Clinical outcomes of HIV-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes for patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) using nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in resource-limited settings have not previously been described. METHODS: We evaluated HIV-infected patients aged ≥ 18 years, who initiated HAART in the Home-Based AIDS Care (HBAC) project in Tororo, Uganda, between May 2003 and February 2008 and were diagnosed with KS at baseline or during follow-up. We examined independent risk factors for having either prevalent or incident KS and risk factors for death among patients with KS. RESULTS: Of 1121 study subjects, 17 (1.5%) were diagnosed with prevalent KS and 18 (1.6%) with incident KS over a median of 56.1 months of follow-up. KS was associated with male sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20-4.86] and baseline CD4 cell count < 50 cells/µL (AOR 3.25; 95% CI 1.03-10.3). Eleven (65%) of 17 patients with prevalent KS and 13 (72%) of 18 patients with incident KS experienced complete regression (P = 0.137). Eighteen (64%) of 28 patients who remained on NNRTI-based HAART experienced regression of their KS and six (86%) of seven patients who were switched to protease inhibitor-containing HAART regimens had regression of their KS (P = 0.23). Mortality among those with KS was significantly associated with visceral disease (hazard ratio 19.22; 95% CI 2.42-152). CONCLUSION: Prevalent or incident KS was associated with 30% mortality. The resolution of KS lesions among individuals who initiated HAART with NNRTI-based regimens was similar to that found in studies using only protease inhibitor-based HAART.

A simple screening tool for active tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral treatment in Uganda.

SETTING: Reliable clinical algorithms that screen for active tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected people initiating or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa could reduce the need for diagnostic procedures. METHODS: We estimated the utility of six TB-related signs and symptoms, alone or in combination, compared with the Uganda Ministry of Health diagnostic guidelines for participants with prevalent (baseline), early ART (< or = 3 months on ART) and incident TB (>3 months on ART). RESULTS: Of 1995 participants screened for ART eligibility, 71 (3.6%) had prevalent TB. The presence of any one of the following: cough > or = 3 weeks, fever > or = 4 weeks, lymphadenopathy or baseline body mass index < or = 18 kg/m(2) had a sensitivity of 99% (95%CI 96-100), a specificity of 66% (95%CI 64-68) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% (95%CI 99-100) for predicting active TB. During ART follow-up, TB incidence was 2.4 (95%CI 1.6-3.4)/100 person-years. The presence of cough > or = 3 weeks or general weakness was 100% sensitive (95%CI 99-100), 66% specific (95%CI 59-74) and had an NPV of 100% (95%CI 99-100). CONCLUSION: Use of a simple TB screening algorithm can accurately identify, in a resource-poor African setting, HIV-infected individuals who require further procedures to diagnose active TB.

Aetiology of diarrhoea among persons with HIV and their family members in rural Uganda: a community-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify pathogens associated with diarrhoea in HIV-infected persons and their HIV-uninfected family members. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Rural community in eastern Uganda. SUBJECTS: Eight hundred and seventy nine HIV-infected adults (74% females and median age 35 years (IQR, 29-41) and 2771 HIV-uninfected family members (51% females and median age 11 years (IQR 6-16) were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using microscopy and culture, stools were tested for parasites, bacteria and bacterial-antimicrobial-susceptibility. Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, CD4 cells, season, household clustering and use of safe-water system were used for relationships between pathogens, diarrhoea and HIV. RESULTS: Persons with HIV had similar pathogens in diarrhoeal (69%) and nondiarrhoeal stools (57%). Most diarrhoea was not associated with identifiable aetiology; the population attributable risk of diarrhoea for known diarrhoea pathogens was 32%. Enteric bacteria (19%), enteropathogenic or enterotoxigenic E. coli (8%), Aeromonas species (7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (8%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (5%). HIV-infected, stools had more Cryptosporidium parvum than HIV-uninfected (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.43-4.87). Most bacteria were resistant to commonly used antimicrobials irrespective of HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of HIV-status, aetiologies of majority of their diarrhoea in Uganda cannot be identified by microscopy and culture. Bacterial pathogens isolated have high resistance to common antimicrobials. Empiric treatment should be tailored to local bacterial-resistance patterns.

The Dilemma of Safe Sex and Having Children: Challenges Facing HIV Sero-Discordant Couples in Uganda

Background: Sixty percent of new HIV infections in Uganda occur in stable relationships between HIV discordant couples. Given the importance of fertility in Uganda; we hypothesized that unsafe sexual practices may be used to found a family/replace a dead child. Thus; we explored sexual practices to understand to what extent these are influenced by the desire to have children and the implications for HIV transmission among discordant couples. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 114 HIV discordant couples in Kampala; and in-depth interviews with 15 purposively selected couples. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis done to identify factors associated with consistent condom use. Thematic content analysis of qualitative data was done using NVIVO 2. Results: Participants wanting children and those with multiple sexual partners were less likely to use condoms (Adj OR 0.51; and 0.36 respectively). Three of the five types of sexual practices used by couples do not allow pregnancy to occur. Main reasons for wanting a child included: ensuring lineage continuity and posterity; securing relationships and pressure from relatives to reproduce. Challenges included: risk of HIV transmission to partner and child; lack of negotiating power for safer sex; failure of health systems to offer safe methods of reproduction. Conclusions: HIV sero-discordant couples with strong desire for childbearing have a dilemma of risking HIV infection or infecting their spouse. Some risk transmission of HIV infection to reproduce. We need to address gender issues; risky behaviour and reproductive health services for HIV sero-discordant couples

Immunoglobulin levels amongst persons with and without human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in Uganda and Norway.

CD4+-cell count and viral load monitoring are expensive and unavailable to most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people in Africa. In an attempt to evaluate alternative methods for monitoring antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, we measured concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgM, IgG and IgG1 amongst adults with and without HIV in Uganda and Norway. We adjusted for disease severity by stratifying HIV-positive subjects on CD4+-cell counts above and below 200 cells/ micro l. Median serum levels of IgG, IgG1 and IgA were significantly higher in HIV-positive persons compared with HIV-negative persons in both countries (P < 0.001 and P = 0.018 for IgA in Ugandan patients). Levels of IgA in Ugandan HIV-negative subjects were significantly lower than those in HIV-positive subjects with low CD4+ compared with those with high CD4+-cell counts (P < 0.001 and P = 0.069, respectively). IgM levels were different between the HIV-negative and the two HIV-positive groups in Norway (P < 0.001). The mean levels of IgM, IgG and IgG1 in HIV-negative and -positive African subjects were generally higher than those in comparable groups of Western subjects. Our results verify that levels of IgA, IgG and IgG1 vary between HIV-negative and -positive individuals in both study populations. Their determination may be useful in monitoring both disease progression and response to ARV therapy.

Choice and chance: determinants of short interpregnancy intervals in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: It is still unclear whether short interpregnancy intervals are a marker for women at risk of poor pregnancy outcome or a direct risk factor for poor perinatal outcomes. The study objective was to identify risk factors associated with short interpregnancy intervals in Denmark. METHODS: From a cohort of pregnant women in a geographically defined area in Denmark (n=11,288) and using register linkage, we identified 5756 multiparous mothers who completed a detailed interview on social behavior during pregnancy. We restricted our analysis to 2904 mothers who had an interpregnancy interval of less than 37 months. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) of having a short interval as a function of a number of determinants. RESULTS: About 4.8% of the mothers had an interpregnancy interval less than 9 months. Short interpregnancy intervals were more likely to occur in an unplanned pregnancy (OR=2.9, 95% CI: 2.2-3.9), to follow irregular menstruation (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.5) and to occur in older (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.5) and high parity mothers (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.1). Poor housing, smoking and low social status were also associated with short interpregnancy interval CONCLUSION: Short interpregnancy intervals may be a marker for women at risk and these risk factors differ among populations. They also appear to be a result of choice (e.g. in older women). Biological factors also play a significant role in determining short interpregnancy intervals.

Determinants of child mortality in a rural Ugandan community.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rate of and risk factors associated with child mortality in rural eastern Uganda. DESIGN: A community based cross-sectional study using the preceding birth technique--a robust method of obtaining information of survival of the previous child. SETTING: A rural district in Eastern Uganda. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 2888 multigravidae were interviewed in April and May 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Number of deaths among children born alive. RESULTS: The under-two child mortality rate was 108 per 1000 livebirths. The annual child mortality was 82 per 1000 child-years of risk. Child mortality was associated with low parental education, being born to adolescent mothers or mothers aged 35 or more. Unconditional logistic regression showed that children born to uneducated parents had a doubled risk of not celebrating their second birthday. It was three times more likely for a child to die in the neonatal period than in the first year of life. Child mortality risk decreased by 4% and 6% for every year of education attained by mothers and fathers, respectively. Parity, residence and marital status were not associated with excess risk of child mortality. Seasonal mortality followed the El Nino rainfall pattern. Finally, there were geographical differences in child mortality although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Monitoring trends in child mortality at district level can be done using the preceding birth technique in antenatal settings. Maternal education, an important predictor of child survival should be included in routine data collection at clinics.

"Appropriate Health Transport in Rural Africa: A Case Study of ""ENGOZI"" in South Western Uganda."

"Bsckground: The study was carried out in the mountains South Western part of Uganda. The residents are predominantly agricultural subsistence farmers. Lack of transport is a serious problem in this area; the road network is poor and very few vehicles are available. The transport problems are coupled with minimal economic activities and lack of cash. In an effort to respond to these problems; a local solution has been the ""ENGOZI"" or basket stretcher for carrying patients. Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to ""examine a system of health transport that utilises appropriate technology and is affordable to the community""."

The Economic Impact on Onchocerciasis the Case of Mbale District in Uganda

Onchocerciasis; a chronic parasitic infection caused by Onchocerca volvuli; is known to be a serious health problem. Relatively little evidence is available on how households react to onchocerciasis and its impact on household expenditure and time allocation patterns. This study was designed to investigate the impact of OSD on school attendance; cost of health care; amount of labour input by economically active individuals and whether its effects vary by gender in Mbale district. A longitudinal community based on 201 households case-control study that lasted 24 weeks in Bunabutiti parish; Mbale district provided information on use of various sources of treatment; their cost to households; time loss by people with the disease; the extent to which household members provided assistance and any financial losseses associated with onchocerciasis and related diseases. The cases studied did not fit the definition of OSD but rather onchocerciasis based primarily on the presence of nodules which indicate infection; rather than that of skin disease. School attendnance results indicated a higher rate of school attendance for households with oncherciasis (52.9) than non-onchocerciasis households (47.1)implying that onchocerciasis status of the household did not affect school attendance. Expenditure on health care differed slightly between the two cohorts with cases reporting a 0.9higher expenditure than controls. Gender analysis revealed that males spent 9.3more money on health care than females whereas among cases; males used 27more money than females while among controls females used 6.5more money than males. Productive work categorised into farming; gathering; housework; processing and tradea had more time from females among controls (42.7more time compared to males). Cases put more time (3.8) into productive activities than controls. Non-productive work basically categorised into fatique; sickness and social reasons was dominated by males among cases (108 more time compared to females) and controls (22.5more time compared to females). A longer period of sickness was reported by males among controls (169.2longer compared to females) and by females among cases (10.3longer compared to males). surprisingly; controls lost slightly more productive hours (4.4) than the cases through sickness. The majority of households appeared to cope without great difficulty with the reduction in labour supply caused by the disease; by drawing largely on the time of adult family members. A conservative total economic loss opf US$ 28;558.4 per year to the parish due to Onchocerciais and related diseases has been forecasted. This is because the intangibale costs like psycho-social effects and stigmatization have not been valued in addition to government expenses on the disease. The direct and indirect costs while 3.5was attributed to direct costs. This money could go a long way toward uplifiting the status of the parish if the disease is eradicated. it is envisaged that the report will be valuable in informing health policy makers; particularly in relation to setting priorities and onchocerciasis treatment. Since this was designed as a multi-country study of the Economic Impact of OSD; the differences in results are due to differences in the important definition of OSD. It can be concluded that onchocerciasis and other health related illnesses have a major impact on the economic and social well-being of the indiviiduals and the community. Policies to address education; women empowerment; sensitization of the masses about the causes; symptoms and effects of onchocerciasis should be formulated and implemented as a matter or priority. Direct costs can be reduced by putting up more dispensaries and the exisiting ones be more stocked with drugs. Indirect costs of medical care can be reduced by improving the roads; putting up more dispensaries to reduce the time spent in seeking health care and of course eradicating the disease