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Introduction: Since the HIV was identified, more efficacious and safer treatments have been developed in order to ensure survival of people with the virus. The challenge to the health professionals is to improve the quality of life in relation to these patients’ health condition. Objective: To analyze the health-related quality of life in a sample of HIV patients from Buenos Aires (Argentina). Methods: It is a quantitative, cross.-sectional, analytical study conducted from January to March 2020. In total, 144 subjects took part in this study. Questionnaires SF-36 and Morisky-Green were applied. Results: Most of the sample consisted of male subjects, single, without children and with college education. The physical function evaluation reported the best values (92.19), while vitality showed the worse evaluation (61.42). The mental component was the most affected one. Female gender, low schooling, been older, having children and health complications were associated with a worse quality of life. Conclusions: It is quite important to implement actions intended to improve the treatment adherence among the patients and to encourage styles of life that favor their health. Likewise, health professional must approach these patients in a comprehensive way, considering the psychic, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions as a part of the healthcare. The quality of life must be taken as a follow-up indicator by the health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the profile of the individuals searching for care in a Specialized Care Service (SCS) in HIV/AIDS for guidance, prevention and prophylaxis for HIV after sexual exposure. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive study, based on secondary data from 312 service reports from December 2010 to December 2014 in an SCS in Porto Alegre/Brazil. The selected data were: age; sex; exposure routes; positive / negative cases in the first test; return for follow-up and antiretrovirals used in prophylaxis. Results: Male gender predominated (73.7%), the age group with the highest incidence was between 20 and 39 years old (75.1%). The most chosen route for sexual practice was the vaginal one with 52.6%. In 63.3% of cases, patients were unaware of their partners' serology and 35.7% knew their partner had the HIV virus, but did not use a condom. Even if exposed to partners with unknown or known HIV serology, 61.6% did not return to SCS. The two most prescribed antiretrovirals were those recommended by the Ministry of Health at the time. Conclusion: It is suggested to implement measures and campaigns to assist in the prevention of AIDS and, also, reinforce the importance of carrying out all stages of monitoring after sexual exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the impact of the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Program in the reduction of AIDS stage cases in Peru between 1983-2018. Methods. Natural experiment with interrupted time series design considering a period of 36 years. Cases of AIDS were analyzed according to the year of diagnosis and the policy of universal access to antiretroviral therapy of 2004. Aggregated data from the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Diseases from 1983 to 2018 were used. Linear logarithmic regression was used and the effect of the HAART Program was evaluated with an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to make forecasting of the expected number of annual cases of AIDS, and through interrupted time series. Results. Between 2004-2018 there was an annual decrease of 2.60% (95% CI:-3.9-1.2) of cases. The best identified ARIMA model had the components: (8,3,1). The forecasting yielded a total of 32 709 new cases of AIDS for this period, indicating the estimated prevention of 10 280 cases. The time-series analysis showed an annual decrease of 134.21 (95% CI:-160- -108.60) cases. Conclusions. The findings showed a substantial increase in AIDS cases during the period 1983-2004, with a significant drop in cases after the implementation of the HAART Program. The Program is an effective intervention for the prevention of the number of AIDS cases, allowing universal access to antiretroviral therapy and providing other services such as monitoring tests, psychological counseling and the promotion of adherence to treatment in people living with HIV and AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary prevention (PP) of HIV/AIDS is a state obligation in the control of the epidemy and to comply with the public health objectives, though there is scarce evidence on how it operates. Objective: To identify some characteristics of the context, structure, process and results of the HIV/AIDS primary prevention programs in the south-western Antioquia Province. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study with descriptive statistical analysis making use of the official sociodemographic and epidemiologic sources as well as surveys to 21/23 program coordinators. Results: The incidence, prevalence and mortality of the HIV/AIDS 10 per 100,000; 73% per 100,000; and 22 per 100,000 inhabitants. The health services were limited, the density of health professionals was 3 doctors/nurses/10,000 inhabitants and the PP coverage was <25%, focused in informative activities targeting primarily the general population, indigenous populations and mothers. The program coordinators perceived non-quantified achievements related to a decrease in the mother-to-child transmission, a greater use of condoms but also financial restrictions concerning intersectoriality and stigma. Conclusion: Despite the epidemiologic impact and contextualized risk factors, the structure, processes and results of the Prevention Programs require an upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Salud Bosque is the property of Universidad El Bosque and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciencias de la Salud is the property of Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To describe sexual behaviors of HIV positive patients in three cities of Colombia, before and after learning diagnosis and to identify changes. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with participation of 85 individuals from three cities of Colombia who were interviewed during 2011. Ethical standards for research involving individuals were met during the study. The SPSS software version 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences were found when comparing their sexual behavior before and after knowing HIV positive diagnosis, 23.0% of respondents said that they had not resumed sexual activity, 62.5% of the patients began to use the condom in all sexual relations. Sex with HIV-positive people increased a 35.4%. Sexually transmitted infections were reduced to a 12.3%. The consumption of alcohol prior to the onset of sexual intercourse decreased to 31.8%. Conclusions: Changes were found regarding risky behaviors of people after knowing the diagnosis; however, such modifications are not enough regarding the transmission of a deadly infection and with high social and economic costs. [Arcila-Rivera, AP, Toro-López, LA, Cañaveral-Orozco, JD, González-Lozano, D, Henao-González, LD, Carmén-Dussan, L, Ramírez-Castaño, M. Sexual behaviors in over 18 years old with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in three cities of Colombia 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cadernos de Saude Publica is the property of Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Those who live with chronic disease undergo complex processes of personal transformation to adapt to their new health condition. The aim of this article is to show what it means to live with HIV for persons who have been diagnosed with AIDS. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study based on 15 people who are living with HIV/AIDS and being treated through the Chilean public health system. Results: The content analysis showed six dimensions of what it means to live with the disease: personal changes after the diagnosis, social support and accompaniment, being resigned to having contracted HIV, perceived discrimination / rejection, disclosure of the diagnosis, and protecting others from contracting HIV. Conclusion: The findings can provide guidance to health professionals on the strategies that should be used in providing direct care to persons living with HIV. In this respect, the goal is to offer comprehensive care, taking into account support for the development of self-care strategies and disclosure of the diagnosis to the patient's family and close friends, so as to reduce the psycho-social costs of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Compare the characteristics of AIDS patients and treatment outcomes under three different antiretroviral treatment regimens advocated by the Ministry of Health of Brazil. Methods. Retrospective cohorts of patients who had survived up to five years after diagnosis were constructed. The data were obtained from medical records, medication dispensing forms, and death certificates of patients in Curitiba, in the Brazilian state of Paraná. Six hundred patients were selected from the first six months following the adoption of each of the treatment regimens (1992, 1997, and 2002). Results. The ratio of men to women fell from 6.5:1 in 1992 to 1.4:1 in 2002. There was a proportionate rise in the number of people over 50, which increased from 1.4% in 1992 to 9.9% in 2002. The case fatality rate dropped from 81.9% to 33.9% in the period in question. An analysis of those who survived at least five years from the date of diagnosis showed that the percentage of patients treated increased from 46.2% in 1992 to 94.0% in 1997, finishing at 91.7% in 2002. Multivariate analysis yielded a positive and statistically significant association between survival up to five years after an AIDS diagnosis and years of schooling, age group, year of diagnosis, type of antiretroviral therapy, and treatment adherence (all with P < 0.001). Conclusions. Continuous improvement of the antiretroviral therapy recommended by the Ministry of Health had a positive impact on survival. There was an association between case fatality and fewer years of schooling, membership in an older age group, a diagnosis obtained in 1992, the type of antiretroviral therapy, and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This investigation sought to identify the most significant ways in which sexuality is represented and imagined within the culture of transgender women in Colombia. We performed an exploratory descriptive study using surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups and ethnographic strategies with 18 transgender women. The collected information was analyzed, taking into account the following dimensions of interpretation: 1. Love, erotic, and sexual relations. 2. Gender and sexual identities. 3. Sexual behavior and practices. 4. Self-care, Human Inmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) risk perception and life goals. The transgender women reached in this investigation expressed the belief that adopting a feminine identity involved taking sexual risks because the space socially assigned for them is that of street prostitution in conditions of vulnerability. We propose interventions with transgender women that favor autonomy, joy, and self-care as the central elements of a quality life and equal citizenship focused on reducing stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the first phase of a Human Inmunodeficiency Virus HIV/AIDS related preventive intervention mainstreamed in the monitoring and evaluation activities conducted within the frame of an alternative development project aimed at rural populations living in regions affected by illegal crops and/or presence of irregular armed forces. It also analyses results of the knowledge, attitudes and sex behaviour survey, which evidences persistence of misconceptions around ways of viral transmission, negative attitudes towards people living with HIV, and low frequency of protected sex practices. Level of knowledge and consistency of condom use are much lower among this population group than in other highly vulnerable population groups living in urban contexts. This intervention constituted the first successful experience in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS prevention in development projects supported by United Nations (UN) in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper briefly outlines how the political scenario and the mobilization of different actors have contributed to the construction of a public health policy in response to the AIDS epidemics in Brazil. Three factors are presented and discussed: the political context of the 1980s, characterized by redemocratization, growth of social movements, and consolidation of the Brazilian health care reform; the socio-cultural context of the 1970s and 1980s, characterized by achievement of individual freedom, which was key to the organization of the AIDS movement; and finally the actions carried out in the international scenario to support the sustainability of the Brazilian domestic policy and the reinforcement of a global response to face the epidemics in lower-middle income economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Saúde Pública is the property of Faculdade de Educacao da Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)