Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 22117 in total

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  1. Assessment of sarcopenia in virally suppressed HIV-infected Asians receiving treatment
    Abdul Aziz SA, Mcstea M, Ahmad Bashah NS, Chong ML, Ponnampalavanar S, Syed Omar SF, et al.
    AIDS, 2018 05 15;32(8):1025-1034.
    PMID: 29547442 DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001798
    OBJECTIVES: In a clinic-based, treated HIV-infected cohort, we identified individuals with sarcopenia and compared with age, sex and ethnically matched controls; and investigated associated risk factors and health outcomes.

    DESIGN: Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) causes significant morbidity to the elderly, leading to frequent hospitalizations, disability and death. Few have characterized sarcopenia in the HIV-infected who experience accelerated aging.

    METHODS: Sarcopenia was defined as low muscle mass with weak grip strength and/or slow gait speed using lower 20th percentiles of controls. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were used to explore risk factors and health-related outcomes associated with sarcopenia among HIV-infected individuals.

    RESULTS: We recruited 315 HIV-infected individuals aged at least 25 years with at least 1-year history of undetectable viral load on treatment (HIV RNA <50 copies/ml). Percentage of sarcopenia in 315 HIV-infected was 8%. Subsequently, 153 of the 315 were paired with age, sex and ethnically matched HIV-uninfected. The percentage of sarcopenia in the HIV-infected (n = 153) compared with uninfected (n = 153) were 10 vs. 6% (P = 0.193) respectively, whereas of those at least 50 years of age among them were 17% vs. 4% (P = 0.049), respectively. Associated risk factors among the HIV-infected include education level, employment status, BMI, baseline CD4 cell count, duration on NRTIs and GGT levels. Identified negative outcomes include mortality risk scores [5.42; 95% CI 1.46-9.37; P = 0.007) and functional disability (3.95; 95% CI 1.57-9.97; P = 0.004).

    CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is more prevalent in HIV-infected at least 50 years old compared with matched controls. Our findings highlight associations between sarcopenia with loss of independence and greater healthcare burden among treated HIV-infected individuals necessitating early recognition and intervention.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  2. Factors associated with unprotected receptive anal intercourse with internal ejaculation among men who have sex with men in a large Internet sample from Asia
    Lim SH, Guadamuz TE, Wei C, Chan R, Koe S
    AIDS Behav, 2012 Oct;16(7):1979-87.
    PMID: 22714116
    We examined socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in Asia and correlates of unprotected receptive intercourse with Internet ejaculation (URAIE). Asia Internet MSM Sex Survey, a behavioral survey of MSM in Asia was conducted from 1 January to 28 February 2010. Data analysis was limited to participants aged 18 or above, biological male, and had one regular or casual sex partner in the past 6 months (n = 10,413). Pearson's Chi-square test, t test and logistic regression were used to examine the correlates of URAIE in the past 6 months, the highest risk sexual behavior sampled. Of 7311 participants who had receptive anal intercourse, 47.5 % had URAIE, which was associated with the following attributes: less than high-school education and pre-college education compared to university (AOR = 1.53, 95 % CI: 1.28, 1.83; AOR = 1.22, CI: 1.08, 1.37), being in the heterosexual marriage (AOR = 1.35, CI: 1.18, 1.56), having regular partners or both regular and casual partners compared to having casual partners (AOR = 2.85, CI: 2.48, 3.27; AOR = 2.32, CI: 2.06, 2.62), HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative status (AOR = 1.39, 95 % CI: 1.08, 1.81), higher perception of HIV risk (AOR = 1.62, CI: 1.34, 1.95), use of recreational drug before sex (AOR = 1.30, CI: 1.14, 1.49), and use of the Internet as the main way to seek sex partners (AOR = 1.21, CI: 1.08, 1.36). MSM from certain Asian countries reported alarming rates of URAIE. The internet can be used as a platform for HIV surveillance and intervention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Male; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Fulltext Stigma toward men who have sex with men among future healthcare providers in Malaysia: would more interpersonal contact reduce prejudice?
    Earnshaw VA, Jin H, Wickersham JA, Kamarulzaman A, John J, Lim SH, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2016 Jan;20(1):98-106.
    PMID: 26324078 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1168-x
    Men who have sex with men (MSM) living in countries with strong stigma toward MSM are vulnerable to HIV and experience significant barriers to HIV care. Research is needed to inform interventions to reduce stigma toward MSM in these countries, particularly among healthcare providers. A cross-sectional survey of 1158 medical and dental students was conducted at seven Malaysian universities in 2012. Multivariate analyses of variance suggest that students who had interpersonal contact with MSM were less prejudiced toward and had lower intentions to discriminate against MSM. Path analyses with bootstrapping suggest stereotypes and fear mediate associations between contact with prejudice and discrimination. Intervention strategies to reduce MSM stigma among healthcare providers in Malaysia and other countries with strong stigma toward MSM may include facilitating opportunities for direct, in-person or indirect, media-based prosocial contact between medical and dental students with MSM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Male; Homosexuality, Male/psychology*
  4. Fulltext The Influence of Medication Attitudes on Utilization of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Indonesian Prisons
    Culbert GJ, Bazazi AR, Waluyo A, Murni A, Muchransyah AP, Iriyanti M, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2016 05;20(5):1026-38.
    PMID: 26400080 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1198-4
    Negative attitudes toward HIV medications may restrict utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Indonesian prisons where many people living with HIV (PLH) are diagnosed and first offered ART. This mixed-method study examines the influence of medication attitudes on ART utilization among HIV-infected Indonesian prisoners. Randomly-selected HIV-infected male prisoners (n = 102) completed face-to-face in-depth interviews and structured surveys assessing ART attitudes. Results show that although half of participants utilized ART, a quarter of those meeting ART eligibility guidelines did not. Participants not utilizing ART endorsed greater concerns about ART efficacy, safety, and adverse effects, and more certainty that ART should be deferred in PLH who feel healthy. In multivariate analyses, ART utilization was independently associated with more positive ART attitudes (AOR = 1.09, 95 % CI 1.03-1.16, p = 0.002) and higher internalized HIV stigma (AOR = 1.03, 95 % CI 1.00-1.07, p = 0.016). Social marketing of ART is needed to counteract negative ART attitudes that limit ART utilization among Indonesian prisoners.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  5. Fulltext Attitudes Toward Addiction, Methadone Treatment, and Recovery Among HIV-Infected Ukrainian Prisoners Who Inject Drugs: Incarceration Effects and Exploration of Mediators
    Polonsky M, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Izenberg J, Kiriazova T, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2016 12;20(12):2950-2960.
    PMID: 27011378
    In this study, we use data from a survey conducted in Ukraine among 196 HIV-infected people who inject drugs, to explore attitudes toward drug addiction and methadone maintenance therapy (MMT), and intentions to change drug use during incarceration and after release from prison. Two groups were recruited: Group 1 (n = 99) was currently incarcerated and Group 2 (n = 97) had been recently released from prison. This paper's key finding is that MMT treatment and addiction recovery were predominantly viewed as mutually exclusive processes. Group comparisons showed that participants in Group 1 (pre-release) exhibited higher optimism about changing their drug use, were less likely to endorse methadone, and reported higher intention to recover from their addiction. Group 2 participants (post-release), however, reported higher rates of HIV stigma. Structural equation modeling revealed that in both groups, optimism about recovery and awareness of addiction mediated the effect of drug addiction severity on intentions to recover from their addiction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  6. Fulltext Evaluating Physicians' Intention to Discriminate Against Patients Living with HIV in Malaysia
    Tee YC, Earnshaw VA, Altice FL, Jin H, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA
    AIDS Behav, 2019 Apr;23(4):1039-1047.
    PMID: 30560483 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2362-4
    People with HIV (PWH) in Malaysia experience high levels of stigma, which may act as a barrier to accessing healthcare. Stigma against PWH in medical settings is understudied in Malaysia. In the present study, we examine factors associated with physicians' intention to discriminate against PWH in Malaysia. A cross-sectional online survey was emailed to all 1431 physicians at two major university hospitals in Malaysia; 568 (39.6%) participants completed the survey and were included in this analysis. Measures included intention to discriminate against PWH, stigma-related constructs, and socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify factors associated with intention to discriminate against PWH. Participants were comprised of women (53.5%), Malays (43.1%), and Chinese (35.0%) with nearly 10 years of clinical experience. Most participants were from non-surgical specialties (77.6%). The final multivariate linear regression showed that physicians who expressed greater discriminatory intent against PWH also expressed more negative feelings toward PWH, more HIV-related shame, were more fearful of HIV, and believed that PWH do not deserve good care. Physicians from surgical-based specialties were also significantly more likely to endorse discriminatory intent toward PWH. Stigma and intentions to discriminate against a class of patients, including PWH, can undermine engagement in care, which is central to international HIV prevention and treatment strategies. Interventions that reduce stigma toward PWH among physicians are crucial to ensuring equitable and stigma-free healthcare.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  7. Fulltext Utility of Using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a Screening Tool for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) In Multi-Ethnic Malaysia
    Mukherjee T, Sakthivel R, Fong HY, McStea M, Chong ML, Omar SF, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2018 Oct;22(10):3226-3233.
    PMID: 29508103 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2073-x
    This study determines the optimal cut-off scores for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to detect HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in a multi-ethnic Malaysian HIV-positive cohort by developing demographically corrected normative standards among 283 HIV-negative community-based controls with overlapping demographic characteristics. The norms (corrected for age, sex, education, ethnicity) were applied to 342 HIV-positive virally suppressed individuals on cART. Impairment rates were classified using the Global Deficit Score (GDS ≥ .5) method. The MoCA was also scored according to the recommended cut-off of ≤ 26, and functional decline was applied to both impairment definitions to classify HAND per the Frascati criteria. The ≤ 26 cut-off considerably overestimated cognitive impairment in both samples (59.4% HIV-negative; 69.3% HIV-positive). In contrast, corrected scores yielded impairment rates consistent with what has been reported internationally in virally suppressed cohorts (23.4% with 83.3% mild impairment, 16.7% moderate impairment). A supplemental file allowing the computation of corrected MoCA scores and impairment status is included.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  8. Fulltext The Influence of Neurocognitive Impairment, Depression, and Alcohol Use Disorders on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated, HIV-Infected, Opioid Dependent Malaysian Men: A Moderated Mediation Analysis
    Shrestha R, Weikum D, Copenhaver M, Altice FL
    AIDS Behav, 2017 Apr;21(4):1070-1081.
    PMID: 27544515 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1526-3
    Prior research has widely recognized neurocognitive impairment (NCI), depression, and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) as important negative predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV (PLWH). No studies to date, however, have explored how these neuropsychological factors operate together and affect HRQoL. Incarcerated male PLWH (N = 301) meeting criteria for opioid dependence were recruited from Malaysia's largest prison. Standardized scales for NCI, depression, alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and HRQoL were used to conduct a moderated mediation model to explore the extent to which depression mediated the relationship between NCI, HRQoL, and AUDs using an ordinary least squares regression-based path analytic framework. Results showed that increasing levels of NCI (B = -0.1773, p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Male
  9. Fulltext A Moderated Mediation Model of HIV-Related Stigma, Depression, and Social Support on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated Malaysian Men with HIV and Opioid Dependence
    Shrestha R, Copenhaver M, Bazazi AR, Huedo-Medina TB, Krishnan A, Altice FL
    AIDS Behav, 2017 Apr;21(4):1059-1069.
    PMID: 28108877 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1693-x
    Although it is well established that HIV-related stigma, depression, and lack of social support are negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV (PLH), no studies to date have examined how these psychosocial factors interact with each other and affect HRQoL among incarcerated PLH. We, therefore, incorporated a moderated mediation model (MMM) to explore whether depression mediates the effect of HIV-related stigma on HRQoL as a function of the underlying level of social support. Incarcerated HIV-infected men with opioid dependence (N = 301) were recruited from the HIV units in Kajang prison in Malaysia. Participants completed surveys assessing demographic characteristics, HIV-related stigma, depression, social support, and HRQoL. Results showed that the effect of HIV-related stigma on HRQoL was mediated via depression (a1:β = 0.1463, p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Male
  10. Fulltext Gender Differences in HIV Risk Behaviors Among Persons Involved in the U.S. Criminal Justice System and Living with HIV or at Risk for HIV: A "Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain" Harmonization Consortium
    Loeliger KB, Biggs ML, Young R, Seal DW, Beckwith CG, Kuo I, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2017 Oct;21(10):2945-2957.
    PMID: 28188460 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1722-9
    The U.S. female criminal justice (CJ) population is rapidly growing, yet large-scale studies exploring gender-specific HIV risk behaviors in the CJ population are lacking. This analysis uses baseline data on adults with a CJ history from eight U.S. studies in an NIH-funded "Seek, Test, Treat, Retain" harmonization consortium. Data were collected using a standardized HIV risk behavior assessment tool and pooled across studies to describe participants' characteristics and risk behaviors. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to test for gender-based behavior differences. Among 784 HIV-positive (21.4% female) and 5521 HIV-negative (8.5% female) participants, HIV-positive women had higher odds than HIV-positive men of engaging in condomless sexual intercourse (AOR 1.84 [1.16-2.95]) with potentially sero-discordant partners (AOR 2.40 [1.41-4.09]) and of sharing injection equipment (AOR 3.36 [1.31-8.63]). HIV risk reduction interventions targeting CJ-involved women with HIV are urgently needed as this population may represent an under-recognized potential source of HIV transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  11. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Incarcerated Persons with HIV: Associations with Methadone and Perceived Safety
    Culbert GJ, Waluyo A, Wang M, Putri TA, Bazazi AR, Altice FL
    AIDS Behav, 2019 Aug;23(8):2048-2058.
    PMID: 30465106 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2344-6
    With adequate support, people with HIV (PWH) may achieve high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) during incarceration. We examined factors associated with ART utilization and adherence among incarcerated PWH (N = 150) in Indonesia. ART utilization was positively associated with HIV status disclosure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.5, 95% CI 1.2-24.1, p = 0.023), drug dependency (aOR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.2-12.6, p = 0.022), health service satisfaction (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.2, p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Male
  12. Fulltext Prevalence and Risks of Depression and Substance Use Among Adults Living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific Region
    Ross JL, Jiamsakul A, Avihingsanon A, Lee MP, Ditangco R, Choi JY, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2022 Dec;26(12):3862-3877.
    PMID: 35668223 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03714-5
    Despite the mental health and substance use burden among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Asia-Pacific, data on their associations with HIV clinical outcomes are limited. This cross-sectional study of PLHIV at five sites assessed depression and substance use using PHQ-9 and ASSIST. Among 864 participants, 88% were male, median age was 39 years, 97% were on ART, 67% had an HIV viral load available and male, previous stressors, and suboptimal adherence. Our findings highlight the need for improved access to mental health and substance use services in HIV clinical settings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  13. HIV-related characteristics among female partners of injecting drug users in Kelantan, Malaysia: a descriptive study
    Mohd Nasarruddin A, Wan Mohammad WM, Nik Hussain NH, Ali SH, Zubir HM
    AIDS Care, 2015;27(3):301-6.
    PMID: 25471247 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2014.985182
    Kelantan, a northeastern state in Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the states that has been acutely hit by injecting drug user (IDU)-driven HIV epidemic, in addition to having a high number of infected women in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study describes the socio-demographic characteristics, HIV risk factors, risk perception, and adoption of preventive behaviors among female partners of IDUs in Kelantan. Out of 101 women, the majority of them are from low socioeconomic background and have no other risk factors besides heterosexual HIV transmission from their male IDU partners. Although 45.5% have not been tested for HIV and more than half (53.5%) of them did not use condoms during sexual intercourse, only 44.6% of the women perceived themselves to be at risk of being infected with HIV. Most of the women (86.1%) were willing to undergo voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Female partners of IDUs continue to be vulnerable to HIV due to having sexual contact with IDUs, and also due to their socioeconomic position in the community. To prevent HIV transmission among female partners of IDUs, consolidating HIV prevention efforts from multiple approaches is needed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  14. Responsibility attribution of HIV infection and coping among injection drug users in Malaysia
    Chou CC, Chronister J, Chou CH, Tan S, Macewicz T
    AIDS Care, 2013;25(12):1551-8.
    PMID: 23713718 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2013.793267
    This study explored responsibility attribution (RA) of HIV/AIDS infection (i.e., how an individual perceives the cause of their HIV/AIDS infection) and its relationship to coping styles among injection drug users (IDUs) with HIV/AIDS. In addition, this study investigated whether self-esteem, social support, and religiosity mediate the relationship between RA and coping styles of IDUs with HIV/AIDS. Participants were 201 adult IDUs with HIV/AIDS participating in the National Drug Rehabilitation Center in Malaysia. Five measures were used to assess the above constructs. Cluster analysis, analysis of variance, and mediation analyses were conducted. Results of this study indicated that IDUs with HIV/AIDS in Malaysia can be classified into four homogenous attribution groups: external, fatalistic, internal, and indeterminate. Mediator analyses revealed that combination of self-esteem, social support, and religiosity mediate the relationship between RA and coping behaviors. Clinicians working with IDUs with HIV/AIDS need to address the role of RA, self-esteem, religiosity, and social support as these psychosocial constructs are linked to coping with HIV/AIDS. Future researchers should investigate whether enhancing self-esteem, social support, and religiosity can promote active problem-solving coping and reduce the use of avoidance coping behaviors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  15. The relative risk of HIV among IDUs not in treatment in Malaysia
    Vicknasingam B, Narayanan S, Navaratnam V
    AIDS Care, 2009 Aug;21(8):984-91.
    PMID: 20024754 DOI: 10.1080/09540120802657530
    Despite the growing HIV threat among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Malaysia, there is a dearth of information on their HIV risk behaviour. This study focused on identifying specific risk behaviours that distinguished HIV positive IDUs from those who were not. For the first time, data on IDUs not in treatment were obtained through a cross-sectional survey of 526 subjects recruited from five selected cities across peninsular Malaysia. A structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were utilised to collect detailed information on their drug use practices and sexual behaviours. On-site serological testing determined their HIV and hepatitis C status. The findings indicated that ethnic Malays, who are also Muslims, form the majority of IDUs not in treatment. Bivariate analysis identified six risk factors associated with HIV seropositivity: being 44 years or younger; not holding a regular job; initiating drug use at age 23 or younger; being a morphine user; sharing injecting equipment and having multiple-sex partners. However, only the last two remained significant in multivariate analysis. That sharing contaminated injecting equipment is a significant risk factor strongly justifies the widening of the pilot needle and syringe exchange programme initiated hesitantly in late 2005 as a reaction to the worsening HIV/AIDS situation. Condom use, though not independently significant, remains important because consistent and wider use could neutralise the second risk factor--having multiple-sex partners. The finding that injecting drug use is increasingly occurring in groups underscores the need for outreach programmes that emphasise safe injecting practices in group settings. In addition, counsellors should endeavour to convince drug users to enter treatment since being in treatment appears to reduce risk behaviours. Finally, conservative Muslim unease about harm reduction must be assuaged quickly since Malay Muslims form the majority of IDUs not in treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  16. Validity and reliability of the Malay version of WHOQOL-HIV BREF in patients with HIV infection
    Saddki N, Noor MM, Norbanee TH, Rusli MA, Norzila Z, Zaharah S, et al.
    AIDS Care, 2009 Oct;21(10):1271-8.
    PMID: 20024703 DOI: 10.1080/09540120902803216
    This study determines the validity and reliability of the Malay version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) assessment instrument in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A cross-sectional study on 157 patients with HIV seen at the Infectious Disease Unit, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu, Kelantan was conducted. Factor analysis identified five major domains: physical needs, spirituality, social relationship, psychological, and environment. Significant correlation was found between each domain scores and the general health questions. The instrument was able to discriminate between asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV positive patients for all domain scores except for the spirituality domain. The internal consistency of the five domains ranged from 0.70 to 0.83. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.60 to 0.87 across all domains. In conclusion, the Malay version of WHOQOL-HIV BREF is a valid and reliable instrument in assessing quality of life in HIV positive patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  17. Fulltext Multi-ethnic perspective of uptake of HIV testing and HIV-related stigma: a cross-sectional population-based study
    Wong LP
    AIDS Care, 2013;25(11):1356-69.
    PMID: 23406514 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2013.766302
    The objective of this study was to identify demographic characteristics and correlates of the uptake of HIV testing, willingness to be tested and perceived HIV-related stigma of Malaysian lay public. A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interview survey of a representative sample of multiracial Malaysians aged 18 years and above was conducted between December and July 2011. The survey collected information on demographics, knowledge about HIV transmission and religious beliefs on attitudes to HIV/AIDS. A total of 2271 households were successfully interviewed. The response rate was 48.65%. The HIV transmission knowledge score ranged from 0 to 15 (mean =10.56; SD±2.42). Three of the most common misconceptions about HIV transmission were mosquito bite (42.8%), eating in a restaurant where the cook is HIV positive (20.4%) and using a public toilet (20.1%). Only 20.6% reported ever having been tested for HIV, 49.1% reported a willingness to be tested for HIV and 30.3% had no intention of getting an HIV test. Low-risk perception (63.7%) constitutes a major barrier to HIV testing. Being Malay and Chinese (relative to Indian) were the strongest predictors of low-risk perception. Other significant predictors of low-risk perception were being male, being married and living in an urban locality. Perceived self-stigma if tested positive for HIV was prevalent (78.8%). Multivariate findings showed that being female, Malay, low income, living in rural localities and public stigma were significant correlates of self-stigma. These findings warrant interventions to reduce the disproportionate HIV transmission misconception, barriers to HIV testing and stigma and discriminative attitudes to involve considerations of sociocultural economic and demographic characteristics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  18. HIV infection among injecting drug users in north-east Malaysia, 1992
    Singh S, Crofts N
    AIDS Care, 1993;5(3):273-81.
    PMID: 8218462 DOI: 10.1080/09540129308258610
    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has spread widely among injecting drug users (IDUs) in countries to the north and west of the 'Golden Triangle' region of South-East Asia; it is likely to have spread southwards to Malaysia as well. In order to assess HIV seroprevalence among IDUs in north-east Malaysia and describe risk factors for HIV infection in this population, we performed a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study among 210 IDUs recruited at the detoxification ward of the General Hospital in the capital city of the north-eastern Malaysian state, Kelantan. Subjects were sequential entrants to the detoxification ward, interviewed about HIV risk behaviour, and tested for antibody to HIV and to syphilis. Nearly a third (62/210, 30%) of these IDUs were HIV seropositive. Three-quarters (159/210) had travelled to Thailand in the preceding 5 years, of whom 32% (51/159) were HIV seropositive; this was associated with injecting in Thailand, but not with sexual contact there. Of those who had not left Malaysia in the preceding 5 years, 26% (11/43) were HIV seropositive, a rate not significantly different from those who had travelled. Travel within Malaysia was common (144/210, 69%) among IDUs interviewed, as was unsafe injecting and unsafe sexual behaviour (20% had shared injecting equipment and 21% had had unprotected intercourse) in other states. In every locale, rates of unsafe injecting behaviour were high (55% sharing in last month), even among those who knew they were HIV infected, and rates of condom usage were low (93% of 160 sexually active IDUs had never used a condom). Syphilis was not associated with HIV infection, but with contact with Thai prostitutes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Matched MeSH terms: Male
  19. Asia. Vancouver Conference Review
    Brown T
    AIDS Care, 1997 Feb;9(1):43-9.
    PMID: 9155914
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male
  20. Fulltext An assessment of health-care students' attitudes toward patients with or at high risk for HIV: implications for education and cultural competency
    Jin H, Earnshaw VA, Wickersham JA, Kamarulzaman A, Desai MM, John J, et al.
    AIDS Care, 2014;26(10):1223-8.
    PMID: 24625279 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2014.894616
    Stigma perpetuated by health-care providers has been found to be a barrier to care for vulnerable populations, including HIV-infected, people who inject drugs (PWIDs), and men who have sex with men (MSM) in multiple clinical contexts and remains unexamined among professional health-care students in Malaysia. This cross-sectional, anonymous, and Internet-based survey assessed the attitudes of medical and dental students toward HIV-infected, PWID, and MSM patients. Survey invitation was emailed to 3191 students at 8 professional schools; 1296 (40.6%) responded and scored their attitudes toward these patient groups using a feeling thermometer, indicating their attitudes on a sliding scale from 0 (most negative) to 100 (most positive). Compared to general patients (mean = 76.50), the mean scores for HIV-infected (mean = 54.04; p < 0.001), PWID (mean = 37.50; p < 0.001), and MSM (mean = 32.13; p < 0.001) patients were significantly lower and significantly different between each group comparison. Within group differences, most notably religion, ethnicity, and personally knowing someone from these populations were associated with significant differences in attitudes. No differences were noted between pre-clinical and clinical year of training. Health-care students represent the next generation of clinicians who will be responsible for future HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Our findings suggest alarmingly negative attitudes toward these patients, especially MSM, necessitating prompt and effective interventions designed to ameliorate the negative attitudes of health-care students toward vulnerable populations, specifically HIV-infected, PWID, and MSM patients in Malaysia.
    Site site: online surveys at seven universities: University of Malaya, National University of Malaysia, International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Penang International Dental College, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia, and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female; Male; Homosexuality, Male/psychology*
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