Factors affecting disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus among people living with HIV/AIDS attending an antiretroviral therapy center of Eastern India

Background: HIV serostatus disclosure plays an important role in reducing the risk of HIV transmission. However, its negative effects may include rejection, assault, separation, divorce, stigma, and discrimination. Objectives: This study was undertaken to find out the proportion of HIV-positive serostatus disclosure to any family member and different factors influencing disclosure among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients aged 18� years with confirmed HIV infection registered at the antiretroviral therapy center of a tertiary care hospital in eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, for the duration of 1 year, from July 2017 to June 2018. Results: Most of the respondents were aged 30� years (79.9%), male (63.2%), married (85.4%), rural residents (60.4%), Hindu (96.5%), literate (84%), employed/driver (61.8%), and belonged to lower/lower middle class (62.6%). The rate of disclosure of HIV-positive status to any family member was quite high in this study (238/288 or 82.6%), among which 92.9% (221/238) to the spouse only. The number of sexual partners before disclosure, educational status, and socioeconomic status of the respondents were found to be independent predictors of disclosure of HIV-positive status to any family member (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study indicates the need of giving more emphasis on creating awareness regarding the importance of HIV serostatus disclosure to any family member, especially to spouse, and encourage all PLWHA in the community to disclose their status. Effective strategies also need to be evolved that will target those not likely to disclose their status to anybody.

OVERVIEW OF DENGUE AND DENGVAXIA®—OPTIMISING THE USE OF DENGVAXIA®

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borneviral disease in the world, associated with high morbidityand mortality. It is caused by the transmission of thedengue virus (DENV) through the bite of the infectedmosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. There are 4 serotypes ofDENV (1–4), and all of them circulate in Singapore.Pre-adolescents and young adults are at the highest riskof dengue in this region. In Singapore, the dengue vaccineis approved for the prevention of dengue caused by DENV1–4 in individuals aged 12–45 years living in endemic areas.The vaccine is effective in reducing symptomatic, severeand hospitalised dengue, with clear benefits inseropositive individuals.

Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Benin, Nigeria.

Aims: In many countries, genital herpes, which is predominantly caused by HSV-2 in Nigeria, has become a public health problem of such increasing magnitude that national genital herpes control programmes have been instituted.. Advocacy for formulation of such a programme and the types of interventions to be included in the programme in Nigeria will require data on the prevalence of the disease and the associated factors. Moreover, most of the candidate vaccines against HSV-2 tend to fail when administered to HSV-1 infected persons. The utility of such vaccines in Nigeria will depend on the current seroprevalence of HSV-1 infections. The aim of this study is to assess the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); and to verify the association between HSV-2 infection and HIV-status, age, parity, level of education and positive history of painful genital ulcers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of the study: 264 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in UBTH were prospectively and consecutively included in the study which took place between December, 2011 and August, 2012. Methodology: The patients were tested for HSV-1 IgG and IgM; and for HSV-2 IgG and IgM, using gG type-specific ELISA technique. Their HIV statuses were also determined. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Results: HSV-2 antibodies were present in 44.3% while HSV-1 antibodies were present 96.6% of the participants. Age, HIV-status and marital status were found to be significantly associated with occurrence of HSV-2 antibodies; while parity, level of education and history of painful genital ulcers had no significant association. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of HSV-1 infection was 96.6% while that of HSV-2 infection was 44.3%. Factors that were significantly associated with occurrence of HSV-2 infection included age, marital status and HIV status.

Serostatus Disclosure and Safer Sex in HIV-positive Man: Case Study.

Disclosure of one’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive serostatus to a spouse or sex partner is important, particularly to inform the partner of the need to take precautions to prevent HIV transmission. Thus, understanding the process of disclosure is important to facilitating it to occur more often. Such understanding can best be achieved through a qualitative study (in-depth-interview) that elicits and systematically explores individuals’ stories of what has happened to them after disclosure of HIV.

Disclosure of HIV status among HIV Clinic attendees in Jamaica / Revelación del estado de VIH entre los pacientes que asisten a la Clínica de VIH en Jamaica

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine factors related to disclosure of HIV serostatus among clinic attendees in an outpatient HIV clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of 107 attendees to a HIV clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Participants were selected on a convenience basis. The instrument was developed for this study and covered socio-demographic data and self-report of disclosure and other variables related to HIV experience such as perceptions of family support. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Findings demonstrate a 49% disclosure rate among males and 60% among females. The results further indicate that age, sexual orientation, mode of transmission, and perception of family support were significantly associated with disclosure. Age and perception of family support were found to be significantly associated with consistent condom use. Age and perception of family support were the factors demonstrating the most significant correlations with age being significantly associated with disclosure to partner. Perception of family support was significantly associated with disclosure to family. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study demonstrate a low disclosure rate among HIV clinic attendees. Given that disclosure of HIV serostatus is critical in the control of the spread of HIV, this report highlights the need for the development of prevention interventions focussed on de-stigmatization for both infected and non-infected persons.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio tiene por objeto examinar factores relacionados con el dar a conocer el seroestado de VIH entre los pacientes externos que asisten a la clínica de VIH en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies (UHWI). MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal de 107 asistentes a una clínica de VIH en el Hospital Universitario de West Indies. Se seleccionaron los participantes de acuerdo con las conveniencias. El instrumento fue desarrollado para este estudio y abarcó los datos sociodemográficos así como autoreportes de la revelación del estado y otras variables relacionados con la experiencia del VIH, tales como las percepciones de apoyo familiar. Los datos fueron analizados usando pruebas no paramétricas. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran una tasa de revelación de 49% entre los varones y 60% entre las hembras. Los resultados también indican que la edad, la orientación sexual, el modo de transmisión, y la percepción de apoyo familiar, estuvieron significativamente asociados con la revelación de esta condición. La edady la percepción del apoyo familiar estuvieron significativamente asociadas con el uso consistente del condón. La edad y la percepción del apoyo familiar fueron los factores que demostraron las correlaciones más significativas, hallándose la edad significativamente asociada con la revelación de la condición a las parejas. La percepción del apoyo familiar estuvo significativamente asociada con la revelación de la condición a la familia. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de este estudio demuestran una baja tasa de revelación entre los asistentes a la clínica de VIH. Puesto que dar a conocer el seroestado de VIH es un aspecto crítico en el control de la diseminación del VIH, este informe resalta la necesidad de desarrollar intervenciones de prevención encaminadas a la desestigmatización tanto para los infectados como para los no infectados.