Investigating the contributing factors to HIV/AIDS infection from the perspective of HIV-infected patients

Adversity during military service: the impact of military sexual trauma, emotional bullying and physical assault on the mental health and well-being of women veterans

INTRODUCTION

Despite making up about 11% of the UK military, there remains limited investigation on the impact of adversity women experience during their service in the UK military. Military adversity can result in a range of well-being difficulties that may persist following transition out of military. The present study therefore examined the prevalence and correlates of different types of military adversity (defined as sexual harassment, sexual assault, emotional bullying and physical assault) within a community sample of UK women veterans.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from a UK charity supporting women veterans. 750 women veterans completed an online survey collecting information on sociodemographic and military factors, military adversity, as well as mental health and well-being difficulties. Associations between variables were explored using multivariate logistic regressions.

RESULTS

The findings indicate a high prevalence of military adversity (22.5% sexual harassment, 5.1% sexual assault, 22.7% emotional bullying and 3.3% physical assault). Younger women, those who held an officer rank during service and those who reported having a combat or combat support role during service were most at risk of military adversity. All types of adversity were significantly associated with probable post-traumatic stress disorder. Sexual harassment was additionally significantly associated with physical somatisation; sexual assault with alcohol difficulties; and emotional bullying with common mental health difficulties, low social support and loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that UK women veterans are at risk of a range of adverse experiences during military service and provides evidence of the impact of such adversities on mental health and well-being. Further research is required to better understand these relationships.

Positive Status Disclosure and Sexual Risk Behavior Changes among People Living with HIV in the Northern Region of Ghana

OBJECTIVE

To investigate sexual behavior changes adopted by People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Northern Region of Ghana.

METHODS

We employed a cross-sectional survey with a questionnaire to collect data from 900 clients from 9 major ART centers within the region. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were applied to the data.

RESULTS

More than 50% of PLHIV on ART use condoms, reduce sexual partners, practice abstinence, reduce unprotected sex with married/regular partners, and avoid casual sex. Fear of others getting to know patients' HIV-positive status (χ² = 7.916, p = 0.005), stigma (χ² = 5.201, p = 0.023), and fear of loss of family support (χ² = 4.211, p = 0.040) significantly predict non-disclosure of HIV-positive status among the participants. Change in sexual behavior is influenced by the following: "to avoid spreading the disease to others" (R² = 0.043, F (1, 898) = 40.237, p < 0.0005), "to avoid contracting other STIs" (R² = 0.010, F (1, 898) = 8.937, p < 0.0005), "to live long" (R² = 0.038, F (1, 898) = 35.816, p < 0.0005), "to hide HIV-positive status" (R² = 0.038, F (1, 898) = 35.587, p < 0.0005), "to achieve good results from ART treatment" (R² = 0.005, F (1, 898) = 4. 282, p < 0.05), and "to live a Godly life" (R² = 0.023, F (1, 898) = 20. 880, p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

High self-disclosure rate of HIV-positive status was identified, with participants disclosing to their spouses or parents. Reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure differed from person to person.

Socioeconomic and health-related inequalities in major depressive symptoms among older adults: a Wagstaff's decomposition analysis of data from the LASI baseline survey, 2017-2018

OBJECTIVES

To find out the association between socioeconomic and health status and depression among older adults and explore the contributing factors in the socioeconomic and health-related inequalities in late-life depression.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted using large representative survey data.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data for this study were derived from the baseline wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India conducted during 2017-2018. The effective sample size was 30 888 older adults aged 60 years and above.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome variable in this study was depression among older adults. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate analysis was conducted to report the preliminary results. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis and Wagstaff's decomposition were used to fulfil the objectives of the study.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference for the prevalence of depression (4.3%; p<0.05) among older adults from poor (11.2%) and non-poor categories (6.8%). The value of the Concentration Index was -0.179 which also confirms that the major depression was more concentrated among poor older adults. About 38.4% of the socioeconomic and health-related inequality was explained by the wealth quintile for major depression among older adults. Moreover, about 26.6% of the inequality in major depression was explained by psychological distress. Self-rated health (SRH), difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) contributed 8.7%, 3.3% and 4.8% to the inequality, respectively. Additionally, region explained about 23.1% of inequality followed by life satisfaction (11.2) and working status (9.8%) for major depression among older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings revealed large socioeconomic and health-related inequalities in depression in older adults which were especially pronounced by poor household economy, widowhood, poor SRH, ADL and IADL difficulty, and psychological distress. In designing prevention programmes, detection and management of older adults with depression should be a high priority, especially for those who are more vulnerable.

Role of COVID-19 pandemic in the academic life and well-being of private sector university students: an exploratory qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a drastic impact on students' life, causing physical and emotional sufferings. Considering the relevance of unprecedented conditions, we explored perceptions and attitudes of students towards their academic life and well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

SETTING

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using a purposive sampling approach conducted at a single-centre private nursing institution in Karachi, Pakistan.

PARTICIPANTS

The current study used in-depth interviews with female university students. Study data were analysed manually using the thematic analysis approach.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

The primary outcome is to explore perception of students on academic life and well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

A total of 10 in-depth interviews were conducted between August and September 2020. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) impact of COVID-19 on students' well-being; (2) effect of COVID-19 on students' academic life; (3) current coping mechanisms adopted by students and (4) recommendations to address students' concerns. The pandemic-related stressors served as a major impediment on students' motivation, concentration span and socioeconomic conditions which negatively influenced their well-being and academic life. However, students have adopted diverse coping mechanisms to combat unstable circumstances that include connecting with family and relatives, indulging in diverse activities, and getting academic support from faculty, senior students, and university administration. Students also recommended the need for arranging online mental health services, integrating e-learning mediums in existing academia, and constant efforts by the government to address electricity and internet connectivity issues to promote virtual learning.

CONCLUSION

University students have been struck hard due to rapid pandemic-related transitions in their life. The study finding served as the potential guide for educational institutions and government officials to employ appropriate psychological interventions and provide infrastructure and technical facilities to provide support with their academic journey and overcoming the ongoing pandemic repercussions.

Mean generation function model in AIDS epidemic estimation

Background

Since the first case of HIV infection was reported in China in 1985, the incidence and mortality of AIDS have been increasing rapidly, which has caused serious damage to the life and health of people in China and all over the world. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the technique for predicting AIDS morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this research is to explore the applicability of the mean generation function model (MGFM) in the early warning of AIDS morbidity and mortality, to predict its prevalence trend, to enrich the prediction techniques and methods of AIDS research and to provide suggestions for AIDS transmission control.

Methods

In this research, the MGFM was applied to predict the incidence and mortality of AIDS in China. AIDS incidence and mortality data in China from 2008 to 2019 were used to construct the prediction model.

Results

The MGFM can predict the annual incidence and mortality of AIDS. The model constructed in this research predicted that the incidence and mortality of AIDS in China will continue to increase from 2020 to 2023.

Conclusion

The mean birth function model was an effective method to monitor and predict the changing trend of AIDS incidence and mortality in China.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-022-01825-6.