Nuanced approaches to HIV/AIDS research

Background: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and importance of knowing ones status has increased even among rural dwellers in the northern Nigeria. However, access to laboratory test, ART and drugs for opportunistic infections remains a major challenge for the people.
Methodology: In 2008, USAID through Management Sciences for Health (MSH) supported HIV/AIDS programs in five local communities. MSH provided mobile HTC and referred positive clients to the nearest hospital. Most of them did not visit hospital for further tests and ART commencement. They complained of transport fair which was about #1,000 ($7)-85km. Advocacy visits were paid to the local authorities.
Findings: The intervention increased access to lab tests and ART uptake. The support covered January-December 2009 & 2011. The local government supported (35%) 116 patients out of the 332 eligible in 2009 and 72 out of about 220 in 2011 that live on $1 or less daily. In all, the LACA paid about #118,000 ($826) as support for 118 patients during the period. At the end of 2009 and 2011, (86%) and (56%) percent of patients enrolled who secured support were still assessing care.
Recommendations: Community leaders’ inclusion in HIV/AIDS program and referral networking using existing community structures could further reduce stigmatization and loss-to-follow up.

In the early phase of the epidemic, Uganda scored impressive success when the whole nation got together in solidarity to fight the epidemic in its early phase. Here success was realized in bringing down the prevalence rates together with the rate of new infections. However, despite all the funding from AIDS development partners and the interventions, the prevalence of HIV has increased from 6.4% in 2005 to 7.3 % in 2011 questioning the level of implementation of the intervention. From the findings, it was realized that successful prevention of HIV/AIDS involves Voluntary Counselling and Testing as an entry point and the results of the test determines the behaviour of an individual. Prevention of HIV/AIDS should be done by combination prevention where structural behavioural and biomedical interventions are done in combination. If a holistic approach is not employed in regard to the HIV state, the prevalence will in the long run come to alarming levels.

Although HIV infections are declining, certain population groups such as men who have sex (MSM) with men have been identified as people at higher risk of HIV. This study examines the sexual history and risky sexual behavior of MSM in Lome, Togo. Twenty MSM were recruited by the only HIV/AIDS center that caters to their needs in September-October, 2012. Semi-structured interviews asked participants questions about their sexual history, condom use and HIV prevention. The mean age was 22 years old. Participants were all single and had a mean number of 10.7 years of education. Three MSM were seropositive, three did not know their serostatus, and 14 were seronegative. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 14.45 years. The mean number of sexual partners (of both sex) at the time of the study was 18. Fifty percent identified as gay, 35% as bisexual, and 15% as homosexual. Some of the MSM who identified as gay or homosexual had sex with females as well. Seventy percent of the MSM consistently used condoms in the past six months prior to the study. However, 30% did not use condoms consistently. The reasons for non-condom use fell under three main themes: partners ejaculate quicker; availability of antiretroviral drugs, and intense urge prior to anal sex did not allow time for condom use.

The study sought to ascertain what motivates PLHIV to provide care and support for fellow PLHIV in Ghanaian hospitals and during home visits, despite the fact that they do not receive any salaries. Data for the study were obtained from 120 purposively selected PLHIV serving in Ghanaian hospitals and clinics across the length and breadth of the country as ‘models of hope’ for fellow PLHIV who have been newly diagnosed of having HIV through a questionnaire and in-depth interview. The purposive sampling technique was employed to select the sample size. Qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted for the study. Results of the study were analysed using the Statistical Product for Social Services (SPSS). The theoretical framework for the study is the exchange theory. A major result was that the respondents were motivated by the fact that they wanted the newly diagnosed PLHIV to have some hope and live positively with HIV.

Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Hope, Models of Hope, Training, Incentives, Benefits

The vulnerability of HIV/AIDS is very high in Bangladesh, although it is a low prevalent country. The rate of HIV infection among street-based sex workers in central Bangladesh is high. In this study, the spatial statistical models are used to investigate the determinants and spatial dependence/neighborhood dependence of the knowledge of women about HIV risk and AIDS Transmission. The binary join matrix and the inverse distance spatial weights matrix specifications are considered in the empirical models to highlight any differences in spatial patterns. The analysis extends the spatial model by allowing spatial dependence to vary across the divisions and regions to identify the priority area(s) and region(s) that are both knowledge on risks perception of HIV and AIDS transmission and economically lagging. The literacy rate of women and men, women literacy rate square, average household size, population density, daily wage rate of agricultural labour, knowledge of environmental pollution of different districts are explanatory variables. These findings have several policy implications those agencies and policy initiatives operating at local and or national levels concerned with tackling the HIV/AIDS related problems that are primarily concerned with sound health and poverty alleviation agenda.

This paper focuses at the critical appraisal of interventions to address HIV vulnerabilities among cross border migrants and their spouses by analyzing relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the intervention. The analysis consists of a critical appraisal of regionalization in programming and project strategy to address those at risk of HIV/AIDS at source, transit and destination. The basic data have been collected using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, where the key issues and challenges in addressing HIV/AIDS vulnerabilities among cross boarder migrants are based on a total of 132 FGDs/ interviews conducted across source, transit and destination.
Most of the programs and services for reducing HIV/AIDS vulnerability focus at raising awareness, capacity building, improving use of health care services by developing a range of support structures, and creating an enabling environment for behaviour change. However, cross border referrals and continuum of services need to be strengthen by promoting synergy in planning of programmes and services across borders. Need to advocate for user-friendly health services by sensitizing the host community. Strengthening network of PLHIV and ART centres at source and destination in order to minimise defaulters in treatment regimen and other services to

Purpose: To investigate how current promotional materials on MMC are being understood by rural adolescent boys in Makonde district.
Methods: 138 adolescents between 12 and 19 years of age will be selected from households in the target location. Data will be collected using a questionnaire with both open and closed items through an interview. In addition to individual interviews, in-depth interviews will also be conducted with key informants to be drawn from the Ministry of Health, Population Services International (PSI), the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council and the National AIDS Council. Qualitative data on conceptualisations of the current discourse on male circumcision and HIV prevention will be collected from 3 focussed group discussions. Data analysis will be done using SPSS for quantitative data and NVivo for qualitative data. The actual analysis will involve descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence of MC and qualitative content analysis for data gathered from FGDs.
Expected Results: Prevalence of male circumcision (both traditional and medical) is expected to be low, and so is the knowledge about the procedure. Attitudes about MMC are expected to be generally positive. Findings of this study are expected to be used to evaluate the current advertisements on MMC for HIV prevention.

Introduction: Project ORCHID initiated HIV prevention program in high prevalence districts of Manipur and Nagaland in March 2004. The overall goal of the Project is to reduce transmission of HIV and STIs among IDUs, SWs, MSM and their sexual partners, through a sustained response of increased scale and 80% coverage in Manipur and Nagaland.
Methodology: The pilot project with female injecting drug users started in August 2011, with 150 female injecting drug users as the estimated population. Before this initiative female drug user were given same services in the same clinic and drop in centre which is used for male drug user.
Result: Till August 2011, there was a single drop in center and STI clinic for both male and female injectors. The registration of FIDU increased by 76% from August 2010 to July-2012. The outreach has increased from 52% to 96% during the same period. The STI related visit was more than double during the same period i.e., from 22.7% to 48.7%. Condom distribution per FIDU per month has increased from 26 to 76. Needle and Syringe distribution has increased from 7 to 98 during the same period.
Conclusion: The male and female IDU,s should not given services in the same place and thee should be separate provision for services for FIDU.

Background:
In 2008, the HIV prevalence among IDUs in Manipur was 28.65% as per National HIV Sentinel Surveillance data. Project ORCHID is a 10-year (2004-14) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded project under the Avahan initiative that provides HIV prevention in seven districts of Manipur and Nagaland in Northeast India.
Methodology:
The objective of the survey was to evaluate risk behaviours among the IDU communities served by Project ORCHID in Manipur.
The samples are calculated on the basis of active registered KP till the month of September 2011 at 15% margin of error (for 95% CI) and 1.5% design effect. The sites for conducting PBS are randomly selected using random table in excel sheet.
Results:
In Manipur, 81.8% IDU had injected in the previous week. The mean injecting frequency among them was 13 per IDU per person. The percentage of injecting episodes using new needle and syringe 71.5.
Only about 45% reported always using condom with non-regular partner in previous month. This put them in double risk of transmission of HIV i.e., from injecting as well as unsafe sex.
Conclusion:
Higher rates of risky injecting and sexual behaviour were found in Manipur among IDUs, which together with the much higher HIV prevalence of 28.65% underlines the need for continued behaviour change communication.

Like other parts of the Arab World, the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPts) is low by global standards. During the period between 1988 and 2011, for example, there have only been 72 recorded cases in total , the majority of which are males.

However, despite this relatively low number, a substantial amount of money has made its way into the oPts with the aim of supporting preventive measures related to HIV/AIDS. These efforts have included public health awareness campaigns through various media outlets, as well as outreach and educational activities.

Nonetheless, despite significant educational and outreach efforts, an analysis of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics 2010 Palestinian Family Health Survey (PFHS) points to significant variation in sources of information on AIDS, especially between males and females. This paper will discuss the findings of the PFHS in relation to how HIV/AIDS information is solicited through different outlets between both groups. It also raises questions as to the accuracy of the information provided to each group and why certain information is more accessible to males, females or both. Furthermore, it will argue for more targeted outreach programs among youth in particular.