Research Articles (Research in HIV and AIDS)
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/131
2024-03-29T07:23:32Z‘A difficult conversation’: Community stakeholders’ and key informants’ perceptions of the barriers to talking about sex and HIV with adolescents and young people in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/8743
‘A difficult conversation’: Community stakeholders’ and key informants’ perceptions of the barriers to talking about sex and HIV with adolescents and young people in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Knight, Lucia; Humphries, Hilton; Van der Pol, Natasha; Ncgobo, Nkosinathi
Adolescence and young adulthood are important periods of transition and therefore for action and intervention to ensure future sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Caregiver-adolescent communication about sex and sexuality is a protective factor for SRH, but there are often barriers to this. Adults’ perspectives are limited within the literature but important as they should lead this process. This paper uses exploratory qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 40 purposively sampled community stake-holders and key informants to explore their insights into the perceived, experienced or expected challenges adults’ experience when having these conversations within a high HIV prevalence, South African context. Findings suggest that respondents recognized the value of communication and were generally willing to try it. However, they identified barriers such as fear, discomfort and limited knowledge and perceived capacity to do so. They show that in high prevalence contexts adults grapple with their own personal risks, behaviors and fears that may affect their ability to have these conversations. This demonstrates the need to equip caregivers with the confidence and ability to communicate about sex and HIV, alongside managing their own complex risks and situations to overcome barriers. It is also necessary to shift the negative framing of adolescents and sex.
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZImpact of antenatal antiretroviral drug exposure on the growth of children who are HIV-exposed uninfected: The national South African prevention of mother to child evaluation cohort study
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/8668
Impact of antenatal antiretroviral drug exposure on the growth of children who are HIV-exposed uninfected: The national South African prevention of mother to child evaluation cohort study
Vundli, Ramakolo; Kuhn, Louise; Lombard, Carl
Background: The relationship between in-utero antiretroviral (ARV) drug exposure and child growth needs further study as current data provide mixed messages. We compared postnatal growth in the first 18-months of life between children who are HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) with fetal exposure to ARV drugs (prophylaxis or triple-drug therapy (ART)) and CHEU not exposed to ARVs. We also examined other independent predictors of postnatal growth.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZHIV- and sex work-related stigmas and quality of life of female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/8610
HIV- and sex work-related stigmas and quality of life of female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
Chen, Claire; Baral, Stefan; Phetlhu, Dene Reniwe
Background: Environmental quality of life (QoL) assesses individually perceived factors such as physical safety and security, accessibility, quality of healthcare, and physical environment. These factors are particularly relevant in the context of sex work and HIV, where stigma has been identified as an important barrier across several prevention and treatment domains. This study aims to examine the association between different types of HIV- and sex work-related stigmas and environmental QoL among female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV in Durban, South Africa
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZRole of religious beliefs on antiretroviral treatment adherence among Pentecostal Christians in sub Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol
http://hdl.handle.net/10566/7717
Role of religious beliefs on antiretroviral treatment adherence among Pentecostal Christians in sub Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol
Azia, Ivo; Shernaaz, Carelse; Nyembezi, Anam
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. As such, several countries in sub-Saharan Africa are implementing the UNAIDS’ recommendation to test and treat people living with HIV (PLHIV) irrespective of their CD4 count. However,
most of the antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes, in this region, continue to struggle with poor adherence to treatment stemming from patient-related factors including their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, the role of religious beliefs on ART adherence has been underexplored in the literature. In this study protocol, we propose the steps of a scoping review to explore, identify and map the literature
on the impact of religious beliefs on adherence to ART among Pentecostals living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods and analysis We will use Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology guidelines to conduct this scoping review. The following databases will be searched for relevant literature: Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Psych-ARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index of Nursing, Allied Health, Google Scholar and published articles from conference proceedings. Studies published between
January 2010 and February 2022 will be eligible. The identified literature will be independently screened for eligibility by two reviewers based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. An Excel form will be designed to electronically capture data from studies that
meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, we will use a narrative synthesis to summarise the data extracted to report on the nature of existing evidence and the impact of religious beliefs on ART adherence. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval will not be required for the scoping review since it will entail synthesising information from already published articles and conference proceedings. The study findings will be
disseminated through publication in a scientific journal and presented at conferences and workshops aimed at improving adherence to ART in PLHIV.
2021-01-01T00:00:00Z