African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-010, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive information, motivation, self-efficacy and depression with sexual risk behaviors among male freelance laborers

Nguyen Van Huy^1,2*, Michael P. Dunne², Joseph Debattista³, Nguyen Tran Hien^1,4 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 April, 2020

Abstract

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 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Decrement table and the estimation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mortality rate with an application to hemophilia-associated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Gurprit Grover and Dulumoni Das*

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

Accepted 20 April, 2020

Abstract

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.

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Are HIV positive women who have sex with women (WSW) an unrecognized and neglected HIV risk group in South Africa?

Allanise Cloete*, Nadia Sanger and Leickness C. Simbayi

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

Accepted 10 April, 2020

Abstract

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 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Upregulation of interleukin-27 expression is correlated with higher CD4+ T cell counts in treatment of naive human immunodeficiency virus-infected Chinese

Lai He^2#, Jin Zhao^1,2#, Yong-Xia Gan¹, Lin Chen^1* and Ming-Liang He^2,3*

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 16 January, 2020

Abstract

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 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Addressing the special needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs): A case study in Kien Svay district, Kandal province, Cambodia

Sok Serey¹*, Dy Many², Meas Sopheak³, Thau Sokkalyan³, Sam Ath Sela³, Ly Chanravuth⁴ and Kheng Sophal³

¹Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia.

²ActionAid-Cambodia, Cambodia.

³Positive Women of Hope Organization (PWHO), Cambodia.

⁴National AID Authority (NAA), Cambodia.

Accepted 12 January, 2020

Abstract

The impact mitigation for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) has continued to be prioritized as an immediate measure and action which is clearly stated in a newly-launched comprehensive National Strategic Plan III (2011 - 2015). With an effort of the national response, OVCs have gained wider access to health services but only very little access to social supports such as educational and economic development. In a detailed study of HIV impacts and responses to OVCs in Kien Svay district of Kandal province, Cambodia, it was found that educational and economic development is the only way out to breaking a poverty cycle of OVCs and of their families. Since the educational and economic development support needs high and long-term investment, the government plays a very important role in coordinating and launching a nation-wide scheme with the insurance of sufficient funding.

Key words: Orphans, vulnerable children, Kien Svay district, Kandal province, Cambodia.

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2020. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of combination therapy of haart and α-zam herbal preparation for HIV infection in rats

Onifade A. A.^1,4*, Jewell A. P.¹, Okesina A. B.², Yong K.³, Ojezele M.⁴, Nwanze J. C.⁴, Saka G. O.⁴, Sule W. F.², Aladekamika S. T.⁵ and Ajao A.⁴

¹Faculty of Health and Social Care, St George’s University of London and Kingston University, London.

²Osun state University, Osogbo, Nigeria.

³Haematology Department, University College, London, UK.

⁴Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology Departments, College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada, Edo state, Nigeria.

⁵Morbid Anatomy Department, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 January, 2020

Abstract

It is not uncommon seeing patients taking orthodox and herbal remedies concurrently for the same disease. The concern of many health practitioners is the safety of such combination therapy especially when there is a possibility of adverse drug reaction as a result of drug-drug interaction. This study focussed on drug interactions of α-zam  (herbal antiretroviral drug) when combined with lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) using an animal model. Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (10 rats per group) and were administered with 400 mg/kg ( α-zam ), 800 mg/kg ( α-zam ), 400 mg/kg ( α-zam ) +HAART, 800 mg/kg ( α-zam ) +HAART and normal saline. All administration was done once daily orally via canula to the 4 different groups respectively with the 5th group as control for 6 days. All wistar rats in all groups were observed daily for change in behaviour. On the 7th day, all rats were bled via retro-orbital plexus under light diethyl ether anaesthesia. The blood samples were analysed for haematological (haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet and lymphocyte counts) and biochemical (electrolytes, urea, creatinine, lipid profile, liver and renal functions tests) parameters. Some organs were also harvested for histological examinations. There was neither mortality nor behavioural abnormality observed in all the drug administered rats. There were some mild atrophic changes in liver and kidney with hyper-cellularity of bone marrow but no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) were found in all blood (haematological and biochemical) parameters in rat groups administered combination therapy (herbal concoction+ HAART). It was concluded that the combined administration of α-zam  and HAART (lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine) did not cause any significant adverse drug reaction. Rather beneficial effects were observed in amelioration of side-effects associated with the herbal concoction and orthodox anti-viral medicines.

Key words: Combination therapy, HAART,  α-zam herbal remedy.