Although data shows that the incidence of HIV in India is falling, it is still a prevailing disease in India. The lack of knowledge about HIV and risky behaviors greatly influence the role of HIV transmission among the Indian population. These factors also contribute to the numbers of new HIV infections caused by unprotected sex, which account for 90% of the new HIV infections. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among the people living with HIV/AIDS also play an important role in HIV transmission. This study was conducted to explore the association between selected demographic variables on HIV related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among people living in five high HIV prevalence states in India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu). This study also examined the association between HIV infection status and HIV related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in those five states. The data used in this study was from 2005-2006 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) collected for India. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to study the association. The results showed that the proportion of people with “high HIV related knowledge” was greater than those who have “low HIV related Knowledge”. However, the proportion of people with “comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission” was less. Similarly, a higher proportion of the study population showed “HIV/AIDS related positive attitudes”, however, the proportion of the study population with all 4 positive attitudes towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) was lower. Increase in highest education level and wealth was found to be significantly associated with the “high HIV related knowledge”, “have comprehensive knowledge”, “have HIV related positive attitudes”, “have accepting attitudes towards PLHA”, and HIV related “less risky behaviors”. The data has shown that HIV positive males were more likely to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission compared to HIV positive female. The study also showed that HIV positive individuals were more likely to have all 4 positive attitudes towards PLHA and they were likely to have more risky behaviors, although not statistically significant.

Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskors kunskap och attityder gentemot patienter som lever med HIV eller AIDS samt beskriva eventuella skillnader i kunskap och attityder mellan yngre och äldre sjuksköterskor. Metod: Föreliggande empiriska studie hade en kvantitativ ansats med en beskrivande jämförande design. Urvalsmetoden var ett bekvämlighetsurval där totalt 63 sjuksköterskor deltog och enkäter skickades ut till nio avdelningar på tre olika sjukhus. Resultat: Majoriteten av sjuksköterskorna hade god kunskap om HIV och AIDS, positiva attityder samt en vilja att vårda denna patientgrupp. En del av sjuksköterskorna uttryckte dock en rädsla för att smittas av HIV, ett behov av mer utbildning och negativa attityder gentemot vissa specifika grupper med sjukdomen. Yngre sjuksköterskor hade positivare attityder än äldre då det fanns en signifikant skillnad i attityder mellan dessa åldersgrupper. Slutsats: Trots att sjuksköterskorna hade god kunskap, positiva attityder och en vilja att vårda denna patientgrupp förelåg en rädsla att bli smittad av HIV och därför behövs mer utbildning om HIV och AIDS för sjuksköterskor. Yngre sjuksköterskor hade även positivare attityder än äldre. Vidare forskning bör även genomföras då få studier belyser detta område i Sverige. / Aim: To describe nurses knowledge and attitudes towards patients who are living with HIV or AIDS and to describe potential differences in knowledge and attitudes between younger and older nurses. Method: The present empirical study had a quantitative approach with a descriptive comparative design. The sampling method was a convenience sample in which a total of 63 nurses participated and questionnaires were sent to nine divisions in three different hospitals. Results: The majority of the nurses had good knowledge of HIV and AIDS, positive attitudes and a willingness to care for this group of patients. Some of the nurses, however, expressed a fear of contracting HIV, a need for more education and negative attitudes towards specific groups with the disease. There was a significant difference in attitudes between age groups, the younger nurses had a more positive attitude than the older nurses. Conclusion: Although the nurses had good knowledge, positive attitudes and a willingness to care for this group of patients, there was a fear of contracting HIV and therefore more education about HIV and AIDS is needed for nurses. Younger nurses had more positive attitudes than older nurses. Further research is also needed since just a few studies illustrate this in Sweden.

The objective of this thesis is to undertake a cost analysis of an HIV/AIDS prevention programme targeting vulnerable groups in Benin. The AIDS-3 project (Projet Sida 3), a project targeting Female Sex Workers (FSWs), which was implemented from 2001 to 2005, is used as a case study to see how costs vary with location, volume of activities, and HIV prevalence rate. Activities and delivery modes were documented, and cost data have been collected both retrospectively (data on previous “Projet Sida 3” costs already available) and prospectively, using an ingredients-based costing methodology to consider both the financial and economic costs. Output measures were compiled directly from the intervention, and are related to the efficient delivery of different components of the intervention. Average cost per output or per outcome was estimated and cost variation within and between health centres over time was assessed. Results reveal that only the volume of activity is a prominent factor that affects the average cost. The location of the project and the experience of the staff also affect costs as well, but their significance is low. Field work activities that are more efficient in urban areas than in rural communities appear to be paramount in the fight against HIV as far as costs are concerned. / HIV/AIDS Cost analysis

No description available.

South Africa faces among the world's highest burdens of both HIV and TB. These diseases affect not only the same populations, but often the same patient; HIV/TB co-infection has a compounding effect that creates a greater public health problem than the sum of its parts. In recognition of the need to address HIV/TB co-infection, South Africa is integrating the responses to both diseases under the National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB, 2012-2016. However, the two diseases have previously been addressed in very different ways, particularly when it comes to human rights considerations. Rather than a reconciliation of these two approaches, the NSP more closely resembles the ongoing response to HIV; while this approach may yield some benefits when applied to TB, it also risks undermining the unique characteristics of TB as well as its overall role in the co-epidemic, with potential repercussions for the effectiveness of the NSP. Through examining the historical roots of these approaches, both in South Africa and internationally, this paper explores how different factors, including the way different stakeholders have engaged with each, have influenced the development of the NSP, and what the implications are for its effective implementation. It is hoped that by focusing attention on TB, the stakeholders charged with monitoring and implementing the NSP will recognize the necessity of giving due consideration to both diseases in enacting a unified response to the co-epidemic. / Thesis (Master, Global Development Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-01-26 11:26:48.975

<p><font size="4" face="TrebuchetMS,BoldItalic"><font size="4" face="TrebuchetMS,BoldItalic"> <p>The study used a qualitative approach. Fourteen (14) in-depth interviews were conducted with English and Luganda speaking adult male and female clients on antiretroviral treatment (ART), in TASO Mulago. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 8 purposively selected ART clients who were considered to be &lsquo / expert&rsquo / clients in TASO Mulago. These participants were expert clients/ peer educators, who were open about their HIV status and have been involved in HIV/AIDS education and advocacy. The individual interviews and the focus group discussion were transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic and content analysis. Male and female participants who were married (primary relationship) disclosed their sero-status to their sexual partners, while few of those cohabiting or in steady relationship (only one) disclosed to their partners. Enabling factors to disclose to current sexual partners included: desire for partner to get treatment, need for the partner&rsquo / s support, having prior knowledge of partner&rsquo / s HIV status, out of anger, and having anxiety about the future. Some of the barriers to disclosure included: fear of blame and disappointing the partner, fear of abandonment, fear of stigma and discrimination. Participants suggested that couple counselling and testing, economic independence, peer support and involvement of the TASO staff in disclosure should be considered to facilitate or promote disclosure to sexual partners.</p> </font></font></p>

Objective.Humans differ substantially with respect to susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and disease progression. This heterogeneity is attributed to the interplay between the environment, viral diversity, immune response and host genetics. This study focused on host genetics. We studied the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in peptidyl prolyl isomerase A (PPIA), transportin 3 (TNPO3) and PC4 or SFRS1 interacting protein 1 (PSIP1) genes with HIV-1 infection and disease progression. These genes code for Cyclophilin A (CypA), Transportin-SR2 (TRN-SR2) and Lens epithelium derived growth factor/p75 (LEDGF/p75) proteins respectively, which are all validated HIV replication cofactors in vitro. Methods. One SNP A1650G in the PPIA gene was genotyped in 168 HIV-1 negative and 47 acutely infected individuals using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). 6 intronic and 2 exonic haplotype tagging (ht) SNPs (rs13242262; rs2305325; rs11768572; rs1154330; rs35060568; rs8043; rs6957529; rs10229001) in the TNPO3 gene, 4 intronic ht SNPs (rs2277191, rs1033056, rs12339417 and rs10283923) and 1 exonic SNP (rs61744944, Q472L) in the PSIP1 gene were genotyped in 195 HIV-1 negative and 52 acutely infected individuals using TaqMan assays. The rs1154330, rs2277191, rs12339417 and rs61744944 were further genotyped in 403 chronically infected individuals. CypA and LEDGF/p75 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were quantified by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The impact of the Q472L mutation on the interaction of LEDGF/p75 with HIV-1 integrase (IN) was measured by AlphaScreen. Results. The minor allele (G) of SNP A1650G (1650G) in the promoter region of PPIA was significantly associated with higher viral load (p<0.01), lower CD4+ T cell counts (p<0.01) and showed a possible association with rapid CD4+ T cell decline (p=0.05). The 1650G was further associated with higher CypA expression post HIV-1 infection. The minor allele (G) of rs1154330 in the intron region of TNPO3 was associated with faster HIV-1 acquisition (p<0.01), lower CD4+ T cell counts, higher viral load during primary infection (p<0.05) and rapid CD4+ T cells decline (p<0.01). The minor allele (A) of rs2277191 (rs2277191A) in the intron region of PSIP1 was more frequent among seropositives (p=0.06). Among individuals followed longitudinally, rs2277191A was associated with higher likelihood of HIV-1 acquisition (p=0.08) and rapid CD4+T cell decline (p=0.04) in the recently infected (primary infection) cohort. In contrast, the minor allele (C) of rs12339417 (rs12339417C) also in the intron region of PSIP1 was associated with higher CD4+ T cell counts during primary infection. The rs12339417C was also associated with slower rate of CD4+ T cell decline (p=0.02) and lower mRNA levels of LEDGF/p75 (p<0.01). Seroconverters had higher preinfection mRNA levels of LEDGF/p75 compared to nonseroconverters (p<0.01) and these levels decreased after HIV-1 infection (p=0.02). The Q472L mutation showed approximately 2-fold decrease in the association constant (Kd), suggesting stronger binding to HIV-1 integrase. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that genetic polymorphisms in the TNPO3 and PSIP1 genes may be associated with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and the disease progression. These data provide in vivo evidence that TRN-SR2 and LEDGF/p75 are important host cofactors for HIV-1 replication. This is also the first study to show the association of genetic polymorphisms in the PPIA gene with disease outcome in a population (South African) with high burden of HIV-1 infection. Conclusions. Genetic variation in HIV-1 replication cofactors may be associated with disease outcome in a South African population. These data strongly support the role of these HIV replication cofactors in disease pathogenesis in vivo and suggest that these factors are possible targets for therapeutic interventions. However, these data will need to be replicated in larger cohorts to confirm the effect of these genetic variants. Further studies on how to target these factors in antiviral strategies are needed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of HIV-infected individuals and limited treatment programs. The use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has resulted in a considerable decrease in morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected individuals. Long-term use of HAART has several limitations relating to cost, drug toxicity and adherence. Structured Treatment Interruption (STI) has been proposed as a therapeutic approach which limits the exposure to continuous HAART, but retains the benefits thereof. The role of HIV-specific Tcell responses in the control of viraemia has not been well studied in children and it is not clear when these responses become detectable or whether they are associated with improved viral control. Furthermore, antiretroviral drug resistance is well documented in adults infected with HIV-1 clade B virus but comparable information is lacking for chronic paediatric clade C virus infection. This pilot study focused on a chronic HIV-infected paediatric cohort from Durban, South Africa, to assess the immunologic and virologic responses in perinatal HIVinfected children undergoing STI. METHODS Thirty chronic HIV-infected treatment naïve children were enrolled and randomised into either the treatment interruption or continuous treatment group. Longitudinal measurements of viral loads and CD4 percentages were done at scheduled intervals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were screened for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) gamma interferon (IFN-?) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay responses using 410 peptides which spanned the entire HIV-1 clade C proteome. Intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) was done to distinguish between IFN-? Gag-specific T-helper and cytotoxic T cell responses. Pre-HAART drug resistance mutations testing and HLA typing were done for all children. RESULTS There was a significant increase in the median CD4 percentage after HAART was introduced. Six children randomized to the STI arm did not undergo treatment interruption because their viral loads remained detectable at the time of scheduled interruption. Most HIV proteins were targeted in this paediatric cohort. Gag was the most frequently targeted HIV-1 protein (93.1%). In both treatment groups, there were broadening of T-cell responses, however, the magnitude of T-cell responses decreased over time on HAART. Drug-resistant mutations were detectable in 4/29 children before initiation of HAART. CONCLUSION In this pilot study, the HIV-1-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses were detected before and during HAART. Although the treatment interruption period was short, there were no adverse outcomes in either the continuous or treatment interruption groups in terms of death or other clinical outcomes. This study suggests that it is important to continue to explore alternative treatment strategies in order to reduce cost and toxicity as well as to enhance adherence. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Šio baigiamojo darbo tikslas – įvertinti imunochromatografinio tyrimo metodo patikimumą, atliekant Žmogaus imunodeficito viruso aspektų analizę. Siekiant įvertinti imunochromatografinio tyrimo metodo patikimumą, ŽIV tyrimai buvo atliekami atrankiniu FIRST RESPONSE HIV CARD TEST 1-2.0 testu, pagrįstu nagrinėjamu metodu. Tyrimas atliktas Infekcinių ligų ir tuberkuliozės ligoninės, VšĮ Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų filialo laboratorijoje. ŽIV tyrimai atlikti visiems 18 - 60 metų amžiaus pacientams, hospitalizuotiems į Infekcinių ligų ir tuberkuliozės ligoninės Žvėryno stacionarą, taip pat ambulatoriškai konsultuojamiems dėl nepatikslintos kilmės karščiavimo, bėrimo, limfadenopatijos, mononukleozinio sindromo, užsitęsusio arba besikartojančio viduriavimo bei virusinių hepatitų nuo 2013-01-01 iki 2013-12-31. Gauti teigiami mėginiai buvo siunčiami į Nacionalinę visuomenės sveikatos priežiūros laboratoriją, kurioje atlikti patvirtinamieji tyrimai dėl ŽIV. Ne visi teigiami mėginiai buvo patvirtinti, tačiau šio tyrimo metu buvo atskleista 14 naujų ŽIV atvejų per metus. Siekiant nustatyti gautų klaidingai teigiamų rezultatų susidarymo priežastį, buvo atrinkti pacientai, kuriems nebuvo patvirtinti atrankiniai ŽIV tyrimai. Išnagrinėjus pagrindines jų tuometines diagnozes, nustatyta kad daugiausiai klaidingai teigiamų rezultatų gaunama sergant šiomis infekcinėmis ligomis: rože, Epštein – Baro sukelta mononukleoze ir hepatitu A. / The main goal of this paper is to assess the reliability of the immunochromatographic method carrying out the analysis of human immunodeficiency virus aspects. In order to assess the reliability of immunochromatographic method, the HIV tests were performed using the selective FIRST RESPONSE CARD TEST HIV 1-2.0 test, based on the method in question. The assay was carried out in the Laboratory of National Tuberculosis and Infectious disease hospital in Vilnius. The HIV tests were carried out from 01-01-2013 till 31-12-2013 to all patients aged 18-60 years, who were hospitalized in the National Tuberculosis and Infectious disease hospital in Vilnius as well as to outpatient, who were consulted due to fever of unspecified origin, rash, lymphadenopathy, mononucleosis syndrome, prolonged or recurrent diarrhea and viral hepatitis. All positive samples were sent to National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory for final confirmation. Not all the samples were confirmed, but this assay revealed 14 new cases of HIV per year. In order to identify the reasons of false positive results, the patients, whose selective HIV tests were not approved, have been selected and after the examination of their diagnoses, it was found that the majority of false-positive results were received to patients with the following infections: rose, mononucleosis induced by Epstein - Barr virus and hepatitis A.