M.Med.(Anaesthesia), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2008 / BACKGROUND HIV infection is common in South Africa. The disease often remains clinically latent, despite the patient having severe immune compromise. Clinical preoperative assessment may result in patients with this severe systemic disease going unnoticed. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to determine the relationship between the preoperative physical status of HIV-positive patients presenting for anaesthesia and the CD4- count. The secondary objectives were to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in this group of patients, to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in selected subgroups, to ascertain what proportion of patients presenting for anaesthesia know their HIV status, and to ascertain what proportion of HIVpositive patients are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHOD A sample of 350 adult patients presenting for anaesthesia at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital was selected. Patients were interviewed preoperatively and were examined, and in doing so their ASA physical status grading was determined. Blood was sampled, and in those who were confirmed HIV-positive, vi a CD4-count was checked. Further data were collected: age, gender, the type, nature, urgency and time of day of surgery, the patient’s knowledge of their HIV status, and whether the patient was receiving HAART or not. RESULTS HIV-positive patients were more likely to be classified as ASA 1 or 2 than ASA 3 or 4 (OR 2.1). HIV-positive patients with CD4-counts above 200 cells.mm-3 were also more likely to be ASA 1 or 2 than ASA 3 or 4 (OR 3.88). However, within the group of HIV-positive patients with CD4-counts below 200 cells.mm-3, significantly more patients were classified as ASA 1 or 2 than ASA 3 or 4 (p<0.0001). Three patients with CD4-counts below 50 cells.mm-3 were classified as ASA 1 or 2. The overall prevalence of HIV infection was 29.4%. Within the various subgroups, the groups with higher disease prevalence rates were females, patients presenting for obstetric surgery, and the younger age groups. The highest prevalence of HIV infection was found in patients aged 30-39 years (43.0%), and the lowest prevalence was found in patients aged 60 years or older (7.7%). CONCLUSIONS Routine clinical preoperative assessment in patients from a population with a high HIV prevalence rate may result in asymptomatic, severe immune compromise secondary to HIV infection being missed in a significant number of patients. Further study into the perioperative outcomes of these patients is warranted.

Magister Public Health - MPH / With the improvements in the effectiveness and availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), perinatally infected children are surviving to adolescence and emerging as a significant sub-population living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Adolescents, aged 10-19 years, face unique challenges related to adherence to chronic medication due to this period of vulnerability that is characterised by decreased parental support and supervision, decreased inhibition, increased risk-taking, and immature judgement. It is widely reported that poor adherence to ART leads to viral rebound, disease progression and drug resistance, in addition to increasing the risk of transmitting resistant strains of HIV to others. It is imperative to determine the factors that influence ART adherence among HIV positive adolescents so that effective interventions can be put in place. The current study described the factors that are associated with adherence to ART among HIV positive adolescents in Zimbabwe.

We will propose a random changepoint model for the analysis of longitudinal CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts, as well as viral RNA loads, for HIV infected subjects following highly active antiretroviral treatment. The data was taken from two studies, one of the Aids Clinical Group Trial 398 and one performed by the Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. Models were created with the changepoint following both exponential and truncated normal distributions. The estimation of the changepoints was performed in a Bayesian analysis, with implementation in the WinBUGS software using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. For model selection, we used the deviance information criterion (DIC), a two term measure of model adequacy and complexity. DIC indicates that the data support a random changepoint model with the changepoint following an exponential distribution. Visual analyses of the posterior densities of the parameters also support these conclusions.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: With the improvements in the effectiveness and availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), perinatally infected children are surviving to adolescence and emerging as a significant sub-population living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Adolescents, aged 10-19 years, face unique challenges related to adherence to chronic medication due to this period of vulnerability that is characterised by decreased parental support and supervision, decreased inhibition, increased risk-taking, and immature judgement. It is widely reported that poor adherence to ART leads to viral rebound, disease progression and drug resistance, in addition to increasing the risk of transmitting resistant strains of HIV to others. It is imperative to determine the factors that influence ART adherence among HIV positive adolescents so that effective interventions can be put in place. The current study described the factors that are associated with adherence to ART among HIV positive adolescents in Zimbabwe. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 136 randomly selected adolescents (10-19 years) who were receiving ART at two referral hospitals in Masvingo District in 2019 was undertaken. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, adherence and factors related to adherence such as person/patient, health system, medication, disease characteristics and social factors. Clinical data were extracted from the Electronic Monitoring Patient System. SPSS v24 was used for descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: More than half of the participants (61%) had combined optimal adherence (dose adherence, schedule adherence and adhered to dietary instructions) in the previous three days. The most frequent reasons reported for missing HIV medications in the previous month was being away from home (50%); forgetfulness (25%); and having too many pills to take (25%). In bivariate analysis, only duration of time since HIV diagnosis was significantly associated with combined adherence to ART in the previous three days. Conclusion: Tailored interventions are recommended to address low adherence amongst adolescents. These interventions should include convenient clinic appointment schedules for adolescents to pick up medication, reminders to take medication, regimen change to a single dose, and peer education and adherence clubs to improve knowledge about HIV and treatment, and curb treatment fatigue.

Magister Public Health - MPH (Public Health) / Approximately 6% of all people living with HIV in 2016 are adolescents aged 10-19 years. It is reported globally that adolescents on antiretroviral therapy (ART) are at increased risk for poor retention in care, adherence and viral load suppression, compared to children and adults.

p. 1-344 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-29T20:52:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 99999999999999999999.pdf: 961462 bytes, checksum: ed7215c7643c75fd7ba1d480ce75a2fa (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-04T17:34:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 99999999999999999999.pdf: 961462 bytes, checksum: ed7215c7643c75fd7ba1d480ce75a2fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-04T17:34:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 99999999999999999999.pdf: 961462 bytes, checksum: ed7215c7643c75fd7ba1d480ce75a2fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / O advento da Tecnologia Médica, a partir dos exames de monitoramento: contagem de linfócitos CD4 (CD4) e a quantificação da carga viral plasmática do HIV (CVP), têm desempenhado um avanço importante na procura de um diagnóstico precoce de falha imunológica e virológica em pacientes que vivem com HIV/Aids. Esta, junto à medicação anti-retroviral são fatores determinantes na mudança da Síndrome de uma doença que inevitavelmente levava a uma morte precoce para uma doença crônica que preserva, em certa medida, a qualidade da vida dos pacientes vivendo com HIV/Aids. Procuram-se entender os signos, significados e práticas de médicos de assistência e pacientes vivendo com Aids no contexto da relação médico-paciente-tecnologia, esta última, aqui entendida somente como os exames de CD4 e CVP. Optou-se por uma metodologia de análise qualitativa de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e trabalho de campo. Forma entrevistados 27 pacientes e 4 médicos. O trabalho de campo foi realizado em dois CTA do sul da Bahia. A análise temática debruçou-se em identificar categorias recorrentes nos discursos. Constatou-se que a relação médico-paciente fundamenta-se nas bases de uma medicina hegemônica. Entretanto, a anamnese e o exame clínico minucioso não faziam parte da valise tecnológica principal dos médicos durante a consulta. Em seu lugar, os exames ocuparam o papel principal, quando deveriam ter somente um papel auxiliador. No entanto, os profissionais insistiam na interpretação dos mesmos na procura de uma resposta sobre o comportamento dos pacientes, eficácia do tratamento, adesão à terapêutica, objetividade da doença e critérios para antecipação de uma doença oportunista e/ou da doença terminal. O discurso médico abusava da interpretação dos exames e os profissionais, algumas vezes desconsideram o discurso subjetivo dos pacientes. Ante a necessidade de pacientes que demandavam a escuta por problemas subjetivos, os médicos os encaminhavam para outros profissionais. Segundo eles, indicar a conduta terapêutica, avaliar a eficácia do tratamento anti-retroviral e, por fim, cuidar para enfraquecer o vírus e manter preservada a imunidade dos pacientes representava a ção/responsabilidade primordial destes, nos CTA. Para os pacientes, os exames traduziram a doença como uma metáfora do enfrentamento militar do vírus contra as células de defesa (CD4). Para eles, estes avisavam sobre a emergência de um evento inesperado, doença oportunista ou mesmo da morte, situação que gera ansiedade e expectativas. Os exames configuravam-se, para médicos e pacientes, um espelho da doença e representam o ponto principal da consulta. Esta conduta reforçou o modelo biomédico hegemônico e o re-significado do discurso médico pelos pacientes. Neste sentido, sugere-se a superação do paradigma biomédico e o estímulo para que médicos incorporem o saber das ciências das humanidades? durante sua relação com os pacientes. Propõe-se o reconhecimento de tecnologias leves comunicacionais como úteis na relação médico-paciente no caminho para uma assistência integral e humanizada em saúde. / Salvador

The purpose of this study was to develop a laboratory based Comprehensive Care, Management and Treatment of HIV and AIDS (CCMT) programme status reporting system using a methodological research study design. Quantitative data was collected using a request form and qualitative data was collected using structured questionnaires. For the study 1190 eligible CD4 samples were received, of which 1004 (84%) had a valid CCMT programme status. Overall 32% of the CD4 samples had a pre-ART status (n=383) and 52% had an ART status (n=621). The remaining 16% of CD4 samples (n=186) did not have a valid CCMT programme status. A pre-ART register was generated and assessed using a structured questionnaire. Based on the study findings a recommendation has been made to adopt the two-tick design for all NHLS request forms where programmatic data is collected. Additionally the CCMT programme status reporting system is recommended for rollout to other health districts / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health with specialisation in Medical Informatics)

The purpose of this study was to develop a laboratory based Comprehensive Care, Management and Treatment of HIV and AIDS (CCMT) programme status reporting system using a methodological research study design. Quantitative data was collected using a request form and qualitative data was collected using structured questionnaires. For the study 1190 eligible CD4 samples were received, of which 1004 (84%) had a valid CCMT programme status. Overall 32% of the CD4 samples had a pre-ART status (n=383) and 52% had an ART status (n=621). The remaining 16% of CD4 samples (n=186) did not have a valid CCMT programme status. A pre-ART register was generated and assessed using a structured questionnaire. Based on the study findings a recommendation has been made to adopt the two-tick design for all NHLS request forms where programmatic data is collected. Additionally the CCMT programme status reporting system is recommended for rollout to other health districts / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health with specialisation in Medical Informatics)