scholarly journals Minibus taxi drivers’ sexual beliefs and practices associated with HIV infection and AIDS in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Busisiwe Ncama ◽  
Gugu Mchunu ◽  
Joanne Naidoo ◽  
Sisana Majeke ◽  
Padmini Pillay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Taxi Drivers ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Sexual Beliefs ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Risky sexual behaviours in South Africa are a major contributing factor to the spread of HIV infection and AIDS. HIV infection amongst minibus taxi drivers is a concern, because these people belong to an occupational group that exhibits risky behaviours due to the demands of their work. Given the high vulnerability of minibus taxi drivers, exploring the sexual beliefs and health-related sexual practices of this group will assist in planning targeted interventions.The objectives of this study were to assess the level of knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding HIV infection and AIDS amongst minibus taxi drivers. An exploratory descriptive study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire to explore and describe sexual beliefs and practices associated with HIV infection and AIDS in a convenience sample of 175 minibus taxi drivers. Permission to undertake the study was obtained from the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Alliance and individuals who participated in the study. Data analysis were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 13.0. The study revealed that minibus taxi drivers are one of the high- risk groups in the spread of HIV infection and AIDS; they lack necessary education and need attention in relation to control and prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS. Multiple sexual partners are relatively common amongst the minibus taxi drivers. Violence against women and even forceful sexual intercourse in the belief that women should tolerate it to keep the family together was reported. There is a need for intervention programmes with a focus on minibus taxi drivers and similar high-risk groups. Prevention activities should incorporate the distribution of condoms amongst this group and HIV prevention educational programmes, as well as creating mechanisms for accessing circumcision by the minibus taxi drivers.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for HIV Infection Among Heterosexual Men Recruited from Socializing Venues in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nonzwakazi P. Ntombela ◽  
Ayesha B. M. Kharsany ◽  
Adenike Soogun ◽  
Nonhlanhla Yende-Zuma ◽  
Hans-Peter Kohler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

High-risk alcohol use and associated socio-demographic, health and psychosocial factors in patients with HIV infection in three primary health care clinics in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 651-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Huis in ‘t Veld ◽  
Supa Pengpid ◽  
Robert Colebunders ◽  
Linda Skaal ◽  
Karl Peltzer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Health Care Clinics ◽  
Primary Health

Alcohol use may have a negative impact on the course of HIV disease and the effectiveness of its treatment. We studied patients with HIV who use alcohol and associated socio-demographic, health and psychosocial factors. Outcomes from this study may help in selecting patients from clinical practice with high-risk alcohol use and who are likely to benefit most from alcohol reduction interventions. In a cross sectional study in three primary health care clinics in Pretoria, South Africa, from January 2012 to June 2012, patients with HIV infection were interviewed and patients’ medical files were reviewed to obtain data on levels of alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), patients’ socio-demographic characteristics, HIV-related information, health related quality of life (WHOQoL-HIVBref), internalized AIDS stigma, symptoms of depression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, bi- and multivariate logistic regression models. A total of 2230 patients (1483 [66.5%] female) were included. The median age was 37 years (interquartile range 31–43), 99.5% were black Africans, 1975 (88.6%) had started ART and the median time on ART was 22 months (interquartile range 9–40). No alcohol was used by 64% of patients, 8.9% were low risk drinkers, 25.1% of patients were hazardous or harmful drinkers and 2.0% had possible alcohol dependence. In multivariate analysis high-risk drinking was positively associated with male gender, never being married, tobacco use, a higher score for the ‘level of independence’-domain measured with the WHOQoL-HIVBref questionnaire, and with more depressive symptoms compared to low-risk drinking. This study shows a high prevalence of hazardous or harmful drinking in patients with HIV infection (especially men) attending primary health care clinics in South Africa. Routine screening for alcohol use should be introduced in these clinics and harm reduction interventions should be evaluated, taking into account associated factors.

Late diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infections in high-risk groups in Karachi, Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 1400-1406
Author(s):  
Zahra Hasan ◽  
Sharaf Shah ◽  
Rumina Hasan ◽  
Shoaib Rao ◽  
Manzoor Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevalence in Pakistan has been increasing in high-risk groups, including people who inject drugs (PWID) and transgender hijra sex workers (TG-HSWs) nationwide. Effective control of HIV requires early diagnosis of the infection. We investigated recency of HIV infections in newly-diagnosed cases in PWID and TG-HSWs. This was an observational study with convenience sampling. Overall, 210 HIV-positive subjects comprising an equal number of PWID and TG-HSWs were included. Antibody avidity was tested using the Maxim HIV-1 Limiting Antigen Avidity (LAg) EIA (Maxim Biomedical, Inc. Rockville, Maryland, USA). The mean age of study subjects was 29.5 years: PWID, 28.5 years and TG-HSWs, 30.4 years. Study subjects were married, 27%, or unmarried. Eighteen percent of individuals had recently-acquired HIV infections: 19% of PWID and 17% of TG-HSWs. Eighty-two percent of individuals had long-term HIV infections: 81% of PWID and 83% of TG-HSWs. This is the first study identification of recent HIV-1 infections in Pakistan. We show that most newly-diagnosed HIV patients in the high-risk groups studied had long-term infections. There is an urgent need for intervention in these groups to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection to reduce transmission in Pakistan.

Continued very high prevalence of HIV infection in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a population-based longitudinal study

AIDS ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1467-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Welz ◽  
Victoria Hosegood ◽  
Shabbar Jaffar ◽  
J??rg B??tzing-Feigenbaum ◽  
Kobus Herbst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Very High

scholarly journals Analysis of trends in total deaths and AIDS-related deaths certified at Mosvold Hospital, Ingwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, from 2003 to 2008

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C H Vaughan Williams
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Age At Death ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Roll Out

Objectives. To analyse mortality trends from deaths registered at Mosvold Hospital, Ingwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, and possible impact of programmes to treat and prevent HIV infection. Design. Longitudinal study of death certifications from 2003 to 2008. Setting. Mosvold Hospital mortuary, Ingwavuma. Subjects. Counterfoils of form 83/BI-1663, Notification/Register of Death/Stillbirths (Republic of South Africa, Department of Home Affairs), completed at Mosvold Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. Outcome measures. Age at death, cause of death, patterns of deaths grouped by age, gender and cause of death. Results. AIDS-related deaths were the cause of 53% of deaths, particularly affecting the 20 - 59-year and under-5 age groups. Since 2005 there has been a decline in deaths in the 20 - 59 age group and an increase in average age at death. Conclusions. The decrease in mortality from 2005 may be associated with antiretroviral roll-out reducing mortality from AIDS-related illnesses.

scholarly journals Younger ages at risk of Covid-19 mortality in communities of color

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith P. Klugman ◽  
Solomon Zewdu ◽  
Barbara E. Mahon ◽  
Scott F. Dowell ◽  
Padmini Srikantiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
Communities Of Color ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Disaggregated Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Selection Of

More than 85% of Covid-19 mortality in high income countries is among people 65 years of age or older. Recent disaggregated data from the UK and US show that minority communities have increased mortality among younger age groups and in South Africa initial data suggest that the majority of deaths from Covid-19 are under 65 years of age. These observations suggest significant potential for increased Covid-19 mortality among younger populations in Africa and South Asia and may impact age-based selection of high-risk groups eligible for a future vaccine.

Reduction in prevalence of invasive cervical cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: impact of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1036-1040
Author(s):  
M. Moodley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Invasive Cervical Cancer ◽  
Epidemiologic Data ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Sub Saharan

The bulk of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic continues to ravage the developing world, especially sub-Saharan countries. The HIV seroprevalence among women with invasive cervical cancer varies in different parts of the world. A comparison of women with cervical cancer was undertaken for epidemiologic data in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which has the highest HIV prevalence. The two time periods of study were 1999 and 2003. The aim was to determine the trends of prevalence of invasive cervical cancer and HIV infection among such women. While the background prevalence of HIV infection among women with invasive cervical cancer in our setting has remained constant over the two time periods (21% and 21.8%), there has been a significant reduction in the number of women presenting with invasive cervical cancer to our center (672 to 271) over the two time periods, with no changes in other variables. On the contrary, the prevalence of HIV infection among antenatal attendees had risen from 32.5% to 38.5% in the 1999 and 2003 periods, respectively. Reasons for this dramatic trend are presented together with other epidemiologic data.

Preoperative HIV Antibody Testing: The Views of Surgeons and Patients

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 426-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Meadows ◽  
Gillian Irving ◽  
Kate Chapman ◽  
Brian Gazzard ◽  
Jose Catalan
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Patient Consent ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
Hiv Antibody Testing

Summary: Fifty surgeons and 72 preoperative patients in 2 central London hospitals were asked their views on preoperative HIV antibody testing, who is at risk of HIV infection and HIV test counselling. A substantial proportion of both surgeons and preoperative patients, 48% and 54% respectively, supported compulsory HIV antibody testing without patient consent. They believed this should occur as a routine practice prior to surgery. However, surgeons and patients differed in the preoperative patients to be considered for such testing. All surgeons advocating compulsory testing believed that it was only necessary for those patients belonging to high risk groups whilst preoperative patients believed that all patients should be HIV tested prior to surgery. Surgeons and patients also differed in their views on who was at risk of HIV infection. Surgeons believed those at risk to be members of identifiable risk groups whilst patients believed everyone was at risk, especially those engaging in high risk behaviours. Finally, when asked which health professionals they thought should be involved in HIV test counselling, both surgeons and patients agreed that hospital doctors, including surgeons themselves, should take on the responsibility of test counselling. The implications of this and routine HIV antibody testing are discussed.

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