Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Background: South Africa has a generalised HIV epidemic which is managed through free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Adherence to ART has emerged as a crucial issue in HIV/AIDS therapeutics. Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore determining factors for poor and excellent adherence to ART for HIV positive patients residing in Barberton, a mining town in Mpumalanga Province. Methodology: A generic qualitative research design was undertaken. Data was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews from a purposive sample of 13 ART patients. Qualitative interpretive analysis was employed. Findings: The study found that excellent adherence to ART is significantly associated with the availability, effectiveness and comprehensiveness of HIV services, psychological support and medical advances. Side effects of ART, opportunistic infections and alcohol and drug use hinder adherence. However, longer duration on ART enhanced self-efficacy and facilitated adherence. Successful ART is dependent on taking ARVs as prescribed and executing necessary lifestyle changes. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

No description available.

Introdução: A infecção pelo vírus da Hepatite B (HBV) é um grande problema de saúde pública, uma vez que cerca de 257 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo são acometidas pelo vírus. Mundialmente, devido ao grande movimento migratório, descrevem-se mudanças no perfil dos pacientes portadores de HBV. Desta forma, objetivamos caracterizar a população de pacientes portadores HBV atendidos no ambulatório A2MG404 de Hepatites Virais do HC-FMUSP. Métodos: Este foi um estudo retrospectivo descritivo de 617 novos pacientes com exames sorológicos positivos para HBV, em seguimento no ambulatório A2MG404 entre janeiro de 2005 e dezembro de 2015. Dados demográficos, epidemiológicos e clínicos foram obtidos de prontuários eletrônicos institucionais (SIGH-PRODESP, HCMED e ProntMed). A coleta e gerenciamento de dados foi realizada utilizando o software on-line REDCap (V6.16.4). A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando o software R (V3.3.0). O teste de Shapiro-Wilk foi utilizado para testar a normalidade dos dados; dados não paramétricos foram comparados utilizando-se o teste de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney; as proporções entre populações foram comparadas utilizando-se o Teste Z. Foram considerados estatisticamente significativos valores de p < 0,05. Resultados: Foi observada predominância do sexo masculino (60,9%); mediana de idade de 48 anos; raça branca (70,8%) e nível de escolaridade baixo [ensino fundamental completo (37,4%)] entre os pacientes. A maioria deles eram brasileiros (93,5%), residentes no estado de São Paulo (98,4%), principalmente na cidade de São Paulo (63,6%). Pacientes residentes em outros estados do Brasil também foram atendidos no serviço (1,6%), bem como estrangeiros (6,5%). Coinfecção por HCV foi identificada em 7,8% dos pacientes; e por HIV em 1,3% destes. De base, 109/617 (17,66%) pacientes eram AgHBe positivo [infecção crônica: 42/617 (6,8%); hepatite crônica: 67/617 (10,8%)]; 350/617 (56,72%) pacientes eram AgHBe negativo [infecção crônica: 290/617 (47,0%); hepatite crônica: 60/617 (9,7%)]; 104/617 (16,9%) pacientes eram Anti-HBc Total e Anti-HBs positivos; 49/617 (8,0%) pacientes eram Anti-HBc Total isolado; e 5/617 (0,8%) pacientes eram portadores de perfil sorológico anômalo da hepatite B. Entre o início e término de seguimento foram observados diminuição significativa dos valores de ALT, AST, APRI, carga viral (p < 0,001), hemoglobina (p=0,007) e bilirrubina total (p=0,011), bem como aumento significativo de bilirrubina direta e INR (p < 0,001). O FIB-4 não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa no mesmo intervalo. A análise mostra que 30,3% dos pacientes receberam tratamento com antivirais, sendo Tenofovir (28,3%) o mais prescrito, seguido de Lamivudina (19,8%), Tenofovir+Lamivudina (19,8%) e Entecavir (19,2%). Entecavir apresentou a maior taxa de soroconversão de AgHBe (6/9; 66,66%), enquanto que Lamivudina apresentou a maior taxa para AgHBs (5/30; 16,66%). Tenofovir possui maior potencial para redução de carga viral, aumento de plaquetas e melhora de enzimas hepáticas do que Lamivudina e Entecavir (p < 0,05). No total, foram realizadas 5412 consultas médicas, sendo a maioria delas do tipo \"seguimento\" (85,8%). Faltas foram registradas em 11,9% das consultas médicas agendadas no período. Conclusões: A população atendida no serviço é heterogênea, com representação de diferentes sexos, etnias, faixas etárias e nacionalidades; ao menos 14 nacionalidades representadas, refletindo o fenômeno da migração observado globalmente. São necessárias ações educacionais para promoção da adesão aos cuidados médicos adequados / Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major public health problem with significant burden across all global regions, once they affect about 250 million people around the world. Worldwide, due to the great migratory movement, changes were described in the profile of patients with hepatitis B. In this way, we aimed to characterize the population of patients with chronic hepatitis B seen in the ambulatory A2MG404 of Viral Hepatitis of HC-FMUSP. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of 617 new patients with positive serological tests results for HBV, followed up in the A2MG404 ambulatory between January 2005 and December 2015. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data were obtained from institutional electronic medical records (SIGH-PRODESP, HCMED and ProntMed). Data collection and management was performed using REDCap online software (V6.16.4). Statistical analysis was performed using R software (V3.3.0). Shapiro-Wilk Test was used to test the normality of the data; non-parametric data were compared using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Test; proportions among populations were compared using the Z-Test. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Male predominance (60.9%); median age of 48 years; white race (70.8%) and low educational level (37.4%) was observed among the patients. Most of them were Brazilian (93.5%), living in the State of São Paulo (98.4%), mainly in the city of São Paulo (63.6%). Patients living in other Brazilian states were also assisted in the service (1.6%), as well as foreigners (6.5%). HCV coinfection were identified in 7.8% of patients; and HIV in 1.3% of these. At baseline, 109/617 (17.66%) patients were HBeAg positive [chronic infection: 42/617 (6.8%); chronic hepatitis: 67/617 (10.8%)]; 350/617 (56.72%) patients were HBeAg negative [chronic infection: 290/617 (47.0%); chronic hepatitis: 60/617 (9.7%)]; 104/617 (16.9%) patients were Total Anti-HBc and Anti-HBs positive; 49/617 (8.0%) patients were Anti-HBc Total isolated; and 5/617 (0.8%) patients had anomalous serological profile of hepatitis B. Significant decrease in ALT, AST, APRI, viral load (p < 0.001), hemoglobin (p = 0.007) and total bilirubin (p = 0.011); as well as significant increase of direct bilirubin and INR (p < 0.001) of patients were observed during the follow-up. FIB-4 score didn\'t present a statistically significant difference in the same interval. The analysis shows that 30.3% of the patients received antiviral treatment, being Tenofovir (28.3%) the most prescribed, followed by Lamivudine (19.8%), Tenofovir+Lamivudine (19.8%) and Entecavir (19.2%). Entecavir presented the highest HBeAg seroconversion rate (6/9; 66.66%), whereas Lamivudine presented the highest rate for HBsAg (5/30, 16.66%). Tenofovir has greater potential for viral load reduction, platelet increase, and hepatic enzymes normalization than Lamivudine and Entecavir (p < 0.05). In total, 5412 medical appointment were performed, most of them was classified as \"follow up\" type (85.8%). Absences were recorded in 11.9% of the medical appointments scheduled in the period. Conclusions: The population served in the service is heterogeneous, with representation of different genders, ethnicities, age groups and nationalities. In it, at least 14 nationalities are represented, reflecting the phenomenon of immigration observed worldwide. Educational actions are required to promote adherence to the necessary medical care for these patients

The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the US is estimated at 3.5 million with 18,153 deaths in 2016. It is the most common bloodborne infection, with a higher age-adjusted mortality rate than Hepatitis B Virus or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Without treatment, nearly 1.1 million people will die from HCV by 2060. About 41,200 new cases of HCV were reported in 41 states in the US in 2016. The reported cases of acute HCV in 2016 is 2.3 per 100,000 in Tennessee, which is more than twice the national goal set by Healthy People 2020. This is a descriptive study to ascertain the HCV prevalence and usefulness of screening in medical outreach settings (MO) compared to indigent healthcare clinics (IHC) in northeast Tennessee. This study period was from April 2017 – February 2019. Participants (n=250), were adults, who engaged in routine, opt-out HCV testing at 4 IHC and 3 MO sites in the Tri-Cities, TN region. During the screening, demographic information- age, gender, race- were collected and the de-identified data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.3) to perform a descriptive analysis. Also, several discrete Chi-Square tests of independence between the demographic variables, screening locations, and HCV antibody prevalence was conducted. A total of 250 clients were screened for HCV. The majority of clients screened were non-Hispanic whites 228 (91.20%); females 136 (54.40%); young adults 131 (52.40%) and at IHC clinics 187 (74.80%). Screening showed HCV antibody prevalence of 14.8%. The majority of positive cases were non-Hispanic whites 36 (97.30%; P=0.1561); females 19 (51.35%; P=0.6867) and young adults 23 (62.16%; P=0.286). The prevalence at the IHC clinics and MO settings were 36 (97.30%; P=0.0006) and 1(2.70%) respectively. This analysis shows the higher yield of targeted HCV screening at IHC clinics. Focused HCV screening is critical in the era of opioid epidemic, particularly when direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) which offer a Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) rate of more than 90% are available. The use of case control or cohort study designs to establish causality is recommended for improving focused HCV screening.