Complementary medicine use among people living with HIV/AIDS in Victoria, Australia: practices, attitudes and perceptions

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 453-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Thomas ◽  
K Lam ◽  
L Piterman ◽  
A Mijch ◽  
P A Komesaroff
Keyword(s):  
Complementary Medicine ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Alfred Hospital ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

There is limited evidence suggesting the underlying reasons for the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by people with HIV/AIDS, or individual attitudes and beliefs about the use of CAMs. Using focus groups and a survey with 151 individuals attending the HIV Clinics at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, we aimed to provide insights into factors that influence the use of CAMs among people living with HIV/AIDS. Roughly half (49%) of the participants had used CAMs to manage their HIV/AIDs. Users of CAMs utilized a wide range of treatments in managing their condition, but costs of the CAMs meant that users were not necessarily able to use them as much as they might have liked. Use of CAMs was based on a desire to find something beneficial rather than on being dissatisfied with conventional medicine. Further research is needed into (a) the effects of CAMs and (b) the enhancement of communication and collaboration between patients, doctors and complementary medicine practitioners.

scholarly journals Multicenter Validation of Commercial Antigenuria Reagents To Diagnose Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis in People Living with HIV/AIDS in Two Latin American Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego H. Cáceres ◽  
Blanca E. Samayoa ◽  
Narda G. Medina ◽  
Angela M. Tobón ◽  
Brenda J. Guzmán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disseminated Histoplasmosis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

ABSTRACTHistoplasmosis is an important cause of mortality in patients with AIDS, especially in countries with limited access to antiretroviral therapies and diagnostic tests. However, many disseminated infections in Latin America go undiagnosed. A simple, rapid method to detectHistoplasma capsulatuminfection in regions where histoplasmosis is endemic would dramatically decrease the time to diagnosis and treatment, reducing morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to validate a commercial monoclonalHistoplasmagalactomannan (HGM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Immuno-Mycologics [IMMY], Norman, OK, USA) in two cohorts of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). We analyzed urine samples from 589 people (466 from Guatemala and 123 from Colombia), including 546 from PLHIV and 43 from non-PLHIV controls. Sixty-three of these people (35 from Guatemala and 28 from Colombia) had confirmed histoplasmosis by isolation ofH. capsulatum. Using the standard curve provided by the quantitative commercial test, the sensitivity was 98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95 to 100%) and the specificity was 97% (95% CI, 96 to 99%) (cutoff = 0.5 ng/ml). Semiquantitative results, using a calibrator of 12.5 ng/ml ofHistoplasmagalactomannan to calculate an enzyme immunoassay index value (EIV) for the samples, showed a sensitivity of 95% (95% CI, 89 to 100%) and a specificity of 98% (95% CI, 96 to 99%) (cutoff ≥ 2.6 EIV). This relatively simple-to-perform commercial antigenuria test showed a high performance with reproducible results in both countries, suggesting that it can be used to detect progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in PLHIV in a wide range of clinical laboratories in countries where histoplasmosis is endemic.

scholarly journals Patterns of Co-occurring Comorbidities in People Living With HIV

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide De Francesco ◽  
Sebastiaan O Verboeket ◽  
Jonathan Underwood ◽  
Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽  
Ferdinand W Wit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
The Other ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Shared Risk ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background The aims of this study were to identify common patterns of comorbidities observed in people living with HIV (PLWH), using a data-driven approach, and evaluate associations between patterns identified. Methods A wide range of comorbidities were assessed in PLWH participating in 2 independent cohorts (POPPY: UK/Ireland; AGEhIV: Netherlands). The presence/absence of each comorbidity was determined using a mix of self-reported medical history, concomitant medications, health care resource use, and laboratory parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on Somers’ D statistic was applied to identify patterns of comorbidities. Results PCA identified 6 patterns among the 1073 POPPY PLWH (85.2% male; median age [interquartile range {IQR}], 52 [47–59] years): cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), mental health problems, cancers, metabolic disorders, chest/other infections. The CVDs pattern was positively associated with cancer (r = .32), metabolic disorder (r = .38), mental health (r = .16), and chest/other infection (r = .17) patterns (all P < .001). The mental health pattern was correlated with all the other patterns (in particular cancers: r = .20; chest/other infections: r = .27; both P < .001). In the 598 AGEhIV PLWH (87.6% male; median age [IQR], 53 [48–59] years), 6 patterns were identified: CVDs, chest/liver, HIV/AIDS events, mental health/neurological problems, STDs, and general health. The general health pattern was correlated with all the other patterns (in particular CVDs: r = .14; chest/liver: r = .15; HIV/AIDS events: r = .31; all P < .001), except STDs (r = –.02; P = .64). Conclusions Comorbidities in PLWH tend to occur in nonrandom patterns, reflecting known pathological mechanisms and shared risk factors, but also suggesting potential previously unknown mechanisms. Their identification may assist in adequately addressing the pathophysiology of increasingly prevalent multimorbidity in PLWH.

scholarly journals Trends and Determinants of Attitudes Towards People Living with HIV/AIDS Among Women of Reproductive Age in Tajikistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakim Zainiddinov
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Aids Prevention ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Introduction: Despite having one of lowest rates of newly diagnosed HIV infections among former Soviet countries, Tajikistan has a substantial level of discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). While initial attempts were made to explore discriminatory attitudes of a wide range of professionals, women’s general attitudes towards PLWHA received less scholarly attention. Employing a nationally representative sample from the 2000 and 2005 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), sociodemographic determinants of HIV-related discriminatory attitudes of women aged 15-49 in Tajikistan were identified and examined over time.Methods:  A representative sample included 5,453 women of reproductive age from the capital city and four regions of Tajikistan. Two dichotomized scenarios  representing the agreement to let an HIV-infected teacher continue teaching in school and the willingness to buy food from an HIV-infected cashier were constructed. Univariate and multivariable analyses of HIV-related discriminatory attitudes were obtained using Stata 14.Results: Insignificant but positive changes were observed in the women’s attitudes between 2000 and 2005. Logistic regression models showed that negative attitudes were associated with the lack of knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods, endorsement of HIV/AIDS transmission misconceptions, and never having been tested for HIV (p≤0.001). Women living in the rural areas, married, with lower education, and from low income households were less tolerant towards PLWHA.Conclusions: The data from Tajikistan underscore the persistence of HIV-related discriminatory attitudes among low socioeconomic status women. The study findings can be potentially used to target the disadvantaged groups and guide the design and implementation of programs that promote voluntary HIV-testing, raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention methods, and help dispel transmission misconceptions.

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