scholarly journals Internet and hiv/aids: a virtual ethnography on Facebook

Author(s):  
Alfredo de Oliveira Neto ◽  
Kenneth Rochel de Camargo Júnior

This paper identified and analyzed some interactions on the internet in the daily of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) in Brazil. As methods we made interviews with PLHA analyzed by content analysis and a virtual ethnography of a secret group of PLHA on Facebook. These are the following results: sociability produced in the internet helps to reduce suffering in relation to prejudice; there are not many welcoming zones for PLHA on the internet; PLHA linked to social networks have more encouragement to not give up the medication; negotiations about medication and symptoms take place in social networks. We conclude that there is a need to have welcoming zones to PLHA on the internet guaranteed by public policy; medical education needs to cover issues related to the internet and health.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojie Huang ◽  
Maohe Yu ◽  
Gengfeng Fu ◽  
Guanghua Lan ◽  
Linghua Li ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND HIV infection is a significant independent risk factor for both severe COVID-19 presentation at hospital admission and in-hospital mortality. Available information has suggested that people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) could benefit from COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is a dearth of evidence on willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among PLWHA. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among a national sample of PLWHA in China. METHODS This cross-sectional online survey investigated factors associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among PLWHA aged 18 to 65 years living in eight conveniently selected Chinese metropolitan cities between January and February 2021. Eight community-based organizations (CBOs) providing services to PLWHA facilitated the recruitment. Eligible PLWHA completed an online survey developed using a widely used encrypted web-based survey platform in China. We fitted a single logistic regression model to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aORs), which involved one of the independent variables of interest and all significant background variables. Path analysis was also used in the data analysis. RESULTS Out of 10,845 PLWHA approached by the CBOs, 2740 completed the survey, and 170 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This analysis was performed among 2570 participants who had never received COVID-19 vaccination. Over half of the participants reported willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination (1470/2570, 57.2%). Perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination were significantly associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination, including positive attitudes (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 1.09-1.12; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), negative attitudes (aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.97; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), perceived support from significant others (perceived subjective norm; aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.46-1.61; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), and perceived behavioral control (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.14; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). At the interpersonal level, receiving advice supportive of COVID-19 vaccination from doctors (aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.65-2.40; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), CBO staff (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.51-2.36; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), friends and/or family members (aOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.93-5.35; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), and PLWHA peers (aOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.85-3.08; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) was associated with higher willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The overall opinion supporting COVID-19 vaccination for PLWHA on the internet or social media was also positively associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.31-1.94; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Path analysis indicated that interpersonal-level variables were indirectly associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination through perceptions (β=.43, 95% CI .37-.51; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS As compared to PLWHA in other countries and the general population in most parts of the world, PLWHA in China reported a relatively low willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The internet and social media as well as interpersonal communications may be major sources of influence on PLWHA’s perceptions and willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Louie ◽  
Nopporn Pathanapornpandh ◽  
Unchalee Pultajuk ◽  
Robert Kaplan ◽  
Ian Hodgson ◽  
...  

Acupuncture in combination with antiretroviral therapies is a potentially useful treatment for HIV-related symptom relief in resource-poor settings. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being used to enhance immune function. In the setting of HIV, Chinese traditional medicine allows for symptom treatment without adding extra medications to a complex drug regime. This paper provides details of a project at Mae On Hospital in rural northern Thailand where allopathic/conventional treatments are used in tandem with acupuncture. A preliminary evaluation of the project suggests that an integrated approach to symptom relief is viewed positively by respondents receiving acupuncture, though further studies are required to confirm the association between acupuncture and symptom relief. The project also demonstrates the feasibility of developing a cost-effective acupuncture programme using local healthcare staff.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-200
Author(s):  
M.G. Mustapha ◽  
G.M. Ashir ◽  
A.I. Rabasa ◽  
A.G. Farouk ◽  
H.A. Elechi ◽  
...  

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important infectious disease of public health concern. The effects of TB on children in terms of morbidity and mortality is  more than that of adults. These may not be unconnected with the differences in characteristics and peculiarities of the disease in children. Tuberculosis in children is usually primary, paucibacillary, characterized by difficulties in diagnosis of both drug susceptible and resistant TB associated with poor uptake of preventive therapy for those with latent infection, contacts and people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in most  developing countries.While significant similarities exist between spectrum of TB occurring in adults and children, the characteristics and peculiarities of childhood TB may be unknown to policy makers and some clinicians, hence giving it less focus in control measures. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the characteristics and peculiarities of TB in children using PubMed/PubMed Central (PMC) and MEDLINE databases searched for relevant search strings from December, 2018 to September, 2019. Appropriate hard copies of books and journal articles were also  included. Conclusion: While the management of TB in children is characterized by difficulties due to both peculiarities of children and the disease;  with detailed clinical assessment and examination of necessary specimen in addition to strict adherence to the guidelines of the national TB control  program, more cases of TB in children can be prevented, diagnosed, treated and reported. 


1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
B Modi ◽  
P Patel ◽  
S Patel

Introduction: An estimated 2.4 million Indians are currently living with HIV. In India, the antiretroviral treatment program started with a free ART treatment in 2003. This study was conducted in order to understand the clinico-epidemiological profi le of patients attending ART centre and the effectiveness of the therapy. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at an ART center of Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER), in Surat city of Gujarat State. The data of 2357 PLHAs (People Living with HIV/ AIDS) registered at ART centre in one year time duration starting from 21st January 2010 was included in the study. Results: Among the total 2357 subjects, 1483 (63%) were males. In our study 42.3% of patients were between 31 to 40 years of age. Among the employed subjects, 32.9% of patients were laborer. Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCTC) was most common entry point of patient with 50% followed by private practitioner with 23% and NGOs with 6.2%. Other entry points are self referred, RNTCP etc. Tuberculosis and diarrhoea were the most common opportunistic infections. There was signifi cant improvement in CD4 count, bodyweight and functional status of the subjects after receiving the ART for an average duration of 6 months. Conclusion: The economically productive & sexually active people and those with lesser education are at higher risk of becoming sero-positive. The subjects showed signifi cant improvement after receiving ART with respect to the CD4 count and average body weight. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v8i2.5895 SAARCTB 2011; 8(2): 11-16


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