African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the Quality of Antiretroviral Therapy Services: A Patient-Centered Study in a Sokoto Tertiary Hospital

Oche, M. O.^1,2*, Raji, M. O.^1,2, Kaoje, A. U.^1,2, Gana, G.², Ango, J. T.², Okafoagu, N.², Adamu, H.^1,2, Oladigbolu, R. A.² and Umar, A. S.¹

¹Department of Community Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
²Department of Community Health Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 November, 2025

Patient satisfaction towards services has become a tool to gain attention and value amongst the patients as well as health care providers. Satisfied patients are more likely to comply with prescribed treatment and advice from the doctors; they are also more likely to return for additional care especially for those on long term treatment like human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). This study aims to assess the satisfaction of people living with HIV/AIDS with services provided at anti-retroviral therapy centre in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional design carried out in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in November, 2012. A total of 257 respondents were recruited into the study using systematic sampling. A set of semi structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. Most of the respondents were females, Hausa/Fulani, HIV stage 2 disease and had been on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) between 2 to 5 years. They were generally satisfied with most of the services rendered by the clinic. Dissatisfaction was expressed on only 3 components of the clinic services, home visits, the adherence unit and availability of drugs. The binary logistic regression model was able to distinguish between respondents who reported and those that have not reported satisfaction with the services of the centre; P < 0.005. Though our study shows most of the respondents were generally satisfied with services, there is still need for improvement of services in some areas where the patients showed dissatisfaction. There is a need to maintain high standards in all areas of services provided to ensure that patient optimize need to utilize the services and improve their general wellbeing.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), patient satisfaction, antiretroviral treatment, people living with HIV/AIDS.
 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pattern and Prevalence of Ocular Morbidity Among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART

Azonobi Richard Ifeanyi¹*, Udoye Ezenwa², Tebepah Tarilah¹ and Opubiri Ibeinmo R.¹

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Nigeria.

²Department of Anatomical Pathology, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 October, 2025

The pattern of ocular manifestation of human immune deficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection in Bayelsa state, Nigeria is presently unknown. In order to effectively control HIV/AIDS infection in the state, it is important to know the ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection in this locality. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the eye manifestation of HIV infection in patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). A descriptive study was carried out on all consecutive HIV infected patients including those with the advanced stage of the disease. They were all receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy at the “Heart to Heart” clinic of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH). The study took place over a period of 16 months. A detailed medical history followed by a comprehensive ocular examination was carried out on each patient, and the findings were recorded. A total of 150 HIV positive patients were examined during the period of this study. They were 57 males and 93 females, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Twenty one patients with ages ranging from 8 to 66 years old presented with ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection. They had a mean age of 41.48 years old (standard deviation (SD) ± 13.98). The prevalence of ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection was found to be 14% (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.4 to 19.6). HIV related microvasculopathy and uveitis (each 24%) were the commonest ocular manifestation in this population followed by retrobulbar optic neuritis (19.2%) and Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (9.6%). HIV related microvasculopathy, uveitis and retrobulbar optic neuritis were responsible for over 2/3 of ocular manifestation. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, cytomegalovirus retinitis and conjunctiva microvasculopathy were rare findings.

Key words: human immune deficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), disease, ocular, highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), tertiary, eye centre.
 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Understanding the Interplay Between HIV Prevention Strategies and Mental Health in Influencing Sexual Behavior Among Male Laborers

Nguyen Van Huy1,2*, Michael P. Dunne2, Joseph Debattista3, Nguyen Tran Hien1,4 and Dao Thi Minh An1

1Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 01 Ton That Tung Str, Dong Da Dist,
Hanoi, Vietnam.
2School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
3Brisbane Sexual Health and HIV Service, MetroNorth Health Service District, Australia.
4National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Vietnam.

Accepted 11 December, 2024

The waves of rural-urban migration are increasingly growing in many developing countries, including Vietnam. This migratory process, whether voluntary or not, may result in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to both those who migrate and those who receive migrants. Coupled with this process, is the experience of depression that may facilitate risk behaviors for HIV. However, there has been little research concerning this dimension. This study examined self-reported risk behaviors and factors associated among 450 male freelance laborers in Hanoi, Vietnam. Risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV was high among these men. One third reported having intercourse with commercial sex workers and one quarter had casual sex partners. One in every 12 men reported homosexual or bisexual behavior. These men on average had 3 partners within the preceding year, and condom use was inconsistent. These men have limited HIV knowledge and only moderate motivation and perceived behavioral skills for protective behavior. Although mobility was not associated with sexual risk behavior, three elements of IMB (information-motivation-behavioral skills) model and depression associated with this process were a robust predictor of sexual behavior. Men who are better informed, motivated, display higher self-efficacy and less depressed are more likely to alter their risk behavior. The study highlights an important need for HIV-related information, motivation, self-efficacy, depression and risk behavior change.

Key words: Vietnam, freelance laborer, human immunodeficiency virus /acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model, depression, sexual behavior, sexual risk behavior.
 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interleukin-27 Expression and CD4+ T Cell Counts in Treatment-Naive Chinese HIV Infection

Lai He2#, Jin Zhao1,2#, Yong-Xia Gan1, Lin Chen1* and Ming-Liang He2,3*

1Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
2Faculty of Medicine, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care;
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
3Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong

Kong, China.

Accepted 6 January, 2025

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global health problem and causes a huge number of deaths each year. Interleukin-27 (IL-27), which is composed of Epstein Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) protein and p28 protein, inhibits HIV replication in vitro. However, the status of IL27 and its relationship with CD4+ T cell counts in vivo in treatment -naïve HIV infected individuals has not yet investigated. We recruited 108 healthy and 120 HIV-infected but treatment-naive Chinese individuals to participate this study in the last two years. We determined the IL-27 titers in all the participants by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and measured the CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-infected individuals by using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) assays. We showed that IL -27 titers were significantly elevated in HIV-infected individuals as compared to HIV negative healthy controls (612 ± 355 pg/ml vs 413 ± 230 pg/ml; P < 0.001). We also showed a significant positive correlation between plasma IL-27 titers and CD4+ T cell counts (r = 0.206, P = 0.024) in HIV-infected individuals. These findings suggest that the elevated plasma IL -27 levels may play important role in slowing down the CD4+ T cell declining in HIV-infected individuals and the process of AIDS disease.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, interleukin-27, CD4+ T cell counts.
 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

HIV Among Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW) in South Africa: Challenging Assumptions and Addressing Neglect

Allanise Cloete*, Nadia Sanger and Leickness C. Simbayi

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Private Bag X 9182, Cape Town, South Africa.

Accepted 30 November, 2024

South Africa is home to the largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Of this population gender non-conforming women like women who have sex with women (WSW) remain undocumented. This study is an attempt to fill this information gap as it describes the demographic, health and sexual behaviours of 72 HIV positive WSW. The data indicate that WSW are not protected from HIV because of their same sex desires. These findings suggest the need to include WSW as a most at risk group for both HIV prevention and treatment programmes.

Key words: Women who have sex with women (WSW), lesbians, HIV positive, corrective rape, female-to-female transmission of HIV, South Africa.
 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2736-1748 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Estimation of HIV/AIDS Mortality in Hemophiliacs: A Decrement Table Approach

Gurprit Grover and Dulumoni Das*

Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Accepted 30 December, 2024

The human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic represents the most serious public health problem in India. There is no denial of the enormity of the problem. The available surveillance data clearly indicates that HIV is prevalent in almost all parts of the country. Hence, knowledge of HIV incidence is important to formulate sensible strategies aimed at controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The objective of this paper is to estimate the probability of dying in the stage of HIV (Grover and Das, 2005) in a year without passing to the state of AIDS (HIV mortality rate). Secondly, a double decrement life table approach (Biswas et al., 2006) has been followed for a cohort of hemophiliacs who were at risk of infection with the AIDS virus. This device consists essentially of two decrements: HIV positive hemophiliacs either depart from the AIDS-free group by eventually developing AIDS or by dying from other causes; those who eventually develop AIDS either remain alive with it until they die from it or die from other causes. The distribution of incubation period of AIDS is based on a two-stage parametric regression model (Brookmeyer and Goedert, 1989), proposed for the analysis of cohort of hemophiliacs.
Key words: HIV mortality rate, incubation period, two-stage parametric regression model, double decrement life table, sero-positivity.