African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 054-058, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bottleneck investigation of difficulties confronting sexual and regenerative wellbeing and human immunodeficiency infection (HIV) administrations combination in Southwestern Nigeria

Odumegwu E. Abiola

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Delta State University, Abraka, Abraka, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 2 January, 2015

Abstract 

Services integration ensures easy access to multiple services in a cost effective way. Integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services is poor in Nigeria. Removing bottlenecks to successful integration has been of high programmatic priority most especially in resource poor settings. This study determined bottlenecks to effective SRH/HIV services integration in Osun State in Southwestern Nigeria. This study combined descriptive cross sectional and retrospective study designs by collecting validated routine data on SRH/HIV integration from 100 randomly selected health care facilities. Research instruments for descriptive data collection were semi structured self administered questionnaires for health care workers, and exit interviews for patients using a designed checklist. Data was analyzed using a combination of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel software(s). The study found that only 31.9% of the health facilities had been trained on SRH/HIV integration, 42.1% of the health facilities were providing services within reach of the communities served, while 32.4% said they regularly complete the integrative referral process. Using the World Bank model of the bottlenecks analysis (BNA) process, three major bottlenecks to SRH/HIV services integration were determined. These include inadequate capacity building and poor access to SRH/HIV integrated services on the supply side. On the demand side, the major bottleneck identified was poor continuous utilization of services. Commodity challenges, poor initial utilization and poor quality of services were not among the leading bottlenecks identified. Several reasons were given as causes of these bottlenecks. Circumventing identified bottlenecks would strengthen SRH/HIV integration in order for patients to benefit from the two services simultaneously. All efforts should be geared towards removing these evidence based bottlenecks.

Key words: Sexual and reproductive health/ human immunodeficiency virus (SRH/HIV) integration, bottlenecks analysis (BNA), health facilities, Osun State, Nigeria.

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research Vol. 3 (1), pp. 045-053, January, 2015.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Male circumcision and HIV infection in Bukoba urban district, Kagera region, Tanzania

Gasto Frumence¹, Gideon Kwesigabo², Japhet Killewo², Sabrina Moyo³, Maria Emmelin⁴ and Lennarth Nystrom⁵

¹Department of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65454, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

²Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

³Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

⁴ Department of Clinical Sciences, Social Medicine and Global Health, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden.

⁵Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden.

E-mail:[email protected]

Accepted 01 August, 2014.

Abstract 

Kagera is one of the 22 regions of Tanzania, which has witnessed a decline in HIV prevalence from 24% in 1987 to 4.7% in 2009 in the urban district of Bukoba. The aim of this study was to study the association between male circumcision and HIV infection in an urban district with an observed decline in HIV prevalence. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 1497 males. The HIV testing was performed using enzyme-linked immunosobent assay (ELISA) antibody detection tests. Using logistic and multivariate regression analysis we assessed the associations between HIV status and prior circumcision while taking other risk factors into account. Individuals who were uncircumcised were almost two times more likely to be HIV positive compared to individuals who were circumcised (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.9). This association remained statistically significant even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, marital status, occupation, level of education, condom use and number of sexual partners (OR=1.7, 95 % CI:1.03-2.6). The study concludes that male circumcision has a significant protective effect against HIV infection and that policy makers should strengthen existing male circumcision programmes to prevent new HIV infections.

Key words: Male circumcision, HIV infection, Kagera, Tanzania. 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research Vol. 3 (1), pp. 041-044, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Social experience of HIV infected Female Sex Workers in Abidjan

Kra O¹, Kadiané NJ¹, Koné D¹, Aba YT¹, Ouattara B³ and Bissagnéné E².

¹Department of Public Health and Infectiology, Alassane Ouattara University, Bouaké, Ivory Coast.

²Department of Infectious Diseases, Cocody University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

³Department of Internal Medicine, Alassane Ouattara University, Bouaké, Ivory Coast.

Accepted 09 December, 2014

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract 

HIV infection is a major Health issue in Africa and Sex Workers (SW) are part of its spreading agents.The aim of this study is to describe the Social experience of HIV infected Female Sex workers (SW) followed up at “Clinique Confiance” in Abidjan in view of improving the prevention strategies of this disease. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study conducted from November 01, through December 31, 2010. The study included 100 HIV infected SW. Their mean age was 34±4.5 years [16 years- 52 years]. HIV screening was conducted on a voluntary basis in 76% of the cases. Upon announcement of their HIV screening results, 40% of SW presented psychological trauma, 30% burst into tear and 3% evoked suicide. 92% of SW were not feeling different from people in their neighbourhood. The desire of giving birth to a child was manifested by 70% of SW but the sexual partner was only informed in 14% of the cases. 87% continued their activity with the systematic use of condoms in 90% of the cases. HIV infected female SW live with their seropositivity without embarrassment but in precarious conditions. Their desire for maternity exposes their regular sexual partners to HIV infection.

Key words: Abidjan, female, HIV infection, Social experience, Sex Workers. 

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research Vol. 2 (2), pp. 035-040, September, 2014.© International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Knowledge and attitudes of registered Nurses towards HIV-positive patients in a rural under-resourced Hospital

N. Gedu and N. Tshotsho

Department of Nursing Science, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 July, 2014.

Abstract 

A quantitative descriptive study design was used to determine the knowledge and attitude of registered nurses towards AIDS patients at a rural hospital where nurses were the main careers. Data were collected from a sample of 109 using a structured self-administered questionnaire and was analyzed using the SPSS 17.0. 88% and 62% of the nurses knew that the main modes of transmission of the virus were sexual intercourse and mother to child; 96%, 93% knew that other modes of transmission were breast feeding and blood transfusion. 85%, 80%, 82%, 74%, 73%, knew that the virus was not transmitted through sharing of cups, mosquito bites, contact with urine, coughing and sneezing. The majority of nurses had a negative attitude as they agreed that patients deserve punishment, should not be admitted, should be isolated, their beds should be marked, patients’ relatives to be notified of their status without their consent and that they would not to care for such patients. A minority agreed that patients were not responsible for their illness, did not deserve punishment, and that they would assist with the delivery of the patients’ babies. Nurses in rural hospitals should be very knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and to adopt positive attitude.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS, professional nurse, knowledge, attitude, rural hospital.

African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research Vol. 2 (1), pp. 026-034, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Are low economic status and gender inequality a driving factor for increased HIV and AIDS vulnerability among women? Evidence from Sudan

Salwa Muddthir Ismail¹ Fatimah Kahri² Amar Abobakre Eisa³ and Samah Elsir⁴

¹Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

²Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

³Hematology Department, University of Medical Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.

⁴International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nairobi, Kenya.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 30 December, 2013

Abstract

To examine whether poverty along with its associated factors; low economic status and gender inequality, may predispose women in Sudan to an increased vulnerability to HIV infection. We employed data collected by the Sudan Household Health Survey in 2010. The analysis is restricted to 500 women of reproductive age (15 - 49 years). The proposed model was tested and modified using structural equation modelling. About 60% of the respondents had never acquired formal education and some had received education at primary school level with slightly less than 50% having knowledge on condom use. About 45.5% reported that their husbands were in committed or casual relationships with other women. The results confirmed a direct positive relationship between poverty and HIV, where the regression weight for poverty in the prediction of HIV is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level (less than 0.001). The results add to the growing evidence that poverty and lack of empowerment place women at risk of contracting HIV. The key message for main actors in HIV sector in Sudan is to extend efforts in a manner that creates a balance between implementation of prevention and treatment interventions, without compromising vulnerability of women.

Key Words: HIV and AIDS, Sudan, Socio- economic Status, Gender Inequality, SEM, Vulnerability, SHHS.

Accepted 30 September, 2013

Abstract

The largest source of HIV infection in children is mother-to-child transmission. Lack of men involvement deprives women of their partners care and support in coping with HIV infection, in taking antiretroviral therapy and making appropriate infant feeding choices. Thus, this study assessed the level of male involvement and associated factors in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling from 15^th March to 30^th April 2013. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data.  Data were collected from 274 respondents. The data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi Info 6.0 then exported and analyzed using SPSS 16.0. One hundred ninety eight (72.26%) of the respondents scored above seven on a 14-point scale of measurement for male involvement. Male involvement was found to have a statistically significant association with self-employment (AOR= 0.36, 95%CI: 0.16-0.84), daily laborer (AOR= 0.14, 95%CI: 0.06-0.36), moderate knowledge about PMTCT (AOR= 4.4, 95%CI: 1.9-10.0), good knowledge about PMTCT (AOR= 3.2, 95%CI: 1.29-7.9) and moderate programmatic factors (AOR= 10, 95%CI: 2.0-56.0). The level of male partner involvement was 198 (72.26%). Information on PMTCT coupled with male-friendly PMTCT services should be provided to the public.

Key words: Male involvement, PMTCT, HIV/AIDS, Ethiopia, HIV/AIDS.