Decision support for AIDS control programmes in Eastern Africa

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) constitutes the worst hazard to health care systems in Eastern Africa. Misallocation of scarce resources of AIDS Control Programmes will unavoidably lead to additional infections and casualties. The following paper discusses a system dynamics model which allows to assess the impact of different interventions on a pattern population in Eastern Africa. It becomes obvious that short- and long-term consequences of these programmes differ significantly. The optimal allocation of resources, therefore, is highly complex and calls for decision support systems to sustain AIDS control programmes.     

Perceived employment barriers and their relation to workforce-entry intent among people with HIV/AIDS.

As treatments have improved health and quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS, many have contemplated workforce reentry. Workforce reentry rarely occurs among people with illness-related disability. The authors mailed a survey that included workforce-entry-related concerns to 1,991 HIV/AIDS clients. Factor analysis extracted 6 areas of concern (benefits loss, work-related health, job skills, discrimination, personal health care, workplace accommodation). Levels of concern generally increased with HIV acuity level and time since last worked. Work-related health concerns predicted consideration of workforce entry, and work-related health concerns and benefits-loss concerns predicted estimated time to return to work. Findings provide quantitative validation of intuitive categories of workforce-entry concerns among people with HIV/AIDS and suggest that concerns may shift with progress toward workforce entry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

基于随机模型的艾滋病预防与控制策略研究

建立了艾滋病传播过程中感染者人数占总人口比例所满足的随机模型,分析了环境因素对艾滋病传播过程的影响,利用数值解方法对模型进行分析,结合我国数十年间艾滋病病毒感染者实际数据进行仿真,验证模型的有效性;并对未来我国艾滋病病毒感染者人数占总人口比例进行预测,通过对其中的传染率控制指标β进行分析,得出这一指标的波动对艾滋病流行趋势的影响.通过分析其均值与方差,提出对β的调整策略以达到一定的控制目标,从而为艾滋病的预防和控制提供一定程度上的决策支持.     

Characterizing and improving HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients.

The present study was an experimental test of efficacy of a brief education intervention for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. Participants were randomly assigned to an HIV/AIDS education intervention (experimental condition) or a sham intervention (control condition). Control participants were subsequently crossed over to the HIV/AIDS education intervention. Experimental participants had higher scores on tests of HIV/AIDS knowledge after receiving the education intervention than did control participants. Further supporting the intervention's efficacy, control participant scores also increased once participants were crossed over and received the education intervention. Scores at follow-up were lower than at postintervention but remained higher than baseline scores. Results support the intervention's efficacy for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. This intervention is brief, inexpensive, and easily implemented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual-based multi-objective optimal structured treatment interruption for HIV infection

In this paper, based on the measurable quantities from an individual patient that has infection to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and his/her condition is near to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), individual-based multi-objective optimal treatments have been proposed. Firstly, the most effective parameters of the patient in computing Long-term non-progressor (LTNP) equilibrium are derived using global sensitivity analysis (GSA). To accomplish GSA effectively, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) and partial rank correlation coefficients (PRCC) are utilized to rank each of the parameters based on each state of the 5-dimensional model. Then, these results are used by Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory (DSET) to rank the most effective parameters comprehensively. Now, these effective identified parameters are estimated using extended Kalman filter (EKF), which its covariance matrices are optimized based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Thus, the proposed methodology gives a calibrated model corresponding to the individual patient. Based on this calibrated model, the LTNP equilibrium related to the individual patient is derived. Using the derived individual-based LTNP equilibrium optimal structured treatment interruption (STI) strategies are extracted by defining suitable multi-objective optimization problem and solving it through using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The results demonstrate that the proposed optimal treatments are able to effectively reach LTNP equilibrium with using the minimum and maximum drug usage of 3.6% and 35.1% of full drug usage treatment. Meanwhile, the different optimal treatments give the decision-makers enough flexibility to choose the suitable treatment based on existing facilities and necessities.     

Condom use by South African construction workers

Consistent and proper condom use is pivotal in preventing HIV infection. HIV prevalence in South Africa is among the highest in the world, with the construction industry especially affected, yet little is known about condom use by construction workers and the determinants thereof. Data were gathered from 512 site-based workers in the Western Cape. A theoretical model explaining condom use as a function of demographic factors, HIV knowledge, substance usage and risky sexual behaviour (excluding condom use) was proposed and tested using regression and structural equations modelling. The findings indicated that age, gender and level of education were indirect determinants of condom use, with higher levels of education predicting better AIDS-related knowledge. Higher levels of risky sexual behaviour were associated with more frequent use of condoms, suggesting greater awareness of risk. Condom use was adversely affected by greater alcohol and drug use, probably as a result of diminished capacity to assess risk. Finally, lower and not higher levels of AIDS-related knowledge were associated with better condom use, suggesting that improved knowledge of HIV transmission may work contrary to safe sex practice if it lulls the person into a false sense of confidence. Recommendations for targeted workplace interventions are proposed.     

循证护理在预防7例AIDS患者髋关节置换术后并发症中的应用

通过7例AIDS患者实施全髋关节置换术的循证护理预防术后并发症,分析探讨了深静脉血栓、术后切口感染、机会性感染、假体脱位4种需要重点预防的THA术后并发症注意事项,结合相关知识和经验,制定详细护理计划和措施,取得较好护理结果。     

Existentially informed HIV-related psychotherapy.

This article describes an existentially informed approach to conducting psychotherapy with individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Uses of existential concepts to guide a holistic conceptualization of the individual and illuminate core existential concerns and dilemmas in confronting HIV-related challenges are delineated. Applications of existential ideas regarding psychotherapy process and technique in HIV-related psychotherapy also are illustrated. It is concluded that existential psychotherapy offers a conceptual framework that is especially well suited to the work of psychotherapy with individuals living with HIV disease, although the approach has received only limited attention in the HIV-related psychotherapy literature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of HIV/AIDS policies and treatment programmes by Western Cape construction firms

The HIV/AIDS pandemic poses a substantial long‐term threat to economic development in South Africa. A questionnaire survey explored the perceptions of a sample of construction firms in the Western Cape regarding HIV/AIDS policy and treatment programmes. The findings show that there is no universal view about the long‐term threat of HIV/AIDS. Most organizations have awareness policies in place but prevention and treatment policies are less common. Treatment programmes are the least implemented of all intervention services due to insufficient resource capacity, the potential stigmatization of infected persons, and low take‐up rates. Despite an acknowledgement of the benefits flowing from mounting treatment programmes, doubt exists as to their financial viability.     

艾滋病PA检测图像的处理与分析

针对目前普遍使用的艾滋病PA检测法的结果判定问题,提出一种用于艾滋病PA检测的图像处理方法.在对PA检测图像进行去噪、去背景处理后,利用最大类间方差法对图像进行分割,得到面积、周长、质心等参数,进而给出艾滋病诊断结果.该方法可减少人眼误判,提高艾滋病诊断的正确率,同时也适用于其他疾病PA检测的图像分析.