A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Family Medicine. / Introduction South Africa has more people living with HIV than any other country in the world.1 Women infected with HIV have a high risk in the development of cervical dysplasia and cancer of the cervix more so than women who are not infected.2,3 Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out by reviewing cervical smears of HIV positive women in a district hospital. Three hundred and ninety cervical Pap smears were classified according to the Bethesda system. Adherence was measured by the patient’s report and viral load. Data was collected through the use of self administered questionaire and data capture sheet. Results The prevalence of abnormal Pap smears was 57 per cent and LSIL was the commonest abnormality seen (142/390, 36%). Eighty-four per cent (328/390) had stage 1 WHO-HIV classification. WHO stage 3 participants seemed to be three times more likely to have abnormal Pap smears than those with WHO stage 1 (OD 3.3, STD. error 1.70, p=0.018, 95% CI 1.23-9.04). Abnormal pap smears were seen more in participants with CD4 cell count ≤ 350 cells/μL as compared to participants with CD4 cell count ≥ 500 cells/μL { 122/172, (71.00 %) vs 48/117, (41.03%), p-0.000, 95% CI : 0.09-0.37}. Similarly, participants who did not use HAART had more abnormal results as compared to those who used HAART {42/60(70.00%) vs 180/330 (55.00%), p-0.028, 95% CI 0.28-0.93}.Adherence to HAART did not show any link with abnormal smears. Conclusion The more immune-suppressed a woman is, the higher the risk of developing cervical cancer precursors. The high risk group in this study was found to be the participants with the CD4 cell count of ≤ 350 cells/μL and the viral load ≥1000 copies/mm3. The self-reported adherence level did not show any impact.

This research investigated the ethical and legal issues that impact on the urgent implementation of Nurse Initiated and Managed Anti-Retroviral Treatment (NIMART) in South Africa, which is part of the task-shifting strategy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to deal with the human resource shortage that has negatively impacted access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) in developing countries (WHO;2006). The objectives were to review and analyse the existing legal framework and provisions for NIMART in South Africa; and to identify ethical issues and implications of NIMART within the current legal framework. It analysed the legal issues that impact on the implementation of NIMART within the public health service in South Africa, as well as the ethical basis and implications of NIMART on the practice of nurses in the scale-up of Anti-Retroviral Treatment in Primary Health Care (PHC). A comparative analysis was done with case studies of task-shifting in other developing countries and evidence-based recommendations for an enabling and long-term sustainable ethico-legal approach to task-shifting were established. The research concluded that despite the existing legal framework for NIMART in South Africa being firmly founded in the Constitution and further enabled by health policy, challenges exist in implementation of certain critical aspects of the enabling legislation relating to nurse training and accreditation required for full authorization to practice NIMART and that these technical challenges if not attended to could threaten the long-term sustainability of NIMART.

MPH, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Background: The increase use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among patients with HIV infection and AIDS has led to increasing reports of metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity. Therefore, it is important to explore the burden of these diseases among HIV infected patients. Objectives: To determine the burden of metabolic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemia) in patients attending HIV clinic at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (JHBH). Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study. The study population included patients attending JHBH HIV clinic and on HAART for more than one year. A sample size of 304 patients, including 237 females and 67 males partook in this study. Anthropometric measurements were taken from patients and blood samples of these patients were sent to laboratory for lipograms, HbA1c, random glucose, CD4 lymphocytes counts as well as HIV viral load testing. The data was analysed with standard statistical software Epi-info version 6.0. Both descriptive and analytical statistics was used. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF was 20.4 %; obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2) was 16.8% and patients that were overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2 and BMI < 29.9 kg/m2) was 28.6%; hypercholesterolemia (TC 5.0 mmol/l) = 35.5%; HDL< 1.29 mmol\L in females was 58% and HDL <1.04 mmol/l in males was 36%; elevated triglycerides 1.7 mmol/l was 30% and only 16% was classified as being hypertensive (BP 140/90 mmHg and / or on Hypertensive medication). The majority of the patients (86.2%) had a CD4 lymphocyte count 200 X 106 cells/l and 84% of patients had less than detectable limits for viral loads (VL< 40 copies / μl), which has been reported as optimum levels for metabolic diseases in HAART recipients. Conclusion: These results clearly indicate that there is a growing burden of metabolic diseases among HIV patients on HAART attending the Johannesburg hospital HIV clinic. The current study also indicates that the metabolic disturbances are more frequent in women than in men, except for hypertension.

As novas drogas para tratamento do HIV/aids mudaram a história da doença, diminuindo a morbimortalidade e possibilitando um tratamento seguro e tolerável ao portador. Entretanto, para se alcançar os benefícios do tratamento é necessário o uso correto e diário dos medicamentos gerando um novo desafio: a adesão a TARV. A interação do paciente com a equipe multiprofissional tem sido associada ao aumento crescente da adesão. A inserção do farmacêutico nesta equipe é relativamente recente e tem potencial de impactar positivamente na adesão. Neste contexto, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto de intervenções farmacêuticas na adesão ao tratamento antirretroviral em pacientes com HIV/aids. Para alcançar os nossos objetivos foi realizado um estudo de intervenção (pesquisa-ação), prospectivo com análise quali e quantitativa. Foram convidados a participar do estudo os pacientes que já estavam em uso de TARV há pelo menos 12 meses antes do inicio do estudo e que apresentavam história de má adesão (grupo 1) e pacientes que iriam começar a TARV no momento de sua inclusão no estudo (grupo 2). A adesão foi avaliada por meio de questionários estruturados, pelos exames laboratoriais de contagem da carga viral e contagem do linfócito TCD4, e do histórico de retiradas dos medicamentos. O acompanhamento farmacêutico aconteceu por um período de 12 meses onde foram enviadas mensagens de texto SMS (torpedos) para os pacientes com objetivos de lembra-los da consulta com o farmacêutico e da retirada da TARV. Foram convidados a participar do estudo 120 pacientes, sendo que 95 concluíram o acompanhamento farmacêutico. Deste total, 63 pacientes pertenciam ao grupo 1 e 32 pertenciam ao grupo 2. Após 12 meses de seguimento farmacêutico, entre os 63 pacientes que já estavam em tratamento, houve aumento do percentual de boa adesão de 16% para 57%, com aumento do CD4+, e aumento do percentual de pessoas (de 21% para 52%) com carga viral indetectável. Para o grupo que iniciava a TARV pela primeira vez, 69% teve boa adesão e 91% teve queda significativa da carga viral após 12 meses de acompanhamento. Diante destes resultados, é possível concluir que ha uma tendência no aumento da adesão quando a equipe multiprofissional conta com um farmacêutico que atua de forma clínica junto ao paciente. / Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed the history of HIV/aids, reducing morbi-mortality and providing a safe and tolerable treatment. However, to achieve all the benefits from the treatment its expected a correct and daily use of medicines, which means the challenge of adherence to ART. Its known that an effective interaction between patient and the multidisciplinary team is linked to good treatment adherence. The insertion of a clinical pharmacist in this team is recent and it has the potential to positively impact in adherence and HIV control. This study aimed to assess pharmaceutical interventions on adherence to ART in HIV/aids patients. We designed an interventional and prospective study, including qualitative and quantitative analysis. Patients with poor history of adherence to ART, detected by the multiprofessional team (Group 1) were included. These patients should have been using ART at least 12 months before their entrance in the study. In the other group we invited people with recent HIV diagnosis and with ART prescription for the first time (Group 2). Adherence was assessed through structured questionnaires, laboratory exams of viral load count and CD4+ lymphocyte count, and by withdrawal of medicines. The pharmaceutical monitoring had been done during 12 months, in which text messages (SMS messages) were sent for patients to remind them about the pharmacist and medical appointments as well as the withdrawal of ART. An amount of 120 patients were invited to participate in the study, and 95 completed the pharmaceutical monitoring. Of this total, 63 patients belonged to Group 1 and 32 belonged to Group 2. After 12 months of pharmaceutical monitoring, among group 1 (63 patients) there was an increase in the percentage of adherence from 16% to 57%, an increase of CD4+ (median of 199 to 301cel/mm3) and an important raise in the percentage of people with undetectable viral load (from 21% to 52%). For Group 2 that started ART for the first time, 69% had a good adherence and 91% had a significant drop in viral load, after 12 months of follow-up. Based on these results, we can conclude that adherence and HIV control increases significantly when the multidisciplinary team has a pharmacist who works close to the patient and the healthcare team.

Orientador: Lenice do Rosário de Souza / Banca: Jussara Marcondes Machado / Banca: Marli Teresinha Gimenis Galvão / Banca: Gimol Benzaquen Perosa / Banca: Nelson Silva Filho / Resumo: O "HIV/aids - Quality of life" (HAT-Qol) é um instrumento específico multidimensional utilizado para mensurar a Qualidade de Vida de indivíduos infectados pelo HIV. É dividido em nove domínios, a saber, atividade geral, atividade sexual, preocupação com sigilo sobre a infecção, preocupação com a saúde, preocupação financeira, conscientização sobre o HIV, satisfação com a vida, questões relativas à medicação e confiança no médico. O presente estudo analisou a qualidade de vida de indivíduos com infecção pelo HIV ou aids atendidos no Programa de DST/Aids no município de Maringá (PR), relacionando com o uso ou não de terapia anti-retroviral (TARV) e as características sócio-demográficas, epidemiológicas e clínicas. A coleta de dados foi realizada, pela análise retrospectiva dos prontuários dos 1.200 pacientes cadastrados no Serviço e, a seguir, foi aplicado o instrumento HAT-Qol, no momento anterior à consulta médica ambulatorial de rotina. Preencheram os critérios de inclusão 169 pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de infecção pelo HIV, que foram divididos em dois grupos de estudo, G1 com 118 indivíduos em uso de TARV e G2 com 51 sem uso de TARV. Na análise dos resultados, quanto às características sócio-demográficas, observou-se que, não houve influência nas respostas, em nenhum Domínio, em relação a gênero, grau de escolaridade e opção sexual. Houve influência da faixa etária em relação ao Domínio que avalia a satisfação com a atividade sexual e do estado civil em relação ao Domínio que avalia a conscientização sobre o HIV, nos quais obtiveram menor índice nas respostas ou pior qualidade de vida, respectivamente, os homens de 50 a 69 anos e os pacientes sem parceiros fixos em relação aos casados ou amasiados. Observou-se, ainda, que o tempo de diagnóstico da doença exerceu... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The "HIV/aids - Quality of life" (HAT-Qol) is a specific multifunctional instrument used to measure the Quality of life of HIV infected people. It's divided in nine domains that are, general activity, sexual activity, concern about the infection secrecy, concern about health, financial concern, awareness about HIV, satisfaction with life, issues about medications and belief in the doctor. The current study has analyzed the quality of life of HIV or aids infected individuals attended in the DST/Aids Program in Maringá city, Paraná state, in relation with the use or not of antiretroviral therapy (TARV) and the social-demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics. The data collect was performed, by the retrospective analysis of the 1200 prontuaries of patients registered in the Service and, then, the HAT-Qol instrument was applied right before the routine ambulatory medical consultation. 169 patients had fit the inclusion criteria of HIV infection diagnosis confirmed, which were divided in two groups of study, G1 with 118 individuals in use of TARV and G2 with 51 individuals not using TARV. In the analysis of the results, in respect of the social-demographic characteristics, it was observed that it didn't influence the answers in any Domain, in respect of the gender, educational degree and sexual option. The age rate influenced the Domain which evaluates the satisfaction with the sexual activity and of the marital status in relation with the Domain that evaluates the awareness about HIV, in which they had the lowest response index or the worst quality of life, respectively, the men between 50 and 69 years-old and the patients who didn't have regular partners compared with the ones who were married or concubine. It was observed yet that the time of the disease's diagnosis influenced the Domains... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: The Zambian anti-retroviral therapy (ART) program has successfully enrolled over 770, 000 people living with HIV (PLWH), out of a population of 1.2 million PLWH. This tremendous success has overburdened the clinic system resulting in many challenges for both patients and healthcare staff. To promote ART initiation, adherence, and retention and at the same time relieve pressure on the health system, a home-based ART delivery model (HBM) was piloted in two urban communities of Lusaka. This study explored levels of acceptability of the model and factors influencing this among PLWH living in the two communities. Acceptability was defined as degree of fit between the patient’s expectations and circumstances and the home-based delivery model of ART, taking into consideration all the contextual elements surrounding the patient. Methodology: A qualitative study of HBM acceptability was nested within a clusterrandomized trial comparing outcomes in patients receiving HBM intervention compared to the standard of care in two communities in Lusaka, Zambia. Using an exploratory qualitative study design and a purposive sampling technique, qualitative data were collected using observations of HBM delivery (n=12), in-depth interviews with PLWH (n=15) and Focus Group Discussions with a cadre of community health workers called community HIV care providers (CHiPs) administering the HBM (n=2). Data were managed and coded using Atlas.ti 7 and analysed thematically. Results: Overall, the HBM was found to be a good fit with the lives and expectations of PLWH and therefore highly acceptable to them. This acceptability was influenced by a combination of cross cutting clinic based, program design and socio-economic factors that have been categorized into push and pull factors. Push factors were those related to the challenges that PLWH faced when accessing ART from the clinic and included congestion, long waiting times, confidentiality breaches and stigma arising from attending a dedicated clinic. These factors resulted in considerable direct and indirect livelihood opportunity costs. The HBM as an alternative had a number of ‘pull factors’. PLHW described services offered through the model as convenient, confidential, trusted, personalized, less stigmatizing, comprehensive, client centred, responsive, and respectful. Disclosure of client’s HIV status to people they lived with was found to be critical for the acceptability of the model. Conclusions and recommendations: The HBM is highly acceptable and this acceptability is influenced by a combination of crosscutting push and pull factors. Key to the HBM’s acceptability was its delivery design that was responsive to individual patient needs and the steps CHiPs took to minimize the ever-present threat of disclosure and stigma. Future adoption and scaling up of HBM should recognize the importance of these design features.

PhD, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / The aim of the study was to explore the practice of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy services, specifically regarding the patients’ issues and experiences, as well as the experiences of the health care providers rendering these services. Qualitative research methods were used, including a metasynthesis of qualitative research articles on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients on ARV therapy, and phenomenological methods of inquiry. The study objectives were to conduct a metasynthesis of qualitative research on HIV-positive people on ARV therapy; to investigate the experiences of HIV-positive people who are on ARV therapy; to identify the constraints faced by HIV-positive people receiving ARV therapy; and to explore adherence to ARV therapy. The study was conducted in eThekwini district in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) province. The district was chosen considering the number of clinics rolling out ARV therapy. Three institutions initiating ARV therapy participated in the study; one urban, one semi-urban and one rural clinic, to ensure representation of each type. Participants were recruited from two initiating hospitals and one Community Health Centre providing ARV therapy. The metasynthesis revealed a shared set of four themes viz.: 1. Acceptance of, and coping with, HIV positive status 2. Social support and disclosure 3. Experiences and beliefs about HIV medication and health care 4. Provider relationships and health system factors Qualitative analyses of interviews with clients indicated their experiences and concerns, and were summarized in these themes: 1. Life before and after knowing HIV status 2. Initiating and continuing ARV therapy 3. Adherence to, and side effects of, the ARV therapy treatment 4. Social support for people on ARV treatment vi 5. Positive outcomes of being on ARV treatment 6. Improving access to ARV treatment services Analyses of in-depth interviews with health care providers specified their experiences, and were categorized into three themes viz.: 1. Establishing and maintaining a good client-provider relationship 2. Facilitators of and adherence to ARV treatment 3. Barriers to access to treatment

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) medications in excess of 90-95% is necessary for optimal response to suppress HIV replication and to maintain and/or restore immune function. A number of interventions have been shown to improve ARV adherence, but no research has been conducted which evaluates proactive monitoring of pharmacy refill adherence and subsequent intervention when inadequate adherence is identified. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to compare treatment response, pharmacy refill adherence and self-reported medication adherence between two groups of patients: those participating in an AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and those participating in a Medicaid-funded medication access program. The ADAP served as a structured adherence intervention (SAI) based on procedural and administrative processes required by the state-managed program Additionally, covariates that can impact adherence were studied including utilization of adherence services and interventions and factors related to HIV disease, antiretroviral agents and sociodemographic factors. Method: This retrospective comparative study examined secondary data to assess 424 patients who received clinical and pharmacy services at one treatment site in 2005. Analysis: Logistic regression was performed to test the effects of the SAI on treatment response (CD4 and HIV RNA response), self-reported adherence, and pharmacy refill adherence while controlling for the covariates. Results: Patients participating in the SAI demonstrated higher levels of both self-reported and pharmacy refill adherence compared to patients receiving usual care. Although patients participating in the SAI program demonstrated better virologic (HIV RNA) responses to HAART compared to patients receiving usual care, immunologic (CD4 lymphocyte) responses to HAART were not significantly different compared to subjects in the usual care program. Conclusion/Discussion: This study provides information on the effects of a structured programmatic intervention on medication adherence and response to treatment and will be used to inform policy decision making at the local and State level.

Background: Aboriginals are overrepresented in Canada’s HIV epidemic and are more likely to be infected with HIV through injection drug use (IDU) than non-Aboriginals. However, little research has investigated the outcomes of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) among Aboriginal HIV-patients or compared outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal HIV-patients. Objectives: The primary objectives of this research were to 1) compare all-cause and HIV-related mortality rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal HIV-patients after they start cART, 2) determine if Aboriginal patients were less likely to achieve virological suppression and more likely to experience subsequent treatment failure after starting cART; 3) describe and compare the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal HIV-patients; and 4) describe the life stability of Aboriginal and IDU HIV-patients treated with cART and explore associations between life stability, clinical status, and HRQL. Methods: This research was conducted in northern Alberta, Canada using a clinical database, vital statistics data, and data collected through interview and a self-administered HRQL questionnaire. Data analyses included multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and multiple linear and logistic regression models. Results: After starting cART, Aboriginals suffer higher rates of all-cause and HIV-related mortality than non-Aboriginals. Furthermore, Aboriginals are less likely to achieve virological suppression after starting cART and, among those who achieve suppression, Aboriginals experience higher rates of virological failure ≥1 year after suppression. Aboriginal IDUs, Aboriginal non-IDUs, and non-Aboriginal IDUs reported similarly worse physical HRQL compared to non-Aboriginals non-IDUs. Among Aboriginals and IDUs, factors significantly associated with poor clinical status were unemployment, lower income, not completing high school, homelessness, and perceiving that one’s current life was not much better compared to before starting cART. Similarly, factors significantly associated with lower HRQL in this group were unemployment, perceiving that one’s current health or one’s current life was not much better compared to before starting cART, and having a current CD4 cell count ≤350 cells/μL. Conclusions: Overall, after starting cART, Aboriginal HIV-patients suffer worse outcomes than non-Aboriginal HIV-patients. Future research should investigate adherence among Aboriginals and IDUs treated with cART and explore their treatment experiences to develop interventions to improve the prognosis of these vulnerable populations.

AIM The aim was to explore the experiences of HIV-positive individuals before and after gaining access to antiretroviral therapy in Wakiso District, Uganda and how antiretroviral therapy impacts certain aspects of those living with HIV, such as sexual behavior, support systems, faith and personal identity. METHODS Based on secondary data analysis of “Life On Antiretroviral Therapy: People’s Adaptive Coping And Adjustment To Living With HIV As A Chronic Condition In Wakiso District, Uganda” by Steven Russell (2015). The data was reanalysed using the conceptual framework from Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model. RESULTS Six main themes will be presented including personal life after HIV diagnosis, acceptance of HIV status, disclosure of identity, changes in sexual behavior, different types of support systems, and increasing faith and strength from God. After receiving antiretroviral therapy, the quality of life seemed to improve for some of the participants. Participants described their experiences living with HIV/AIDS, such changes in personal goals and perception of self, immediate acceptance of positive HIV results, disclosure of identity to certain people, the different types of support offered from each support system they have, abstaining from sex and the use of contraceptives against future transmission. Furthermore, participants have also described an increase of faith and belief in God in order to cope with HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION People living with HIV in Wakiso District, Uganda have described significant changes in their lives after receiving antiretroviral therapy. These changes affect them both physically and emotionally therefore more research must be done to investigate the influence of antiretroviral therapy on wellbeing.