Masters of Public Health - see Magister Public Health / With a prevalence of 14.3% among the 15-49 years age group, HIV/AIDS still constitutes a significant challenge in Zambia. In order to respond to the impact of HIV/AIDS within the workplace, government ministries have developed HIV-focused workplace policies and programmes that provide HIV/AIDS services. However, despite their availability, the number of employees accessing the services, especially those targetting HIV positive workers remains low. The fear (either perceived or real) of disclosing an HIV positive status is one likely reason for the low uptake of services. HIV-positive status disclosure is an important public health goal as it can create opportunities for an individual to access information and social and medical support, and this will affect career and workload related decisions. This exploratory, qualitative study aims to identify and describe the HIV-disclosure experiences of 12 openly HIV-positive Zambian public sector workers living in Lusaka and working in four Zambian Ministries. Both male and female public sector workers were interviewed. The participants’ experiences of disclosing their HIV positive status in the workplace were explored in depth in this study. With the aim of providing those responsible for overseeing and managing the Zambian public sector HIV workplace initiatives with some practical recommendations regarding the disclosure support needed by HIV-positive public sector workers. The study found that whilst participants had an initial fear of disclosing their HIVpositive status in the workplace, their HIV disclosure actually proved to be very beneficial. Not only did it allow their health-related needs (such as accessing medication and visiting a doctor) to be met, but their disclosure also encouraged others to also disclose their status. The recommendations are are aimed at creating a supportive working environment for people living with HIV within the Zambian public service, and offering suggestions to their managers on how best to support the process of disclosure amongst their staff.

Depuis les années 90, le Canada utilise des manuels américains traduits et adaptés pour la formation initiale en VIH/sida. Pourtant, à la lumière des écrits, nous savons qu’il existe un écart entre la formation en sciences infirmières et les compétences requises pour prodiguer des soins aux personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH). Consciente de ces lacunes de la formation en VIH/sida et qui, à ce jour, n’ont pas été explorées dans le matériel pédagogique, cette étude met en relief les représentations du VIH, de la PVVIH et des soins et explore les effets de ces représentations tout en proposant des pistes de recommandations. Un devis de recherche qualitatif, de type descriptif, convenait aux objectifs de cette étude. Étant donné la nature de la problématique et des objectifs, une analyse qualitative de contenu était appropriée et privilégiée pour orienter ce projet. La collecte des données s’est déroulée en automne 2015, par l’analyse de 18 manuels scolaires de médecine-chirurgie, utilisés dans la formation initiale. En résumé, les résultats de cette étude ont mis en lumière les représentations du VIH, des PVVIH et des soins qui sont transmises par les manuels scolaires et ont permis d’exposer le type de connaissances, d’attitudes potentielles et éventuelles et de soins qu’engendrent ces sources textuelles. Par l’entremise de ce projet de recherche, il a été possible de proposer des pistes de solutions afin de pallier aux lacunes des manuels scolaires et améliorer le contenu de ces textes en accordant une attention particulière aux connaissances, attitudes et soins que ce contenu peut produire.

The purpose of the study was to explore perceptions of PLWHA towards using traditional medicines (TM) together with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study was conducted in two ART health facilities in the Manzini Region in Swaziland. Audiotaped individual interviews were conducted to collect data. The study population was PLWHA using TM and ART and were aged 18-49 years. Voice recording was used to capture data during the in-depth interviews until saturation was reached. One grand tour question was asked and follow-up probing questions were asked dependent on participant responses and study objectives. Findings of the study revealed that PLWHA are still searching for a cure, and the preexistence of TM prior to ART is influencing them to combine TM and ART. Several reasons for combining the two treatment modalities were, to boost the immune system, enhancing appetite, to treat opportunistic infections and ART side effects. There was stigma associated with long-life ART and discrimination for using TM experienced by PLWHA. It could benefit the country to repeat the similar research at National level, to include all the four regions, in both rural and urban settings. / Health Studies

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of traditional healing practices on anti-retroviral treatment adherence in Vhembe District. This qualitative study used an explorative design to envisage the aim. A cross-sectional snowball sample was used to draw a sample of 9 participants from the 4 municipalities of Vhembe District. The data collection methods were; in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informants’ interviews. The 3 data collection techniques ensured triangulation for more complete and well-validated outcomes of the study. The researcher used the Van Manen method to analyse data. Contrary to popular belief that THPs promote non-adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the study found out that the majority of Traditional Healing Practitioners (THPs) encourage and positively influence PLWHA to adhere to anti-retroviral treatment. Apart from a minority of participants who claimed to cure HIV/AIDS, the majority acknowledged and admitted that traditional healing practices do not cure HIV/AIDS but it only heals opportunistic infections. As a result, the majority of THPs influences PLWHA to adhere to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). However, the positive influence of THPs is challenged by individual and social-cultural factors that are beyond THPs’ control which influence treatment adherence such as; traditional and cultural beliefs, side effects of ARVs, nurses’ attitude, inconveniences, lack of transport, personal choices, lack of trust in ARVs and fear of loss of the Disability Grant. It is on this backdrop that study findings prompted devising of a model and a 5 phase support program for intervention. / NRF

Stigma and discrimination (SAD) attached to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been recognised as a major obstacle to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support throughout the world. SAD is more devastating when it occurs in health care settings where it is least expected. Health care providers (HCPs) are supposed to provide physical, social and psychological support to people living with HIV (PLWHA) but HIV and AIDS-related SAD has been extensively documented among the HCPs. Different studies have pointed out that there are three major actionable causes of HIV-related SAD in health care settings. These are lack of awareness among HCPs, fear of casual contacts and associating the SAD to immoral behaviour. The main objective of the current study is to determine the magnitude of HIV and AIDS-related SAD and its associated factors in hospitals and then to propose appropriate SAD reduction-intervention strategy in the health care settings. The study employed pre-test-post-test design with non-equivalent control group. Two paradigms were used in this study including quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sampling method for the quantitative part of the study was probability sampling in which the respondents were randomly selected using stratified sampling technique. The study was able to determine the magnitude of HIV and AIDS-related SAD among the HCPs. Moreover, the study has identified the factors that are attributed to the prevalence of SAD in the hospitals. The major factors identified for causing the SAD in the hospitals were sex, age, work experience, low level of knowledge, negative attitudes and percieved risk of HIV infection of some HCPs toward the PLWHA. The intervention made on the respondents in the treatment group was able to reduce the overall prevalence of the SAD among the HCPs. The study suggests that to reduce the SAD, HIV and AIDS-related trainings before and after graduation is critical to improve the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the HCPs. Besides, ensuring the availability of the protective supplies in hospitals is crucial in reducing the fear of HIV infection among the HCPs while providing care for HIV positive patients. Effective implementation of the hospital policies, strategies, guidelines and protocols along with good institutional support is also vital in creating safe and user-friendly hospitals for PLWHA. / Health Studies

Submitted by Lívia Bertazzo Sacilotto (livia.bsacilotto@gmail.com) on 2017-03-08T06:52:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 sacilotto_lb_me_bt.pdf: 2686215 bytes, checksum: b3f919111b6e0a1f81fe1d0c5ae28c47 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-13T14:03:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 sacilotto_lb_me_bt.pdf: 2686215 bytes, checksum: b3f919111b6e0a1f81fe1d0c5ae28c47 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-13T14:03:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sacilotto_lb_me_bt.pdf: 2686215 bytes, checksum: b3f919111b6e0a1f81fe1d0c5ae28c47 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A lipodistrofia associada ao HIV (LAHIV) é caracterizada pela redistribuição de gordura corporal, sendo uma das consequências da introdução da terapia antirretroviral (TARV) e relacionada ao aumento do risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares. Seu diagnóstico é subjetivo e classificado em três tipos, de acordo com a região corporal em que há perda e/ou acúmulo de gordura, a saber, lipoatrofia, lipohipertrofia e lipodistrofia mista, acompanhada ou não de alterações metabólicas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar a associação dos diferentes subtipos de LAHIV em pessoas vivendo com HIV/aids com os componentes da síndrome metabólica e composição corporal. Foram avaliados dados clínicos, imunológicos, metabólicos, antropométricos e composição corporal de 40 pessoas vivendo com HIV/aids em acompanhamento ambulatorial e uso regular de TARV, de ambos os sexos, com diagnóstico clínico de LAHIV. Os principais achados do estudo foram maiores alterações de perfil lipídico entre as mulheres. Não houve diferença estatística entre os subtipos para o perfil metabólico. As principais alterações foram identificadas no grupo lipohipertrofia, que tiveram maiores valores de porcentual de gordura corporal total, área de gordura visceral (AGV), índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e circunferências abdominal e do pescoço em relação aos outros dois grupos. A massa magra foi superior apenas em relação ao grupo lipodistrofia mista e a massa de gordura em relação ao grupo lipoatrofia. O IMC mostrou forte correlação com a AGV. Em conclusão, o presente estudo mostrou que apesar destes indivíduos apresentarem alterações de indicadores antropométricos importantes relacionadas ao diagnóstico de LAHIV, não são acompanhadas de alterações metabólicas. Estratégias como mudança comportamental, identificação, prevenção e tratamento de doenças crônicas são importantes para reduzir os riscos para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares. / HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (HALS) is characterized by body fat redistribution as a consequence of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) introduction, associated to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease development. Subjective diagnoses, classified between tree subtypes according to the body region on which fat is lost and/or accumulated, named lipoatrophy, lipohypertrophy and mixed lipodystrophy, are possibly accompanied of metabolic alterations. The objetive of the present study was to verify the association between HALS different subtypes, in people living with HIV/aids, and the components of metabolic syndrome and body composition. Forty PLHA, with clinical diagnosis of HALS and from both genders, were assessed. They performed ambulatorial follow up and used ART regularly. The main findings were greater lipid profile alterations among women, while no metabolic profile differences were found between the HALS subtypes. The lipohypertrophy group showed major alterations, with higher values for total body fat percent, visceral fat area (VFA), body mass index (BMI), abdominal and neck circumferences when compared to the other groups. Lean body mass was superior only compared to the mixed lipodystrophy group, and fat mass only compared to the lipoatrophy group. BMI showed strong correlation to the VFA. In conclusion, despite anthropometric alterations related to HALS these individuals present, those are not accompanied by metabolic alterations. Strategies, as behavioral changes and disorders prevention are important to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease development.

<p>Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common neurological complication occurring in the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. The pain and other symptoms caused by PN can impair functional ability and limit physical activity that could affect quality of life (QoL). Additionally, studies done on quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS have shown that, HIV-related neurological syndromes, including PN, significantly reduce QoL. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy amongst and the quality of life of adults living with HIV/AIDS attending the out-patient clinic at Rutongo Hospital in Rulindo District in Rwanda.</p>

<p>This was a descriptive qualitative study. Eight people living with HIV, four of which had disclosed their status, were individually interviewed. Two focus group discussions (each comprising 6 participants) were also conducted with health workers. The study was based at an urban TB hospital which is currently providing a range of HIV-related services including HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing, case management and treatment.</p>

<p>Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common neurological complication occurring in the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. The pain and other symptoms caused by PN can impair functional ability and limit physical activity that could affect quality of life (QoL). Additionally, studies done on quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS have shown that, HIV-related neurological syndromes, including PN, significantly reduce QoL. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy amongst and the quality of life of adults living with HIV/AIDS attending the out-patient clinic at Rutongo Hospital in Rulindo District in Rwanda.</p>