Dec.1 is #WorldAIDSDay - HIV/AIDS-related stigma and HIV test uptake in Ghana: evidence from the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey

Dec.1 is World AIDS Day. This blog post will be highlighting a recent article on Bioline from African Population Studies called "HIV/AIDS-related stigma and HIV test uptake in Ghana: evidence from the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey" by Novignon et al. in African Population Studies vol.28 no.3.

The researchers note that the effectiveness of the Ghana AIDS commission (GAC)'s testing and counselling policies could be hindered due to stigma, but since the GAC was created in 2001, HIV/AIDS in Ghana has is on a downward trend. For example, the percentage of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2003 was 3.6 per cent, and in 2005 it dropped to 2.7 per cent.

This study aims to uncover the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and whether this stigma affects HIV testing, and whether testing is affected by socio-economics such as education level, sexual behaviour and wealth status.

For this study, data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey was used. The survey is part of population and health surveys done in Ghana in part of a global demographic survey program. Ghana Statistical Service and Ghana Health Service collaborated to administer the survey.

6141 households were surveyed. Participants were men between the ages of 15 and 59 and women between the ages of 15 and 49. The final sample included 1635 men and 1676 women who were sexually active in the past 12 months.

The results indicated that over 69 per cent of women and almost 77 per cent of men knew what HIV/AIDS was and where to get tested. However, only 26.2 per cent of women and 16.8 per cent of men had ever been tested. 

The results also indicated that the majority of survey participants (74.2 per cent of women and 80.3 per cent of men) were willing to care for a relative with HIV/AIDS, but 59.7 per cent of men and 73.1 per cent of women would stop buying from a vendor if they found out the vendor had HIV/AIDS.

Some of the other findings in this study were that the majority of respondents who said they would not care for a relative living with HIV/AIDS had also never been tested for HIV/AIDS themselves. Both men and women participants who had no formal education were less likely to get testing for HIV/AIDS.

The study concludes that despite knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Ghana, testing for the disease is low. Although it is important that people are made aware of the disease, further knowledge and education must be provided in the treatment, prevention and transmission. Accessibility and affordability is needed. Community engagement through campaigns and free counselling is also recommended.

WHO says ageing policies needed globally - How is the 2002 WHO active ageing framework applicable to Zambia? - African Population Studies Vol.28 No.3

A recent news release from the World Health Organization that came out on Nov.6 says that there is a need for effective strategies to combat chronic illnesses associated with aging, as there is an "ageing world population."

According to WHO, policies are needed globally, not just for developing countries. One of the recent issues from African Population Studies looks at a policy framework on aging published by WHO in April 2002. This is discussed in the article "Determinants of active ageing in Zambia" by Christopher Chabila Mapoma in vol.28 no.3. The study addresses the need to see if this type of policy framework works in developing countries, specifically Zambia. Its aim is to find out which determinants of the active ageing framework apply not only to Zambia, but the continent of Africa as a whole. The study also examines how HIV/AIDS affects active aging. Active aging is defined by WHO as "the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age." Mapoma mentions that little research has been done on the importance and contribution of the "active ageing" concept in Africa.

For this study, researchers surveyed participants ages 60 years and older in four seniors homes in the Matero, Kandiana, Maramba, Mitanda and Chibolya neighbourhoods of the Lusaka, Sesheke, Livinstone, Ndola and Mufulira districts. 41.2 per cent of the participants were men, and 58.8 percent were females. The survey asked questions pertaining to socioeconomics, HIV/AIDS, and behavioural and health/functional indicators of active aging. The responses to the questions of Behavioural and Personal determinants were measured using indicators such as feeling hopeless, useless, unhappy or lonely. Health and functional determinants were measured using indicators toward yes or no questions of being able to squat, ability to walk freely, and ability to clean their own house. Economic determinants were measured using indicators toward questions such as: have you worked in the past 12 months, having opportunities for work, and having a steady flow of income.

In this study, Mapoma found that there were more respondents from urban areas rather than rural areas. 15.8 percent were found to have received higher education, 32 percent were reported to have never attended school, and 52 percent had received primary education. HIV/AIDS was included as a determinant of active aging specifically for Zambia among other factors such as gender, residence, health and physical environment because of the effects of taking care of children who had lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. When comparing residents who live in urban areas to residents who live in rural areas, Mapoma found that residents in urban areas participated in community activities more, are more self-fulfilled and more independent. Monthly income was also linked on a respondent's ability to participate and their independence. HIV/AIDS was also found to affect participation.

The study concluded that HIV/AIDS has a long-term effect on active aging, "feeling hopeless/useless" was a personal/behavioural factor in active aging. The study also indicated that having friends and socializing contributed to the probability of aging actively. The study further concluded that the 2002 WHO Active Ageing Framework is applicable to Zambia but only to a certain extent, as it overlooks HIV/AIDS, which is a factor that greatly affects the country.

Patients who received analgesics intravenously were reported to have better post-operative pain management - Tanzania Journal of Health Research Vol.16 No.1

Vol.16 no.1 of the Tanzania Journal of Health Research is being featured on the blog today. 

This issue includes "Postoperative pain management outcomes among adults treated at a tertiary hospital in Moshi, Tanzania" by Masigati et al. This study examines the challenges and effects of post-operative pain when left untreated in patients at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania from August 2011 to March 2012. Pain and satisfaction numerical rating scales were used to assess the satisfaction and post-operative pain of patients. These assessments occurred 24 hours and 48 hours after operation on 124 patients. Over 45% of patients reported to have experienced pain when resting, and 44% experienced pain during movement. Patients who received analgesics intravenously were reported to have better post-operative pain management than patients who received intramuscular analgesics.

This issue also includes "Knowledge and perception on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania: Multinomial logistic regression analysis of secondary data" by Ismail & Josephat. Tuberculosis is an ongoing health concern in Tanzania and was declared a national public health emergency in 2006. Multinominal Logistic Regression analysis was used to measure the effect of knowledge of TB. Data from the 2007-2008 Tanzania HIV/AIDS national survey and the Malaria Indicator Survey. The results indicated that the higher the age and education, the higher knowledge of TB. The results also indicated that people in urban areas had higher TB knowledge than people in rural areas. People who owned a radio or telephone had greater knowledge than those who did not. The study concluded that socio-economic factors such as age, education and place of residence, as well as owning a telephone or radio, systematically affected knowledge of tuberculosis transmission.

For these articles and others from this issue, click here.