HIV prevention intervention for people living with HIV/AIDS

Background: Understanding the reasons for HIV serostatus disclosure and nondisclosure and how these reasons differ by certain characteristics of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is important for effective HIV prevention intervention strategies. Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate/identify the reasons for disclosure and nondisclosure of HIV serostatus by PLWHA, and to find out any association between the reasons for disclosure or nondisclosure and certain demographic and clinical characteristics, i.e. age, gender, WHO clinical stage and CD4 count of the study population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients of 18-49 years with confirmed HIV infection registered at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) center of a tertiary care hospital in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India for one year, from July 2017 to June 2018. Results: The most common reason for disclosure of HIV serostatus was the presence of any family member at the time of collection of HIV test report (68.5%), and the most common reason for not disclosing the serostatus was stigmatization (68%). The reasons for disclosure was found to be associated with the WHO clinical stage of the respondents (p <0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study highlights the need for tailoring intervention strategies for improving disclosure decision making according to the specific needs of PLWHA. There is also a need to address the concerns of those who are reluctant to disclose. More emphasis should be given on creating awareness about HIV stigma, on the importance of serostatus disclosure and secondary HIV prevention in the community.

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Contribution and Constraints for the Involvement of People Living with HIV in HIV Prevention and Control Activities: A Qualitative Study at Mandalay Region, 2016

Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.34299/mhsrj.00919 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 30-36

Keyword(s):

Hiv Prevention ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Female Ratio ◽

Hiv Test ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

And Control ◽

Hiv Aids

There were nearly 170 positive self-help groups of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2013 in Myanmar. This study was conducted at Mandalay City and two townships from Mandalay Region during 2016 to assess the contribution of PLHIV in HIV prevention and control related activities, and identify the challenges for the sustainability of their contribution. Seven focus group discussions with six to seven PLHIV in each group, eight indepth interviews with leaders of HIV positive groups, and two key informant interviews with team leaders of HIV/AIDS were conducted. The average age of respondents was 40 years, male and female ratio was 1:5. The average years of involvement in HIV/AIDS-related activities was 4 years. Generally, PLHIV were very supportive especially to the AIDS/ STD teams which have limited human resources. The achievement of PLHIV involvement could be mainly seen in condom promotion and distribution to vulnerable groups, HIV-test counseling, supporting PLHIV from hard-to-reach areas and with poor socio-economic conditions, assisting in antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision at AIDS/STD teams, home-based care for the HIV positive adult and children, and referring people to get HIV tested and ART treatment. Areas and activities which need to be focused were also reported. The key challenges for the sustainability of their contribution were poor resource of basic equipments and facilities especially the place and funding for office, the lower interest of PLHIV and poor technical knowledge to develop income generation activities, the changing attitudes of PLHIV on their involvement, and uncertain future plans of PLHIV groups. To conclude, the challenges among PLHIV groups should be addressed by National AIDS Programme.

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Outcomes of the “STEPS” HIV prevention training program for young males in the penitentiary institution, Ukraine

International Journal of Prisoner Health ◽

10.1108/ijph-02-2017-0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 101-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Dauria ◽

Marina Tolou-Shams ◽

Halyna Skipalska ◽

Mariya Bachmaha ◽

Sara Hodgdon

Keyword(s):

Criminal Justice ◽

High Risk ◽

Drug Use ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Prevention Intervention ◽

Content Type ◽

Hiv Prevention Intervention ◽

Young Males

Purpose Ukraine has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics globally. Due to their engagement in high-risk behaviors, adolescents and emerging adults involved with the penitentiary system are at a particularly high risk of HIV-acquisition. To address the epidemic, young males (aged 14 to 20 years) in penitentiary institutions across Ukraine participated in a ten-week, group-based HIV-prevention intervention (STEPS). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed clinical and programmatic services data collected as part of an evaluation of the STEPS intervention. Paired t-tests and χ2 were used to examine pre- and post-intervention differences in HV knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors and alcohol and other drug use knowledge. Findings In total, 105 male youths participated in the ten-session STEPS intervention. At baseline, males reported high frequencies of risk behaviors (e.g. unprotected sexual activity, injection drug use), moderate levels of HIV-related knowledge, and negative attitudes toward HIV and people living with HIV. At follow-up (immediately following the last STEPS session), participants’ HIV-related knowledge substantially improved and participants tended to have more favorable attitudes toward HIV. Research limitations/implications Outcomes suggest that knowledge and attitudes about HIV among Ukrainian incarcerated youth can improve as a result of group-based HIV-prevention intervention. Originality/value In Ukraine, individuals involved with the criminal justice system are one of the populations most-at-risk for HIV; criminal justice-involved adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Research among this sub-population is limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating an on-going group-based HIV-prevention program designed to reduce adolescent risk of HIV.

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