Although stigma is considered a major barrier to effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, stigma reduction efforts are relegated to the bottom of AIDS program priorities. The complexity of HIV/AIDS related stigma is often cited as a primary reason for the limited response to this pervasive phenomenon. In this paper, we systematically review the scientific literature on HIV/AIDS related stigma to document the current state of research, identify gaps in the available evidence, and highlight promising strategies to address stigma. We focus on the following key challenges: defining, measuring, and reducing HIV/AIDS related stigma as well as assessing the impact of stigma on the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment programs. Based on the literature, we conclude by offering a set of recommendations that may represent important next steps in a multifaceted response to stigma in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Description After HIV diagnosis, timely entry into HIV medical care and retention in that care are essential to the provision of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART adherence is among the key determinants of successful HIV treatment outcome and is essential to minimize the emergence of drug resistance. The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care convened a panel to develop evidence-based recommendations to optimize entry into and retention in care and ART adherence for people with HIV. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted to produce an evidence base restricted to randomized, controlled trials and observational studies with comparators that had at least 1 measured biological or behavioral end point. A total of 325 studies met the criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted and coded data from each study using a standardized data extraction form. Panel members drafted recommendations based on the body of evidence for each method or intervention and then graded the overall quality of the body of evidence and the strength for each recommendation. Recommendations Recommendations are provided for monitoring of entry into and retention in care, interventions to improve entry and retention, and monitoring of and interventions to improve ART adherence. Recommendations cover ART strategies, adherence tools, education and counseling, and health system and service delivery interventions. In addition, they cover specific issues pertaining to pregnant women, incarcerated individuals, homeless and marginally housed individuals, and children and adolescents, as well as substance use and mental health disorders. Recommendations for future research in all areas are also provided.

Dementia is frequent after ischemic stroke, occurring in one-fourth of the elderly patients in the authors' cohort. The clinical determinants of dementia include the location and severity of the presenting stroke, vascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and prior stroke, and host characteristics such as older age, fewer years of education, and nonwhite race/ethnicity. The results also suggest that concomitant AD plays an etiologic role in approximately one-third of cases of dementia after stroke.

Among 251 patients examined 3 months after the onset of acute ischemic stroke, we diagnosed dementia in 66 (26.3%) by using modified DSM-III-R criteria based on neuropsychological, neurological, functional, and psychiatric examinations. We used a logistic regression model to derive odds ratios (ORs) for clinical factors independently related to dementia in this cross-sectional sample. Dementia was significantly associated with age, education, and race. A history of prior stroke (OR = 2.7) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.6) was also independently related to dementia, but hypertension and cardiac disease were not. Stroke features associated with dementia included lacunar infarction compared with all other subtypes combined (OR = 2.7) and hemispheric laterality in relation to brainstem or cerebellar location. There was a predominance of dementia in patients with left-sided lesions (OR = 4.7), an effect not explained by aphasia. Dementia was especially common with infarctions in the left posterior cerebral and anterior cerebral artery territories. A major dominant hemispheral syndrome (reflecting size and laterality) was also independently associated with dementia (OR = 3.9). We suggest that dementia after ischemic stroke is a result of multiple independent factors, including both small subcortical and large cortical infarcts especially involving the left medial frontal and temporal regions, with additional contributions by demographic and vascular risk factors.

The SMART Couples program significantly improved medication adherence over usual care, although the level of improved adherence, for many participants, was still suboptimal and the effect was attenuated over time.

This paper describes drug and sexual risk behaviors during a six-month period in 2001 of 2,916 gay and bisexual men who were recruited online. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined correlates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Drug and alcohol use were also examined by US region. UAI was associated with using alcohol or drugs, including poppers, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and Viagra before or during sex. Meeting sex partners both online and offline and having multiple sex partners were also predictive of UAI. Significant regional differences were seen in the prevalence of drug use and alcohol use. Findings are discussed in relation to the need to integrate messages about the relationship between drug use and sexual behavior into HIV prevention programs.

Adherence to HIV treatment, including adherence to antiretroviral (ART) medication regimens, is paramount in the management of HIV. Self-efficacy for treatment adherence has been identified as an important correlate of medication adherence in the treatment of HIV and other medical conditions. This paper describes the validation of the HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES) with two samples of HIV+ adults on ART. Factor analyses support subscales measuring Adherence Integration (eigenvalue=6.12) and Adherence Perseverance (eigenvalue=1.16), accounting for 61% of the variance in scale items. The HIV-ASES demonstrates robust internal consistency (rhos>.90) and 3-month (rs>.70) and 15-month (rs>.40) test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity analyses revealed relationships with psychosocial measures, ART adherence, clinical status, and healthcare utilization. Findings support the use of the HIV-ASES and provide guidance for further investigation of adherence self-efficacy in the context of treatment for HIV and other diseases.

This study examined the relationship between HIV serostatus disclosure and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study was conducted with 215 HIV-seropositive patients who demonstrated poor adherence (<80%) and who were in serodiscordant relationships. Participants completed self-report measures regarding HIV serostatus disclosure and reasons for missing ART doses, as well as electronic monitoring of ART adherence (MEMS caps). Overall, 19% of the sample reported missing medication doses in the last two months due to concerns regarding serostatus disclosure. Participants who reported greater serostatus disclosure to others demonstrated higher rates of adherence, and this relationship remained after controlling for other explanatory variables. The relationship between disclosure and adherence was not mediated by practical support for adherence from others. Interventions to improve ART adherence should address the role of serostatus disclosure by providing patients with skills to maintain adherence in contexts of non-disclosure and to make informed choices regarding selective disclosure.