500 cells/cu mm (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2–3.7) were less likely to do subsequent CD4 test on time as compared to those with CD4 < 50 cells/cu mm. Among patients not eligible for ART, those having >12 years of education (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) were more likely to have timely uptake of subsequent CD4 count. Among ART eligible patients, being an unskilled laborer (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1–4.2) predicted lower uptake. The study highlights a long delay from HIV diagnosis to linkage and further attrition during pre-ART and ART phases. It identifies need for newer approaches aimed at timely linkage and continued retention for patients with low education, unskilled laborers, and importantly, asymptomatic patients.     

Comparison of satisfaction with care between two different models of HIV care delivery in St. Petersburg,Russia

Prior to 2010, medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS was provided at an outpatient facility near the center of St. Petersburg. Since then, HIV specialty clinics have been established in more outlying regions of the city. The study examined the effect of this decentralization of HIV care on patients’ satisfaction with care in clinics of St. Petersburg, Russia. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 418 HIV-positive patients receiving care at the St. Petersburg AIDS Center or at District Infectious Disease Departments (centralized and decentralized models, respectively). Face-to-face interviews included questions about psychosocial characteristics, patient's satisfaction with care, and clinic-related patient experience. Abstraction of medical records provided information on patients’ viral load. To compare centralized and decentralized models of care delivery, we performed bivariate and multivariate analysis. Clients of District Infectious Disease Departments spent less time in lines and traveling to reach the clinic, and they had stronger relationships with their doctor. The overall satisfaction with care was high, with 86% of the sample reporting high level of satisfaction. Nevertheless, satisfaction with care was strongly and positively associated with the decentralized model of care and Patient–Doctor Relationship Score. Patient experience elements such as waiting time, travel time, and number of services used were not significant factors related to satisfaction. Given the positive association of satisfaction with decentralized service delivery, it is worth exploring decentralization as one way of improving healthcare services for people living with HIV/AIDS.     

Alcohol use and its association with HIV risk behaviors among a cohort of patients attending HIV clinical care in Tanzania,Kenya, and Namibia

This article describes the frequency of alcohol use among HIV-positive patients attending clinical care in sub-Saharan Africa and explores the association between alcohol use, medication adherence, and sexual risk behavior. Data from 3538 patients attending an HIV clinic in Kenya, Tanzania, or Namibia were captured through interview and medical record abstraction. Participants were categorized into three drinking categories: nondrinkers, nonharmful drinkers, and harmful/likely dependent drinkers. A proportional odds model was used to identify correlates associated with categories of alcohol use. Overall, 20% of participants reported alcohol use in the past 6 months; 15% were categorized as nonharmful drinkers and 5% as harmful/likely dependent drinkers. Participants who reported missing a dose of their HIV medications [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.67, 2.49]; inconsistent condom use (AOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.79); exchanging sex for food, money, gifts, or a place to stay (AOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.32); and having a sexually transmitted infection symptom (AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.77) were more likely to be categorized in the higher risk drinking categories. This research highlights the need to integrate alcohol screening and counseling into the adherence and risk reduction counseling offered to HIV-positive patients as part of their routine care. Moreover, given the numerous intersections between alcohol and HIV, policies that focus on reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related risk behavior should be integrated into HIV prevention, care, and treatment strategies.     

Patient satisfaction in resident and attending ambulatory care clinics

OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare patient satisfaction with care in resident and attending physician internal medicine ambulatory care clinics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire derived from the Visit-Specific Satisfaction Questionnaire (VSQ) and Patient Satisfaction Index (PSI) distributed from March 1998 to May 1998. SETTING: Four clinics based at a university teaching hospital and the associated Veterans' Affairs (VA) hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighty-eight patients of 76 resident and 25 attending physicians. RESULTS: Patients of resident physicians at the university site were more likely to be African American, male, have lower socioeconomic status and have lower physical and mental health scores on the Short Form-12 than patients of university attendings. Patients of resident and attending physicians at the VA site were similar. In multivariate analyses, patients of university attending physicians were more likely to be highly satisfied than patients of university residents on the VSQ-Physician (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 7.8) and the PSI-Physician (OR, 10.1; 95% CI, 3.7 to 27.4) summary scores. Differences were not seen on the summary scores at the VA site. Two individual items displayed significant differences between residents and attendings at both sites: "personal manner (courtesy, respect, sensitivity, friendliness) of the doctor" (P 相似文献   

Effect of medical student teaching on patient satisfaction in a managed care setting

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect on patient satisfaction of medical student participation in care and the presence of medical student teaching. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Eight outpatient internal medicine departments of a university-affiliated HMO in Massachusetts. PATIENTS: Two hundred seven patients seen on teaching days (81 patients who saw a medical student-preceptor dyad and 126 patients who saw the preceptor alone), and 360 patients who saw the preceptor on nonteaching days. Five hundred (88%) of 567 eligible patients responded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen closed-response items on a written questionnaire, measuring satisfaction with specific dimensions of care and with care as a whole. Visit satisfaction was similar among patients on teaching and nonteaching days. Ninety-one percent of patients seeing a medical student, 93% of patients seeing the preceptor alone on teaching days, and 93% of patients on nonteaching days were satisfied or very satisfied with their visit; less than 2% of patients in each group were dissatisfied with their visit. Satisfaction on all measured dimensions of care was similar for patients seeing a medical student, patients seeing the preceptor alone on teaching days, and patients seeing the preceptor on nonteaching days. CONCLUSIONS: Medical student participation and the presence of medical student teaching had little effect on patient satisfaction. Concerns about patient satisfaction should not prevent managed care organizations from participating in primary care education. This work was supported by a grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. The work of Dr. Simon was supported by a National Research Service Award (T32 PE11001-09).     

Self-reported assessment of intraoral prostheses among patients attending the prosthodontic department in a dental institute in India

Aim:   This study was conducted to provide a patient assessment of intraoral prostheses among subjects who reported to the Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum.
Methods:   A nine-item self-designed closed-ended questionnaire was recorded followed by a clinical examination. Patients who reported in a period of 2 months and had at least one prosthesis with a duration of usage of at least 1 month were included for the study. Collected data was statistically analyzed using the χ²-test at a significance level of P  < 0.05.
Results:   The questionnaire was answered by 125 patients, 72 completely edentulous and 53 partially edentulous, with age ranging 16–84 years (mean age, 54.13 ± 17 years). There was a wide variation in the duration of usage of prostheses, ranging 3 months to 27 years. Statistically, a highly significant difference was found between age and duration of prostheses (χ² = 77.29, P  < 0.001), between the type of prostheses being used with age and opinion with existing prostheses. When opinion regarding existing prostheses was compared with sex, age and duration of prostheses being used, a statistically significant difference was found between opinion with existing prostheses and age, sex and duration of prostheses. Of the patients, 49.6% complained of loss of function, 14.4% of loose prostheses and 7.2% reported pain with the existing prostheses.
Conclusion:   Loss of function was the most common complaint with the existing prostheses among complete denture wearers. As the majority of the patients using fixed prostheses had no complaint with the prostheses, attention should be paid to preservation of natural teeth.     

Relationship satisfaction of HIV-positive Ugandan individuals with HIV-negative partners

Challenges of relational coping are well documented in the literature on couples and chronic illnesses, but there is significantly less research on the psychological aspects of couple relationships and HIV, particularly in international contexts. Coping with the uncertainty of illness progression, family planning, disclosure to friends and family, social isolation and stigma, fear of transmission, sexual intimacy, changes to social and physical functioning, and receiving and providing care pose special challenges for couples with discordant HIV statuses. This study examined the correlates of relationship satisfaction in Ugandan HIV-positive individuals seeking treatment at a community clinic. Relationship satisfaction of HIV-positive individuals was uniquely predicted by their couple identity and depression, underscoring the importance of mental and relational health in HIV/AIDS.     

Cigarette smoking among Chinese PLWHA: An exploration of changes in smoking after being tested HIV positive

Prevention and cessation of Tobacco use among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) represents a significant challenge for HIV/AIDS patient care in China and across the globe. Awareness of HIV-positive status may alter the likelihood for PLWHA smokers to change their smoking habit. In this study, we tested the risk enhancement and risk reduction hypotheses by assessing changes in cigarette smoking behavior among PLWHA after they received the positive results of their HIV tests. Cross-sectional survey data collected from a random sample of 2973 PLWHA in care in Guangxi, China were analyzed. Changes in cigarette smoking after receiving the HIV-positive test results, as well as the current levels of cigarette smoking were measured. Among the total participants, 1529 (51.7%) were self-identified as cigarette smokers, of whom 436 (28.9%) reduced smoking and 286 (19.0%) quit after receiving their HIV-positive test results. Among the quitters, 210 (73.9%) remained abstinent for a median duration of two years. There were also 124 (8.2%) who increased cigarette smoking. Older age, female gender, more education, and receiving antiretroviral therapy were associated with quitting. In conclusion, our study findings support the risk reduction and risk enhancement hypotheses. A large proportion of smoking PLWHA reduced or quit smoking, while a small proportion increased smoking. Findings of this study suggest that the timing when a person receives his or her HIV-positive test result may be an ideal opportunity for care providers to deliver tobacco cessation interventions. Longitudinal studies are indicated to verify the findings of this study and to support smoking cessation intervention among PLWHA in the future.     

Poverty indicators and mental health functioning among adults living with HIV in Delhi,India

Poor mental health functioning among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) has gained considerable attention particularly in low-income countries that disproportionately carry the global HIV/AIDS burden. Fewer studies, however, have examined the relationship between poverty indicators and mental health among PHLIV in India. Based on this cross-sectional study of 196 HIV-seropositive adults who received medical services at Shalom AIDS Project in Delhi, India, structural equation modeling and mediation analysis were employed to estimate the associations between poverty indices (household asset index, food security, unemployment, water treatment, sanitation), HIV-health factors (illness in the past 3 months, co-morbid medical conditions), and psychological distress. In the final model, ownership of fewer household assets was associated with higher levels of food insecurity, which in turn was associated with higher psychological distress. Also, the household asset index, food insecurity, and unemployment had a larger effect on psychological distress than new opportunistic infections. These findings build on increasing evidence that support concerted efforts to design, evaluate, and refine HIV mental health interventions that are mainstreamed with livelihood programming in high poverty regions in India.     

HIV/AIDS Stigma: Reliability and Validity of a New Measurement Instrument in Chennai, India

HIV/AIDS stigma is a frequently cited barrier to HIV prevention, including voluntary counseling and testing. A reliable and valid measurement instrument is critical to empirically assess the extent and effects of HIV/AIDS stigma. The paper reports the development and psychometric testing of an HIV/AIDS stigma scale among 200 men in India. The resulting 24-item scale and the four subscales had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha overall was 0.81; subscales were 0.86, 0.73, 0.72 and 0.76, respectively). The scale and distinct subscales suggest a valid and reliable measure for HIV/AIDS stigma in a setting with highly prevalent HIV risk behaviors.     

Acceptability and challenges of rapid ART initiation among pregnant women in a pilot programme,Cape Town,South Africa

Maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a critical intervention in the prevention-of-mother-to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. In South Africa, many HIV-infected pregnant women commence ART late in pregnancy, and as a result, the duration of ART prior to delivery is often insufficient to prevent vertical transmission. To address this, we designed an intervention for the rapid initiation of ART in pregnancy (RAP), where patient's ART preparation occurred during rather than before treatment commencement. Here we report on the acceptability and the challenges of the RAP programme. We conducted 7 key informant and 27 semi-structured interviews with RAP participants. Participants were purposefully selected based on ART-eligibility and stage in the pregnancy to post-partum continuum. Interviews were conducted in participants' home language by trained fieldworkers, with key informant interviews conducted by the study investigators. The data were analysed using a framework analysis approach. Rapid initiation in pregnancy was acceptable to the majority of programme participants and protection of the woman's unborn child was the primary motivation for starting treatment. The key barrier was the limited time to accept the dual challenges of being diagnosed HIV-positive and eligible for life-long ART. Truncated time also limited the opportunity for disclosure to others. Despite these and other barriers, most women found the benefits of rapid ART commencement outweighed the challenges, with 91% of women initiated onto ART starting the same day treatment eligibility was determined. Many participants and key informants identified the importance of counseling and the need to make an informed, independent choice on the timing of ART initiation, based on individual circumstances. Acceptance of ART-eligibility improved with time on the programme, however, as women's principal reason for initiating ART was protection of the unborn child, monitoring and supporting adherence during the post-partum period will be critical.     

Exploring the views and experiences of HIV positive patients treated for cancer: a systematic review of the literature

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to find out what is known about patients’ experiences of a dual diagnosis of HIV and cancer. We systematically searched the following databases; MEDLINE (Ovid Version); CINAHL Plus; PsycINFO and EMBASE from inception to June 2016 for studies that included patients with a dual diagnosis of cancer and HIV and focused on patient experiences. Studies with a focus on one illness rather than a dual diagnosis, those that focused on treatment strategies and medical management, epidemiology and pathology studies and comparison studies were all excluded. The full text of the included studies were reviewed. Information on location, sample size, study design and a narrative summary of findings were extracted using a standardised format. Studies were combined thematically. 1777 records were screened by title and abstract using the selection criteria described in the methods. Eight records were reviewed in depth in full text and seven selected as eligible. The selected studies suggest that a dual diagnosis of HIV and cancer has a powerful impact on individuals’ behaviour. The experience of stigma was a consistent factor in all patient accounts and the strategy of selective disclosure to access support reveals how patient agency can interplay with stigma. This is an area largely unexplored in the published literature; further research into patients’ experiences of a dual diagnosis of HIV and cancer will provide relevant knowledge in order to tailor and improve services.     

Time to occurrence,predictors, and patterns of opportunistic infections incidence among HIV-positive patients attending Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic of Salale University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: A retrospective cohort study

Opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV patients are infections that are more common or more severe as a result of HIV-mediated immunosuppression. The advances in the capacity of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have diminished the incidence of OIs. However, even in the ART era, HIV-related OIs continue to be major causes of hospitalization and mortality. Therefore, this study aims to identify time to occurrence, predictors, and patterns of OIs incidence among HIV-positive patients attending ART clinic of Salale University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1^st September 2016 and 1^st September 2021. All 419 patients diagnosed during the study period were recruited. Data were extracted from both patient medical records and ART logbooks. Stata-16 was used for data analysis. Follow-up time was calculated from the date of HIV diagnosis to the date of OIs occurrence or censoring. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify the predictors of OIs incidence. The total person-time of the follow-up was 8656 person-months of observation. During the follow-up time, 199 (47.49%) of the patients had developed OIs. The incidence rate of OIs was 23 (95%CI: 20, 26) per 1000 person-months of observation. The median OIs free survival time was 36 (95%CI: 31, 40) months. Predictors such as residence, cd4 category, baseline hemoglobin level, ART side effects, isoniazid preventive therapy, and chronic disease comorbidity were significantly predicted OIs incidence. The study area’s OIs incidence remained high, requiring prompt action. To reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with OIs, HIV-positive patients with the predictors of rural residence, low CD4 category, low baseline hemoglobin level, ART side effects, not taking IPT, and baseline chronic disease comorbidity necessitate close follow-up and monitoring. Thus, we recommend focused and evidence-informed strategies to address OIs burden and improve outcomes.     

The relation between health status changes and patient satisfaction in older hospitalized medical patients

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between two patient outcome measures that can be used to assess the quality of hospital care: changes in health status between admission and discharge, and patient satisfaction. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Subjects were 445 older medical patients (aged ≥70 years) hospitalized on the medical service of a teaching hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We interviewed patients at admission and discharge to obtain two measures of health status: global health and independence in five activities of daily living (ADLs). At discharge, we also administered a 5-item patient satisfaction questionnaire. We assessed the relation between changes in health status and patient satisfaction in two sets of analyses, that controlled for either admission or discharge health status. When controlling for admission health status, changes in health status between admission and discharge were positively associated with patient satisfaction (p values ranging from .01 to .08). However, when controlling for discharge health status, changes in health status were no longer associated with patient satisfaction. For example, among patients independent in ADLs at discharge, mean satisfaction scores were similar regardless of whether patients were dependent at admission (i.e., had improved) or independent at admission (i.e., remained stable) (79.6 vs 81.2, p=.46). Among patients dependent in ADLs at discharge, mean satisfaction scores were similar regardless of whether they were dependent at admission (i.e., remained stable) or independent at admission (i.e., had worsened) (74.0 vs 75.7, p=.63). These findings were similar using the measure of global health and in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with similar discharge health status have similar satisfaction regardless of whether that discharge health status represents stable health, improvement, or a decline in health status. The previously described positive association between patient satisfaction and health status more likely represents a tendency of healthier patients to report greater satisfaction with health care, rather than a tendency of patients who improve following an interaction with the health system to report greater satisfaction. This suggests that changes in health status and patient satisfaction are measuring different domains of hospital outcomes and quality. Comprehensive efforts to measure the outcomes and quality of hospital care will need to consider both patient satisfaction and changes in health status during hospitalization. Supported in part by grants from the National Institute on Aging (AG-10418-04) and the John A. Hartford Foundation (88277-3G). Dr. Covinsky was supported in part by a clinical investigator award from the National Institute on Aging (1K08AG00714). Dr. Chren was supported in part by a clinical investigator award from the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (K08AR01962). Dr. Landefeld is a Senior Research Associate and Dr. Rosenthal is a Research Associate, Health Service Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs.     

云南省某县村民艾滋病知识态度行为调查

目的 了解农村居民艾滋病知识、态度及行为,为宣传教育活动提供本底资料.方法 选择艾滋病病毒感染率较高的10个村,以15～49岁村民为调查对象,用问卷调查表收集有关艾滋病知识、态度及行为方面资料.结果 共调查448人,其中246人听说过AIDS,占54.9%.在听说过的人中,96.3%认为AIDS是可怕的疾病,72.8%认为自己不会感染HIV.三种传播途径的正确回答率为79.9%～88.2%.40.8%未婚者有婚前性行为.35.9%回答避孕套既可避孕又可预防HIV.仅8.9%使用过避孕套,其中82.4%使用的目的是避孕而非防病.不使用避孕套的主要原因是采用其它避孕措施及未想过和不知道使用.如果提供避孕套,仅24.9%的人愿意使用.结论 村民对艾滋病的认识比较低,应尽快加强预防艾滋病宣传教育和推广避孕套工作,以预防艾滋病从注射毒品人群向一般人群传播.     

Gender inequality and the risk of HIV among married couples in North India

This study investigated the distribution and determinants of HIV risks among married couples in North India. Gender inequality emerged as a potential driver of HIV risks in this region. Data collection took place in 2003 in a probability survey of 3385 couples living in India's most populous state – Uttar Pradesh – and Uttaranchal. Couples' analyses utilizing generalized estimating equations showed that compared with husbands, wives were less knowledgeable about HIV (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.27–0.36), more likely to consider themselves at risk for infection (OR = 6.86, 95% CI = 4.65–10.13), and less likely to feel that a wife had the right to refuse sex with her husband (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.44–0.58). The proportion of husbands reporting non-marital sex in the past year was 7.1% and transactional sex in the past year, 2.2%. Among their wives, 73.4% were unaware of their husbands' non-marital sexual behaviors and only 28.9% of husbands reported condom use during their last non-marital sexual encounter. Logistic regression analyses showed that husbands' alcohol use, husbands' mobility, and urban residence were positively associated with husbands' non-marital sexual behaviors adjusting for other covariates. The data demonstrate that HIV prevention programs among couples in North India should consider both sexual risks and gender inequalities which potentially fuel HIV spread in this region.     

四川省艾滋病定点抗病毒治疗机构HIV感染者个案管理情况调查

目的 调查四川省21个市州艾滋病定点抗病毒治疗(ART)机构个案管理情况.方法 采取便利抽样法,于2019年5-7月调查四川省21个市州598家艾滋病定点ART机构的个案管理情况及艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者的随访管理水平.结果 598家艾滋病定点ART机构参与艾滋病门诊随访工作的专职医生平均为0.55人,专职护士平均为...