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Mitigating the impacts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and substance use requires comprehensive and systematic thinking in designing interventions and developing policies. This study describes the growth of research publications from 1991 to 2021 in the Web of Science database and points out current research landscapes in the fields of HIV/AIDS and substance use. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used for classifying 21 359 papers into corresponding topics. The most common topics were HIV transmission, HIV infection, quality of life and mental health of substance users, and the biomedical effect of substance use. Emerging research landscapes include vulnerabilities of people who inject drugs to HIV transmission and related health problems. This study found a lack of research on health services, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral in combination with clinical evaluation and treatment services. Future investment and implementation of HIV/AIDS and substance use programs should focus on research of health services and clinical evaluation, especially context-specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating the impacts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and substance use requires comprehensive and systematic thinking in designing interventions and developing policies. This study describes the growth of research publications from 1991 to 2021 in the Web of Science database and points out current research landscapes in the fields of HIV/AIDS and substance use. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used for classifying 21 359 papers into corresponding topics. The most common topics were HIV transmission, HIV infection, quality of life and mental health of substance users, and the biomedical effect of substance use. Emerging research landscapes include vulnerabilities of people who inject drugs to HIV transmission and related health problems. This study found a lack of research on health services, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral in combination with clinical evaluation and treatment services. Future investment and implementation of HIV/AIDS and substance use programs should focus on research of health services and clinical evaluation, especially context-specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a compartmental model on the co-infection of pneumonia and HIV/AIDS with optimal control strategies was formulated using the system of ordinary differential equations. Using qualitative methods, we have analysed the mono-infection and HIV/AIDS and pneumonia co-infection models. We have computed effective reproduction numbers by applying the next-generation matrix method, applying Castillo Chavez criteria the models disease-free equilibrium points global stabilities were shown, while we have used the Centre manifold criteria to determine that the pneumonia infection and pneumonia and HIV/AIDS co-infection exhibit the phenomenon of backward bifurcation whenever the corresponding effective reproduction number is less than unity. We carried out the numerical simulations to investigate the behaviour of the co-infection model solutions. Furthermore,wehave investigated various optimal control strategies to predict the best control strategy to minimize and possibly to eradicate the HIV/AIDS and pneumonia co-infection from the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine the volume and extent of general human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) research in Turkey as well as the coverage of national HIV/AIDS research agenda. Material and methods: Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection advanced search engine was applied to conduct bibliometric search. "HIV or AIDS or HIV/AIDS or Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV-1 or HIV-2 or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" and "Turkey" were used as search key words. In addition, the study included "Language = English", "Document area = medicine" and "Document type = Article". We also selected science citation index expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) and social sciences citation index (SSCI) as Web of Science indexes. The data in WoS improved all information on publications, including fields of study, institutions, group authors, funding agencies, journals, citations, and co-authorship. Results: In total, 313 articles were found. The first document was published in 1996, and 310 (99%) papers were published in the last 20 years. The documents were mostly (62.300%) published in science citation index expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) indexed journals. Most of the publications were from medicine general internal (33.866%) area. The top-ranked affiliations from Turkey in HIV/AIDS research were Istanbul University (19.169%), Ege University (10.863%), University of Health Sciences (9.265%), and Hacettepe University (8.626%). ACTHIV-IST (ACTion against HIV in Istanbul) study group (n = 3, 0.958) was Turkey's most productive HIV/AIDS research group. 87.220% of the studies were not funded. Conclusions: According to the findings, Turkey has limited HIV/AIDS research output. Furthermore, the majority of investigations were conducted by only a few centers. Because the study covered the entire country, and there are more centers that follow HIV/AIDS patients, these centers should also take part in the research. As a result, the current study emphasizes the importance of increasing targeted financing for HIV/AIDS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid decrease in international funding for HIV/AIDS has been challenging for many nations to effectively mobilize and allocate their limited resources for HIV/AIDS programs. Economic evaluations can help inform decisions and strategic planning. This study aims to examine the trends and patterns in economic evaluation studies in the field of HIV/AIDS and determine their research landscapes.Methods: Using the Web of Science databases, we synthesized the number of papers and citations on HIV/AIDS and economic evaluation from 1990 to 2017. Collaborations between authors and countries, networks of keywords and research topics were visualized using frequency of co-occurrence and Jaccards' similarity index. A Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis to categorize papers into different topics/themes.Results: A total of 372 economic evaluation papers were selected, including 351 cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), 11 cost-utility analyses (CUA), 12 cost-benefit analyses (CBA). The growth of publications, their citations and usages have increased remarkably over the years. Major research topics in economic evaluation studies consisted of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and treatment; drug use prevention interventions and prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions. Moreover, lack of contextualized evidence was found in specific settings with high burden HIV epidemics, as well as emerging most-at-risk populations such as trans-genders or migrants.Conclusion: This study highlights the knowledge and geographical discrepancies in HIV/AIDS economic evaluation literature. Future research directions are also informed for advancing economic evaluation in HIV/AIDS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the current situation of Chinese dental bachelor interns on HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and their attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, paper-based survey involving 147 dental students from three Chinese dental schools was conducted. Students were recruited to complete the questionnaire regarding their knowledge, awareness and attitudes concerning HIV/AIDS anonymously and voluntarily.Results: A total of 144 students responded to the study, generating a response rate of 98.0%. Although 97.0% of the dental students believed dentists were at high risk of HIV infection, 97.2% of students expressed no prejudice towards HIV/AIDS patients and stated their willingness to provide oral healthcare service for such patients. No statistically significant differences in the responses on attitudes and some basic knowledge were found between students who had received the relevant education about infection control and the students who had not. However, regarding most questions about oral manifestations in adult and paediatric patients living with AIDS, the students who received relevant education showed more knowledge than the students who did not (p <0.05). The cognitive level about respecting HIV/AIDS patients' autonomy and privacy was generally low in all the students.Conclusions: Most of the dental students in this survey held positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients and good grasp of some basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, the questionnaire results reflected gaps in education, such as respecting HIV/AIDS patients' privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Estudos Feministas is the property of Revista Estudos Feministas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction The HIV/AIDS prevention program among pregnant mothers aims to reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to baby. It also aims to reduce stigma and discrimination, as well as deaths due to HIV/AIDS. This paper aimed to find out obstacles that occur in the implementation of HIV/AIDS transmission program in Indonesia. Methods Online literature search was done on Google Scholar, Science Direct and PubMed databases with the keywords related to “HIV/AIDS” and transmission prevention program among mothers to children. The search resulted in a total of 343 articles. Results After the abstracts were reviewed, there were only 16 articles selected. Conclusions The implementation of the program in Indonesia has been run but is not yet optimal because of several obstacles i.e., the insufficient number of health workers and poor knowledge of health workers. Figuring out solutions to the obstacles could ease the program implementation to reduce the cases of HIV/AIDS. Obstacles were found in the implementation of the HIV/AIDS prevention program among mothers and children in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the introduction of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for managing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria, adherence to treatment has been a critical issue due to its importance in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The aim of this paper is to determine level of adherence to ART, examine reasons for non-adherence and the association between socio-demographic characteristics, and adherence to ART among PLWHA who were attending the State Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. These are with the view to establishing factors influencing adherence to ART among PLWHA in Nigeria. Material and methods: The health belief model and political economy perspectives framed the paper. Purposive/systematic sampling techniques were used to select 200 PLWHA (men and women) attending clinic in the State Hospital, Osogbo, South Western Nigeria. Results: Findings indicated adherence level of 69%. Furthermore, the reasons for non-adherence were forgetfulness (21.5%), work/travel (16.0%), fasting and spiritual interruption (8.5%), inadequate meal (7.0%), stigma (7.0%), and side effect of the drug (7.0%). It was revealed that the size of the ART was too big for some of the respondents, which militated against adherence. Moreover, the socio-demographic characteristics that influenced adherence were sex, age, marital status, marriage type, education, number of children, and occupation. However, most of these influences were not statistically significant. Finally, respondents' suggestions on how to improve adherence were PLWHA should be encouraged to take their drugs (33.5%), improve the size because it is too big (10.0%), educate PLWHA (24.0%), make ART more private (9.0%), and legislation on stigma (9.5%). Conclusions: The paper concluded that health behavior of PLWHA, socio-economic, and demographic factors influenced PLWHA's adherence to ART in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking into account the effects of the heterogeneity of the population and media coverage on disease transmission, in this paper, a hybrid HIV/AIDS model with age-structure, self-protection awareness and media coverage is formulated, which is made up of five partial differential equations (PDEs) and one ordinary differential equation (ODE). We establish the existence of the solution associated with the hybrid system and prove that the solution is unique, bounded and positive utilizing the semigroup approach. Based on the basic reproduction number R 0 , the threshold dynamics of this model are rigorously investigated, that is, there always is a unique disease-free steady state E 0 and it is globally stable when R 0 < 1 , that is, the disease dies out. Further, there exists a unique endemic steady state E * and it is locally stable when R 0 > 1 and some additional technical conditions are met. In addition, the uniform persistence of this hybrid system is demonstrated for R 0 > 1 , which means that the disease remains at the endemic level for a long time, which is not discussed in other age-structured infectious disease articles. Numerical simulations are also given to explain the main theoretical results, which suggest that age variability is a non-negligible factor in HIV/AIDS transmission, that is, the moment and scale of HIV/AIDS outbreaks are diverse for people of different ages, and media coverage can encourage people to take steps to avoid potential infection and control the spread of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since reports of the first incidence of the HIV virus in Zimbabwe in 1985, the epidemic has negatively impacted on every facet of human security. Rural areas, by virtue of being the periphery and constrained in terms of resources and health care provision, bear the brunt of the epidemic. In light of the above background, this paper examined how the establishment of Ruvheneko Programme by the people of Chirumhanzu helped in mitigating on the impact of HIV and AIDS in the rural sphere. The paper analyses how the community of Chirumhanzu successfully engaged each other to the extent of coming up with such a vibrant programme. This is raised against the backdrop of failure usually associated with HIV and AIDS engagement projects. The study made use of field interviews and focus group discussions as data collection instruments. Participants were purposively selected on the basis of their knowledge and participation in the establishment and activities of Ruvheneko Programme. Selected were 5 St Theresa's Hospital Staff, 10 Roman Catholic Church members of which, 5 were from the St Anna's woman prayer group and 5 men from St Joseph's men prayer group, 1 village head and 2 elders from the same nearby village constituted key informants. Complementing the use of interviews and focus group discussions was the analysis of secondary data sources on HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe as well as the Ruvheneko Programme. To understand the collective role of various sectors of the community in establishing Ruvheneko Programme, the paper derives insights from the perspective of social capital theory and its notion of commonality to strengthen communities. Findings from the study show that, unlike other HIV and AIDS programmes that are exported from the urban to the rural areas, Ruvheneko Programme demonstrates a grassroots-level response to HIV and AIDS. Again, social cohesion fostered by aspects such as religiosity, cultural ethos of Ubuntu, and a consultative approach played a key role in unifying people towards fighting HIV and AIDS in Rural Chirumhanzu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the spatial variation of HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Nigeria. It uses Exploratory Spatial Data Analytical (ESDA) techniques to provide insight into the pattern. The overriding objective is to determine if there is a significant spatial clustering of HIV/AIDS. The calculated and mapped Global and Local Moran's I, and Getis and Ord G* values reveal certain states such as Benue, Nassarawa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Cross River have significant spatial clusters of HIV/AIDS rates in Nigeria. The spatial analysis enables policy makers to identify states most affected, and design effective and culturally acceptable preventive measures. Specific policies targeted at states are a more appropriate approach in tackling the epidemic rather than the usual universal cookie-cut HIV reduction strategies that may not be applicable to the different cultural milieu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the historical evolution of the "clashes between epistemes in relation to the treatment of illness," which characterize Swahili literary genres on HIV/AIDS (Nicolini 2022) through an exploration of Swahili novels. Therefore, I will investigate the epistemologies of a pandemic both analytically, by investigating both the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the plural ways of treatment involved, as well as aesthetically and linguistically, by examining the metaphorical doubles of HIV/AIDS. Moreover, I will compare the metaphorical doubles of HIV/AIDS in Swahili literature to the metaphors in Anglophone literature from East Africa. Finally, I will conclude the study with a glance at the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The clash, between modern medicine and non-scientific knowledge(-s) in relation to the treatment of illnesses, seems also to be a continuous feature in the contemporary discussions dealing with Covid-19 circulating in the social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a theme that has been a topical issue since the beginning of 2020, the outbreak of coronavirus, by comparison with the philosophical and epistemological aspects of HIV/AIDS as they are reflected in different genres of Swahili literature. I will illustrate findings obtained through my analysis of William Mkufya's novels dealing with HIV/AIDS in a prospective way with the upcoming literature dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The conclusions I have drawn from the analysis of the philosophical novels, by the Tanzanian intellectual William Mkufya, will be the departure point for my follow-up research on the epistemological, ontological and phenomenological aspects of Covid-19 in Tanzania through different genres of Swahili literature. The potential objectives of this forthcoming research will be the following: firstly, to establish a fictional genre that articulates knowledge about Covid-19; secondly, to explore the evolution of Swahili language used to communicate messages on Covid-19; thirdly, to illustrate the changes undergone by literature after the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak; and finally, to investigate the philosophical perspectives characterising this literary stream: Humanist or post-humanist? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional calculus plays an important role in the development of control strategies, the study of the dynamical transmission of diseases, and some other real-life problems nowadays. The time-fractional HIV/AIDS model is examined using a novel method in this paper. Based on the Atangana-concept Baleanu's of a derivative in the Caputo sense, the current modified fractional derivative operator uses singular and non-local kernels. This new modified fractional operator is given a numerical approximation and applied to the HIV/AIDS model. In the presence of this novel operator, we present some significant analysis for the HIV/AIDS epidemic model. The uniqueness and stability criteria of the model have been demonstrated using the Picard successive approximation approach and Banach's fixed point theory. The Laplace Adomian decomposition method (LADM) was used to obtain the numerical solution for the modified Atangana-Baleanu Caputo derivative model. The convergence analysis is verified for the proposed scheme. Finally, numerical results and simulations are derived with the proposed scheme for HIV/AIDS model. On the dynamics of HIV/AIDS transmission, the effects of many biological parameters are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds upon the theoretical framework advanced by the growing literature on vulnerability. The paper explores how vulnerability to HIV/AIDS applies to young women living in the slum areas of New Delhi and Hyderabad. This circumscription of scope is based on a study on AIDS awareness levels in these two Indian cities conducted during summer of 2006. Using a qualitative approach, the paper offers insightful narratives from a sample of 26 women about their cultural and socio-economic circumstances with reference to HIV/AIDS. The excerpts from these women give a poignant view of their precarious circumstances with reference to lack of female autonomy, economic vulnerability, low AIDS awareness, and lack of access to pertinent information about HIV. The female youth were highly susceptible to the double bind of age and gender based hierarchies present in the patriarchal Indian social system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nigeria has the second largest number of adolescents and young people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS contribute to spread of HIV, and constrain uptake of preventive services. This paper explored misconceptions about HIV/AIDS among adolescents in south-east Nigeria. A qualitative study was conducted in six urban and rural local government areas of Ebonyi state. Data were collected through twelve focus group discussions (FGD) with unmarried adolescents aged 13–18 who were either attending school or out-of-school. The FGDs were conducted using a pre-tested topic guide. Data were coded manually and analyzed using a thematic framework approach. Results: There are persistent misconceptions about transmission of HIV/AIDS through mosquito bites and sharing of personal belongings. Some adolescents had inaccurate notions that a HIV infected person could be identified through changes in physical features such as abdominal swelling and longer fingernails. A few of them also reported that HIV could be treated with antibiotics. These misconceptions were expressed by both male and female adolescents. Adolescents have some mistaken beliefs about HIV/AIDS which constrain them from taking necessary preventive measures. Hence, the need to target adolescents with health education interventions on HIV/AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid decrease in international funding for HIV/AIDS has been challenging for many nations to effectively mobilize and allocate their limited resources for HIV/AIDS programs. Economic evaluations can help inform decisions and strategic planning. This study aims to examine the trends and patterns in economic evaluation studies in the field of HIV/AIDS and determine their research landscapes.Methods: Using the Web of Science databases, we synthesized the number of papers and citations on HIV/AIDS and economic evaluation from 1990 to 2017. Collaborations between authors and countries, networks of keywords and research topics were visualized using frequency of co-occurrence and Jaccards' similarity index. A Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis to categorize papers into different topics/themes.Results: A total of 372 economic evaluation papers were selected, including 351 cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), 11 cost-utility analyses (CUA), 12 cost-benefit analyses (CBA). The growth of publications, their citations and usages have increased remarkably over the years. Major research topics in economic evaluation studies consisted of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and treatment; drug use prevention interventions and prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions. Moreover, lack of contextualized evidence was found in specific settings with high burden HIV epidemics, as well as emerging most-at-risk populations such as trans-genders or migrants.Conclusion: This study highlights the knowledge and geographical discrepancies in HIV/AIDS economic evaluation literature. Future research directions are also informed for advancing economic evaluation in HIV/AIDS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through two interviews conducted two years apart, the author and artist Joey Terrill offer an intimate historical trajectory rooted in the singular voice of the artist through the discussion of artworks in the exhibitions "Joey Terrill: Still Here" and "Joey Terrill: Once Upon A Time: Paintings, 1981–2015". The method of storytelling, interview, and art representation chronicles the artist's emotional, intellectual, and embodied experience of illness, queerness, and resistance as an HIV-positive queer Chicano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The government of Trinidad and Tobago considers that the enjoyment of the highest attainable level of health is a basic right of every citizen, and it has a goal to achieve health for all by 2025. Thus, it places emphasis on caring and assures standards of excellence to promote, protect, and improve the health status of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. To achieve these goals, it is very important to increase curative services as well as preventive services in the country. Material and methods: Children born with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Trinidad and Tobago are surviving, especially with free and increased access to antiretroviral therapy. This paper focuses on the role of health professionals to reduce and prevent the HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago. In view of this situation, there is a need to overcome the challenges of public health by involving community and individuals and self-reliance to prevent and reduce the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Results: The author highlight the contribution of health professionals and the Public Health Policy, which remains an untapped resource within the community for addressing HIV/AIDS prevention and early detection. Conclusion: Social workers are needed to address the individual needs of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and the needs of their families and communities, as well as to address the larger issues of social injustice that affects and is affected by the HIV pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the dynamics of condom policymaking in Malawi by analyzing debates, which took place in the Malawi National Assembly between the year 2000 and 2004. Using content analysis and key informant interviews, and situating the overall discussion within policy and science literature, we examine how scientific evidence is being applied in the policymaking process as it relates to the place of condoms within the context of HIV/AIDS prevention. The study not only shows the extent to which the policymaking process on condoms in Malawi largely embodies a tendency to blur the conventional divide between science and politics, but also demonstrates why controversy around condoms still persists at the highest level of government in a country with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. It was found that even when people are dying, consensus in HIV/AIDS policymaking can be difficult to achieve in a policy climate characterized by a binary perspective to social problems, and where different actors compete for control over the policy terrain. The paper makes recommendations that may be helpful in facilitating a more inclusive HIV/AIDS policymaking process in Malawi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: There have been only limited studies assessing the economic burden of HIV/AIDS in terms of direct costs, and there has been no published study related to productivity costs in Nepal. Therefore, this study explores in detail the economic burden of HIV/AIDS, including direct costs and productivity costs. This paper focuses on the direct costs of seeking treatment, productivity costs, and related factors affecting direct costs, and productivity costs.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative study. The primary data were collected through a structured face-to-face survey from 415 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The study was conducted in six representative treatment centres of six districts of Nepal. The data analysis regarding the economic burden (direct costs and productivity costs) was performed from the household's perspective. Descriptive statistics have been used, and regression analyses were applied to examine the extent, nature and determinants of the burden of the disease, and its correlations.Results: Average total costs due to HIV/AIDS (the sum of average total direct and average productivity costs before adjustment for coping strategies) were Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 2233 per month (US$ 30.2/month), which was 28.5% of the sample households' average monthly income. The average total direct costs for seeking HIV/AIDS treatment were NRs 1512 (US$ 20.4), and average productivity costs (before adjustment for coping strategies) were NRs 721 (US$ 9.7). The average monthly productivity losses (before adjustment for coping strategies) were 5.05 days per person. The major determinants for the direct costs were household income, occupation, health status of respondents, respondents accompanied or not, and study district. Health status of respondents, ethnicity, sexual orientation and study district were important determinants for productivity costs.Conclusions: The study concluded that HIV/AIDS has caused a significant economic burden for PLHIV and their families in Nepal. The study has a number of policy implications for different stakeholders. Provision of social support and income generating programmes to HIV-affected individuals and their families, and decentralising treatment services in each district seem to be viable solutions to reduce the economic burden of HIV-affected individuals and households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol use is a common practice of almost all communities worldwide and it is more common among persons with HIV infection. Alcohol consumption among people with HIV/AIDS may result in poor treatment adherence, further immunity suppression and increase the risk of comorbid illness (diseases) which collectively diminish the anti-retroviral therapy responses. Although there are separate studies conducted regarding alcohol use among people with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, the finding results are highly variable and inconsistent. Therefore, conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis has a paramount importance to show the pooled prevalence of alcohol use and to identify its determinants among people with HIV/AIDS. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Hinnari and Cochrane library was employed. Additionally, the grey literature was searched from Google and Google Scholar. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction format prepared in Microsoft Excel. STATA-version 14 statistical software was used for analysis. Heterogeneity of primary studies was found as evaluated using the I2 test result. As a result, a random-effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of alcohol use. Results: A total of 22 primary studies which comprises 8,368 study participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of lifetime, current and hazardous alcohol use among HIV patients in Ethiopia were 36.42% [95% CI (19.96, 52.89)], 19.00% [95% CI (12.98, 25.01)] and 21.64% [95% CI (12.72, 30.55)], respectively. Khat chewing [OR = 3.53, (95% CI 1.31, 9.51)] and cigarette smoking [OR = 7.04, (95% CI 3.53, 14.04)] were found as statistically significant determinants of hazardous alcohol use among people with HIV infection. Conclusions: The result of this review showed that alcohol drinking is highly practiced among people with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. The magnitude of alcohol use was highly variable based on the screening methods used to measure alcohol use. Comorbid substance use (khat and cigarette) increases the risk of alcohol consumption among HIV patients. This suggests a need for designing appropriate and culturally applicable intervention programs and policy responses. Trial registration PROSPERO 2019, "CRD42019132524." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to be a deadly pandemic and a serious threat to public health. Globally, reproductive age women are more likely to be infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS is pivotal in the fight against AIDS. However, comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge is low in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations including Liberia, which contributes to the high incidence of HIV in these nations. This study assessed the level of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia. Methods: The prevalence and associated factors of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among reproductive age women in Liberia were determined using secondary data analysis of 2019–2020 Liberia Demographic and Health Surveys (LDHS). Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS was a composite variable computed from six variables available in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The study included 7,621 reproductive age women in weighted samples. A generalized linear mixed model with robust error variance was used. For the variables included in the final model, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among Liberian women aged 15–49 was 33.5%. Women's age and education, and distance to health facility were positively associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among Liberian reproductive age women. In contrast, community poverty level was negatively associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Conclusion and recommendations: This study demonstrates that the prevalence of good comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge was relatively low among reproductive age women in Liberia. Hence, health practitioners and policymakers should strengthen HIV/AIDS sensitization programmes to increase women's knowledge about HIV/AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this article is to exhibit the importance of awareness programs and travel-blocking operations, in the prevention of HIV/AIDS outbreaks, based on a multi-domains SIR epidemic model. The model devised describes the spatial-temporal spread of HIV/AIDS, in p neighboring domains, taking into account the epidemiological diversity of their populations. For a first case of the study, we focus on discussing the benefits of awareness campaigns that aim to raise public consciousness among susceptible people, about the danger of HIV/AIDS. Thus, for the reason that intra-domains interventions are not always sufficient to prevent people belonging to a domain (neighborhood, town or city for example), from a rapid expansion of HIV/AIDS, we propose the travel-blocking strategy, as a second approach presenting inter-domains interventions that health-policy makers could follow, by restricting the number of suspicious people that can participate in spreading HIV/AIDS via travel, coming from domains at high-risk of infection to enter domains with lower risk. The optimal control theory, based on Pontryagin's maximum principle, is applied twice in this paper, for the characterizations of the awareness and travel-blocking controls. The numerical results associated to the multi-points boundary value problems are obtained based on the Forward-Backward Sweep Method combined with progressive-regressive Runge-Kutta fourth-order schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually transmitted diseases are a significant public health concern in developing countries. Many people are reluctant to seek treatment due to a lack of awareness and shame. To address this, we must prioritize sexual education, health counseling, and access to sexual hygiene and personal hygiene resources. Ignoring symptoms can lead to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which remains a lifelong challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the increasing incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the world, it is necessary to examine the level of knowledge among different parts of population, especially among students, in order to establish remedial preventive interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dormitory students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd towards HIV/AIDS. Material and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed among 658 dormitory students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in 2019, who were recruited through multistage sampling. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used to collect students' data. SPSS version 22 was employed to analyze the data. Results: In total, 59.9% of students had high knowledge level. There was a significant association between students' knowledge and gender, field of study, and grade point average of the last half year. Positive/neutral attitude was observed among 77.7% of the students. Age and sex had a significant association with attitude. A total of 32 students (4.9%) had experienced extra-marital sex, and 9.4% of them were condom ever users during sexual contacts. Conclusions: The results revealed relatively high knowledge and neutral to positive attitude about HIV/AIDS among dormitory students. However, preventive measures among participants with highrisk behaviors were not properly employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-patch HIV/AIDS model with heterosexual transmission is formulated to investigate the impact of population migration on the spread of HIV/AIDS. We derive the basic reproduction number $ R_{0} $ R 0 and prove that if $ R_{0} \lt 1 $ R 0 < 1 , the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. If $ R_{0} \gt 1 $ R 0 > 1 and certain conditions are satisfied, the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. We apply the model to two patches and conduct numerical simulations. If HIV/AIDS becomes extinct in each patch when two patches are isolated, the disease remains extinct in two patches when the population migration occurs; if HIV/AIDS spreads in each patch when two patches are isolated, the disease remains persistent in two patches when the population migration occurs; if the disease disappears in one patch and spreads in the other patch when they are isolated, the disease can spread or disappear in two patches if migration rates of individuals are suitably chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the HIV epidemic continues to grow, transmitted drug resistance(TDR) and determining relationship of HIV transmission are major barriers to reduce the risk of HIV transmissions.This study aimed to examine the molecular epidemiology and TDR and evaluated the transmission pattern among newly diagnosed people living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHA) in Ningbo city, which could contribute to the development of targeted precision interventions. Methods: Consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Ningbo City between January 2018 and December 2021. The HIV-1 pol gene region was amplified and sequenced for drug resistance and genetic transmission network analysis. TDR was determined using the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database. Genetic transmission network was visualized using Cytoscape with the genetic distance threshold of 0.013. Results: A total of 1006 sequences were sequenced successfully, of which 61 (6.1%) showed evidence of TDR. The most common mutations were K103N (2.3%), E138A/G/Q (1.7%) and V179D/E (1.2%). 12 HIV-1 genotypes were identified, with CRF07_BC being the major genotype (43.3%, 332/767), followed by CRF01_AE (33.7%, 339/1006). 444 (44.1%) pol sequences formed 856 links within 120 transmission clusters in the network. An increasing trend in clustering rate between 2018 and 2021(χ2 = 9.546, P = 0.023) was observed. The odds of older age (≥ 60 years:OR = 2.038, 95%CI = 1.072 ~ 3.872, compared to < 25 years), HIV-1 genotypes (CRF07_BC: OR = 2.147, 95%CI = 1.582 ~ 2.914; CRF55_01B:OR = 2.217, 95%CI = 1.201 ~ 4.091, compared to CRF01_AE) were significantly related to clustering. Compared with CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC were prone to form larger clusters. The largest cluster with CRF07_BC was increased from 15 cases in 2018 to 83 cases in 2021. Conclusions: This study revealed distribution of HIV-1 genotypes, and genetic transmission network were diverse and complex in Ningbo city. The prevalence of TDR was moderate, and NVP and EFV were high-level NNRTI resistance. Individuals aged ≥ 60 years old were more easily detected in the networks and CRF07_BC were prone to form rapid growth and larger clusters. These date suggested that surveillance and comprehensive intervention should be designed for key rapid growth clusters to reduce the potential risk factors of HIV-1 transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Politically motivated violence and insecurity continue to be a major threat to progress in HIV epidemic control and a significant contributor to health inequality. Despite a decreasing HIV/AIDS disease burden, the Republic of Cameroon in West Africa is experiencing ongoing political instability in her North and South West Regions. Our study used qualitative methods to better understand key frontline health care providers' (fHCP) perceptions of the effects of political instability on HIV/AIDS response gains in Cameroon since 2018, as well as lessons learned for overcoming them. Methods: Between July and August 2022, semi-structured, in-depth key informant interviews involving 10 purposively selected participants were conducted in the two regions. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, coded thematically, and analyzed manually. Results: Six overarching themes emerged from the transcribed key informant interviews. They were as follows: Challenge with access to and availability of health care services (HIV care, commodity supply chain) in the smaller communities; Impact on continuity of treatment; Increased risk of new HIV infections; The socioeconomic impact of the crisis on the quality of life; The impact of the crisis on fHCPs' physical and mental health and the health system'; and Coping mechanisms. Conclusions: Frontline healthcare workers have acknowledged the significant impact the current political instability has had in hindering the development and advancement of a successful local response to HIV/AIDS in the two impacted regions of Cameroon. Coordinated efforts must be made to strengthen the health sector in areas such as HIV healthcare decentralization, supply chain, and protecting frontline healthcare workers from political quagmires in order to lessen the impact of the nation's socio-political crisis on the HIV/AIDS response and, more generally, on the entire health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Research is commonly evaluated through an analysis of research outputs (i.e. theses and dissertations, papers in scholarly journals and conference proceedings, etc.) and research outcomes (i.e. new discoveries, Nobel prize winners, graduating students, new developments of drugs. etc.) using research units (e.g. persons or bodies responsible, sources in which the findings are published, medium of communication, nature of information conveyed, timing and frequency with which information is conveyed, amount of information conveyed, etc). Some of the methods of research evaluation that have been proposed and are commonly used include peer-review and informetric approaches. This paper reports findings of an informetric study of HIV/AIDS literature published by and on Eastern and Southern Africa in order to find out the number of countries engaged in the publication of HIV/AIDS literature: the most productive authors, institutions and countries; and the countries in which the literature is published. A comparison is made between regional (i.e. African) and foreign (or international) productivity. Results indicate that foreign authorship dominates the scene and that majority of the publications are published in foreign countries. The implications of this pattern of publication for researchers based in Africa are discussed. Finally, recommendations based on the findings are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa continues to manifest itself in unexpected ways. While the consequences of the disease appear straightforward in some aspects—e.g., medical, labor, cost—in other respects the repercussions, while large, are nonetheless highly nuanced and can be counterintuitive. This paper reports on the intersection of HIV/AIDS, migration, livelihood adaptation, land tenure, and forest conservation, to outline how adaptation to the pandemic has reworked significant aspects of land tenure to result in increased forest conservation in southern Zambia in the near to medium-term. The research uses a combination of ethnography, case studies, household survey and spatial analyses and finds that HIV/AIDS is used in customary legal settings to enhance land access. We also draw links to practical and theoretical implications of the relationship between HIV/AIDS, land tenure, and deforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea and the game's huge popularity and international profile has been used in recent condom promotion campaigns in the nation's fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In this paper, I argue that the promotion of condom use through rugby league requires a national campaign strategy that includes understandings of condom use and masculinity at the rural level. I demonstrate this through a study of Gogodala men's understandings of the epidemic and condom use in Western Province. The Gogodala are a Christian-based society and many blame the national condom promotion strategy for an increase in promiscuity and for 'turning sex into a game'. Condom availability in this rural area continues to be restricted to a family planning program that promotes Christian values and excludes unmarried men. I explore the male condom dilemma where young men are more concerned with avoiding accusations that their sexual behaviour puts them at risk of contracting HIV despite acknowledging the preventative value of using condoms. In this context young men disassociate themselves from the disease and condom use through a process of calculated risk or risk minimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the extent of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young Yupno women and men. Local understanding of sikAIDS is shaped by cultural, moral and religious concepts and processes that are based on social values and practices. Difficulties these young people face in accessing information about HIV/AIDS and using it to implement preventative measures -- for example by obtaining condoms -- have to be seen in the framework of 'kastom' and a moral discourse coined and influenced by the Lutheran Church. As the research shows, there is an urgent need for a broad and contextually sensitive approach to sexual health, including information about conception, family planning methods, and sexually transmitted diseases when planning awareness campaigns for teenagers in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little attention has been given to understanding the emotional well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries, despite the fact that emotions may impact on people's sense of purpose and value, and ultimately their ability and resolve to hold livelihood and familial responsibilities together. Drawing upon research undertaken in the Caprivi Region of Namibia, this paper examines the use of solicited text and photo diaries in enabling insight into the emotional impacts of HIV/AIDS. The advantages and constraints of diary methods are examined, focusing on informant-directed research and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: It is evident that public health education interventions to promote the use of condoms against HIV infections in Ghana have yielded modest results. However, existing studies in the field of sexual and reproductive health in Ghana have failed to account for differences in risk preferences of individuals. This study fills the gap by investigating how individuals' risk preferences predict their behaviour toward using condoms against HIV in Ghana. Method: Conceptually, the study followed the Grossman health capital theoretical model for risk preference and health behaviour nexus. Data were obtained from the most recent Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 7 (GLSS 7), conducted in 2017. Using data from GLSS 7, a probit regression model was estimated to show how the risk preferences of individuals that did not abstain from sex predicted their use of condoms against HIV. To ensure robustness, two scenarios of declared risk preferences were used to predict the use of condom behaviour against HIV. Results: Probit regression estimation shows that the risk preferences of individuals that did not abstain from sex significantly predicted their use of condoms against HIV in Ghana. Even though the study found that the predicted probability of using a condom reduces among risk-averse individuals that do not abstain from sex, not using a condom against HIV was found to be worse among risk lovers. Conclusion: The study provides empirical evidence that public health education against HIV/AIDS in Ghana cannot continue to ignore the risk preference of individuals. The results of this study have immediate implications, first for a comprehensive and continuous measurement of risk preferences among Ghanaians in major household surveys going forward. At the moment, the latest round of the GLSS is just about the only household survey in Ghana that has attempted to collect some data on individual time and risk preferences using only hypothetical monetary rewards. Second is the immediate consideration of individual risk preferences in public health education campaigns against HIV/AIDS in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inequitable access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Treatment and Care Services (HATCS) for People With Disabilities (PWD) is a hurdle to ending the pandemic by 2030. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Health System's Responsiveness (HSR) and associated factors for PWD attending HATCS at health facilities in South Western Uganda.Methods: Between February and April 2022, we enrolled a total of 106 people with disabilities for a quantitative study and 14 key informants from selected primary care HIV clinics. The World Health Organization Multi-country study's disability assessment schedules 2.0 and Health system responsiveness (HSR) questionnaire were adopted to measure the level of disabilities and responsiveness, respectively. The level of HSR was evaluated using descriptive analysis. The association between socio-demographics, level of disabilities and HSR was evaluated through binary and multivariable logistic regression. The qualitative data were collected from 14 key informants using interview guide and analyzed according to thematic areas (deductive approaches).Results: Overall, Health system responsiveness (HSR) was at 47.62% being acceptable to people living with HIV and Disabilities in south western Uganda. Across different domains, the best performance was reported in social consideration (68.57%) and autonomy (67.62%). The least performance was registered in dignity (2.83%), confidentiality (2.91%), prompt Attention (17.35%) and Choices (30.48%). Whereas performance in communications (53.92%) and quality of basic amenities (42.27%) were average. There were no socio-demographics or disability variables that were predictive of HATCS responsiveness. PWDs experienced lack of social support, poor communication, stigma and discrimination during the HATCs services. On the other hand, the health-care providers felt frustrated by their inability to communicate effectively with PWDs and meet their need for social support.Conclusion: HSR was comparatively low, with dignity, confidentiality, prompt attention, and choice ranking worst. To address the universal and legitimate requirements of PWDs in accessing care, urgent initiatives are required to create awareness among all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the biggest health challenges in the world, affecting both men and women not only physical but also psychological health. The aim of this study was to determine whether spiritual health was effective in reducing the experience of suffering in men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 112 female and 112 male HIV-positive patients were selected at the Shiraz Behavioral Disease Counseling Center, using convenience sampling method. To compare spiritual health between women and men, demographic specifications questionnaires, i.e., Schulz scale of experience and perception of suffering and Paleotezian and Alison spiritual health, were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: There was a significant relationship between existential suffer (p < 0.016), existential domain (p < 0.0001), and total spiritual (p < 0.005) with educational level. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between dimensions of physical suffer I and II with sex (p < 0.045) and age (p < 0.019). In addition, dimensions of suffering and those of spiritual health in terms of gender had a significant relationship with p < 0.005, except for religious domain and physical suffer (dimension I and II). Conclusions: Findings of the present study strengthen the importance of religious and spiritual health in the reduction of experience of suffering in patients with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the use of spirituality as a strategy to deal with suffering caused by illness should be followed by healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recommendations for research partnerships between low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) stress the importance of equity within the collaboration. However, there is limited knowledge of the practical challenges and successes involved in establishing equitable research practices. This study describes the results of a pilot survey assessing key issues on LMIC/HIC partnership equity within HIV/AIDS research collaborations and compares perspectives of these issues between LMIC- and HIC-based investigators. Methods: Survey participants were selected using clustered, random sampling and snowball sampling. Responses were compared between LMIC and HIC respondents using standard descriptive statistics. Qualitative respondent feedback was analyzed using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory thematic analysis. Results: The majority of categories within four themes (research interests and resources; leadership, trust, and communication; cultural and ethical competence; representation and benefits) demonstrated relative consensus between LMIC and HIC respondents except for 'lack of trust within the partnership' which was rated as a more pronounced challenge by LMIC respondents. However, subcategories within some of the themes had significant differences between respondent groups including: equitable setting of the research agenda, compromise within a partnership, the role of regulatory bodies in monitoring partnerships for equity, and post-study access to research technology. Conclusions: These efforts serve as a proof-of-concept survey characterizing contemporary issues around international research partnership equity. The frequency and severity of specific equity issues can be assessed, highlighting similarities versus differences in experiences between LMIC and HIC partners as potential targets for further discussion and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAfrican Americans are disproportionally affected by HIV and have poorer rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence compared to other racial or ethnic groups in the United States. Factors associated with poor HIV disease outcomes are commonly associated with sociostructural barriers that prevent engagement with and retention in HIV care. SMS text messaging interventions to promote ART adherence among predominantly non-Hispanic White persons with HIV (PWH) have been shown to be efficacious; however, limited research has been devoted to culturally tailoring interventions for underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. Considering African Americans show poorer engagement along the HIV care continuum, we developed an individualized and culturally tailored two-way SMS text messaging intervention to improve ART adherence and associated virologic suppression among African American PWH.ObjectiveIn this paper we describe the protocol of a culturally tailored individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) intervention in a 24- to 48-week, single-arm study.MethodsWe developed a culturally tailored iTAB intervention, which we are implementing in a 24- to 48-week, single-arm study. Participants were recruited from the Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD), a federally qualified health center. Patient inclusion criteria were (1) receiving care at the FHCSD, (2) living with HIV, (3) self-identification as Black, African American, or of African ancestry, (4) English speaking, (5) age 18 or older, (6) currently on ART, and (7) able to provide informed consent. Study enrollment began in November 2017 and closed in July 2019. A total of 90 participants from the FHCSD enrolled in the iTAB intervention, and we anticipate completing data collection in July 2020. Participants were assisted in individualizing and customizing their SMS text message preferences at the baseline study visit. Self-assessment measures are collected at baseline, interim, and final study visits. Problems related to sending/receiving SMS text messages and barriers to ART adherence are assessed at each interim study visit. The FHCSD staff monitors and tracks participants' daily SMS text message responses to ART adherence reminders using a clinical dashboard.ResultsWe hypothesize that the proportion of individuals achieving HIV virologic suppression (viral load