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The coexistence of psychopathological symptoms with HIV / AIDS is associated with aggravation of their condition due to the likelihood of deviant behavior. The aim of the study – assessment of the likelihood of deviant behavior in HIV-positive patients with non-psychotic psychiatric disorders. A comprehensive clinical and psychodiagnostic examination of 114 HIV-infected patients with non-psychotic psychiatric disorders was conducted including clinical-diagnostic interviews, pathopsychological and experimental-psychological methods of investigation, including the method of Ch.D. Spielberger in modification of Yu.L. Hanin (STAI - State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) for assessing anxiety level, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) for assessing depression, SCL-90-R (Symptom Checklist 90-Revised) for assessing psychiatric symptoms. Statistical processing of the results was performed using descriptive and analytical methods implemented in the software STATISTICA 6.1 (StatSoftInc., Serial No. AGAR909E415822FA). Frequency and severity of depression and anxiety in HIV-infected persons is significant and by 3.4-4 times exceeds the corresponding in­dicators of a healthy Ukrainian population. Anxiety, depression, and other psychopathological symptoms according to SCL90-R scales (except for the obsessive-compulsive scale) are more pronounced in HIV-infected patients with destructive behavior than in patients without it. The chances of developing deviant behavior in HIV-infected persons with non-psychotic psychiatric disorders are increased at GSI>1 by 20.0 times (95% CI 5.63 - 71.07), in the presence of depressive symptoms – by 6.76 times (95% CI 2.16 – 21.18) and at a high level of personal anxiety – by 4.61 times (95% CI 2.05 - 10.40). Psychopathological symptoms of people with HIV status are characterized by high rates of depression and anxiety, somatization, paranoid ideas, interpersonal sensitivity. In patients with signs of deviant behavior, the severity of these disorders and the severity index of psychopathological symptoms was significantly higher (p

Abstract Cryptococcal infection is a major cause of opportunistic infection in HIV/AID‐infected peoples. We determined cryptococcal antigenemia and cryptococcal meningitis among antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiated and ART‐naive HIV‐infected peoples. A cross‐sectional study was conducted at selected health facilities in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Blood was collected to determine CD4 and plasma cryptococcal antigen (CrAg). CSF CrAg and CSF culture and urease tests were also done. Socio‐demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire and clinical chart review. From the enrolled study participants, 267 study participants had complete data, of which, 137 (51%) were females. From the study participants, 140 (52%) and 127 (48%) were ART experienced and ART naïve, respectively. The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was 9 (3.4%). All the study participants, except one (CD4 = 120 cells/mm3), had CD4 count less than 100 cells/mm3. From CrAg‐positive peoples, 6 (4.7%) were ART naïve. Five CrAg‐positive peoples had cryptococcal meningitis. Being male, rural residence, and being hospitalized were associated with cryptococcal antigenemia. Cryptococcal infection poses a substantial risk of HIV‐positive peoples. This study provides relevant data for CrAg screening interventions in patients with low CD4 cell counts.

INTRODUCTION: African studies have reported high rates of loss to follow up (LTFU) among children in HIV care and treatment centres. Factors associated with LTFU may vary across populations. Few studies have been conducted among HIV infected children in care in rural areas of Kenya. METHODS: this involved children aged less than 15 years on follow up at Kangundo Level 4 Hospital HIV clinic from January 2010 to December 2015. We obtained sociodemographic and clinical information from patient files and electronic databases. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify factors predictive of LTFU. RESULTS: a total of 261 HIV-infected children were followed up. The mean age was 10.0 years (IQR, 7-13) and median CD4 count of 582cells/ul (IQR 314-984). By December 2015, 171 children (65.5%) remained in active care, 32 (12.3%) transferred out, 13 (5%) died, while 45 (17.2%) were classified as LTFU. Out of the 45 children presumed as LTFU, we traced 44 out of the 45 children (98%) and found that their actual current status was as follows: 33 of the 44 children (75.0%) had dropped out of care (true LTFU). Factors strongly predictive of LTFU included low caregiver level of education (HR 2.3, 1.9-3.9, P = 0.001), WHO stage I and II at enrolment (HR 1.6, 1.4-2.1, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: LTFU of HIV infected children was common with an incidence of 32.9 per 1000 child years and occurred early in treatment and risk factors included poverty, low caregiver education, male child and early HIV disease stage.