Force transmission across a core-sheath interface in peripheral nerves [poster presentation]

No abstract - poster presentation

Investigating the mechanical behaviour at a core-sheath interface in peripheral nerves

Published without an abstract

Knowledge of risk behaviors of persons seeking HIV antibody testing at a community site

People seeking HIV antibody testing at a community-based AIDS service organization (N = 342) were asked to complete a self- report questionnaire to determine knowledge of HIV transmission, source(s) of HIV-related knowledge, and recent risk behaviors. The overall knowledge level of risk for transmitting HIV associated with 16 related behaviors was relatively high. Yet, 69% of the participants reported engaging in unsafe sex during the previous six months. Poorly informed subjects tended to overestimate their level of knowledge. In a multiple regression analysis, knowledge, age, and gender were the only significant predictors of engaging in unsafe sex in this cohort. Nurses must be on the forefront in developing (1) strategies to reach people at high risk for HIV infection and H1V transmission, (2) culturally relevant and sensitive education, and (3) interventions that will enable people to make appropriate choices concerning high-risk behaviors

HIV-infected women and motivation to add children to their families

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify how susceptible women perceived their babies to be to perinatal transmission of HIV and to examine factors that influence a woman’s motivation to have a baby. The sample consisted of 45 African American women living in South Carolina and Georgia. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews. A researcher-developed scale, Motivation for Childbearing in HIV-Positive Women, provided reliable and valid data on factors that motivated or deterred a woman’s decision to have a baby. This study supported prior findings that HIV status is not the most important influence on a woman’s reproductive decision making. Women identified significant others (husbands and sex partners) and other family members as those most important in making the decision to add a child to their family. The findings of this study underscore the importance of family in childbearing decisions by HIV-positive women

Family functioning and motivation for childbearing among HIV-infected women at increased risk for pregnancy

This study examined family composition and functioning in a cohort of HIVinfected women of reproductive age living in the southern United States. Participants were predominantly single (82.2%), African American women (86.7%) with annual incomes of less than $10,000 (65.5%), with a mean age of 31.2 years. Using the Family Apgar Scale as a measure of perceived family functioning, women reported that their families functioned moderately well. Multiple regression analysis showed that level of education, life satisfaction, and coping through avoidance and coping by seeking social support were positively associated with family functioning. In contrast, a history of interpersonal verbal violence and a history of drug use were negatively associated with family functioning. These six factors accounted for 26% of the variance. Study findings support the need for comprehensive nursing interventions that include addressing family issues if HIV-infected women are to be provided quality care

Psychosocial and physiologic correlates of perceived health among HIV-infected women

The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to perception of physical health in a cohort of HIV-infected women. A descriptive correlational design was used to identify factors influencing perceived physical health in a sample of 275 HIV-infected women in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Participants were predominantly single African-American women with household incomes of less than $10,000 per year. Using Spearman’s rho, statistically significant positive correlations (p \u3c .05) were found between perceived physical health and T helper cell count, hope, present life satisfaction, education, and income. Statistically significant positive correlations (p \u3c.05) were observed between perceived physical health and three HIV-specific active coping styles (managing the illness, focusing on others, and positive thinking). Inverse relationships were observed between perceived physical health and HIVrelated symptoms, stage of illness, depression, physical and sexual violence experienced since becoming HIV-infected, history of drug use since becoming HIV-infected, and age. Using backward stepwise selection, 9 of 14 variables were retained in the final model that explained 60% of the variance in physical health at the p \u3c .10 level of significance (R2 = .60). Variables that demonstrated a significant relationship with perceived physical health were HIV-related symptoms, depression, present life satisfaction, age, education, coping by managing the illness, coping through positive thinking, and coping by focusing on the present. These findings support the need to address the psychosocial as well as the physiologic factors associated with HIV/AIDS in developing comprehensive plans of nursing care

Physiological and psychological correlates of fatigue in HIV/AIDS

Fatigue is a frequent symptom reported by persons living with HIV disease and one that affects all aspects of quality of life. To improve quality of care of persons with HIV disease, it is important to address all factors that contribute to fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations of physiological, psychological, and sociological factors with fatigue in an HIV-infected population. With Piper’s integrated fatigue model guiding selection, factors examined in this study were hemoglobin, hematocrit, CD4+ cell count, HIV-RNA viral load, total sleep time, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, HIV-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. The sample (N = 79) for this descriptive correlational study was recruited from a primary health care association in South Carolina and consisted of 42 (53.2%) HIV-infected women and 37 (46.8%) HIV-infected men between the ages of 24 and 63 years (x = 39.9, s = 7.9). Of the participants, 70 (90%) were African American, 5 (6%) were Caucasian, and 3 (4%) were Hispanic. Using Pearson’s r, significant relationships were observed between fatigue and sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, HIV-related symptoms, state anxiety, trait anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Sleep quality (F5,65 = 12.02, P = 0.0009), state anxiety (F5,65 = 8.28, P = 0.0054), HIV-related symptoms (F5,65 = 4.87, P = 0.0308), and depression (F5,65 = 7.31, P = 0.0087) retained significance in a 3-step, backward stepwise elimination model and accounted for 67% of the variance in fatigue. These findings underscore the need for addressing psychosocial stressors and sleep quality in developing effective care for HIV-infected individuals who experience fatigue

Health care provider\u27s influence on HIV-infected women\u27s belief and intentions related to AZT therapy

This study examined how women’s relationship with their primary health care provider (PHP) and their perceptions about how effective their PHPs believe zidovudine (AZT) to be in decreasing perinatal transmission related to women’s AZT beliefs and intentions. It used a cross-sectional design to collect data from 59 HIV-infected African American women. Almost half the women (45%) had given birth since HIV diagnosis. Most of the babies born to HIV-infected mothers (87%) were seronegative. Data analysis with Pearson’s r indicated that the quality of the women’s relationship with their PHP was positively correlated to how important the PHP would be in decision making related to AZT therapy. Significant positive correlation was observed between women’s perceptions about how effective their PHPs believed AZT to be in decreasing perinatal HIV transmission and the women’s own beliefs about AZT, their intent to take AZT if pregnant, and intent to give AZT to a newborn

Disclosure of HIV Infection: How do women decide to tell?

This descriptive study explores the phenomenon of disclosure of HIV infection by women. Specifically, we examined women’s level of disclosure to various groups and how these disclosure decisions are made. The sample consisted of 322 HIV-infected women residing in the southern US. Participants were predominantly African-American, single women of reproductive age with yearly incomes less than $10 000. Data were collected at the first interview of a longitudinal study of reproductive decision making. Findings showed that the majority of the women had disclosed to some sex partners, close family and friends, and health care professionals. However, for a group of women, disclosure of HIV infection is a difficult issue supporting the need for health education and counseling. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and revealed three major categories describing how women make disclosure decisions: full disclosure, criteria for disclosure and emotional disclosure. Quantitative analysis revealed few demographic differences among women in the three disclosure categories. These findings provide insight that can assist those working with HIV-infected women in helping them decide not only to whom they disclose, but how best to disclose

Incidence and correlates of violence among HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy in the southeastern United States

To identify the incidence and correlates of physical and sexual violence among HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy, a cross-sectional examination was conducted within a longitudinal study of reproductive decision making. Participants consisted of 275 HIVinfected women 17 to 49 years of age (mean = 30.1 years).Women were predominantly African American (87%) and single (82%), with annual incomes of $10,000 or less (66%). Overall, 68% of the women reported experiencing lifetime physical and/or sexual violence. Before becoming HIV infected, 65% of the women reported having been physically or sexually abused. After HIV diagnosis, 33% of the women reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse. Women reporting greater violence were more likely to disclose their HIV-seropositive status to their sex partner. Using logistic regression, greater intent to get pregnant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.933), decreased present life satisfaction (OR = 1.048), having three or more children (OR = 0.474), and history of drug use (OR = 0.794) significantly distinguished between women who reported physical and/or sexual violence and those who did not