No abstract

Background: The rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) appear to be increasing in HIV infected people as compared to non-HIV infected people and this will have major implications for clinical care. The aim of the current study was to profile selected cardiovascular disease risk factors among HIV patients on ART in Bushbuckridge sub-district. Methodology: The current study followed a quantitative cross-sectional study design using a questionnaire which was adapted from World Health Organization STEPwise approach to Surveillance (WHO STEPS). Participants were HIV infected people on ART and data was entered into a computer software Microsoft excel, then imported to Stata 12 for analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight at the initiation of ART amongst the participants was 18.1% and obesity was 11.5% as compared to the time of the study which was 21.4% overweight and 19.6% obese. The average time of ART initiation to study period was 3.6 years. The study findings revealed a significant difference (p-value 0.006) between the baseline and current body mass index at time of study for females. Hypertension was found to be having a significant difference (p-value 0.026 and 0.038) between the baseline and current body mass index at time of study for males and females respectively. The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 34.6%, overweight was 21.4% obesity was 19.6%. The overall prevalence of abnormal waist circumference was 31.9% and females had a higher prevalence of 42.5% as compared to 4.4% of males. The overall prevalence of smoking 10.8% and alcohol consumption was 21.7%. Males were 22.5 times more likely to be smokers than females (p<0.001) and older people were found to be 0.3 times less likely to consume alcohol as compared to young people. Conclusion: The high levels of selected risk factors for NCDs among adults on ART in the current study area suggest an urgent need for health interventions to control risk factors in an era of HIV with an aim of reducing multiple morbidity of chronic diseases. occurrence of NCDs and their risk factors with an aim to achieve positive effects of the long-term anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

Background: Prematurity and low birthweight (LBW) deliveries amongst pregnant women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain a challenge worldwide. The association between prematurity, LBW and antiretroviral therapy (ART) or prophylactic antiretroviral drug (ARV) exposure in pregnancy is unclear. This study evaluates the risk of delivering a premature and/or LBW infant among HIV-positive pregnant women on ART or prophylactic ARV.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted (April to October 2012). HIV-positive women on prophylactic ARV (dual therapy) or lifelong ART (triple therapy or HAART) were enrolled in the study. Women who did not have a documented HIV result during pregnancy, those tested before delivery and those found to be HIV-positive were considered as not exposed to ARV drugs during pregnancy. This group received a standard dose of nevirapine during labour. The control group was made up of HIV-negative women.Results: Of the 496 mothers enrolled in the study, 59% (288/496) were HIV-positive, of whom 72% (206/288) were on ART or prophylactic ARV. The mean age was 27.6 ± 6.5 years (15 to 47 years). The mean gestational age (GA) was 35.9 ± 3.6 weeks (24– 42 weeks). Infants’ birthweights ranged from 550 to 4 900 g (2.5 ± 0.9 kg). HIV-positive mothers not on ART or ARV prophylaxis were likely to deliver an infant at GA  28 weeks (p 0.05) or birthweight  1 000 g (p 0.05) compared with their counterparts. Conclusion: HIV-positive pregnant women not on ART or ARV prophylaxis were at a risk of delivering babies at GA  28 weeks or birthweight  1 000 g. There is a need to encourage early and regular attendance for antenatal care so that HIV-positive pregnant women can be identified and have access to treatment during pregnancy.

Background: The rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) appear to be increasing in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected people as compared to non-HIV infected people and this will have major implications for clinical care. The aim of the current study was to profile selected cardiovascular disease risk factors among HIV patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Bushbuckridge sub-district. Methodology: The current study followed a quantitative cross-sectional study design using a questionnaire which was adapted from World Health Organization STEPwise approach to Surveillance (WHO STEPS). Participants were HIV infected people on ART and data was entered into a computer software Microsoft excel, then imported to Stata 12 for analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight at the initiation of ART amongst the participants was 18.1% and obesity was 11.5% as compared to the time of the study which was 21.4% overweight and 19.6% obese. The average time of ART initiation to study period was 3.6 years. The study findings revealed a significant difference (p-value 0.006) between the baseline and current body mass index at time of study for females. Hypertension was found to be having a significant difference (p-value 0.026 and 0.038) between the baseline and current body mass index at time of study for males and females respectively. The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 34.6%, overweight was 21.4% obesity was 19.6%. The overall prevalence of abnormal waist circumference was 31.9% and females had a higher prevalence of 42.5% as compared to 4.4% of males. The overall prevalence of smoking 10.8% and alcohol consumption was 21.7%. Males were 22.5 times more likely to be smokers than females (p<0.001) and older people were found to be 0.3 times less likely to consume alcohol as compared to young people. Conclusion: High levels of selected risk factors for NCDs among adults on ART in the current study area suggest an urgent need for health interventions to control risk factors in an era of HIV with an aim of reducing multiple morbidity of chronic diseases. occurrence of NCDs and their risk factors with an aim to achieve positive effects of the long-term ART.