<p>This study investigated the societal perception of refugee men as being a risk group, being polluted and the consequent risk of HIV infection they might face. It also determined the factors that could expose them to the risk of HIV infection while living in exile in South Africa.</p>

<p>This study aimed to explore the gender imbalances that exist in access to education and participation in schooling of the female orphans and vulnerable children, and also how this relates to the continuing feminisation of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Zambia. The study was based on the premise that the girl child is disadvantaged in this area, and the HIV and AIDS pandemic in worsening the situation for female orphans and vulnerable children.</p>

El virus C (GBV-C) o virus de la hepatitis G (HGV) está relacionado con el virus de la hepatitis C (HCV) ya que tiene una organización genómica y una homología en la secuencia muy próxima pero, sin embargo, no parece causar hepatitis ni ningún otro tipo de patología. En los últimos años, se han publicado numerosos trabajos en los que se asocia la co-infección del GBV-C/HGV y el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) con una menor progresión de la enfermedad causada por el virus VIH así como con una mayor supervivencia de los pacientes una vez que el SIDA se ha desarrollado. Basándonos en un modelo de co-infección, existen diversas teorías de cómo el virus de la hepatitis G puede influir en la enfermedad del VIH, se cree que puede inducir las quemoquinas, regular negativamente los co-receptores del VIH, así como provocar otros efectos indefinidos en los linfocitos huésped. Pero el mecanismo responsable del efecto beneficioso que el GBV-C/HGV tiene sobre el curso de la infección causada por VIH no está todavía definido. Teniendo en cuenta el posible uso de los péptidos sintéticos, el objetivo de la actual tesis doctoral es llevar a cabo la selección de péptidos de la proteína de envoltura E1 del GBV-C/HGV con potencial capacidad de inhibición del péptido de fusión del VIH-1, mediante la síntesis múltiple en paralelo de secuencias peptídicas lineales que cubren la totalidad de la estructura primaria de esta proteína y su posterior evaluación mediante ensayos biofísicos. Con ello se pretende plantear la utilización de péptidos sintéticos del GBV-C/HGV en el diseño de inhibidores de la entrada del VIH en la célula huésped. Se pretende así tratar de comprender mejor el efecto de la presencia de anticuerpos anti-GBV-C/HGV en la progresión de la enfermedad causada por la infección del VIH y de profundizar en el conocimiento actual acerca de la interacción entre estos dos virus. Se realiza la síntesis en fase sólida de 58 péptidos correspondientes a la proteína de envoltura E1 del GBV-C/HGV y mediante el ensayo de liberación de contenidos vesiculares se seleccionan 5 péptidos capaces de inhibir la capacidad del péptido de fusión (PF) del VIH-1 de formar poros en las membranas. Se realizan estudios detallados de los péptidos y de la inhibición del proceso de fusión, inducido por el péptido de fusión del VIH-1, por parte de secuencias del GBV-C/HGV. Para ello se realizan estudios de citotoxicidad, ensayos de hemólisis, estudio de la estructura mediante dicroísmo circular, ensayos de agregación de liposomas inducida por los péptidos y ensayos de transferencia de energía por resonancia. Por otra parte se realizan ensayos utilizando monocapas de extensión como modelos de membrana mediante la técnica de Langmuir-Blodgett, y se calculan las concentraciones superficial de exceso y las de saturación, información que servirá para conocer la capacidad de los péptidos para formar monocapas estables en la interfase aire/agua. Los diferentes ensayos muestran una interacción de los péptidos de la proteína E1 con el péptido de fusión del VIH-1, dando lugar a una inhibición de la actividad que el péptido de fusión del VIH-1 tiene sobre las membranas lipídicas. Esto sugiere que estos péptidos pueden ser candidatos para ser utilizados en futuras terapias antivirales. / "BIOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES OF THE ENVELOPE PROTEIN E1 OF GBV-C/HGV AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIV" The virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV) is related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) because it has similar genome organization and sequence homology; however, it does not seem to cause hepatitis or any other pathology. In recent years, there have been several studies in which the GBV-C/HGV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is associated with less progression of the disease caused by HIV as well as improved survival of patients after AIDS has developed. Based on a model of co-infection, there are several theories of how the hepatitis G virus can affect HIV disease: it could induce chemokines, negatively regulate the HIV co-receptors and cause other undefined effects in the host cell. But the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effect that GBV-C/HGV has over the course of infection by HIV is not yet defined. Taking into account the possible use of synthetic peptides, the aim of the present thesis is to carry out the selection of peptides from the envelope protein E1 of GBV-C/HGV with potential ability to inhibit the HIV-1fusion peptide. The aim is to better understand the effect of the presence of antibodies anti-GBV-C/HGV in the progression of AIDS and to study the interaction between these two viruses. The solid phase synthesis of 58 peptides corresponding to the envelope protein E1 of GBV-C/HGV was made and 5 peptides capable of inhibiting the ability of the fusion peptide (FP) of HIV-1 to form pores in membranes were selected by means of the leakage of vesicular contents assay. Detailed studies of the E1 peptides and their ability to inhibit the fusion process induced by the fusion peptide of HIV-1 were done. Monolayers and liposomes were used as model membranes. The different tests show an interaction of the E1 peptides with the HIV-1fusion peptide, resulting in an inhibition of the activity that the fusion peptide has on lipid membranes. This suggests that these peptides could be good candidates for future antiviral therapies.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / South Africa has the largest percentage of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. However, the response against the further spread of HIV/AIDS in the country is being hindered by stigma and discrimination. In order to develop effective intervention programmes to control and reduce the further spread of the disease, it is first important to understand the nature of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and especially how people construct it. In the present study, the social construction of HIV/AIDS-related stigma among Muslims was investigated because high levels of stigma were found in this group. This was fuelled partly by the belief that HIV/AIDS was not a serious problem amongst Muslims. Two focus groups were conducted, one among Muslim women only and the second among Muslim men only. The main aim of the study was to examine the perceptions of HIV/AIDS-related stigma among Muslims. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis to determine the themes that emerged from the research material. The main findings of the study included that Muslims&rsquo; religious identity/positioning was the most salient discourse that informed how they understood, made meaning of, and responded to HIV/AIDS. They engaged in various forms of stigma such as &lsquo;othering&rsquo;, and mediating factors of stigma included religious positioning. Stigma also served as a social barrier to VCT and disclosure of HIV status. However, supportive attitudes and behaviours were also evident. The findings yielded useful insights into possible elements of intervention programmes, both to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma, and also to encourage behavioural change in order to control and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in this community. / South Africa

HIV-positive adolescents are an increasingly numerous and challenging population in the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic. Their access to, and retention in, ART care has become a pressing public health concern. Comprised of four journal articles, this thesis explores the practice of antiretroviral treatment (ART) among a cohort of HIV-positive adolescents (age 10-19) in South Africa's Eastern Cape. By 'practice', I mean the volatile, situated and relational 'work' that goes into young people's everyday achievement of ART - into consuming daily medication, regularly attending health appointments, and participating in HIV programmes. Through an exploration of the ways in which some HIV-positive adolescents use, appropriate, or reject ART care; this thesis contributes to a much-needed evidence-base on the needs and survival strategies of adolescent ART users. Data for this study was gathered through eight months of multi-method ethnographic fieldwork with 23 HIV-positive youth, their families, and local health workers. The findings elucidate adolescent ART as a complex (and often volatile) form of social incorporation, through which young people negotiate survival, care and moral connection in contemporary South Africa. Enrolling in ART meant being encompassed into a (often hierarchical) set of social relationships, through which adolescents sought belonging, recognition and protection, amid profound insecurity. Through ART and its associated programmes, adolescents and their families attempted to strengthen familial ties, appeal to powerful patrons, petition for care, and access basic resources. Yet these pursuits were often deeply ambivalent, as discipline, blame, and resentment often came encased in the terms of care. At the crux of each article is an attempt to understand how adolescents, often alongside their families, negotiated both the social stakes and possibilities of ART. Through these discussions, we might better be able to grasp the fragility and complexity of young people's retention in ART.

The questionnaire text in English, Afrikaans and Native language / The aim of the study was to minimise non-adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment amongst HIV/AIDS adult patients at a hospital in Namibia thereby promoting successful outcomes in patients on ARV treatment. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 112 non-adherent adults. Data collection was through structured interviews and patients’ records review. Data analysis was by descriptive statistics. Rate of non-adherence was 36.7%. Characteristics common in the sample were, being a woman, age of 31-45 years, being unmarried, low educational status, lack of HIV status disclosure, feeling that taking ARVs reminded one of HIV and experience of ARV side effects. Reasons for missed doses included forgetting, alcohol use, access to care, work commitments, lack of food, stress and travelling. Of the respondents, 86.6% had unsupressed viral loads. Recommendations include use of reminders, automated SMS, establishing treatment supporters and collaborative efforts in reducing active substance use to improve adherence. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The aim of the study was to gain an understanding on the experiences of enrolled nurses with regard to caring for people living with HIV and AIDS in one of the rural hospital in Vhembe district, in order to make recommendations for guiding and supporting those enrolled nurses. This study followed qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Data were collected from 11 purposively selected participants using semi structured interviews. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis. Three super-ordinate themes emerged from data analysis namely: resources, support and impact of working with HIV positive patients. The study revealed that enrolled nurses are failing to provide proper care to people living with HIV and AIDS due to inadequate resources and lack of support. This situation has negative impact on the health of enrolled nurses providing care to people living with HIV and AIDS. Recommendations are put forth to improve resources, enhance support and for mitigating impacts experienced by enrolled nurses when caring for people living with HIV and AIDS at a rural hospital in Vhembe district of Limpopo province. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:56:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao de Adriana Tonani de Mattos.pdf: 2693529 bytes, checksum: 00310e354cac5ba29311696cfd985068 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-15 / Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are epitheliotropic viruses that infect skin tissue or mucous membranes, closely related to development of lesions in the genital tract, ranging from warts to invasive cervical cancer. These injuries are caused by different types of HPV that are classified into low and high risk types according to the association with cervical cancer. HIV seropositive women are mostly affected by HPV and are more prone to develop cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of HPV types in seropositive and seronegative women for HIV. Therefore, cervical samples, part of the human bank samples of the Virology Laboratory, were analised from women known to be positive for HPV (n=87) attending the Reference Center STD / Aids Clinic in Vitória-ES, during March to December 2006. DNA was extracted by commercial kit QIAamp... / Os papilomavírus humanos (HPV) são vírus epiteliotrópicos que infectam tecido cutâneo ou mucoso e estão relacionados com desenvolvimento de lesões que, no trato genital, variam de verrugas ao câncer cervical invasivo. Estas lesões são causadas por diferentes tipos de HPV, que são classificados em baixo e alto risco conforme sua associação com câncer cervical. Sabe-se que mulheres soropositivas para HIV são mais acometidas por infecções por HPV e estão mais propensas ao desenvolvimento de câncer cervical. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a frequência de tipos de HPV em mulheres soropositivas e soronegativas para HIV. Para isso foram analisadas amostras de escovado cervical, que faziam parte do banco de amostras do Laboratório de Virologia, de mulheres conhecidamente positivas para HPV (n=87) atendidas no Centro de Referência DST/AIDS, em Vitória-ES, no período de março a dezembro de 2006. O DNA das amostras foi extraído utilizando kit comercial QIAamp® DNA Mini Kit ou através do método de isotiocinanato de guanidina e sílica. DNA do HPV foi amplificado por PCR utilizando os iniciadores degenerados MY09/MY11 ou PGMY09/PGM11 biotinilados e a genotipagem foi realizada por Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) ou por Reverse Line Blot (RLB), respectivamente. Do total de amostras, 97,7% foram genotipadas e 31 tipos distintos detectados: 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, 26, 31, 31b, 32, 33, 34, 35, 42, 44, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, 71, 81, 82, 83 e 84. O tipo mais prevalente foi o HPV16, tanto nas mulheres soropositivas quanto nas soronegativas para HIV, seguido pelos tipos 6, 53 e 11. O tipo 13, incomum em amostras cervicais, foi observado nesse estudo, porém a quantidade de amostras não foi suficiente para a realização de seqüenciamento para a confirmação deste tipo viral. Os tipos oncogênicos foram mais comuns nas amostras de mulheres soropositivas para HIV, porém com número semelhante e o número de infecções múltiplas foi maior entre as mulheres HIV positivas. Este estudo revelou uma grande diversidade de tipos de HPV na região

Orientadores: Egberto Ribeiro Turato, Helaine Maria Besteti Pires Mayer Milanez / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T18:39:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bellini_NaraRegina_M.pdf: 345612 bytes, checksum: 06749de2ce8b9c10bce4ef15fa39ed1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: O objetivo geral deste estudo foi interpretar as significações psicossociais relatadas pelas mulheres no momento da descoberta da infecção pelo HIV na gestação, durante consulta de pré-natal especializado no Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Caism/UNICAMP). Os objetivos específicos foram conhecer as angústias e conflitos gerados após a informação sobre a presença da infecção pelo HIV, e discutir os significados da maternidade e a impossibilidade do aleitamento materno no contexto da infecção pelo HIV. Sujeitos e Métodos: Estudo exploratório, na particular abordagem Clínico-Qualitativa. A amostra de sujeitos foi construída pela técnica de saturação de dados, através de entrevista semidirigida de questões abertas. O grupo de sujeitos foi composto por gestantes com 22 a 31 anos de idade, entre 15 e 38 semanas de gestação, e que receberam o diagnóstico de HIV no início da gestação, sendo a maioria multípara, com situação conjugal estável e ocupação do lar. Resultados e Discussão: Nas falas destas mulheres ficou evidente que o momento da revelação do diagnóstico de HIV durante a gestação é carregado de intensas emoções, seguidas de fantasias e sentimentos conflitantes, com resistência da aceitação dos mesmos e medo intenso da transmissão vertical, mesmo sabendo que, utilizando a terapia anti-retroviral, a chance de infectar o bebê seria mínima. Emergiram também sentimentos de angústia e estigma relacionados ao impedimento da amamentação. Considerações Finais: Acreditamos que estar grávida na presença da infecção pelo HIV exige um duplo trabalho de redefinição subjetiva, na medida em que a mulher precisa se reconhecer como mãe e como portadora do HIV. Os resultados apontam que essas mulheres se deparam com circunstâncias adversas que envolvem o desejo de amamentar e, ao mesmo tempo, preservar a saúde de seus filhos / Abstract: Objectives - The general purpose of this study was to interpret psycho-social conceptions reported by women as they discover an HIV-infection during prenatal care at a specialized facility in a Woman's Health Center (Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher) of the University of Campinas (Caism/UNICAMP). Specific objectives were to recognize conflicts and afflictions generated after receiving an HIV diagnosis and discuss meanings of motherhood and proscription of breastfeeding in the setting of HIV infection. Methods: Exploratory study conducted in a clinical-qualitative way; the sample size was defined by the saturation of collected information. The sample was composed of recently diagnosed HIVinfected pregnant women (ages from 22 to 31 years, gestational ages from 15 to 38 weeks, mostly multiparous, housewives, and reporting stable relationships. Results and Discussion: From the analyzed data, it became clear that the experience of a newly found HIV infection diagnosis during pregnancy gives rise to intense emotions, fantasies and conflicted feelings, along with resistance in accepting emotions and great fear of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, even in face of minimal risks achievable by antiretroviral prophylaxis. Also emerged feelings of affliction and stigmatization related to suppression of breastfeeding. Final Considerations: We believe that pregnancy in the setting of HIV infection demands double amounts of effort in redefining one's self, in the sense that the woman must acknowledge herself as both a mother and a carrier of HIV. Results show that these women are faced with adverse circumstances involving the desire to breastfeed and, concomitantly, to preserve the health of their children / Mestrado / Ciencias Medicas / Mestre em Tocoginecologia

Orientador: Hyun Mo Yang / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Matemática, Estatística e Computação Científica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T12:07:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Freitas_LuizFernandodeSouza_M.pdf: 2050755 bytes, checksum: 1743132cb43cdc46b8799405dfa205c2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O organismo humano possui um complexo sistema de defesa: o sistema imunológico. Tal sistema apresenta diferentes respostas para diferentes ataques ao organismo. A co-infecção por parasitas como protozoário Tripanossoma cruzi e o vírus HIV aciona dois importantes mecanismos de defesa: a imunidade humoral a imunidade celular. Devido à fase crônica da Doença de Chagas, na maioria dos casos assintomática, esta é reativada quando as principais células de defesa do corpo, linfócitos T CD4 não ativos, sucumbem pela ação do vírus HIV. Com o objetivo de estudar a dinâmica de co-infecção por parte das doenças, Doença de Chagas e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida, a resposta do sistema imunológico humano, um modelo matemático de equações diferenciais ordinárias autônomas não linear é elaborado. Tal modelo apresenta de forma simplificada a dinâmica entre sistema imunológico, protozoário Tripanossoma cruzi, vírus HIV e células alvo. Após simplificações, obtemos dois sub modelos, com o objetivo de elucidar os mecanismos de defesa do sistema imunológico: imunidade humoral e imunidade celular. A análise quantitativa dos modelos de imunidade faz-se necessária devido a suas complexidades. Sub casos são abordados, com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência de anticorpos e células que secretam citocinas / Abstract: The human body has a complex system of defense: the immune system. Such a system has different answers for different attacks to the body. Co-infection by parasites such as Trypanossoma cruzi and HIV triggers two important defense mechanisms: humoral immunity cellular immunity. Due to the chronic phase of Chagas's disease, in most cases asymptomatic, it is reactivated, when the main defense cells of the body, linfocity T CD4 no active, succumb by the action of HIV. Aiming to study the dynamics of co-infection by the disease, Chagas's Disease and Acquired Immunode ficiency Syndrome, the response of the human immune system, a mathematical model of autonomous ordinary differential equations nonlinear is elaborate. This model presents a simplified dynamic among the immune system, protozoan Trypanossoma cruzi, HIV and target cells. After simplifications, we get two sub models, aiming to elucidate the defense mechanisms of the immune system: humoral and cellular immunity. Quantitative analysis of models of immunity is necessary due to its complexities. Sub cases are dealt with to evaluate the effectiveness of antibodies and cells that secrete cytokines / Mestrado / Matematica Aplicada / Mestre em Matemática Aplicada