HIV

Background: Not much is known about correlates of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers. Using the theory of planned behavior in the Malaysian context, this study investigated the relationships of HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV, perceived social support, self-esteem, and age with HIV-related self-stigma, also how much of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma is explained by the variables. Methods: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: A majority of the respondents substantially stigmatized themselves, despite good HIV knowledge, high self-esteem, and favorable attitudes towards both HIV and people living with HIV. Attitudes towards HIV was more favorable than attitudes towards people living with HIV. The respondents received higher social supports from a special person, followed by friends, and family members. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV were significantly and negatively correlated with HIV-related self-stigma. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV collectively explained 18% of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma. Conclusion: HIV knowledge, perceived social support and self-esteem did not enter the final model to explain variance in HIV-related self-stigma. This study advances our understanding by clarifying the relative contribution of age, attitudes towards HIV, and people living with HIV in the variance of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers at risk of HIV.

Objective: Although HIV-infected women in Iran face many problems, researches in this area are limited. This research aims to understand and deeply comprehend the issues and challenges of HIV-infected women. Method: Qualitative content analysis was used in this study and participants in the research of HIV-infected women were using three supportive health centers in Tehran. 17 participants were selected through purposive sampling method. The data collection technique is a semi-structured in-depth interview. Thematic data were coded and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results: 6 categories of interview analysis were: "social exclusion", "job problems", "social phobia caused by stigma", "mental problems", "treatment problems" and “coping mechanisms”. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that HIV-infected women face many challenges in the individual and social field for the social reunion and to reduce their problems, besides individual empowerment, structural and social interventions are also essential. The results of this study can be used in the field of policy-making, the presentation of supportive programs, social services for HIV-infected women and their families.

The pattern of change in HIV from fatal diseases to chronic diseases due to improvement of treatment made a new challenge for diagnosis and care for the needs of people who live with HIV. This study reviews the role of health hardiness and anxiety on the immune system and quality of life in HIV patients. 125 men with HIV infected through injection participated in this study. They were asked to complete the revised health hardiness inventory, Spielberg state-trait anxiety inventory, and WHOQOL-brief. Data from four times of cd4 experiment with three-month intervals was obtained from the dossier. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation, dependent t-test, multiple regression, and logistic regression. Results of this study show no statistically significant relationship between health hardiness, anxiety, and the immune system. The regression analysis indicates that the total score of quality of life with health hardiness and anxiety was statistically significant (0.0001). Subscales of perceived health (β=0.302), state anxiety (β=-0.305) and trait anxiety (β=-0.449) in equation relative to prediction quality of life were statistically significant (0.0001). Health hardiness and anxiety are not associated with a lowered immune system. The patients with higher anxiety had lower quality of life and those with higher health hardiness had higher quality of life