Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Restricted until October 2003. Bibliography: leaves 148-161.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 1996.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 1996.

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1996. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 94-104. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Université Laval, 2005. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Oct. 5, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (p. [299]-320).

This ethnography of intravenous (IV) drug users challenges popular representations of a "junkie" subculture and stereotypes of users as rejecting the dominant cultural values of mainstream society. Users attempts to construct and maintain a moral identity are examined. Beyond "war stories" ennobling street life and survival, life narratives were constructed through a juxtaposition of voices and images establishing moral worth in opposition to others. Moral identity is a central concern for IV drug users, one influencing their response to risk. Social relations, responsibility, and an ethic of care were found to underlay the moral codes developed by users, codes socially-embedded and to some degree gender specific. Men tended to adopt a "tough guy," "independence" voice in which responsibility was largely framed around status and image as a role model. Women tended to see responsibility and morality within a web of interdependence and care. Social responsibility was a measure of moral goodness. The desire to be defined by mainstream values was strongly evident among women users who were mothers. Motherhood was a core symbol representing inherent goodness, a marker of moral identity, and a means toward achieving a socially acceptable identity. The identities of "junkie" and "mother" placed women in a state of perpetual tension and conflict as manifested in issues of child custody and welfare. Maintaining relationship with their children was central to the women's moral identity, be it based in daily interaction or visitations inspiring hopes for a future. This ethnography suggests that IV drug users, while chemically dependent, maintain a sense of agency. Contrary to stereotypes of irresponsibility, users are reflexive about their habit's control and their use of drugs to block suffering, social responsibility, and the pain they cause others. Displays of agency and exercises of control proved critical in identity construction, particularly for women users diagnosed HIV positive. Documented was the process whereby they redefined their "health" and moral identity in the company of others who assisted in constructing identities in contrast to the negative stereotypes of AIDS. Through discourse within these "life narrative groups" a positive diagnosis was transposed into a positive identity.

Introduction Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) play a crucial role in the control and management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is essential to understand the factors that influence the utilisation of VCT to improve implementation of measures that encourage VCT uptake. The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting the utilisation of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services for HIV/AIDS in Sowa, Botswana. Methodology A cross-sectional study was carried out by collecting data from 71 randomly selected participants residing in the community of Sowa, Botswana. Open and close ended questions were used. Relevant demographic data were collected from each respondent. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done using chi square test and logistic regression models through STATA11 statistical software. Results About half of the respondents were willing to utilise the VCT services. Willingness to utilise VCT was significantly associated with the respondents' choice of VCT centres, worry about confidentiality at VCT centres, and concern about their partners' being aware of their use of VCT. The expected reactions of their partner, family and community to the use of VCT by the respondents, in addition to the willingness of respondents to inform their partners the result of their HIV test, were other factors associated with the use of VCT. Multivariate regression showed that being "not worried" (AOR 33.48; 95CI 5.63 - 199.15) about confidentiality at VCT centres predicted the willingness to use VCT. In addition, not worried that their partners were aware they had utilised VCT (AOR 7.25; 95CI 1.69- 31.14), and readiness to inform their partners about the result of their HIV test (AOR 14.96; 95CI 3.74- 59.85), predicted the willingness of respondents to utilise VCT. Similarly, the expectation of a happy reaction from partner (AOR 47.02; 95CI 3.83- 577.11) and family (AOR 45.13 95CI 3.28-620.72) on being aware the respondent had used VCT, also predicted willingness to use VCT. Conclusion This study confirmed that stigma related to VCT use and confidentiality at VCT centres influence the utilisation of VCT services. Also, concern about partner's awareness that a respondent had used VCT and the expected response of partner, family, and community, were all important influencing factors to the utilisation of voluntary counseling and HIV testing services. These issues need to be addressed in order to increase VCT uptake among individuals and the community.

A research report submitted to the faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine (Pharmacotherapy) / Background: The decision of when to start treatment in an HIV-infected individual has always been problematic as far as CD4 count is concerned. Aims: To determine the clinical outcome of patients who commence HAART at different CD4 cell count levels. Method: Retrospective analysis of records of a cohort of patients who are received ART at workplace wellness clinics in three mines in Limpopo province from January 2003 to December 2009. Patients were divided into three groups based on their baseline, group A (CD4 <100), group B (CD4 101-200) and group C (CD4 201-250) Each patient’s data was analyzed one year after his/her commencement. Results: The percentage of patients who died in group A (16%) differs significantly from the percentage of patients who died in group B (4%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.038) and also differ significantly from the percentage of patients who died in group C (0%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.011). The percentages of patients who developed TB in the three groups are 8%, 8% and 2.9% respectively. When compared statistically, these percentages do not differ significantly (Fisher exact test p=0.059).The percentages of patients with severe bacterial pneumonia in the three groups (2%, 2% and 0% respectively) do not differ significantly (Fisher exact test p=0,276).The percentage of hospital admissions for patients in group A (18%) differ significantly from the percentage in group B (6%) and the percentage in group C (6%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.05). The percentage of patients with weight loss of more than 10% of baseline value in group A (24%) differ significantly from the percentage in group B (4%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.003) and also differ significantly to from the percentage in group C (0%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.001). The percentage of patients with undetectable viral load in group B (89%) is significantly different from the percentage in group A (69%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.03) and is also significantly different from the percentage in group C (61%) (Fisher exact test p= 0.008).The change in mean CD4 cell count was found to be statistically significant within each group (paired t test, p<0.0001), but the mean changes between the three groups (132,141 and 172) respectively, do not differ significantly (ANOVA test). Conclusion: Patients with baseline CD4 cell count of less than 100 have a poor clinical outcome when compared to patients with baseline CD4 cell count of more than 100. Efforts must be made to identify patients early before CD4 cell count fall to below 100 and preferably initiate HAART when CD4 cell count is above 200.

O paciente portador de necessidades especiais pode ser descrito como aquele indivíduo que não se adapta de maneira física, intelectual ou emocional aos parâmetros normais, considerando os padrões de crescimento, desenvolvimento mental e controle emocional, além dos relacionados à conservação da saúde. A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) estima que a prevalência das deficiências no mundo seja de uma pessoa a cada dez e mais de dois terços não recebe nenhum tipo de assistência odontológica. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a percepção dos profissionais odontólogos sobre a acessibilidade do paciente com Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (SIDA/AIDS) em estabelecimentos odontológicos na cidade de São Paulo e comparar com um grupo controle, representados por pacientes com Diabetes Mellitus. A informação para o estudo foi baseada em conversações telefônicas com cirurgiões-dentistas, onde foi realizada uma entrevista semi-estruturada. A análise de conteúdo das entrevistas foi executada segundo método de Lefèvre e Lefèvre (2000) e foi realizada destacando-se a idéia central. Do total de entrevistados, 55,14% eram do gênero feminino e 53,27% trabalhavam em consultório particular. Em relação à acessibilidade, 96,26% já tinham tratado de pacientes com Diabetes, 55,14% com SIDA/AIDS. Concluiu-se que a principal dificuldade para tratar pacientes com diabetes é a prática clínica, principalmente relacionada com problemas de coagulação. Entre os pacientes com SIDA/AIDS embora tenham sido citadas dificuldades clínicas, pôde ser verificado que a maior dificuldade ainda é o preconceito contra eles. / The patient who has special needs can be described as the individual that can´t adapt himself to normal physical, intellectual or emotional parameters, considering the growing patterns, mental development and emotional stability, in addition to those related to the health maintenance. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the deficiencies prevalence is about one in ten individuals allover the world and more than two thirds don´t have any dental assistance. The objective of the study was to verify the dental professional perception with relation to the accessibility among patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SIDA/AIDS) in clinical settings in the city of São Paulo, and to compare this perception with a control group, patients with Diabetes Mellitus. The study information was based on telephone conversations with Dentistis. A semi-structured interview was prepared. Content analysis was performed as per Lefèvre and Lefèvre (2000) with the relief of the central ideas. Among the participants, 55.14% were female and 53.27% worked in private settings. Regarding the accessibility, 96.26% had already treated patients with Diabetes, 55.14% with SIDA/AIDS. It was concluded that the main difficulty to treat diabetes patients is the clinical practice, mainly with problems related to blood coagulation. Among SIDA/AIDS patients, even though it had been listed clinical difficulties, it could be verified that the main difficulty is still prejudice amongst them.