Treating Women with HIV: Is it Different than Treating Men?

Sex differences in psychosocial and demographic factors associated with sustained HIV viral suppression in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program, 2017

This exploratory study examined sex differences in psychosocial and demographic factors associated with sustained HIV viral suppression (SVS). The study population included 6,489 Miami-Dade Ryan White Program (RWP) clients receiving services during 2017; administrative data was analyzed. SVS was defined as having all viral load tests during 2017 below 200 copies/ml. Multilevel logistic regression models accounted for clustering by medical case management site. Models were stratified by sex. Overall, a higher proportion of females did not achieve SVS (23.5%) than males (18.1%). For females (n = 1,503), having acquired HIV perinatally and not having a partner oradult household member were associated with not achieving SVS. For males (n = 4,986), lacking access to food, Black or Haitian race/ethnicity, problematic substance use, and unknown physician were associated with not achieving SVS. For both sexes, younger age, lower household income, ever having an AIDS diagnosis, feeling depressed or anxious, and experiencing homelessness were associated with not achieving SVS. Elements of the transition from adolescent to adult HIV care that may differentially impact female clients and factors associated with disclosure should be explored further. Male clients may require additional support for food security. Improving culturally specific care for Haitian and non-Hispanic Black male clients should also be explored.

Trends in the psychosocial and mental health of HIV-positive women in China from 2015 to 2020: Results from two cross-sectional surveys

Background

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be one of the major public health challenges in the world. Despite the advancement in medication and changes in views towards HIV in Chinese society, little is known about the changes in the psychosocial and mental health of HIV‐positive women in recent years.

Objectives

The present study examined the change in depression, anxiety, stigma, relationship with the child, intimacy with a partner, and social support from family, friends, and health professionals, for HIV‐positive women in China from 2015 to 2020.

Methods

Two cross‐sectional surveys were conducted in 2015 and 2020, and 429 and 382 HIV‐positive women were recruited from the Women's Health Department in Yunnan and Guangxi, China between November 2015 to May 2016, and November 2019 to January 2020, respectively.

Results

After controlling for significant sociodemographic variables, participants recruited in 2019–2020 had significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety and higher scores on emotional and tangible support from friends. On the other hand, they had lower scores in intimacy with partners and emotional and tangible support from family. No significant changes were found in stigma, relationship with the child, and support from health professionals.

Conclusion

Results provide important information on the changes in psychosocial and mental health, which offer insights into the design of interventions to promote psychosocial and mental health among HIV‐positive women in China.

Patient or Public Contribution

HIV‐positive women contributed to the data of this study. Health care professionals were involved in the discussion of the methods and results.

Early mortality during rifampicin-resistant TB treatment

BACKGROUND: Data suggest that treatment with newer TB drugs (linezolid [LZD], bedaquiline [BDQ] and delamanid [DLM]), used in Khayelitsha, South Africa, since 2012, reduces mortality due to rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB).METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study to assess 6-month mortality among RR-TB patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2019.RESULTS: By 6 months, 236/2,008 (12%) patients died; 12% (78/651) among those diagnosed in 2008-2011, and respectively 8% (49/619) and 15% (109/738) with and without LZD/BDQ/DLM in 2012-2019. Multivariable analysis showed a small, non-significant mortality reduction with LZD/BDQ/DLM use compared to the 2008-2011 period (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.5-1.2). Inpatient treatment initiation (aOR 3.2, 95% CI 2.4-4.4), fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8-4.2) and female sex (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0) were also associated with mortality. When restricted to 2012-2019, use of LZD/BDQ/DLM was associated with lower mortality (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.87).CONCLUSIONS: While LZD/BDQ/DLM reduced 6-month mortality between 2012 and 2019, there was no significant effect overall. These findings may be due to initially restricted LZD/BDQ/DLM use for those with high-level resistance or treatment failure. Additional contributors include increased treatment initiation among individuals who would have otherwise died before treatment due to universal drug susceptibility testing from 2012, an effect that also likely contributed to higher mortality among females (survival through to care-seeking).

‘The spiral just keeps on going’: Cascading health and social issues for women living and aging with HIV

Background:

There has been limited qualitative inquiry aimed at understanding the gendered and unique experiences of women living with HIV in high-income countries. In Australia, the relatively small number of women living with HIV means they have been largely overlooked in social, clinical, and policy representations of HIV over time.

Objectives:

To explore the experiences of women living long-term and aging with HIV, to understand the complex intersections between their health and social trajectories.

Methods:

Data were collected as part of Living Positive in Queensland, a longitudinal qualitative study of the experiences of living long-term and aging of people living with HIV in Queensland, Australia. This study analysed data from three annual, semi-structured interviews with the 11 female participants.

Results:

Women negotiated gendered roles and identities as they grappled with ongoing and intertwined health and psychosocial challenges over their life course. Development of co-morbidities, experiences of stigma, gendered social roles, financial precarity, and limited social support amplified the challenges of living with HIV and cumulatively impacted women’s health and wellbeing as they aged with HIV.

Conclusion:

The health and wellbeing of women living with HIV are adversely impacted by intersecting complex health issues, HIV-related stigma, gendered identities, social disadvantage, and aging. Greater attention to the unique needs of women living with HIV is necessary to reduce the prevalence of psychological distress, financial stress, and vulnerability to social isolation which, in turn, lead to poorer health.

Enduring stigma and precarity: A review of qualitative research examining the experiences of women living with HIV in high income countries over two decades

The lived experience of HIV for women remains poorly understood. In particular, there has been little attention to the consequences for women living with HIV (WLHIV) of changing social, epidemiological, biomedical and policy contexts, or to the implications of long-term treatment and aging for the current generation of HIV-positive women. We reviewed qualitative research with WLHIV in selected high-income countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA) to identify the most prevalent experiences of HIV for women and trends over time. Our synthesis highlights the relative consistency of experiences of a diverse sample of WLHIV, particularly the enduring prevalence of gendered HIV-related stigma, sociostructural barriers to healthcare and support, and negative encounters with health professionals. We also identified gaps in knowledge. Understanding women's experiences, particularly their changing needs and strategies for coping as they live long-term with HIV, is key to effective support and services for WLHIV.

Structural Barriers to Women's Sustained Engagement in HIV Care in Southern California

Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the number of women living with HIV (WLHIV) continues to increase. Despite the decrease in HIV diagnosis among women in California, less than half of WLHIV are retained in HIV care. Structural barriers put women at increased risk for delayed HIV diagnosis, delayed entry into HIV care, and poorer treatment outcomes. The objective of this qualitative analysis is to identify how structural barriers negatively impact women's sustained engagement in HIV care in Southern California. WLHIV accessing local HIV support services participated in a qualitative study by completing a semi-structured interview and brief survey between January and April 2015 (n = 30). Poverty, unemployment, housing instability, and needs for transportation emerged as the dominant structural barriers for women when discussing their challenges with sustained engagement in HIV care. System-level interventions that decrease these noted barriers may help improve HIV care continuum for women living in Southern California.

Awareness and Understanding of HIV Non-disclosure Case Law and the Role of Healthcare Providers in Discussions About the Criminalization of HIV Non-disclosure Among Women Living with HIV in Canada

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that people with HIV are legally obligated to disclose their serostatus before sex with a "realistic possibility" of HIV transmission, suggesting a legal obligation to disclose unless they use condoms and have a low HIV viral load (< 1500 copies/mL). We measured prevalence and correlates of ruling awareness among 1230 women with HIV enrolled in a community-based cohort study (2015-2017). While 899 (73%) participants had ruling awareness, only 37% were both aware of and understood ruling components. Among 899 aware participants, 34% had never discussed disclosure and the law with healthcare providers, despite only 5% being unwilling to do this. Detectable/unknown HIV viral load, lack of awareness of prevention benefits of antiretroviral therapy, education ≤ high-school and high HIV-related stigma were negatively associated with ruling awareness. Discussions around disclosure and the law in community and healthcare settings are warranted to support women with HIV.

The Role of Gender in Patient-Provider Relationships: A Qualitative Analysis of HIV Care Providers in Western Kenya with Implications for Retention in Care

The disproportionate burden of HIV among women in sub-Saharan Africa reflects underlying gender inequities, which also impact patient-provider relationships, a key component to retention in HIV care. This study explored how gender shaped the patient-provider relationship and consequently, retention in HIV care in western Kenya. We recruited and consented 60 HIV care providers from three facilities in western Kenya affiliated with the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH). Trained research assistants conducted and audio recorded 1-h interviews in English or Swahili. Data were transcribed and analyzed in NVivo using inductive thematic analysis. Gender constructs, as culturally defined, emerged as an important barrier negatively impacting the patient-provider relationship through three main domains: (1) challenges establishing clear roles and sharing power due to conflicting gender versus patient/provider identities, (2) provider frustration over suboptimal patient adherence resulting from gender-influenced contextual barriers, and (3) negative provider perceptions shaped by differing male and female approaches to communication. Programmatic components addressing gender inequities in the health care setting are urgently needed to effectively leverage the patient-provider relationship and fully promote long-term adherence and retention in HIV care.

Examining age as a moderating effect on the relationship between alcohol use and viral suppression among women living with HIV

This study sought to examine if age moderated the effect of alcohol on viral suppression among women living with HIV. A secondary data analysis, using data from the 550 Clinic Women's HIV Cohort Study was completed. Individuals were included if they were HIV positive, sought care in an urban clinic in Kentucky between 2009 and 2012, and had ≥1 year of follow-up. The primary independent variable was current alcohol use; the moderating variable was age (<50 years versus ≥50 years); and the outcome was suppression. Logistic regression models examined the interaction between age and alcohol. Among 360 women (average age 45.8 ± 10.1 years, 38 percent were ≥50 years), approximately 32.0 percent had consumed alcohol, and 40 percent achieved suppression. Women aged ≥50 years were more likely to achieve suppression than younger women. Age interacted significantly with alcohol (p = .038). Stratified by age, alcohol was associated with poor viral suppression among older women; for older women, alcohol users had lower odds of suppression compared to nonusers (odds ratio = 0.37; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.14-0.99). Alcohol may impede the opportunity for older women to achieve suppression. Further study is needed to examine alcohol use among older women, specifically addressing quantity and frequency and their impact on suppression.

Health System Features That Enhance Access to Comprehensive Primary Care for Women Living with HIV in High-Income Settings: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review

Women living with HIV in high-income settings continue to experience modifiable barriers to care. We sought to determine the features of care that facilitate access to comprehensive primary care, inclusive of HIV, comorbidity, and sexual and reproductive healthcare. Using a systematic mixed studies review design, we reviewed qualitative, mixed methods, and quantitative studies identified in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases (January 2000 to August 2017). Eligibility criteria included women living with HIV; high-income countries; primary care; and healthcare accessibility. We performed a thematic synthesis using NVivo. After screening 3466 records, we retained 44 articles and identified 13 themes. Drawing on a social-ecological framework on engagement in HIV care, we situated the themes across three levels of the healthcare system: care providers, clinical care environments, and social and institutional factors. At the care provider level, features enhancing access to comprehensive primary care included positive patient-provider relationships and availability of peer support, case managers, and/or nurse navigators. Within clinical care environments, facilitators to care were appointment reminder systems, nonidentifying clinic signs, women and family spaces, transportation services, and coordination of care to meet women's HIV, comorbidity, and sexual and reproductive healthcare needs. Finally, social and institutional factors included healthcare insurance, patient and physician education, and dispelling HIV-related stigma. This review highlights several features of care that are particularly relevant to the care-seeking experience of women living with HIV. Improving their health through comprehensive care requires a variety of strategies at the provider, clinic, and greater social and institutional levels.

Sex and gender differences in HIV-1 infection

The major burden of the human immunodeficiency (HIV) type 1 pandemic is nowadays carried by women from sub-Saharan Africa. Differences in the manifestations of HIV-1 infection between women and men have been long reported, and might be due to both socio-economic (gender) and biological (sex) factors. Several studies have shown that women are more susceptible to HIV-1 acquisition than men. Following HIV-1 infection, women have lower viral loads during acute infection and exhibit stronger antiviral responses than men, which may contribute to differences in the size of viral reservoirs. Oestrogen receptor signalling could represent an important mediator of sex differences in HIV-1 reservoir size and may represent a potential therapeutic target. Furthermore, immune activation, a hallmark of HIV-1 infection, is generally higher in women than in men and could be a central mechanism in the sex difference observed in the speed of HIV-1 disease progression. Here, we review the literature regarding sex-based differences in HIV-1 infection and discuss how a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms could improve preventive and therapeutic strategies.

The Association Between HIV Disclosure Status and Perceived Barriers to Care Faced by Women Living with HIV in Latin America, China, Central/Eastern Europe, and Western Europe/Canada

Generally, women are less likely than men to disclose their HIV status. This analysis examined the relationship between HIV disclosure and (1) perceived barriers to care and (2) quality of life (QoL) for women with HIV. The ELLA (EpidemioLogical study to investigate the popuLation and disease characteristics, barriers to care, and quAlity of life for women living with HIV) study enrolled HIV-positive women aged ≥18 years. Women completed the 12-item Barriers to Care Scale (BACS) questionnaire. QoL was assessed using the Health Status Assessment. BACS and QoL were stratified by dichotomized HIV disclosure status (to anyone outside the healthcare system). Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with disclosure. Of 1945 patients enrolled from Latin America, China, Central/Eastern Europe, and Western Europe/Canada between July 2012 and September 2013, 1929 were included in the analysis (disclosed, n = 1724; nondisclosed, n = 205). Overall, 55% of patients lived with a husband/partner, 53% were employed, and 88% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Patients who were with a serodiscordant partner were more likely to disclose (p = 0.0003). China had a disproportionately higher percentage of participants who did not disclose at all (nearly 30% vs. <15% for other regions). Mean BACS severity scores for medical/psychological service barriers and most personal resource barriers were significantly lower for the disclosed group compared with the nondisclosed group (p ≤ 0.02 for all). Compared with the disclosed group, the nondisclosed group reported statistically significantly higher (p ≤ 0.03) BACS item severity scores for 8 of the 12 potential barriers to care. The disclosed group reported better QoL. Overall, HIV nondisclosure was associated with more severe barriers to accessing healthcare by women with HIV.

The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention

BACKGROUND

Substance use and HIV are syndemic public health problems in Malaysia. Harm reduction efforts to reduce HIV transmission have primarily focused on men with substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVES

To explore HIV risk behaviors, substance use, and social factors associated with poor health outcomes among women who use drugs in Malaysia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 103 drug-using women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were recruited to assess their medical, psychiatric and social comorbidity as well as their engagement in nationally recommended HIV testing and monitoring activities.

RESULTS

One-third reported having ever injected drugs, with most (68.2%) having recently shared injection paraphernalia. Sex work (44.7%) and infrequent condom use (42.4%) were common as was underlying psychiatric illness and physical and sexual violence during childhood and adulthood. Most women (62.1%) had unstable living situations and suffered from an unmet need for social support and health services. HIV prevalence was high (20%) with only two thirds of women eligible for antiretroviral therapy having received it. Suboptimal HIV testing and/or monitoring was positively associated with interpersonal violence (AOR 2.73; 95% CI 1.04-7.14) and negatively associated with drug injection (AOR 0.28; 95% CI 0.10-0.77).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE

Women who use drugs in Malaysia demonstrate considerable medical, psychiatric and social co-morbidity, which negatively contributes to optimal and crucial engagement in HIV treatment-as-prevention strategies. Mental health and social support may be key targets for future public health interventions aimed at drug-using women in Malaysia.

Late initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy in Canada: a call for a national public health strategy to improve engagement in HIV care

Introduction

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly decreases morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission. We aimed to characterize the timing of ART initiation based on CD4 cell count from 2000 to 2012 and identify factors associated with late initiation of treatment.

Methods

Participants from the Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC), a multi-site cohort of HIV-positive adults initiating ART naively after 1 January 2000, in three Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Ontario and Québec) were included. Late initiation was defined as a CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ or an AIDS-defining illness before ART initiation (baseline). Temporal trends were assessed using the Cochran–Armitage test, and independent correlates of late initiation were identified using logistic regression.

Results

In total, 8942 participants (18% female) of median age 40 years (Q1–Q3 33–47) were included. The median baseline CD4 count increased from 190 cells/mm³ (Q1–Q3 80–320) in 2000 to 360 cells/mm³ (Q1–Q3 220–490) in 2012 (p<0.001). Overall, 4274 participants (48%) initiated ART with a CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ or AIDS-defining illness. Late initiation was more common among women, non-MSM, older individuals, participants from Ontario and BC (vs. Québec), persons with injection drug use (IDU) history and individuals starting ART in earlier calendar years. In sub-analysis exploring recent (2008 to 2012) predictors using an updated CD4 criterion (<350 cells/mm³), IDU and residence in BC (vs. Québec) were no longer significant correlates of late initiation.

Conclusions

This analysis documents increasing baseline CD4 counts over time among Canadians initiating ART. However, CD4 counts at ART initiation remain below contemporary treatment guidelines, highlighting the need for strategies to improve earlier engagement in HIV care.

Barriers to access to care reported by women living with HIV across 27 countries

Increased access to successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) is necessary in order to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Importantly, slightly over half of the people living with HIV are women. Small studies have described many barriers to accessing treatment and care among women living with HIV. This cross-sectional, non-interventional, epidemiological study assessed the prevalence of barriers to accessing care for women living with HIV across 27 countries, divided into four global regions. HIV-positive women attending routine clinical visits were offered the opportunity to participate in the study. Data describing the study sites and demographic characteristics of the participating women were collected. Participating women filled out questionnaires including the Barriers to Care Scale (BACS) questionnaire, on which they reported the extent to which they found each of the 12 potential barriers to accessing health care problematic. A total of 1931 women living with HIV were included in the study: 760 from Western Europe and Canada (WEC), 532 from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), 519 from Latin America (LA), and 120 from China. The mean age of participating women was 40.1 ± 11.4 years. A total of 88.2% were currently taking ART. A total of 81.8% obtained HIV treatment under a government health plan. The most prevalent barrier to care was community HIV/AIDS stigma. Community HIV/AIDS knowledge, lack of supportive/understanding work environments, lack of employment opportunities, and personal financial resources were also highly prevalent barriers to accessing care. These findings indicate that, more than 30 years after the start of the AIDS epidemic, stigma is still a major issue for women living with HIV. Continued efforts are needed to improve community education on HIV/AIDS in order to maximize access to health care among women living with HIV.

The role of social relationship in HIV healing and its implications in HIV cure in China

HIV is both a biomedical disease and a social phenomenon that is constructed in particular cultural contexts. A successful and humane HIV cure requires not only the science of eradicating pathogens, but also the art of healing to restore harmony between mind and body. Healing in the context of HIV cure will be both personal and interpersonal, biological and social, and will involve rebuilding connections between HIV patients and their social environment. Social conceptions of healing have been highlighted in many regions with rich non-biomedical healing traditions, including China. Based on an adapted theoretical model on social relationships and health, we address the essential role of social relations for HIV healing in Chinese cultural context, and propose several recommendations for reforming practices and policies regarding HIV healing. In general, family is still a core social unit in HIV patients' medical journey from diagnosis to treatment. A positive patient-physician relationship based on mutual respect and trust also has critical impact on patients' physical and mental health. Physicians may become a key or the main source of social support in circumstances when families are not actively engaged in healing. Reconnecting HIV patients with their communities should be a necessary component of HIV cure, as this will help patients engage more fully in the HIV healing process. We call for a family-centered approach in HIV healing intervention to strengthen patient-family ties; a series of policies to build up and sustain positive patient-physician ties; and multi-level strategies to empower patients and rebuild their bonds to community and larger society. We also call for more empirical research on how non-biomedical healing approaches in various cultural settings could (directly or indirectly) inform HIV cure research.

Experiences of women of color with a nurse patient navigation program for linkage and engagement in HIV care

Patient navigation, a patient-centered model of care coordination focused on reducing barriers to care, is an emerging strategy for linking patients to and retaining them in HIV care. The Guide to Healing Program (G2H), implemented at the Infectious Diseases Clinic at UNC Chapel Hill, provided patient navigation to women of color (WOC) new to or re-engaging in HIV care through a 'nurse guide' with mental health training and experience. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore patients' experiences working with the nurse guide. Twenty-one semi-structured telephone interviews with G2H participants were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was utilized to identify patterns and themes in the data. Women's experiences with the nurse guide were overwhelmingly positive. They described the nurse guide teaching them critical information and skills, facilitating access to resources, and conveying authentic kindness and concern. The findings suggest that a properly trained nurse in this role can provide critical medical and psychosocial support in order to eliminate barriers to engagement in HIV care, and successfully facilitate patient HIV self-management. The nurse guide model represents a promising approach to patient navigation for WOC living with HIV.

Barriers to access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive tuberculosis patients in Windhoek, Namibia

SETTING

Namibia faces a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV-infection. In 2011, 50% of the TB patients were co-infected with HIV. While all patients co-infected with TB and HIV are eligible for antiretroviral treatment (ART), only 54% were reported to have received ART according to national data.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the perspective of healthcare professionals on barriers to access to ART for HIV-positive TB patients.

DESIGN

Nine semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals from TB and HIV services in Windhoek in 2012 to investigate access barriers to ART for HIV-positive TB patients in Namibia.

RESULTS

Many barriers known from other African countries were also present in Namibia. The barriers rated as most important were: staff shortage (health system level); limited training (healthcare worker level); and fear of stigma and discrimination (patient/community level). Direct treatment costs and limited availability of antiretroviral medication were not observed as barriers. Interference with TB treatment and ART by some Pentecostal churches was revealed as an important barrier that has not yet received sufficient attention.

CONCLUSION

The study identified access barriers to ART for HIV-positive TB patients and their relevance in Namibia. The findings provide evidence for tailored interventions to increase ART-uptake among HIV-positive TB patients.

[Consensus Statement by GeSIDA/National AIDS Plan Secretariat on antiretroviral treatment in adults infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (Updated January 2013)]

OBJECTIVE

This consensus document is an update of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) guidelines for HIV-1 infected adult patients.

METHODS

To formulate these recommendations a panel composed of members of the GeSIDA/National AIDS Plan Secretariat (Grupo de Estudio de Sida and the Secretaría del Plan Nacional sobre el Sida) reviewed the efficacy and safety advances in clinical trials, cohort and pharmacokinetic studies published in medical journals (PubMed and Embase) or presented in medical scientific meetings. The strength of the recommendations and the evidence which support them are based on a modification of the criteria of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

RESULTS

cART is recommended in patients with symptoms of HIV infection, in pregnant women, in serodiscordant couples with high risk of transmission, in hepatitisB co-infection requiring treatment, and in HIV nephropathy. cART is recommended in asymptomatic patients if CD4 is <500cells/μl. If CD4 are >500cells/μl cART should be considered in the case of chronic hepatitisC, cirrhosis, high cardiovascular risk, plasma viral load >100.000 copies/ml, proportion of CD4 cells <14%, neurocognitive deficits, and in people aged >55years. The objective of cART is to achieve an undetectable viral load. The first cART should include 2 reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI) nucleoside analogs and a third drug (a non-analog RTI, a ritonavir boosted protease inhibitor, or an integrase inhibitor). The panel has consensually selected some drug combinations, for the first cART and specific criteria for cART in acute HIV infection, in tuberculosis and other HIV related opportunistic infections, for the women and in pregnancy, in hepatitisB or C co-infection, in HIV-2 infection, and in post-exposure prophylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

These new guidelines update previous recommendations related to first cART (when to begin and what drugs should be used), how to monitor, and what to do in case of viral failure or adverse drug reactions. cART specific criteria in comorbid patients and special situations are similarly updated.

HIV providers' perceptions of and attitudes toward female versus male patients

As a first step in understanding the role that health care providers may play in observed gender disparities in HIV care in the United States, we sought to examine whether HIV providers' perceptions of and attitudes toward female and male patients differ. We used data from the Enhancing Communication to Improve HIV Outcomes (ECHO) study, a multisite, cross-sectional study focused on the role of the patient-provider relationship in disparities in HIV care conducted from October 2006 to June 2007. Using separate scales, we assessed HIV providers' perceptions about their patients (e.g., intelligence, compliance, responsibility) as well as providers' attitudes toward their patients (e.g., like, respect, frustrate). We used multivariable linear regression with generalized estimating equations to compare provider scores for female and male patients. Our sample comprised 37 HIV providers and 317 patients. Compared with male patients, HIV-infected females were less likely to be highly educated or employed, and more likely to report nonadherence to antiretroviral medications and depressive symptoms. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was a significant difference in providers' perceptions of female and male patients, with providers having more negative perceptions of female patients. However, there was no significant difference in HIV providers' attitudes toward female and male patients in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of providers' perceptions and attitudes about female and male patients in observed gender disparities in HIV care.