International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

People living with HIV/AIDS and the utilization of home-based care services

O. O. Oguntibeju¹*, K. T. Ndalambo² and M. Mokgatle-Nthabu²

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Health and Wellness Sciences, South Africa.

²School of Public Health, MEDUNSA Campus, University of Limpopo, South Africa.

Accepted 15 September, 2018

Abstract

Namibia is one of the most affected countries by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in the world and in the sub-Saharan Africa with an adult prevalence of 19.7%. The health care services are overstrained with patients and home-based care (HBC) is seen as a possible solution to the overstrained health care services in Namibia and this challenge impact on the quality of care on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receive. This study assessed the utilization of HBC service, knowledge and perceptions of PLWHA toward HBC services. This is a qualitative study that utilized focus group discussions (FGDs) for the home-based caregivers of the HBC and in-depth interview with HIV/AIDS patients accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) at Katima State Hospital, Namibia. A total of 4 FGDs were organized with caregivers comprising 31 adult participants (15 male and 16 female) and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted for PLWHA patients ART at Katima State Hospital. All FGDs were tape recorded and one-to-one interview was hand-written. The study demonstrates that most of the participants have positive attitudes toward utilization of HBC service. However, few participants are still afraid to disclose their health status. In general, the community participation has tremendously reduced stigmatization. The access by HBC to nutrition support possibly played a role in reducing the stigma associated with HIV and has increased the number of people utilizing the HBC service. The HIV-positive participants valued the assistance received from the HBC volunteer caregivers and dressing code of volunteers did not influence participant’s attitude to access the HBC service. Knowledge about HIV and HBC service enhanced the positive attitude towards the utilization of HBC service which consequently reduced the stigma associated with HIV infection.

Key words: Home-based care, volunteer caregivers, utilization, knowledge, perception.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-010, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

HIV and AIDS and farm labor productivity: A review of recent evidence in Africa

Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere¹*, Catherine Aragon², Paul Thangata¹, Kwaw Andam¹ and Daniel Ayalew Mekonnen¹

¹International Food Policy Research Institute, P. O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

²International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street, Washington, D.C. 20006-1002, USA.

Accepted 25 October, 2018

Abstract

Three quarters of the world’s poor live in rural areas and they depend on agriculture for livelihood. Labor migration to high agricultural producing areas, funerals, traditional festivals, poverty and loose lifestyles contribute to high incidence of HIV infections in rural areas. Poor health due to AIDS brings hardships to households including debilitation, substantial monetary expenditures, loss of labor, and eventually death. The health status of adults affects the duration of labor force participation and consequently the welfare of the household. This review looks at the evidence on the effects of HIV and AIDS on farm households with respect to absenteeism due to morbidity, and eventual death; family time devoted to caring for the sick; and loss of savings, and farm assets as disease afflicts a household. The outcomes of the health condition on loss of farming knowledge, planting of less labor-intensive crops, reduction of crops planted, and fewer livestock are discussed. The ultimate impact of HIV and AIDS is a decline in household income and possible food insecurity, that is, deterioration in household livelihood.

Key words: HIV, AIDS, disease, assets, productivity.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Efficacy and challenges of adherence to anti retroviral therapy: Experience from Nyeri Provincial Hospital, Kenya

M. W. Mutugi*, L. M. Kaguu and S. N. Maangi

Nyeri Provincial Hospital, Kenya.

Accepted 16 July, 2018

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the success and challenges of antiretroviral therapy among patients attending Nyeri provincial hospital in Kenya. The success of treatment was monitored by viral load, CD4 cell count and weight. On the other hand, challenges of ART were investigated by administering a questionnaire. The results indicate that the quality of life of the patients improved markedly with increase in weight and reduction in number of opportunistic infections as well as decreased hospitalization and ability to return to work. There was 10 fold increase in weight of the patients, a 69% increase of CD4 cell count in the first 3 months and 86% in 9 months. There was also a 71.9% mean decrease of viral load in the first 3 months and 87% mean decrease of 9 months. There were side effects perceived by patients to be associated with ART, the most common being chest pains, coughing, headache, diarrhea and malaise. These in addition to cost and forgetfulness were cited as contributors to an adherence rate of 62%. It is evident that anti-retroviral therapy is useful in increasing the quality of patients infected with HIV. However, issues related to poor adherence associated with adverse side effects, toxicity and cost in a resource constrained environment may erode long-term benefits both to the individual and the community.

Key words: HIV, AIDS, ART, HAART, adherence, resistance.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Mixed Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infection with acute viral hepatitis in two brothers: A rare occurrence

Neeraj Varyani¹*, Sunny Garg¹, Kamlakar Tripathi¹, Lalit Prashant Meena¹, Uma Shankar Rath¹, Sourav Mishra¹ and Garima Gupta²

¹Department of General Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005, India.

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005, India.

Accepted 15 October, 2018

Abstract

Two brothers aged 14 and 17 years presented in our emergency department with complaints of fever and yellowish discoloration of eyes and urine for 6 and 10 days, respectively. They had similar clinical presentation, examination findings, laboratory biochemical derangements and positive results for rapid tests of Plasmodium falciparum and vivax species along with IgM Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for hepatitis A virus. They also showed similar response to therapy and improved simultaneously within two to three days. This suggests the role of immunogenetics in modifying the natural course of disease. Moreover, triple infection by these hepatotropic pathogens lead to a presentation that is much more severe than that caused by either of them alone. This could only be explained by a synergistic interaction between these pathogens. This case foretells that co-infections with two or more hepatotropic pathogens require immediate attention with an aggressive management and role of immunogenetics along with co-infections in altering the phenotypic expression of a disease.

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, hepatitis A, co-infection, immunogenetics.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

The impact of HIV/AIDS on labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa: A critical review and analysis

Franklin Simtowe¹*, Kazi Maruful Islam² and Kinkingninhoun-Medagbe F. M.³

¹International Crops Research Institute for the semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, United Nations Avenue, World Agroforestry Centre, Gigiri. P. O. Box 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

³WARDA-The Africa Rice Center, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Accepted 12 November, 2017

Abstract

Global estimates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic as of 2007 shows that about 33 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The international labor organization (ILO) estimates that at least 23 million workers in the prime labor force (aged15 to 49 years) are infected with HIV. More than 70% of the world’s HIV/AIDS infected population lives in Africa. Within the Africa region, the Southern Africa region has the largest HIV prevalence rate. It is estimated that more than 30% of total world HIV population lives in Southern Africa. In this paper, we analyze the extent to which the HIV/AIDS pandemic impacts the labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa. We hypothesize that the pandemic can reduce the labor force and productivity, consequently leading to the deterioration in welfare and stagnation of the economy. The analysis finds out that a significant proportion of the labor force has been lost to HIV. In addition to the loss of workers due to AIDS, the cost of caring for AIDS patients is enormous and has resulted into the erosion of productivity and profitability in both the formal and informal sectors. Due to the disproportionate HIV/AIDS prevalence rate between age groups and sex, the pandemic is changing the age and sex distribution of the labor force. The average age of the labor is declining due to the early entry by young and inexperienced people into the labor force. HIV is exerting negative impact on household welfare through the loss of income initially earned by a household member that is a victim of HIV/AIDS, and that through increased medical expenses by the household on the AIDS victim, most of the household income is spent on medication other than other household needs. Some economies in the region are already facing a reduction in economic growth due to the HIV pandemic and it is observed that if efforts to prevent its spread are not intensified, such economies would face stagnation at some point.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), labor markets, productivity, welfare.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

The impact of HIV/AIDS on labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa: A critical review and analysis

Franklin Simtowe¹*, Kazi Maruful Islam² and Kinkingninhoun-Medagbe F. M.³

¹International Crops Research Institute for the semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, United Nations Avenue, World Agroforestry Centre, Gigiri. P. O. Box 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

³WARDA-The Africa Rice Center, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Accepted 12 November, 2017

Abstract

Global estimates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic as of 2007 shows that about 33 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The international labor organization (ILO) estimates that at least 23 million workers in the prime labor force (aged15 to 49 years) are infected with HIV. More than 70% of the world’s HIV/AIDS infected population lives in Africa. Within the Africa region, the Southern Africa region has the largest HIV prevalence rate. It is estimated that more than 30% of total world HIV population lives in Southern Africa. In this paper, we analyze the extent to which the HIV/AIDS pandemic impacts the labor markets, productivity and welfare in Southern Africa. We hypothesize that the pandemic can reduce the labor force and productivity, consequently leading to the deterioration in welfare and stagnation of the economy. The analysis finds out that a significant proportion of the labor force has been lost to HIV. In addition to the loss of workers due to AIDS, the cost of caring for AIDS patients is enormous and has resulted into the erosion of productivity and profitability in both the formal and informal sectors. Due to the disproportionate HIV/AIDS prevalence rate between age groups and sex, the pandemic is changing the age and sex distribution of the labor force. The average age of the labor is declining due to the early entry by young and inexperienced people into the labor force. HIV is exerting negative impact on household welfare through the loss of income initially earned by a household member that is a victim of HIV/AIDS, and that through increased medical expenses by the household on the AIDS victim, most of the household income is spent on medication other than other household needs. Some economies in the region are already facing a reduction in economic growth due to the HIV pandemic and it is observed that if efforts to prevent its spread are not intensified, such economies would face stagnation at some point.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), labor markets, productivity, welfare.