Relationship between Treatment Comorbidities and Viral Suppression of HIV Infections in Johannesburg

HIV has globally infected 37.9 million people, of which 23.3 million (62%) are on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In South Africa, low rate of viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV persistence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment of comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18 – 49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis (TB) in Johannesburg. The HIV care continuum formed the framework for this research. A secondary dataset from the national level survey 2017 was used for the descriptive and logistic regression analyses that were conducted. The results revealed a statistically significant association between TB treatment and viral suppression (adjusted OR=1.534, (1.053, 2.234), and p= 0.02, indicating that treatment of comorbidities such as TB has a positive impact on viral suppression outcomes. The results revealed that medical bills paid by medical aid were associated with viral suppression (OR= 1.789, (1.082, 2.957), p= 0.02. However, the model for diabetes treatment and viral suppression (OR=0.993 (0.658, 1.498), p=0.97), and the model for cancer treatment and viral suppression (OR= 1.234, (0.844, 1.805), p=0.27, revealed no significant associations. These findings indicate that concurrent, simultaneous, or integrated treatment models of comorbidities can help in achieving viral suppression. This study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the effect of the treatment of comorbidities on viral suppression in PLWHIV in an under-resourced setting, which could inform policy and influence decisions on HIV care and management

Relationship between Treatment Comorbidities and Viral Suppression of HIV Infections in Johannesburg

HIV has globally infected 37.9 million people, of which 23.3 million (62%) are on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In South Africa, low rate of viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV persistence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment of comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18 – 49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis (TB) in Johannesburg. The HIV care continuum formed the framework for this research. A secondary dataset from the national level survey 2017 was used for the descriptive and logistic regression analyses that were conducted. The results revealed a statistically significant association between TB treatment and viral suppression (adjusted OR=1.534, (1.053, 2.234), and p= 0.02, indicating that treatment of comorbidities such as TB has a positive impact on viral suppression outcomes. The results revealed that medical bills paid by medical aid were associated with viral suppression (OR= 1.789, (1.082, 2.957), p= 0.02. However, the model for diabetes treatment and viral suppression (OR=0.993 (0.658, 1.498), p=0.97), and the model for cancer treatment and viral suppression (OR= 1.234, (0.844, 1.805), p=0.27, revealed no significant associations. These findings indicate that concurrent, simultaneous, or integrated treatment models of comorbidities can help in achieving viral suppression. This study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the effect of the treatment of comorbidities on viral suppression in PLWHIV in an under-resourced setting, which could inform policy and influence decisions on HIV care and management

An investigation into the stigmatization of HIV-positive clients at clinics in the Leribe district

A quantitative approach was used to investigate the stigmatization of HIV positive clients in the Leribe District of Lesotho. The study population included 5200 HIV positive patients who enrolled for ARV in government clinics. A randomly selected sample of 520 clients responded through a questionnaire and interviews. The statistical package (STATA version 9) was used to analyze data. The objectives of the study were to explore the type and level of stigmatization of HIV-positive clients and to describe ways in which health workers in the PHC can reduce the stigmatization of HIV-positive clients at the clinics. The findings revealed that types of stigmatization included separation, isolation, labeling and discrimination. Ways to reduce the stigma within a community based primary health care facility included educating people living with HIV on how to protect themselves from multiple infection, providing effective counselling to clients and families maintaining confidentiality, and using change strategies to change attitudes of health care providers. The integration of HIV-related activities is a strong recommendation and the importance of the consistent availability of ARV treatment was emphasized.Public HealthM.A. (Public Health

Relationship Between Treatment Comorbidities and HIV Viral Suppression Among People Who Live With AIDSi n Johannesburg.

HIV has globally infected over 37.9 million people, of which 28.2 million (73%) are on antiretroviral treatment, and 66% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. In South Africa, however, low rate of viral suppression (47%) among people living with HIV is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV prevalence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18–49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis in Johannesburg. HIV Care Continuum formed the theoretical framework for this research. An existing HIV-infected patient de-identifiable dataset (n = 602) was used for the descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Results revealed a statistically significant association between tuberculosis treatment and viral suppression—adjusted OR = 1.534, (1.053, 2.234), and p = 0.02—indicating that treatment of comorbidities, such as tuberculosis, has positive impact on viral suppression outcomes. Results, however, revealed that the model for diabetes treatment and viral suppression—OR = 0.993, (0.658, 1.498), and p = 0.97—and the model for cancer treatment and viral suppression—OR= 1.234, (0.844, 1.805), and p = 0.27—were not statistically significant. Treatment of comorbidities, such as TB and HIV, positively impacts viral suppression outcomes. These findings suggested that concurrent, simultaneous, or integrated treatment models for comorbidities can help to achieve HIV viral suppression. This study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the effect of treatment comorbidities on viral suppression in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in an under-resourced setting, which could inform policy and influence decisions on HIV care and management. Results however revealed that the model for diabetes treatment and viral suppression—OR = 0.993, (0.658, 1.498), and p = 0.97—and the model for cancer treatment and viral suppression—OR = 1.234, (0.844, 1.805), and p = 0.27—were not statistically significant. Treatment of comorbidities, such as TB and HIV, positively impacts viral suppression outcomes. These findings suggested that concurrent, simultaneous, or integrated treatment models for comorbidities can help to achieve HIV viral suppression. This study contributes to positive social change by highlighting the effect of treatment comorbidities on viral suppression in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in an under-resourced setting, which could inform policy and influence decisions on HIV care and management