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Mosavat SH, Pasalar M, Joulaei H, Ameli V, Heydari ST, Mirzazadeh A, Hashempur MH. Complementary and alternative medicine use among people living with HIV in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1206665. [PMID: 37869188 PMCID: PMC10585019 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1206665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Living with HIV requires lifelong care to support engagement with and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The Middle East and North Africa region provides access to ART, but research is lacking on the lived-experiences of people living with HIV. Globally, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly used by patients who need support alongside receiving medical treatment for chronic conditions. This study aims to examine the frequency and reasons behind the use of CAM, as well as identify its associated factors among people living with HIV in Shiraz, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 320 patients (aged 18-70 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of HIV residing in Fars province and diagnosed between 1999 and 2019 were recruited randomly through their clinical record numbers from five HIV treatment centers. They were surveyed on their quality of life and CAM use via the Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and a semi-structured survey of "CAM use." The data analysis for this study involved the use of Chi-squared test, independent t-test, and multiple logistic regression model. Results Of 287 patients, 89.22% reported using CAM in the previous year. CAM use was more prevalent among those with a family history of CAM use (94.3% vs. 81.8%, p = 0.023). Frequent reasons for using CAM were reported to be sexual dysfunction (32.4%), depression (28.3%), thirstiness (23.3%), and nausea (17.5%). Quality of life, as measured via the SF-36 questionnaire in all its 8 sub-domains, did not differ among those who used CAM versus those who did not (61.5 ± 27.6 vs. 58.1 ± 30.9, p = 0.626). Conclusion CAM was used among a majority of people living with HIV in Shiraz, Iran. People who used CAM appeared to experience a similar quality of life relative to those who did not use CAM. Future studies on the modalities of engagement with CAM can improve patient-physician shared decision-making and increase lifelong care options for people living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat
- Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavior Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Pasalar
- Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hassan Joulaei
- HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Vira Ameli
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Seyed Taghi Heydari
- Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Mirzazadeh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Mohammad Hashem Hashempur
- Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Gheibi Z, Joulaei H, Fararouei M, Shokoohi M, Foroozanfar Z, Dianatinasab M. Late diagnosis of HIV infection and its associated factors in Shiraz, Southern Iran: a retrospective study. AIDS Care 2022; 34:1321-1329. [PMID: 34495786 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1975629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Late diagnosis (LD) of HIV infection can give rise to suboptimal responses to antiretroviral treatment. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HIV LD in Shiraz, Southern Iran. This retrospective cohort study was conducted from August 1997 to May 2018. Medical records were examined to extract required data. Individuals with time period less than three months from HIV diagnosis to an advanced phase of AIDS on CD4 < 350 were considered as LD. Multivariable logistic regression used to investigate the associated factors of late HIV diagnosis and adjusted odds ratios were reported. Of 1385 individuals, 1043 (75.3%) were considered as LD. The following factors were identified as the associated factors of LD: age at diagnosis (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.41), HCV co-infection (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.21), not living in Shiraz (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.82), increased likelihood of LD and being housewife (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.95) which decreased the likelihood of LD. Our results showed delayed diagnosis of a large proportion of individuals with HIV. It is critical to improve the HIV testing guidelines in Iran to identify individuals with HIV without delays in order to provide them with timely HIV medical care and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Gheibi
- Department of Epidemiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hassan Joulaei
- Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fararouei
- Department of Epidemiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Shokoohi
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies, Health Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zohre Foroozanfar
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Dianatinasab
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Roshanaei G, Imani R, Poorolajal J, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Mohammadi SM. Modeling the survival in patients with HIV by the presence of competing risks for death: sub-distribution and cause-specific hazard approach. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-021-01523-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Bazrafshani A, Panahi S, Sharifi H, Merghati-Khoei E. The role of online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: Development of a conceptual model. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261304. [PMID: 35771768 PMCID: PMC9246123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Online social networks have been used to enhance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs worldwide. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model of using online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. This mixed-method sequential exploratory study was conducted in three phases. Firstly, a series of semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 29 HIV-positive patients were conducted to investigate the perceptions and experiences of HIV-positive patients about using online social networks to support health literacy and medication adherence. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative interviews, extract potential components, and design a conceptual model. Then, a Delphi study with 27 HIV-positive patients was subsequently conducted to examine the consensus of patients on the proposed model. Finally, the trustworthiness and credibility of the proposed model were reviewed and evaluated by expert panel members from epidemiology and public health. Seven themes and 24 sub-themes emerged from the qualitative interviews. Five themes encompassed components of online social networks that supported communication and information-seeking behaviour of people living with HIV/AIDS. The two other themes encompassed social support and health-related outcomes including medication adherence. The credibility of the proposed conceptual model was confirmed methodologically using the expert panel and Delphi technique. Our findings highlighted that using online social networks has empowered Iranian people living with HIV/AIDS, making them more connected, safe, and able to access HIV/AIDS-related information and services. The role of online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence was also demonstrated in a conceptual model to understand the supportive components of online social networks in the HIV care continuum as well as customized interventions to improve the success of antiretroviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Bazrafshani
- Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Panahi
- Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Sharifi
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Effat Merghati-Khoei
- Iranian National Centre of Addiction Studies (INCAS), Institute of Risk Reduction, and Sexual & Family Health Division, Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre (BASIR), Institute of Neuroscience, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Afrashteh S, Fararouei M, Ghaem H, Gheibi Z. Factors Associated With Late Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among People Living With HIV in Southern Iran: A Historical Cohort Study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:881069. [PMID: 35784258 PMCID: PMC9248911 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.881069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesLate initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with poor outcome among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and higher risk of transmission of infection. This study was conducted to identify the determinants of late ART initiation among PLHIV in Southern Iran.MethodsA historical cohort study was conducted on 1,326 PLHIV of ≥15 years of age who were registered with the behavioral diseases counseling center (BDCC) in southern Iran from August 1997 to March 2021. Late ART initiation was defined as a CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm3 or having a clinical AIDS diagnosis at the time of ART initiation. The required demographic and clinical data were collected from the patients' medical records. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to define late ART initiation associated factors.ResultsLate ART initiation was found among 81.9% of patients. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00–1.04), being single (ORsingle/married = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.17–2.78), history of drug use (ORyes/no = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.02–2.62), year of ART initiation (OR2011−2013/2018−2021 = 3.65, 95% CI = 2.28–5.86), and possible route of transmission (ORdruginjection/sexual = 7.34, 95% CI = 1.16–46.21) were directly associated with the risk of late ART initiation.ConclusionsThe results show that the prevalence of late ART initiation was alarmingly high. For better infection control and better prognosis of infection, people at high risk need to be provided with timely services (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, training, and social support).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Afrashteh
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fararouei
- HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Mohammad Fararouei
| | - Haleh Ghaem
- Department of Epidemiology, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Gheibi
- Department of Epidemiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Ameli V, Haberer J, Sabin L, Meinck F, Barlow J, Taj L, Mohraz M. Tailored mHealth intervention for improving treatment adherence for people living with HIV in Iran (HamRaah): protocol for a feasibility study and randomised pilot trial with a nested realist evaluation. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e042296. [PMID: 34162631 PMCID: PMC8231034 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has a rising rate of new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortality. Consistent adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to viral suppression, preventing HIV transmission and treatment failure. mHealth interventions can improve ART adherence by providing tailored support and directing patients to existing healthcare services. HamRaah (Persian for 'together-in-path') is the first mHealth-based intervention in a MENA country and is designed to improve adherence through two-way mobile messaging for people recently diagnosed with HIV in Tehran, Iran. The objectives of this pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) are to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of HamRaah, and to develop an explanatory theory for any observed effects through a nested realist evaluation. METHODS A feasibility study and two-arm RCT of HamRaah, with an embedded realist evaluation will be conducted. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to HamRaah or routine care for a 6-month intervention. The initial effectiveness of HamRaah will be assessed through the primary outcome of self-reported ART adherence and several secondary outcomes: retention in care, CD4 count and viral suppression. A theory-driven realist evaluation framework will be used to develop an explanatory theory regarding what works, for whom, how and in what context. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study received ethical clearance from Tehran University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee and Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee People living with HIV in Tehran and key country stakeholders in HIV policy and programming have been involved in the development of HamRaah and this pilot trial. Participants will provide informed consent prior to study enrolment. The results will be disseminated to all stakeholders and presented in peer-reviewed journal publications and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER IRCT20100601004076N23; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vira Ameli
- Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Jessica Haberer
- Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lora Sabin
- Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Franziska Meinck
- School of Social and Political Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane Barlow
- Department of Social Policy, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Leila Taj
- Iranian Research Centre for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Minoo Mohraz
- Iranian Research Centre for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
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SeyedAlinaghi S, Ghadimi M, Hajiabdolbaghi M, Rasoolinejad M, Abbasian L, Nezhad MH, Manshadi SD, Ghadimi F, Ahmadinejad Z. Prevalence of COVID-19-like Symptoms among People Living with HIV, and Using Antiretroviral Therapy for Prevention and Treatment. Curr HIV Res 2020; 18:373-380. [PMID: 32652912 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x18666200712175535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. RESULTS Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. CONCLUSION It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghadimi
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Room 143, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Mahboubeh Hajiabdolbaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Rasoolinejad
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Abbasian
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Malihe Hassan Nezhad
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - SeyedAli Dehghan Manshadi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghadimi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ahmadinejad
- Liver Transplantation Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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