Balasundaram Abyramy, Sarkar Sonali, Hamide Abdoul, Lakshminarayanan Subitha
J Health Popul Nutr. 2014 Dec;32(4):587-94.
India has the third largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Provision of free antiretroviral therapy (ART) for eligible persons living with HIV (PLHA) has been scaled up significantly both in terms of facilities for treatment and number of beneficiaries. This study aimed at describing the profile of HIV/AIDS patients on ART from a tertiary-care hospital and to explore the factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour, family support, and perceptions regarding HIV and ART. This is a descriptive study conducted at the ART centre in a tertiary-care hospital in Puducherry. Study population consisted of 130 HIV-positive patients aged more than 18 years on free firstline ART for at least 6 months. Data on sociodemographic details, clinical details, treatment-seeking behaviour, family support, and perceptions regarding HIV and ART were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Data are presented as percentages. In total, 130 patients on ART for at least 6 months were included in the study--61% were males (n=79), 39% were females (n=51); half of them belonged to the age-group of 36-50 years. Half of the participants were diagnosed to have HIV/AIDS between 1 and 3 year(s); two-thirds had one or more co-infection(s). The majority were aware of the side-effects of ART. After advice to start ART, there was a delay in starting treatment in one-fifth of the subjects due to depression, fear of stigma, disclosure to family, and side-effects. More than two-thirds of the patients travelled more than 30 km distance. Families of HIV-positive subjects were supportive in accompanying to the ART centre, collecting drugs, reminders to take medication, and motivation to complete the treatment. Alcohol (50%) and tobacco consumption (39%) was common among the subjects. Half of the respondents stated stigma, death, and pain as the main fears, and all of them stated high levels of trust and rapport with their doctors. This study reveals several positive aspects among ART beneficiaries. However, issues, like tobacco and alcohol consumption, travelling long distance for drug collection, fear of stigma and death, and concerns regarding the future, need to be addressed.
印度是艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者人数第三多的国家。在为符合条件的艾滋病毒感染者（PLHA）提供免费抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART）方面，无论是治疗设施还是受益人数都有了显著增加。本研究旨在描述一家三级护理医院中接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的艾滋病毒/艾滋病患者的概况，并探讨与寻求治疗行为、家庭支持以及对艾滋病毒和抗逆转录病毒疗法的认知相关的因素。这是一项在本地治里一家三级护理医院的抗逆转录病毒治疗中心进行的描述性研究。研究人群包括130名年龄超过18岁、接受免费一线抗逆转录病毒治疗至少6个月的艾滋病毒阳性患者。使用经过预测试的问卷收集了社会人口学细节、临床细节、寻求治疗行为、家庭支持以及对艾滋病毒和抗逆转录病毒疗法的认知等数据。数据以百分比形式呈现。共有130名接受抗逆转录病毒治疗至少6个月的患者纳入研究——61%为男性（n = 79），39%为女性（n = 51）；其中一半属于36至50岁年龄组。一半的参与者在1至3年之间被诊断出感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病；三分之二的人有一种或多种合并感染。大多数人了解抗逆转录病毒疗法的副作用。在被告知开始抗逆转录病毒治疗后，五分之一的受试者因抑郁、害怕耻辱、向家人透露病情以及副作用而延迟开始治疗。超过三分之二的患者行程超过30公里。艾滋病毒阳性受试者的家人在陪同前往抗逆转录病毒治疗中心、取药、提醒服药以及激励完成治疗方面给予支持。饮酒（50%）和吸烟（39%）在受试者中很常见。一半的受访者表示耻辱、死亡和疼痛是主要担忧，并且所有人都表示与医生有高度的信任和融洽关系。本研究揭示了抗逆转录病毒治疗受益者中的几个积极方面。然而，诸如吸烟和饮酒、长途跋涉取药、害怕耻辱和死亡以及对未来的担忧等问题需要得到解决。
