ISSN 2736-1748
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full length Research paper
Awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS at booking among antenatal clinic attendees in Uyo, Nigeria
E. A. Bassey1*, F. Abasiubong2, U. Ekanem3 and A. M. Abasiatai1
1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, P. M. B. 1136, Uyo, Nigeria.
2Psychiatry and Community Health, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 July, 2020
Abstract
Sub-saharan Africa bears the major brunt of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and 10% of these infections are due to vertical or mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in the developed world have resulted in a dramatic decline in pediatric HIV/AIDS. A study of the awareness, knowledge and previous testing for HIV/AIDS among antenatal clinic attendees at the university of Uyo teaching hospital was carried out as a strategy to develop site specific counselling interventions for PMTCT, information was elicited from 263 women who booked for ante-natal care between September and December 2005 with the use of a self administered structured questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 26.9 ± 5.1 years, awareness of HIV/AIDS was high (95.8%) and general knowledge was good (86.7%), but with some misconceptions. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the educational status of the respondents (P = 0.031) but none with occupation (P = 0.877). 117 women (44.5%) had previously been screened for HIV but there was no statistically significant association between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and previous HIV testing (P = 0.194). To reduce the burden of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, adequate counselling should be given to all pregnant women. This should contain correct information on the mode of transmission of the virus, benefits of antiretroviral prophylaxis, other non drug interventions and proper infant feeding.
Key words: Awareness, knowledge, antenatal, HIV/AIDS, Uyo.
U. Ekanem and A. M. Abasiatai, E. A. Bassey*, F. Abasiubong
Page: 1 - 6
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-011, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Nurses’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS: Effects of a health education intervention on two nursing groups in Cairo University, Egypt
Eman Taher and Rehab Abdelhai*
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Accepted 13 April, 2020
Abstract
Information education and communication (IEC) programs are the most effective available approaches for combating the HIV pandemic especially among nurses. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS before and after an IEC intervention program. The study used a prospective interventional design that was conducted on two different nursing groups: post-graduate nursing staff (67 nurses) and undergraduate nursing students (73 students). A significant improvement in the general knowledge and perceptions score was observed (from 7.29 ± 1.2 to 8.01 ± 1.5 with P <0.001). The intervention also succeeded to improve the mode of transmission knowledge score significantly from 6.83 ± 0.9 to 7.21 ± 0.8 (P <0.001). Furthermore, the intervention significantly improved the prevention knowledge score. The main source of information was television (66.7%). Although favorable attitudes increased after the intervention it did not reach the desired level. A planned HIV/AIDS education program significantly improved the HIV/AIDS knowledge, and to a lesser extent the perceptions and attitudes toward patients with HIV/AIDS. Further structured education should be conducted emphasising the role of mass media.
Key words: HIV/AIDS, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes, health education intervention.
Eman Taher, Rehab Abdelhai*
Page: 1 - 11
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
No HIV infections despite high numbers of hepatitis B and C virus infections in Dutch prisoners
Imke Schreuder1*, Marianne A. B. van der Sande2,3, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus1, Charles A. B. Boucher1, John Pinxt4, Christian J. P. A. Hoebe5,7, Nicole H. T. M . Dukers-Muijrers5,7, Femke D. H. Koedijk2, Anneke Westerhof2, Esther A. Croes6 and Maaike G. van Veen2
1Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
2Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
3Julius Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
4Medical Department, the Geerhorst penitentiary, Sittard, Netherlands.
5Department of Infectious Diseases, South Limburg Public Health Service Geleen, Netherlands.
6Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands.
7Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University
Medical Centre, Netherlands.
Accepted 12 May, 2020
Abstract
International studies show high prevalences of blood-borne infections in prisoners but little is known about infectious diseases in Dutch prisoners. This study assessed the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in Dutch prisoners and contributing risk factors. A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted among male prisoners, using blood samples and questionnaires. Overall, 229 prisoners participated (77%). No prisoner was HIV seropositive. Nineteen prisoners (8.3%) were anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) positive, three of whom were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive. Fifty (22%) were anti-HBs positive, either after vaccination or previous infection. The prevalence of antibodies to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was 7.4%, of whom 4.8% was HCV-RNA positive. Over half of the prisoners reported drug use, 36% reported drug use in prison. The predictor for HBV was IDU (P<0.001); the predictors for HCV were higher age and injecting drug users (IDU) (P<0.05). Prevalences among injecting drug users (IDUs) were significantly higher than among non-IDUs (P<0.001). While we did not identify any HIV infected prisoners, the study showed that seroprevalences of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV infections among Dutch prisoners were up to twenty times higher than estimated for the Dutch general population. IDU was the most commonly reported route of transmission. Since only a minority of prisoners was immune to HBV, vaccination coverage in prisoners should be enhanced.
Key words: Epidemiology, blood-borne infection, hepatitis, HIV infection, injecting drug use, prison, seroprevalence.
Anneke We, Esther A. C and Maaike G, Albert D. M. E. O, John Pinxt, Imke S*, Christian J. P. A. Hoebe, Marianne A. B. van der S, Femke D. H. K, Charles A. B. Boucher, Nicole H. T. M . Dukers-Muijrers
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Secondary School Science Teachers and Learners in Namibia
Kazhila C. Chinsembu1*, Choshi D. Kasanda2, and Cornelia N. Shimwooshili-Shaimemanya2
1Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Namibia, Namibia.
2Faculty of Education, Department of Science, Mathematics, and Sports Education, P/Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
Accepted 16 July, 2020
Abstract
Namibia’s secondary school science teachers and learners are critical to the success of the country’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics renaissance project. However, due to the high prevalence of HIV, there are fears that they may succumb to AIDS. Despite the eminent threats of HIV/AIDS on science education, there are no specific data that speak to the impacts of HIV/AIDS on science teachers and learners. In this cross-sectional study, data on the perceptions of HIV/AIDS impacts were collected from 829 secondary school science learners and 61 science teachers located in 18 schools from six education regions. The results showed that the perceived death of secondary school science teachers due to putative HIV/AIDS illnesses was low. But the perceived mortality of science teachers due to AIDS-related conditions was significantly high in the Kavango and Omusati regions. Science learners perceived to be coping with HIV/AIDS exhibited stress and poor concentration in class. With the advent of free antiretroviral therapy, the study found that the perceptions of HIV/AIDS were in transition from quantitative (mortality) to qualitative (stress) impacts. This finding points to a paradigm shift in our perceptions of HIV/AIDS impacts on education and calls for interventions to manage HIV/AIDS-related stress in schools.
Key words: HIV/AIDS impacts, secondary school, science, teachers, learners.
Choshi D. Kasanda and Cornelia N. Shimwooshili-Shaimemanya, Kazhila C. Chinsembu*
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Esthetic self-perception of HIV/AIDS patients under antiretroviral therapy suffering from lipodystrophic syndrome and its influence on the quality of life in a city of the Brazilian northeast
Carla Glenda Souza da Silva* and João Carlos Alchieri
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil.
Accepted 19 April, 2020
Abstract
This paper aims to evaluate the impact of lipodystrophic syndrome (LDS) on the quality of life and esthetic self-perception of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This is an exploratory observational study, with quantitative and qualitative data, using world health organization quality of life instrument – HIV (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) and esthetic perception and evaluation of fat redistribution in patients with HIV/AIDS as instruments. The sample consisted of 48 PLWHA, aged between 32 and 66 years. 89.6% of PLWHA were interested in changing parts of their bodies perceived as altered or compromised by LDS, as reinforced by the fact that they "realize" (35.4%) and "feel" (35.4%) that they are differently perceived by other people. With respect to quality of life, spirituality, religion and personal beliefs obtained the highest mean (14.7) with SD = 4.0. This study suggests that HIV infection and the presence of LDS, based on the self-perception of the participants, may affect not only biomedical aspects, but psychosocial and spiritual ones as well, intervening in the quality of life of these individuals.
Key words: Lipodystrophic syndrome, quality of life, esthetic self-perception, HIV/AIDS.
João Carlos Alchieri, Carla Glenda Souza da Silva*
Page: 1 - 7
Research Article
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Gender differentials in factors associated with HIV testing intentions in Kenya: An application of the health belief model
Li Liu
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 001-443-287-8798.
Accepted 08 July, 2020
Abstract
Demand for HIV testing and counseling has been growing with intensified efforts to scale up antiretroviral treatment globally. In Kenya, HIV testing and counseling programs have been expanding at an unprecedented pace. Knowledge of levels and associates of testing intentions is of essence. To obtain such knowledge, a recent nationally representative sample of reproductive-aged women and men was analyzed applying the health belief model. Among 5,441 women and 2,407 men studied, 68 and 70% expressed interests to be tested. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, perceived severity (women: adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.16, [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.99-1.36]; men: AOR=1.29 [1.01-1.66]), perceived benefits (women: AOR=1.10 [1.05-1.15]; men: AOR=1.14 [1.05-1.24]) and perceived barriers (women: AOR=0.94 [0.88-1.01]; men: AOR=0.85 [0.79-0.93]) were associated with intentions to test among both sexes. Among women, perceived susceptibility, as measured by having sexually transmitted infections (AOR=1.58 [1.12-2.24]) and self-reported risk of HIV infection (moderate risk (vs. no risk): AOR=1.36 [1.10-1.69]; great risk or has AIDS: AOR=1.65 [1.25-2.17]), also correlated with desire for testing; whereas among men cues to action was significantly yet negatively associated with testing intentions (AOR=0.69 [0.56-0.87]). When scaling up HIV testing and counseling, a gendered approach is recommended in Kenya.
Key words: HIV testing intentions, Kenya, the health belief model, gendered approach.
Li Liu
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