To date, traditional behavioral interventions have done little to reduce the prevalence and transmission of HIV among African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM), a highly at risk group. Some researchers theorize that the lack of success may be because these interventions do not address contextual factors among AAMSM. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is one approach to research with the potential to lead to effective interventions in the future. CBPR is a collaborative, mixed-methods and multidisciplinary, approach to scientific inquiry, which is conducted with, and within, the community. The current study follows the CBPR approach to engage and develop a relationship with the African American communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Contextual issues were discussed in order to identify emerging themes regarding HIV health related issues among AAMSM to provide the groundwork for continued CBPR research and future interventions with AAMSM in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. To accomplish this goal, researchers began the CBPR process by conducting interviews and focus groups with a sample of approximately 62 (34 from key informant interviews, 28 from focus groups [gender balanced]) AIDS service organization leaders and workers, advocates, medical doctors and community members with first-hand knowledge of HIV health issues in the AAMSM community. Transcripts of these interviews and focus groups were analyzed to identify emerging themes at the societal (religious doctrine, African American Culture, age-related norms and stigma), community (education, religious views/policy and community norms) and individual (disclosure, personal identity, sexual behavior/risk, accessing care and communication) levels. This data was used to create a holistic narrative report that will be used to direct the community advisory board (CAB) and guide future research and interventions.

First eleven leaves not numbered / The purpose of this study was to identify, explore and describe the potential contributing factors of the upsurge of HIV among children aged three to eighteen months in the Mangaung Metropolitan area of the Free State Province in South Africa. The study was conducted at five primary healthcare facilities and one hospital in the Mangaung metropolitan municipality of the Free State Province with sixty randomly selected mothers of children testing HIV-positive for the first time between the ages of three and eighteen months. The convergent mixed-methods research design was opted for, according to which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected at the same health facilities selected by means of cluster sampling. The review of medical records, unstructured interviews, and structured questionnaires were used for qualitative and quantitative data collection, while random cluster sampling was used for participant selection. Thematic data analysis was applied for the interpretation of recurrent patterns of qualitative and quantitative data. The study results revealed that mothers were well-informed about the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission. The main factors that contributed to more children testing HIV positive after the routine tests were conducted at ten weeks included non-adherence factors to PMTCT prescripts mainly by mothers, such as: babies were not brought to the clinics for testing and immunisations at ten weeks, and that mothers acquired HIV infection during the breastfeeding period. Some other potential contributing factors were late antenatal booking which lead to the delay in initiation of antiretroviral treatment, nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, and mixed feeding. The themes that emerged from the qualitative data were psychological factors, emotional factors, socioeconomic factors, missed opportunities, risky behaviour, as well as women disempowerment; while some mothers were left with unanswered questions. The results of the qualitative part complemented the quantitative findings as they uncovered the factors that led to the deviation from the PMTCT prescripts by the mothers. The study’s recommendations include PMTCT psychological assessment and counselling; partner and community involvement; women empowerment; and that couple testing at antenatal and postnatal clinics should be a national policy subjected to protracted monitoring and evaluation processes. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

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)

介紹.與確診多年的HIV陽性男男性接觸者（MSM）相比，新確診的HIV陽性男男性接觸者（N-MSM）傳播HIV的危險性更高，承受更多的心理健康問題，但愛滋病相關知識相對缺乏。目前的研究已經描述了N-MSM的心理健康和危險行為情況，但關於二者影響因素的調查卻甚少，且暫無關於N-MSM獨特相關因素，如疾病認知，安全套使用認知，安全使用的社會道德等的研究报告。目前，中國只有少量關於HIV陽性MSM的研究，無關於N-MSM的研究。 / 目的.本研究的目的包括： 1）描述中國N-MSM的心理健康和危險行為情況；2）驗證疾病認知量表在N-MSM人群的適應性；3）探討N-MSM疾病認知與心理健康（自殺意念，抑鬱，自我歧視和創傷後成長）的關係，並進一步研究在認知表徵與心理健康結果關係中，情感表徵的仲介作用與交互作用； 4）探索疾病認知與心理因素（抑鬱、自我歧視和創傷後成長）對自殺意念的獨立作用與交互作用；和5）研究愛滋病傳播相關危險行為的多方面因素。 / 對象與方法：本研究採用橫斷面研究設計，對中國成都共225名N-MSM進行了面對面訪談和電腦輔助移動電話訪談。根據Moss-Morris的方法，驗證疾病認知問卷的信度及效度； 使用單變量、多變量及分層的logistic和線性回歸等方法進行資料分析。 / 結果.在225名研究對象中，48%有自殺意念和抑鬱表現，35%自我歧視得分較高，17%有積極的創傷後成長。N-MSM的危險行為普遍存在：31%在確診感染後發生過非保護肛交性行為，40%認為在未來6個月意願與HIV陰性男性發生非保護肛交性行為，20%在感染後想過故意將HIV傳染給別人。經驗證，疾病認知問卷在N-MSM中具有良好的心理測量特徵。疾病認知的多個維度，如情感反應和治療控制等，與心理健康結果顯著相關。在認知表徵與心理健康結果的關係中，情感表徵表現出強烈的仲介作用。兩個疾病認知維度（情感反應與治療控制）和兩個心理因素（抑鬱和創傷後成長）對自殺意念有獨立作用，但無交互作用。影響N-MSM危險行為的多方面因素包括安全套相關認知，情感因素，心理健康和社會道德。 / 結論.本研究結果顯示中國N-MSM心理健康問題和危險行為是普遍存在的。疾病認知與心理健康結果的顯著聯繫，提示了可以通過改善N-MSM的疾病認知從而減少該人群的心理健康問題；在HIV領域中，這是一個新的研究方向。在對N-MSM危險行為的幹預研究中，需考慮影響N-MSM的獨特因素，如安全套相關認知，情感反應和社會責任等。 / Introduction.Newly diagnosed HIV positive men who have sex with men (N-MSM) comprise a special subgroup of HIV positive MSM, as they have higher risks of transmission via anal sex, suffer from more mental health problems, and possess less knowledge of HIV/AIDS than those who have been diagnosed for many years. Previous studies have investigated the prevalence of mental health and risk behaviours among N-MSMs, while few studies have explored the risk factors associated with these health-related outcomes, particularly the factors unique to N-MSMs, like illness perception, cognitions regarding condom use, social morality of condom use, etc. China provides only limited data about HIV positive MSM, and no such data is about N-MSMs. / Objectives.The aims of the study were to 1) investigate the characteristics of mental health and risk behaviours among N-MSMs in China; 2) validate the revised illness perception questionnaire (IPQ-R) modified for N-MSMs; 3) examine the effects of patients’ illness perception on their mental health outcomes and determine the mediating or moderating effects of emotional representation on the associations between cognitive representation and mental health outcomes; 4) examine the main effects and interaction effects of illness perception and psychological variables on suicidal ideation; and 5) investigate the multidimensional factors associated with risk behaviours related to HIV transmission. / Subjects and Methods.A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chengdu, China. A total of 225 N-MSMs participated in this study. Both face-to-face and computer-assisted mobile phone interviews were applied. The methodology by Moss-Morris was used to validate IPQ-R among N-MSMs. Univariate, multivariate, hierarchical logistic, and linear regression methods were used for data analysis. / Results.Of all participants, 48% had suicidal ideation and depression, and 36% reported self-stigma, but only 17% experienced posttraumatic growth (PTG). Risk behaviours were prevalent: 32% had had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) since HIV diagnosis, 40% had the intention to have UAI with HIV negative men in the coming 6 months, and 20% had had thoughts of transmitting HIV to others purposely since HIV diagnosis. The modified IPQ-R for N-MSMs was validated and found to have acceptable psychometric properties. Most dimensions of illness perception (such as emotional response, treatment control and consequences) were significantly associated with mental health outcomes. Emotional representation had strong mediation effects rather than moderator effects on the associations between cognitive representation and mental health outcomes. Two illness perception dimensions (emotional response and treatment control) and two psychological variables (depression and PTG) showed independent effects on suicidal ideation, but not interaction effects on suicidal ideation. Multidimensional factors, such as variables related to cognitions of condom use, emotional affect (feelings of guilt regarding HIV transmission to others), mental health, and social morality (perceptions regarding responsibility for condom use), were associated with risk behaviours among N-MSMs. / Conclusions.The results show that mental health problems and risk behaviours are prevalent among Chinese N-MSM. Illness perception has a strong influence on mental health outcomes, indicating a new direction for the reduction of mental health problems via the modification of patients’ illness perception. Multidimensional factors are associated with risk behaviours related to HIV transmission, such as cognitions of condom use, emotional affection and social morality, which are unique to HIV infectors and should be considered in the development of intervention programs among N-MSMs. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wu, Xiaobing. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 257-276). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract (English) --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / List of Contents --- p.v / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xv / Abbreviations --- p.xvii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- The importance of HIV positive men who have sex with men as a source of HIV transmission --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The importance of newly diagnosed HIV positive MSM (N-MSM) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Knowledge gaps about N-MSM --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Illness perception as a relative new perceptive in HIV research --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Aims --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Structure of the thesis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Summary --- p.15 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature review --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- HIV epidemic --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Global HIV/AIDS epidemic --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- HIV/AIDS in China --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- MSM and HIV --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- HIV epidemic among MSM worldwide --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- HIV prevalence and incidence among MSM in China --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Risk sexual behavior among HIV positive MSM and its determinants --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Mental health problems faced by HIV positive MSM --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Studies of PLWH in China --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3 --- Newly diagnosed HIV positive MSM (N-MSM) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- HIV transmission risk varies at different stages of HIV infection --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- More risky sexual behavior among N-MSM --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- More stress and lack of knowledge among N-MSM --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Definition of N-MSM --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Studies about N-MSM --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4 --- Self-regulation model and illness representation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Self-regulation model --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Illness representation --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Application of illness representation in HIV research --- p.60 / Chapter 2.5 --- Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) --- p.61 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Types of questionnaire deliver modes --- p.61 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Comparisons of sexual behavior reporting between ACASI and other delivery modes --- p.63 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Limitations of ACASI --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Subjects and Methods --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1 --- The study site --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2 --- Study population --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3 --- Recruitment of study participants --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4 --- Data collection procedure --- p.69 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Face-to-face interview --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Computer-assisted mobile phone interview --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Service provision and incentives --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Sample size and the representativeness --- p.71 / Chapter 3.5 --- Quality control --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6 --- Establishment of the CAMP system --- p.72 / Chapter 3.7 --- Collaborator --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8 --- Measurements --- p.74 / Chapter 3.9 --- Statistical analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 3.10 --- Ethical approval --- p.85 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Participant profiles --- p.86 / Chapter 4.1 --- Background --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2 --- Objectives --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Background information --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Mental health outcomes --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- HIV secondary transmission related behaviours --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Service utilization and quality of life --- p.94 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.95 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Validation of the revised illness perception questionnaire among newly diagnosed HIV positive MSMs --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Background --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2 --- Objectives --- p.112 / Chapter 5.3 --- Modification and translation --- p.113 / Chapter 5.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.114 / Chapter 5.5 --- Results --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Items of the main cognitive representation subscales --- p.116 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Items of the emotional response subscale --- p.117 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Items of the causal attribution subscale --- p.118 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Examination of the identity subscale --- p.118 / Chapter 5.5.5 --- Descriptions of the derived subscales --- p.119 / Chapter 5.5.6 --- Inter-correlations among subscales --- p.119 / Chapter 5.5.7 --- External validity --- p.120 / Chapter 5.5.8 --- Associations between background variables and illness perception --- p.120 / Chapter 5.6 --- Discussion --- p.121 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Relationships between illness perception and mental health outcomes among N-MSM --- p.132 / Chapter 6.1 --- Background --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2 --- Objectives --- p.134 / Chapter 6.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.136 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Analysis of the associations between illness perception and mental health outcomes --- p.136 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Analysis of the mediation effects of emotional response on the associations between cognitive representation and health related outcomes --- p.137 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Analysis of moderating effects of emotional response on the associations between cognitive representation and mental health outcomes --- p.139 / Chapter 6.4 --- Results --- p.140 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Suicidal ideation --- p.140 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Depression --- p.142 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Self-stigma --- p.145 / Chapter 6.4.4 --- Posttraumatic growth --- p.147 / Chapter 6.5 --- Summary --- p.149 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Associations between illness perception and health related outcomes --- p.149 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Summary of the mediation effects of emotional response on the association between cognitive representation and health related outcomes --- p.150 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Summary of the moderating effects of emotional response on the association between cognitive representation and health related outcomes --- p.150 / Chapter 6.6 --- Discussion --- p.151 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- The main and interaction effects of illness perception and other psychological variables on suicidal ideation among N-MSM --- p.177 / Chapter 7.1 --- Background --- p.177 / Chapter 7.2 --- Objectives and hypothesis --- p.179 / Chapter 7.3 --- Data analysis and results --- p.180 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Associated factors of suicidal ideation in univariate analysis --- p.180 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- The associations between illness perception / psychological variables and suicidal ideation --- p.180 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- The independent effects of emotional response/treatment control and psychological variables on suicidal ideation --- p.182 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- Analysis of the interaction effects between illness perception and psychological variables onto suicidal ideation --- p.184 / Chapter 7.4 --- Discussion --- p.184 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Risk behaviours related to HIV transmission and associated factors --- p.197 / Chapter 8.1 --- Background --- p.197 / Chapter 8.2 --- Objectives --- p.199 / Chapter 8.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.202 / Chapter 8.4 --- Results --- p.203 / Chapter 8.4.1 --- Factors associated with having had UAI with men since HIV diagnosis --- p.203 / Chapter 8.4.2 --- Factors associated with intention to have UAI with HIV negative men in the coming 6 months --- p.205 / Chapter 8.4.3 --- Factors associated with having the thoughts of transmitting HIV to others purposively since HIV diagnosis --- p.206 / Chapter 8.5 --- Discussion --- p.207 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- Conclusions --- p.225 / Chapter 9.1 --- Summaries and interpretations of findings related to mental health --- p.225 / Chapter 9.1.1 --- Poor mental health status --- p.225 / Chapter 9.1.2 --- A validated revised illness perception questionnaire (IPQ-R) among N-MSM --- p.226 / Chapter 9.1.3 --- Strong associations between illness perception and mental health outcomes --- p.226 / Chapter 9.1.4 --- Significant associations between illness perception / other psychological variables and suicidal ideation --- p.227 / Chapter 9.2 --- Summaries and interpretations of findings related to risk behaviours --- p.228 / Chapter 9.2.1 --- Prevalent risk behaviours --- p.228 / Chapter 9.2.2 --- Factors affecting the risk behaviours related to HIV transmission and implications --- p.229 / Chapter 9.3 --- Service implications --- p.231 / Chapter 9.3.1 --- Intervention programs for reducing mental health problems --- p.231 / Chapter 9.3.2 --- Intervention programs for reducing risk behaviours related to HIV transmission --- p.233 / Chapter 9.3.3 --- Policy support in HIV prevention --- p.236 / Chapter 9.4 --- Study limitations --- p.238 / Chapter 9.5 --- Recommendations for future research --- p.239 / Chapter 9.5.1 --- Longitudinal studies --- p.239 / Chapter 9.5.2 --- Behavioural studies --- p.240 / Chapter 9.5.3 --- Intervention studies --- p.240 / Chapter 9.6 --- Conclusions --- p.241 / Chapter Appendix I --- Questionnaire for face-to-face interview --- p.243 / Chapter Appendix II --- Questionnaire for computer-assisted mobile phone interview --- p.254 / Reference --- p.257

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.

KwaZulu-Natal is the province worst affected by the disease burden of HIV and AIDS with 38.7% of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANC) testing positive for HIV in 2008 (South Africa National Department of Health, 2008; Horwood et al, 2010). The lack of male partner involvement has been recognized as a contributing factor to poor programme adherence by women initiated into the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) programme in South Africa (Peltzer et al, 2011a). Increasing male partner involvement in the services, therefore, has been acknowledged as one of the strategies that may have an impact in the success of the programme (DOH, 2008; Peltzer et al., 2011a; Reece et al, 2010; Vika et al, 2010) This study aimed to explore and describe male partner involvement in PMTCT services in a selected primary health care facility in KwaZulu-Natal. Five areas were investigated: demographic factors; knowledge; socio-cultural factors; programmatic factors; and the interrelationship between demographic factors, knowledge, socio-cultural factors and programmatic factors on male involvement in PMTCT. A quantitative exploratory descriptive design was conducted in November 2012 at a selected primary health care facility in KwaZulu-Natal. Questionnaires were issued to 90 men. The study revealed some association between certain variables of interest and male involvement. The study recommended that PMTCT programmes need to boost their awareness strategies as a means of increasing male involvement in the services. / Theses (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.