This study was an attempt to investigate the influence of socio-cultural factors on HIV prevention strategies among HIV discordant couples in Harare, Zimbabwe. HIV sero-discordance is a scenario whereby one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. HIV sero-discordant couples are a unique and vulnerable population that encounters many peculiar challenges. When dealing with this population, researchers have to deal with contradictory ideas and perceptions presented by each partner making up the couples and also understand the relationship in the context of cultural values, norms and the dynamic of power and oppression. In addition to this, the concept of HIV sero-discordance and the frequency of its occurrence are poorly understood in most African communities. Despite the growing evidence of HIV discordance, HIV prevention strategies have largely focused on clinical aspects at the expense of socio-cultural issues that impact on HIV prevention strategies targeted at HIV sero- discordant couples. The study seeks to contribute to the conceptualization and design of intervention programs dealing with sero-discordance. The study is underpinned by the symbolic interactionism theory and was qualitative in design involving 13 HIV discordant couples in heterosexual relationships enrolled in the HIV Preventions Trials Network 052 Study (HPTN 052 Study) being undertaken by the University of Zimbabwe’s department of medicine. The study utilized 2 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 10 in-depth interviews (IDI) to collect data. The study’s findings indicate that discordant couples are in fact critical stakeholders in the uptake of all the available HIV prevention strategies. Failure to acknowledge this tenet is self-defeating as evidenced by the perception of viewing condom use within a marriage as humiliating for a woman. The study further noted that practitioners in the HIV prevention domain must guard against over-relying on the scientifically demonstrated efficacy of the strategies. The study recommends that HIV prevention strategies must be socially and culturally acceptable and embedded for them to be more efficacious. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)

Studies on knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers involved in HIV and AIDS care have often revealed the lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS. Nurses‘ knowledge may compromise the quality of care and attitudes towards patients living with HIV/AIDS. Special nursing knowledge and skills have been suggested as a prerequisite for taking care of patients with HIV. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses‘ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards patients with HIV and AIDS in Kumasi, Ghana. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 nurses at five selected health facilities in Kumasi. Data was collected by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results were presented using charts and tables. Knowledge of HIV and AIDS was satisfactory but some of the nurses still hold erroneous beliefs and misconception about HIV transmission. A majority demonstrated favourable attitudes. Nurses had fears of contracting the virus, which resulted in the display of negative attitudes by some. Their practice of universal precautions was satisfactory; however, there was evidence of noncompliance among some of them. More studies should be conducted throughout the country to further assess nurses‘ knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV and AIDS / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has been growing in China over the past few years. Extensive investigations on the neurocognitive impact of HIV have been carried out in the West, where clade B is the predominant HIV subtype. There are only a few studies on the neurocognitive pattern of Chinese in Hong Kong, where clade E and clade B HIV was equally distributed in the population. The objective of the present study was to examine the prevalence and the patterns of neurocognitive impairment of Hong Kong Chinese. / CONCLUSIONS: Among HIV+ Hong Kong Chinese, there is a pattern of subtle and variable neurocognitive deficits. The present findings has highlighted its compatibility with research on the neurocognitive profiles in clade B HIV+ individuals in the West and the impact of cART on the presentations of HAND. / METHOD: Participants include 119 HIV+ Chinese patients between the age of 18 to 50 recruited from a major tertiary specialist centre offering and territory-wide comprehensive treatment. For the comparison group, 153 age and years of education matched HIV- controls were recruited from the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. A neuropsychological test battery consisted of 12 test measures agreed to be sensitive in detecting the effects of HIV on the brain was administered to the participants. / RESULTS: Factor analysis was used to evaluate the factorial validity of the test battery and 6 neurocognitive domains were identified. A total of 24% of HIV+ participants were classified to suffer from global neurocognitive deficits. No clade-specific difference was observed in terms of prevalence of neurocognitive impairment and pattern of neurocognitive performance. Two-stage cluster analysis identified 5 clusters in both HIV+ and HIV- groups respectively. There was an overall taxonomy of 3 groupings, which are HIV+ patients who are globally impaired, who are neurocognitively intact, and who are subclinical. Neurocognitive impairment was found to have no association with depressed mood and medical indices of CD4 cell count and plasma viral load. Nevertheless, the group of globally impaired group was significantly older than the neurocognitively intact group. / Chan, Wing Sze Iris. / Adviser: Patrick Wing-Leung Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-170). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Conclusions The results showed that depression is prevalent among Chinese PLWH and perceived discrimination is a source of stress. Perceived stress, social support and coping strategies had independent effects on mental health outcomes but there were no interaction effects. The Brief COPE was validated and had a structure different from the original, again supporting the importance of cultural variations. Our results hence provided useful instrumentations (PSSHIV and Brief COPE) as well as a good foundation for the development of theories and interventions specific to the needs of the PLWH in China. / Introduction Mental health issues are prevalent among People Living with HIV (PLWH). Instrumentation, conceptualization and theoretical models of stress-coping-mental health relationships among PLWH are important but theoretical and practical differences exist in the context of different cultures and quality of care services. / Objectives The aims of the study were 1) to develop a new Perceived Stress Scale for People Living with HIV (PSSHIV); 2) to validate the Brief COPE inventory among Chinese PLWH; 3) to investigate determinants of perceived stress and psychological well-being. / Results The newly developed PSSHIV and the rearranged version of the Brief COPE were validated and found to have acceptable psychometric properties. Of all participants, 63.3% showed moderate/severe depressive symptoms. 'Problem-solving and Acceptance' and 'Self-blame and Denial' were commonly used coping strategies. Socioeconomic status (SES), perceived discrimination, and optimism were significantly associated with overall stress and some of the subscales of PSSHIV. Perceived stress appeared to mediate the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. In addition to perceived stress, social support and some particular coping strategies were associated with depression. Similar though not identical results were found using quality of life as the outcome. / Subject and Methods To achieve Aim 1, PLWH in two Chinese cities were interviewed for item generation and validation. Aims 2 to 4 were achieved through another survey conducted in the same cities. Participants were recruited from the registry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from users of hospital services and Methadone Maintenance Treatment clinics. Standard statistical methods were used for validation studies. / Su, Xiaoyou. / Adviser: Tak Fai Joseph Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-206). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

The purpose of this study was to explore HIV/AIDS client experiences with supportive services. The consumption of social services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS has assumed increasing importance. This is a crucial population that requires a multifaceted approach to treatment in order to remain active and productive for longer periods of time.

The purpose of this study was to measure the level of self-efficacy in coping methods among people living with HIV/AIDS.

South Africa has one of the highest prevalence of HIV infections in the world. Sexual transmission is the primary mode of transmission across the country’s population. Misinformation about AIDS, negative attitudes to HIV testing and AIDS’ stigmatizing beliefs represent potential barriers to seeking HIV testing. Youth between 15-24 years have the greatest risk of HIV infection but only 37% of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) had undertaken HIV counselling and testing (HCT) according to the HEAIDS (2008) report. Prevention of HIV and behaviour change includes knowledge about, and adequacy of, HIV counselling and testing (HCT) resources on campuses. The aim of this study was to investigate students’ perceptions about HCT at UKZN and make recommendations regarding improvements. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study of UKZN undergraduate students on the five campuses was conducted. Participants completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Of 965 surveyed students, 663 (71%) had tested for HIV among whom 545 (58%) were females and 501(52%) were 20-25 years. Fear of positive results, perceived low risk of acquiring the infection and having confidence in his/her partner influenced student HIV testing behaviour (p<0.001). A significant difference was also found in positive attitudes towards HCT on campus between people who had tested (median score 20) and people who had not tested (median score 18) (p < 0.05). Since one third of students at UKZN had not tested for HIV, HCT at UKZN needs to be advertised more effectively so as to increase HIV testing by students on campuses. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

This thesis examines the legal protection of public employees who are HIV-infected or have AIDS in Canada and the United States. Emphasis is placed on the dealing with mandatory HIV-testing schemes in each country. To this end, the first section presents medical facts about the disease itself, the transmission risks, and testing methods as ethical considerations about HIV-testing schemes. The second section addresses the protection standards guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and compares them to the standards set out by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Finally, the third section compares protection offered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

<p>This thesis examined to what extent the current legislation protects the HIV positive employee against unfair discrimination and dismissal. The study gave short medical background to HIV/AIDS and introduced HIV discrimination by giving the historical background to HIV related discrimination. From this, the extent of stigmatization against this group was introduced.</p>

The study explored the factors influencing the use of voluntary counselling and testing by university students. This was done by undertaking an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study. Focus group discussions and field notes were used to collect data from the participants. Outcomes from the study revealed various factors to the uptake of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services by university students namely: the desire to know one‟s HIV status, illness, pregnancy, blood donation, to get a reward, the influence of significant others, the influence of media, awareness campaigns, compulsion, to get a job, curiosity, to be a positive role model and the positive attitude and professional conduct of the health care provider. The study also revealed various challenges to the uptake of VCT services by university students namely: the fear of being diagnosed HIV positive, HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, the low perception of risk to HIV infection, the lack of student friendly VCT services, the shortage of human and infrastructural resources, the inaccessibility of VCT services, the long waiting period for test results, negative perceptions about VCT, the problems with pre-test counselling and ignorance. Going by the participants‟ suggestions VCT services uptake by university students could be improved by increased resource allocation (incentives, human and infrastructural resources), increased awareness campaigns, and improved counselling and making VCT services more accessible / Information Science / MA (Public Health)