Knowledge of Hiv/Aids and Women\u27s Status in Decision-Making in India for Women Ages 15-49

Objective: Global HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to affect people worldwide. India has approximately 2 million women living with HIV/AIDS. Women in India maintain a low status in society, with minimal autonomy. This study investigated the relationship between women\u27s autonomy in decision-making and their AIDS knowledge (designated ever heard of AIDS\u27).Methods: This study used the 1998-2000 Demographic Health Survey with India\u27s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2). Data were collected on 90,300 ever-married women ages 15-49. Statistical analyses were conducted in SAS 9.1, including descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and multiple logistic regression.Results: In the sample, 40,777 (45.2%) of the 90,300 women had ever heard of AIDS. Younger women (15-24 years) had the lowest prevalence of AIDS knowledge (40.9%). The highest geographic prevalence of knowledge was in South India (= 70.4%) compared to the lowest in Central India (=21.6%). Socio-economically, women in lowest level for standard of living had the lowest prevalence of AIDS knowledge (20.6%). Half of women with primary educations and 42.9% of Hindu women reported knowledge. Women were 1.71 (95% CI, 1.66-1.77) times more likely to have AIDS knowledge in the role of primary decision-makers. Even after adjusting, women in primary decision-making roles for their health care remained 16% (95% CI, 11-22) more likely to have AIDS knowledge compared to women whose husbands were primary decision-makers.Conclusion: The study allows for better understanding of the role that decision-making autonomy plays in HIV/AIDS knowledge among women in India. Intervention and education programs can integrate the findings to strengthen their effectiveness

Aspergillus endocarditis diagnosed by fungemia plus serum antigen testing

Fungal endocarditis remains an uncommon clinical diagnosis, though is likely to become more frequent due to the global increase in transplantations and cardiac valvular surgery. A case of prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Aspergillus fumigatus is described that was diagnosed with serologic fungal markers and confirmed with positive blood cultures, an uncommon finding. Keywords: Fungal Endocarditis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fungemi