Perceived stigma and associated factors among adults with problematic substance use in Northwest Ethiopia

Factors influencing the acceptability of alcohol drinking for a patient with colorectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer worldwide. One of the risk factors for the development of this type of cancer is alcohol consumption. Patients with colorectal cancer may be stigmatized regarding their cancer and regarding drinking behaviors they may exhibit. This study aimed to analyze community persons' and health professionals' acceptability judgments regarding alcohol drinkers having colorectal cancer.

METHOD

This study relies on an experimental method enabling the identification of variables involved in one's judgment, based on the exhaustive combination of factors yielding several scenarios rated by participants. Scenarios implemented factors possibly influencing participants' perception of a woman character having colorectal cancer. Factors included her drinking habits, post-diagnosis drinking behavior and type of diagnosis/prognosis. The participants were community persons (N' = 132) or health professionals (N" = 126). Data were analyzed using a within-subject factorial ANOVA.

RESULTS

In both samples, the "Post-diagnosis behavior" factor had large effect sizes, with drinking cessation being more acceptable than other drinking behaviors. Another factor, "Drinking habits", had significant influences on participants judgments, as higher drinking was considered less acceptable. A third factor, "Diagnosis" (polyps, early- or late-stage cancer), was taken into account by participants when it interacted with "Drinking habits" and "Post-diagnosis behavior". Indeed, participants considered most acceptable to continue drinking in the case of late-stage cancer, especially in the health professional sample where the acceptability of continuing drinking was almost doubled when the character had advanced- rather than early-cancer.

CONCLUSION

The lesser the drinking behavior, the better the acceptability. However, advanced cancer stage attenuated the poor acceptability of drinking in both samples, as participants' attitudes were more permissive when the patient had advanced cancer.

Are the Things Told to Care Providers Kept Confidential?: Perceived Breaches of Confidentiality and Associated Factors Among HIV/AIDS Clients on ART at Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Western Ethiopia, 2021

Introduction

HIV clients’ mistrust in providers’ handling of their medical information can be a reason for them not to utilize services. Compromised confidentiality of HIV clients can affect the entire community, as other people may become reluctant to seek HIV testing and counseling. In Ethiopia, there are few data on perceived breaches of confidentiality among HIV/AIDS clients. Thus, this study aimed to assess perceived breaches of confidentiality and associated factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) at Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Western Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 HIV/AIDS clients at Nekemte Specialized Hospital from January 15 to February 20, 2021. Data were collected by an investigator-administered questionnaire. Collected data were entered into EpiData version 3.1, and Stata version 14.0 was used for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Variables with a P-value of <0.2 in the bivariable analysis were exported to the multivariable analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P-values of <0.05 were used to report significantly associated variables.

Results

A total of 423 PLHIV were included in the study. Nearly one-fourth of the respondents (23.60%) had perceived breaches of confidentiality (95% CI 19.8–27.9%). Delayed ART start [(AOR 1.97) 95% CI (1.05–3.71)], being female [(AOR 4.03) 95% CI (2.14–7.59)], being widowed [(AOR 4.11) 95% CI (1.50–11.20)], college education and above [(AOR 10.89) 95% CI (3.93–30.14)], normal BMI [(AOR 2.72) 95% CI (1.06–6.99)], substance use [(AOR 1.93) 95% CI (1.04–3.58)], not knowing other ART user(s) [(AOR 2.89) 95% CI (1.53–5.47)], and CD4 count ≤200 cells/mm³ [(AOR 2.63) 95% CI (1.22–5.68)] were significantly associated variables.

Conclusion

One in four HIV/AIDS clients reported experiencing perceived breaches of confidentiality. Thus, early ART initiation, further HIV serostatus disclosure, and encouraging patients to decide on the type of care and information they want need to be strengthened in order to reduce breaches of confidentiality.