Prevalence of Oral Lesions in HIV/AIDS Patients Undergoing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

ABSTRACT Background Oral lesions have been reported to be the initial signs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection. The main objective of the present study was to observe the prevalence of oral lesions among HIV/AIDS patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) attending the antiretroviral therapy (ART) center in Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. Materials and methods One hundred and eight HIV/AIDS positive patients were evaluated by a single examiner. Patients’ oral cavity was examined and the various oral manifestations detected were recorded. Results The most common extraoral manifestation was lipoatrophy, and intraorally, the most prevalent findings were intraoral pigmentation (42.6%) and candidiasis (27.8%). However, the prevalence of the most commonly associated lesions like Kaposi's sarcoma (1.9%) and linear gingival erythema (2.7%) was less. Conclusion Oral lesions are considered to be markers of progression of HIV into the final stage of AIDS. Advent of HAART has shown a significant reduction in the oral lesions and a better quality of life in patients with HIV. How to cite this article Denny CE, Ramapuram J, Bastian TS, Ongole R, Binnal A, Natarajan S, Ahmed J. Oral Lesions in HIV/AIDS Patients on a highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. Word J Dent 2016;7(2):95-99.

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Influence of Spirituality and Religion on Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Adult HIV/AIDS Patients in Calabar, Nigeria

Recent Advances in Biology and Medicine ◽

10.18639/rabm.2017.03.456895 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 03 ◽

pp. 48

Author(s):

Agam Ebaji Ayuk ◽

Ndifreke Udonwa ◽

Abraham Gyuse ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Illness ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Strict Adherence ◽

Highly Active ◽

Spirituality And Religion ◽

Positive Religious Coping ◽

Hiv Aids

The emergence of a chronic medical illness such as Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) may be the time when people turn to the Sacred through spirituality and religion. HIV is a chronic illness that requires strict adherence to medication regimens that may be influenced by spirituality/religion. This study was aimed at finding the association between spirituality/religion and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in adult HIV/AIDS patients. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 370 patients. Adherence was measured using an adapted adult AIDS clinical trial group (AACTG) and visual analogue scale (VAS) tools. Spirituality was assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality Expanded (FACIT-Sp-Ex) scale, religiosity with Duke University Religion index (DUREL), and religious coping with Brief Religious Coping (RCOPE) scale. Adherence rates were 86.2 and 43.8% using AACTG and VAS tools, respectively. Statistical significant correlation was found between spirituality and adherence to HAART (r = 0.265; p = 0.00). Also, significant correlation was found between positive religious coping and adherence (r = 0.15, p = 0.003). Odds ratio indicated that female respondents were 1.6 times more likely to be adherent, compared with males. Similarly, every unit rise in spirituality score yielded a 1.3 times increased likelihood of adherence to HAART on multiple logistic regression of adherence to HAART with relevant predictors. Both spirituality and positive religious coping have positive influence on optimal adherence. Therefore, the training of health care personnel to assess and provide spiritual care and involvement of chaplains/religious leaders is advocated for improved adherence.

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