Social network analysis (SNA) and social network-based interventions (SNI) are important analytical tools harnessing peer and family influences critical for HIV prevention and treatment among substance users. While SNA is an effective way to measure social network influences, SNI directly or indirectly involves network members in interventions. Even though these methods have been applied in heterogeneous ways, leading to extensive evidence-based practices, systematic reviews are however, lacking. We searched five bibliographic databases and identified 58 studies involving HIV in substance users that had utilized SNA or SNI as part of their methodology. SNA was used to measure network variables as inputs in statistical/mathematical models in 64 % of studies and only 22 % of studies used SNI. Most studies focused on HIV prevention and few addressed diagnosis (k = 4), care linkage and retention (k = 5), ART adherence (k = 2), and viral suppression (k = 1). This systematic review highlights both the advantages and disadvantages of social network approaches for HIV prevention and treatment and gaps in its use for HIV care continuum.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/drug therapy; HIV Infections/epidemiology; HIV Infections/prevention & control*
A cross-sectional study was carried out in University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Blood samples from 100 HIV-infected patients and 203 Healthy Blood Donors (HBD) were collected and anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were detected by using conventional ELISA. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS and Healthy Blood Donors were found to be 21% and 28.1% respectively. There was no significant association between the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and various possible risk factors i.e. contact with cat, consumption of undercooked meat and history of blood transfusion in both groups. No significant differences between Toxoplasma seroprevalence in HIV/AIDS and Healthy Blood Donors in association with presence of single or multiple risk factors were found. The mean CD4 count among HIV/AIDS patients in this study was 202.23 cell/cumm. There was no significant association between CD4 count and seropositivity for Toxoplasma antibodies in HIV/AIDS patients.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/blood*; HIV Infections/complications; HIV Infections/epidemiology*
This is a retrospective study of the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive mothers in two states in Malaysia i.e., Perak and Negeri Sembilan since the introduction of the HIV screening programme in antenatal mothers. The study period was from 1/9/97 to 1/9/99. A total of 29 HIV positive antenatal mothers were detected (21 from Perak and 8 from Negeri Sembilan) throughout the study period. Out of the 21 HIV positive mothers from Perak, 8 (38%) were foreign nationals whereas only 1 (12%) out of the 8 from Negeri Sembilan was a foreign national. The main risk factor identified in both the groups was multiple sexual partners. The vertical transmission rates for the patients from Perak were 14.2% and 37.5% in Negeri Sembilan. There was no significant short-term adverse obstetric outcome.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/blood; HIV Infections/diagnosis; HIV Infections/epidemiology*
The spread of HIV infection into Malaysia is estimated to have occurred in the early 1980's. The first case of AIDS was reported here in 1986. As of March 31, 1994, the numbers have increased to 8049 HIV positive individuals detected in the country. The risk behaviours among those tested positive were intravenous drug use in 77.2%, sexual transmission in 4.5%, while the remainder are still under investigation. Pediatric AIDS constitutes 0.2% of positives. The high prevalence among intravenous drug users (IVDU) is likely to be due to mandatory testing for HIV upon entry to rehabilitation centres. The trend of HIV infection in this country seems to be highest amongst the intravenous drug users. The increasing number of HIV infected prostitutes and heterosexuals in our population is worrying. Since 1986, a total of 104 HIV positive individuals have been treated at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Of these, 25 have died and of those still alive, 5 have symptomatic disease. The most common AIDS-defining illness is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Education programmes have been developed targeting the various high risk groups and the general population.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/etiology; HIV Infections/mortality; HIV Infections/epidemiology*
Since the first case of HIV/AIDS was identified in 1986 in Malaysia, the number of infected individuals has increased steadily each year, so that by the end of 2002 the cumulative number of people living with HIV/AIDS was 57,835 (51,256 with HIV and 6,579 with AIDS), with 5,676 AIDS deaths. The epidemic in Malaysia, currently in a concentrated epidemic stage, is primarily fueled by drug use, but there is ample evidence that heterosexual transmission has increased over the last few years. A strategic plan that includes prevention, care, support, and treatment run by both the government and nongovernmental organizations has been in place since the beginning of the epidemic. However, Malaysia will need to take a more pragmatic approach to reduce new infections (which numbered 19 each day in 2002) among the youth on whom the country relies for development. Leaders need to recognize that HIV/AIDS is not just a health issue, but also a socioeconomic concern that can eliminate all the developmental gains achieved over the years. Working together, Malaysians can overcome the epidemic, but there is a need to act quickly and to act in effective ways so that the devastating effects (already evident in the number of AIDS orphans and widows) can be reduced.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/epidemiology*; HIV Infections/prevention & control; HIV Infections/transmission
Citation: Guidelines for the Management of Adult HIV Infection With Antiretroviral Therapy. Third Edition. Putrajaya: Ministry of Health, Malaysia; 2011
Old version:
Second Edition (2001, revised 2004)
Keywords: CPG
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that started in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has spread rapidly worldwide. It's critical to take extra precautions if a person has chronic illnesses (comorbidities), such as human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection. Concerns about people living with HIV (PLHIV) having a higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease may be based on the assumption that PLHIV are more likely to be immunocompromised. On the other hand, limited information is available in such people about the characteristics of co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) who are at greater risk than the general population. Our findings, is of a 32 year old patient who came to Emergency Unit of Wangaya Hospital, Medical Faculty, Udayana University in Denpasar, Bali with complaint of fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath since prior 3 days and had also the past history prolonged fever, weight loss more than 10% 4 weeks. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab sample was used for RT-PCR assay and PITC to confirm HIV infection. He had prolonged hospitalized and discharge after 18 days.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/blood; HIV Infections/diagnosis*; HIV Infections/immunology
A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. The prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in HIV-infected and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated individuals was significantly higher than respective controls. Evidence regarding bone loss within first year of HIV infection or ART initiation was preliminary.
Radiological manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV positive
patients is different with HIV negative patients. We aim to determine the differences in
chest radiological findings of Pulmonary Tuberculosis among HIV and non-HIV infected
patients in HTAA. (Copied from article).
People with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) commonly pose problems to their family as well as to society because of their vulnerable health and economic conditions. Contrarily, PLWHA encounter social discrimination and adverse realities while finding it difficult to continue in their jobs. These complex phenomena interact to push them into a low economic status. A microfinance program can hopefully assist poor patients to cope with the negative economic consequences of this disease. But the conventional market-oriented microfinance institutions show reluctance to serve this group of people due to the possibilities of having credit risk. In this paper, we propose an alternative microfinancing technique that can provide a better economic life of the PLWHA while absorbing the credit risks. A comprehensive model is designed using specific Islamic financial instruments in conjugation with household economic portfolio theory. Critical realism method was adopted to construct this model. We concluded that the application of Islamic microfinance can enhance income of HIV patients while reducing the productivity-loss. This model can be useful to the microfinance practitioners and policymakers for addressing a different market segment, diversifying products, and formulating policy.
Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/economics*; HIV Infections/epidemiology; HIV Infections/psychology*
In the light of present HIV worldwide epidemic. there is a need to teach the busy general practitioners how to recognise HIV & AIDS. Due to the deadly nature of this infection and its manifold presentations from opportunistic diseases. the busy general practitioners in primary care may be misled in making the correct diagnosis. In Malaysia. the doctors in the primary care level constitute 70 to 75% of the doctors' population. The rest are specialists in secondary and tertiary care institutions. Family Physicians from the Font liners to recognise and detect early cases of HlV in all its early manifestalions on the various systems. Any doctors in primary medicine whether from private or public sector, amy be confronted by patients who present with trivial complaints. These patients may be fee-paying, or particularly those doctors involved with welfare and health of factory workers and the other forms of the main work force should well arm themselves with updates in HIV and AIDS.