January 2023

Changes in marijuana use and associated attitudes and health behaviors among patients in HIV care in the U.S. in the post-legalization era: a qualitative study

We sought to understand the impact that state-level marijuana policy changes had on marijuana use behaviors among people with HIV (PWH), including patterns of use (e.g., frequency, modality), access, goals for use, use of other substances, and perceived health effects. We conducted 1:1 interviews at 3 U.S. HIV clinics with PWH aged ≥18 reporting weekly or more marijuana use; 2 clinics were in states that legalized...

Author(s): Rob Fredericksen, Emma Fitzsimmons, Maksim Sigal, Sarah Dougherty, John Pearce, Minh Powell, John Nguyen, Stephanie Ruderman, Bridget Whitney, Lydia Drumright, Jimmy Ma, Robin Nance, Sarah Mixson, Joseph Delaney, Kenneth Mayer, Amanda Willig, Heidi Crane and Andrew Hahn  

February 2023

AIDS health campaign impacts varies with sexual healthy practices and literacy aptitude

Health communication campaigns along with the targeted social health indicator such as the at-risk group can make an impactful difference in preventive care and chronic disease health maintenance. The logistic regression technique is employed to examine if Rwanda’s health media campaign impacted household health behavior and whether this impact was influenced by literacy aptitude and current sexual health...

Author(s): Ibrahima Coulibaly and Jebaraj Asirvatham  

February 2023

Utility of the international HIV dementia scale in the assessment of neurocognitive impairment amongst HIV patients in a Southeast Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A comparative study

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a neurotropic virus that is associated with cognitive, behavioral and motor deficits known as HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). This was a prospective study aimed at determining the prevalence of cognitive impairment as well as comparing the performance of the HIV positive patients on a screening test, the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), and subtests drawn...

Author(s): Ebeogu Olisaeloka, Nwani Paul, Anaje Obiora, Morah Nnamdi, Edeh Godwin, Ogbuagu Chukwuanugo, and Asomugha Lasbery  

June 2023

Medication adherence and social support in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in Kogi State, Nigeria

Human immunodeficiency syndrome ranks among the global worrisome health indices. This study was aimed at determining the effect of social support on medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS attending the general out-patient clinic of Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH), Kogi State. A 20-item perceived social support-family scale (PSS-Fa) was used to assess patient’s levels of perceived social...

Author(s): Ibrahim Abayomi Yekini, Akawa Ayodeji Benjamin, Fashuba Ilesanmi Kayode and Adu Isaac Adekola

June 2023

Effect of text-messaging on treatment adherence practices among young people living with HIV in Niger State, Nigeria

Recent studies reveal that Youths living with HIV (YLHIV) enrolled in HIV treatment experience a higher rate of interruption in treatment, sub-optimal medication adherence, and greater HIV-related mortality compared with other age groups. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of text messaging on medication adherence and antiretroviral-therapy (ART) retention practices among YLHIV in Niger state, Nigeria. The...

Author(s): Olugbenga Asaolu, Gbadegesin O. Alawode, Saratu Ajike, Ololade O. Ogunsami, Segun E. Ibitoye, Mustapha Bello, John O. Ibitoye, Adebusola Oyeyemi, Adeniyi Adeniran, Chisom Emeka, Oluwagbemiga Obembe, Oladimeji Folorunsho-Ako, Olutayo Asaolu, Adaeze Ugwu, Titus Ojewumi, Adekemi Asaolu, Olubunmi Ojelade, Olubayode Asaolu, Nannim Nalda and Catherine Agbede