Morrison Shane D, Banushi Vilson H, Sarnquist Clea, Gashi Valbona H, Osterberg Lars, Maldonado Yvonne, Harxhi Arjan
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Cent Eur J Public Health. 2011 Jun;19(2):91-7. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3644.
As HIV/AIDS prevalence rises in Eastern Europe, assessment of local epidemics in the bordering Central European region, especially South Eastern Europe, is vital in order to meet treatment and prevention needs. Understanding current medical and social needs and barriers to care experienced by HIV-positive patients in these regions may provide insight into how to best respond to the local epidemics, increase patients' access to treatment, and reduce loss to follow-up.
This study assesses the patient characteristics, barriers to care, and current medical and social needs of HIV-positive patients in Albania. Semi-structured interviews were used in this cross-sectional study.
We interviewed 79 of 85 patients (93% response rate) followed at the University Hospital Center of Tirana (UHCT) HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic, which represented the majority of patients under HIV care in Albania during 2009.
The local HIV epidemic seems to be comprised mainly of heterosexual men who have spent an average of 3.6 years abroad. The vast majority of patients under care at UHCT HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic had experienced barriers to care associated with social stigma (97.4%), lack of knowledge of HIV medical care (76.6%), and medical provider's lack of knowledge of HIV (70.9%). Social needs of the patients were also overwhelmingly unmet (90.0-95.7%).
In addressing HIV/AIDS in Albania, it will be crucial to educate the healthcare sector in ways to identify and address barriers to care and current medical and social needs of HIV-positive patients.
随着东欧地区艾滋病毒/艾滋病患病率上升，评估与之接壤的中欧地区，尤其是东南欧地区的局部疫情，对于满足治疗和预防需求至关重要。了解这些地区艾滋病毒呈阳性患者当前的医疗和社会需求以及就医障碍，可能有助于深入了解如何最好地应对局部疫情、增加患者获得治疗的机会并减少失访情况。
本研究评估了阿尔巴尼亚艾滋病毒呈阳性患者的特征、就医障碍以及当前的医疗和社会需求。本横断面研究采用了半结构化访谈。
我们对在地拉那大学医院中心（UHCT）艾滋病毒/艾滋病门诊接受随访的85名患者中的79名（应答率为93%）进行了访谈，这些患者代表了2009年阿尔巴尼亚接受艾滋病毒治疗的大多数患者。
当地的艾滋病毒疫情似乎主要由平均在国外度过3.6年的异性恋男性构成。在地拉那大学医院中心艾滋病毒/艾滋病门诊接受治疗的绝大多数患者都经历了与社会耻辱感（97.4%）、缺乏艾滋病毒医疗护理知识（76.6%）以及医疗服务提供者缺乏艾滋病毒知识（70.9%）相关的就医障碍。患者的社会需求也绝大多数未得到满足（90.0 - 95.7%）。
在应对阿尔巴尼亚的艾滋病毒/艾滋病问题时，至关重要的是对医疗保健部门进行培训，使其了解如何识别和解决艾滋病毒呈阳性患者的就医障碍以及当前的医疗和社会需求。
