Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Introduction: HIV infected individuals face a number of challenges when they disclose their sero-status. Although discloser improves access to HIV prevention, increased opportunities for risk reduction and increased opportunities to plan for the future, HIV positive status discloser is lower in developing countries.
Objective: To assess outcomes and factors affecting HIV status discloser to regular sexual partner among women attending anti-retroviral treatment clinic at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital. Method and materials: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 191 randomly selected HIV positive women attending Hawassa university referral hospital ART Clinic from Mar 1 –Mar 30 in 2017. The data was collected after having ethical clearance letter from institutional review board and consent from client. Data were collected through interview using pre-tested questioners. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were done and final significantly associated factors were identified on the basis of OR with 95% CI.
Results: over all 72.9 of the women has disclosed their HIV status to sexual partners. Among those disclosed their HIV positive status, 54.1% get their freedom to have follow up. While 30% get their freedom to use condom. Negative outcomes associated with status disclosure were stigma 11.6%, discrimination 10.1% and psychological violence 5%.Women who had rough relation with her 89% less likely to disclose their status as compared to women with smooth relationship (AOR=0.11 955CI 0.01, 0.119). Women who had children were 9.89 times more likely to disclose their status to sexual partners than their counter parts (AOR 9.89, 95% CI 2.68, 36.36 ).women who received counseling were almost 7 times more likely disclose their HIV status to their sexual partner (AOR=5.63 95%CI 2.24, 14.13) .
Conclusion: HIV positive status discloses to sexual partners was found to be low.HIV status disclosure was accompanied by both negative and positive consequences. Presence of offspring, counseling, relationship status before status disclosure was factors associated with HIV positive status disclosure.

Introduction: Correct knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention and myth rejection is a prerequisite to practicing safer behavior and important for reducing the risk of new infections. This study investigates the association between correct knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention and myth rejection with socio-demographic factors and HIV-related behavioral risk practices in South Africa.
Methods: The study used the 2012 South African national HIV prevalence, incidence and behavior survey data based on a multistage cross-sectional design. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine correlates of correct HIV knowledge and myth rejection. Results: Of 26,544 sub-sample of youth and adults data (15 years and older) who responded to the HIV knowledge question, only 26.8% reported correct knowing of HIV transmission, prevention and rejection of all myths about HIV. In the final model significant negative predictors of correct HIV knowledge, prevention and myth rejection included residing in rural informal areas (OR=0.68 (95% CI: 0.48- 0.95), p=0.027), and being a harmful alcohol drinker (OR= 0.18 (95% CI: 0.06- 1.29), p=0.001) while sexual debut at 15 years and older (OR=1.8 (95 CI: 1.12- 2.91), p= 0.015) was a significant positive predictor of correct HIV knowledge and myth rejection.
Conclusion: The findings confirms that levels of HIV knowledge can either prevent individuals from making informed choices and take appropriate actions aimed at preventing the infection or make people to take precautions to protect themselves. Efforts to promote HIV knowledge, prevention and myth rejection in the general population should be strengthened given the declining HIV knowledge levels in the country.

In Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) routine surveillance system, it is required to identify the persons infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) recently or showing the clinical stages of AIDS. The sensitive and specific of the assay is essential to detect the HIV infections in early period. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening assay is a type of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) has gone through improvement in several generations effectively narrow the window period. The HIV specific antibodies, viral antigens are produced up to detectable level. The time is variable in different individuals to produce the HIV antibodies in the presence of the host’s immune pressure. This assay was developed from first generation to fifth generation based on its sensitivity and specificity. Due to the false positive reactivity, the accurate sensitive assay is required in field validations and routine testing of HIV infected samples. This EIA is generally used as a screening assay for blood donors and individuals those are at a risk in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes (AIDS). At present, the several types of EIA are the most widely used in serological test for HIV antibodies detection.

Background: Opportunistic infections (OIs) continue to cause substantial morbidity on patients with HIV infection and contribute to mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of OIs among Anti-Retro viral treatment (ART) naïve HIV/AIDS patients.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of OIs among ART naïve HIV/AIDS patients. This study was conducted among 418 study participant. Data was collected by reviewing the cards’ of the patients for OIs at a baseline and by interviewing the participants for socio-demographic variables. The data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and transferred to SPSS version 20 software package for analysis.
Result: Out of 418 study participants 219 (52.4%) of them had OIs. The most common OIs were Tuberculosis (TB) (13.2%), followed by Recurrent Upper Respiratory tract infection (URTI) (8%) and Herpes Zoster (7.2%). Risk factors identified were advanced World Health Organization (WHO) stage (stage III and IV) (Adjusted odds Ratio (AOR)=3.84 95% CI=1.9, 7.73), <200 CD4 count at a baseline (AOR=2.2 95% CI=1.22, 4.06) and a primary and secondary school attended study participant (AOR=2.04 95% CI 1.10, 3.78) (AOR=2.53 95% CI 1.27, 5.03), respectively. Besides this, mean difference of CD4 count at a baseline showed that there was a significant difference between advanced WHO stages and stage I and II (t=3.158 p=0.002) and also it was significant between gender(t=-2.9 p=0.004).
Conclusion: The prevalence of OIs were 52.4% which seems low relative to previous studies conducted among the ART naïve HIV/AIDS infected population; the commonest OI was TB, followed by a recurrent URTI and Herpes Zoster. Need a continuous awareness for healthcare providers in order to improve decisions regarding prophylaxis, early screening and appropriate diagnosis and management of OIs among HIV/AIDS infected patients.