scholarly journals HIV-Related Stress Experienced by Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in China: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunxiang Huang ◽  
Dan Luo ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Dexing Zhang ◽  
Zhulin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Physical Functions ◽  
Hiv Symptoms ◽  
Living With Hiv

This study explored the HIV-related stressors that people living with HIV (PLWH) commonly experience and express as stressful at the time of diagnosis and 1 year later. The factors associated with stress levels and whether social support would moderate the negative effects of stress on psychological health (depressive and anxiety symptoms) were also investigated. Newly diagnosed PLWH were consecutively recruited in this study. Participants rated their stress with the HIV/AIDS Stress Scale at baseline and 1 year later. Social support, depression, and anxiety were also self-reported at both time points. There were significant decreases in stress levels 1 year after diagnosis. Stressors regarding confidentiality, disclosure, emotional distress, fear of infecting others, and excessive attention to physical functions were the most problematic at baseline and 1-year follow-up. A younger age, married status, not living alone, less income, presence of HIV symptoms, and lack of social support were associated with higher levels of stress. No stress-buffering effect of social support on depressive and anxiety symptoms was found in this study. Interventions to reduce stress among PLWH should take into consideration the following priority stressors: confidentiality, discrimination/stigma, serostatus disclosure, distressing emotions, fear of infecting others, and excessive attention to physical functions. More attention should be paid to PLWH with younger age, not living alone, less income, presence of HIV symptoms, and lack of social support.

scholarly journals Reducing time to differentiated service delivery for newly diagnosed people living with HIV in Kigali, Rwanda: study protocol for a pilot, unblinded, randomised controlled study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e047443
Author(s):  
Jonathan Ross ◽  
Gad Murenzi ◽  
Sarah Hill ◽  
Eric Remera ◽  
Charles Ingabire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Albert Einstein College ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Differentiated Service ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Living With Hiv

IntroductionCurrent HIV guidelines recommend differentiated service delivery (DSD) models that allow for fewer health centre visits for clinically stable people living with HIV (PLHIV). Newly diagnosed PLHIV may require more intensive care early in their treatment course, yet frequent appointments can be burdensome to patients and health systems. Determining the optimal parameters for defining clinical stability and transitioning to less frequent appointments could decrease patient burden and health system costs. The objectives of this pilot study are to explore the feasibility and acceptability of (1) reducing the time to DSD from 12 to 6 months after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation,and (2) reducing the number of suppressed viral loads required to enter DSD from two to one.Methods and analysesThe present study is a pilot, unblinded trial taking place in three health facilities in Kigali, Rwanda. Current Rwandan guidelines require PLHIV to be on ART for ≥12 months with two consecutive suppressed viral loads in order to transition to less frequent appointments. We will randomise 90 participants to one of three arms: entry into DSD at 6 months after one suppressed viral load (n=30), entry into DSD at 6 months after two suppressed viral loads (n=30) or current standard of care (n=30). We will measure feasibility and acceptability of this intervention; clinical outcomes include viral suppression at 12 months (primary outcome) and appointment attendance (secondary outcome).Ethics and disseminationThis clinical trial was approved by the institutional review board of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and by the Rwanda National Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publications, as well as meetings with stakeholders.Trial registration numberNCT04567693.

Social Support and Quality of Life Among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110300
Author(s):  
Charles MS. Birore ◽  
Liyun Wu ◽  
Tina Abrefa-Gyan ◽  
Marilyn W. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Utilization of antiretroviral therapies (ART) prolongs life and heightens ability to engage in productive activities among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This study implemented a 6-week long Social Care Intervention (SCI) Program in Ghana and identified protective factors associated with Quality of Life (QoL) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). We discovered that SCI model in the form of social support associated positively with differences in the QoL among PLWHA. Logistic regression revealed that social support, especially affectionate support, was positively associated with a higher level of QoL. People who were older and healthier tended to have higher levels of QoL compared with their counterparts who were younger and sicker. These findings suggest that building social support system can serve as an empowerment approach to promote quality of life among PLWHA in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where resources are limited.

scholarly journals Strategies Employed by Community-Based Service Providers to Address HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 232595821882233
Author(s):  
Renato M. Liboro ◽  
Sean B. Rourke ◽  
Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco ◽  
Andrew Eaton ◽  
Daniel Pugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Organizational Strategies ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Living With Hiv

Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and other causes of neurocognitive challenges experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) persist as public health concerns in developed countries. Consequently, PLWH who experience neurocognitive challenges increasingly require social support and mental health services from community-based providers in the HIV sector. Methods: Thirty-three providers from 22 AIDS service organizations across Ontario, Canada, were interviewed to determine the strategies they used to support PLWH experiencing neurocognitive difficulties. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine key themes from the interview data. Results: Three types of strategies were identified: (a) intrapersonal, (b) interpersonal, and (c) organizational. Intrapersonal strategies involved learning and staying informed about causes of neurocognitive challenges. Interpersonal strategies included providing practical assistance, information, counseling, and/or referrals to PLWH. Organizational strategies included creating dedicated support groups for PLWH experiencing neurocognitive challenges, partnering with other organizations with services not available within their own organization, and advocating for greater access to services with expertise and experience working with PLWH. Conclusion: Through concerted efforts in the future, it is likely that empirically investigating, developing, and customizing these strategies specifically to address HIV-associated neurocognitive challenges will yield improved social support and mental health outcomes for PLWH.

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