This article discusses the improvement of HIV counseling services in El Salvador despite the existence of the continuing stigma of HIV infection. In the past, the knowledge and inclination of health care personnel dictated whether or not HIV patients receive any kind of counseling. It was unfortunate that most hospital members did not know how to counsel or even recognize the need for counseling. As such, the Ministry of Health recognized this need, and requested assistance from the Implementing AIDS Care and Prevention project of the Family Health International, which resulted in voluntary counseling and testing training among health care professionals. This change and improvement in the quality of handling by health professionals ensures that other HIV positive patients are spared from the trauma and shame that one HIV positive patient experienced.
This article discusses an inexpensive antiretroviral regimen that can significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Nevirapine, a potent and long lasting drug, was found by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention Trials Network study to be 47% effective than the short but expensive course of zidovudine (AZT). In a study conducted in Thailand, a comparison on the efficacy of nevirapine and zidovudine was done among a study population of more than 600 HIV-positive pregnant women. Half of the study population were given 2 600-mg AZT pills at the beginning of labor, 1 300-mg AZT pill every 3 hours until delivery, and twice-daily doses of 200 mg of AZT syrup for their infants for 1 week. On the other hand, the remaining half of the study population were given 1 200-mg dose of nevirapine at the beginning of labor and 1 liquid dose of 2 mg/kg for their newborns. Health of both mother and child were monitored and compared between the two groups. Findings revealed that nevirapine could reduce transmission, and the fact that it is cost-effective and affordable gives hope to the resource-constrained countries with HIV-positive pregnant women who are at risk of transmitting the virus to their infants.
This article discusses the programs of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) towards the drug practices and sexual behaviors of HIV infected individuals and drug users in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Blagodiynist (Charity Foundation), one of the NGOs operating in Ukraine, has been helping drug users and sex workers. This group has collaborated with other group projects to produce better and effective interventions. As such, the needle-exchange project was organized, where drug users could not only exchange needles for clean ones, but also obtain information, advice, and even condoms. Role model stories approach was also another effective method that Blagodiynist utilized to make drug users and sex workers aware not only of the risk and reality of HIV, but to encourage behavior change as well, and to generate the self-confidence needed to alter their erroneous practices. The fact that sex workers and drug users have begun to take the risks of HIV infection seriously and have taken measures to protect themselves, reflect the success of these programs.
This article discusses the importance of standardization for commonly performed tests in both clinical and public health laboratories. A series of proficiency test conducted by the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) of Ghana revealed discrepancies in the disease diagnosis due to variations in the methodology used in testing, that consequently affected the accuracy of the test results. As a result, standard operating procedures (SOP) were developed by NPHRL to help lab specialists and technicians conduct accurate tests, to provide effective treatment, disease control, and surveillance. Explanations on the principles behind the testing methods, reagents and equipment to be used, step by step procedure, instructions on special requirements, and precautions are covered in the SOP manuals. Laminated sheets on the ten most common procedures have also been included for easier access among technicians who perform these procedures daily.
This article discusses the appropriateness of systematic behavior surveys in the surveillance of HIV. The UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Family Health International have developed standardized guidelines of behavioral data collection that will help national AIDS programs to gain better understanding of HIV/AIDS epidemics. These systematic, cross-sectional behavioral surveys are done annually or biannually among high-risk countries. Traditional household surveys were conducted to gather information used to determine the target groups. Mapping, sampling strategies, testing, and questionnaires were then designed for the target groups. Data collection revealed that significant changes in the HIV risk behaviors of individuals from different countries. This survey finding reflects the value of these behavioral surveys as a flexible diagnostic tool for HIV.
