Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.4
Journals
IJERPH
Special Issues
Women Living with HIV
ijerph-logo
Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Women Living with HIV

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 2252

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lunthita M. Duthely

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
Interests: minority health; HIV/AIDS; psycho-educational interventions; equitable technology-enhanced approaches; well-being; resilience; spirituality
Dr. Patricia P. Jeudin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
Interests: anal cancer; cervical cancer; minority health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The HIV epidemic continues to affect women, as women account for the 54% of the 36,000,000 adults who live with HIV, globally (www.WHO.int). Although a smaller proportion (46%) of new infections worldwide are among women, in 2019, only 1.1M received anti-retroviral medications to prevent maternal-to-child transmission of the virus, for the 1.3M pregnant women diagnosed with HIV—leaving themselves and their children at risk for a lifetime of health complications. Even in high income countries, such as the US, disproportionate, health-related outcomes for racial/ethnic minority women continue today in terms of new HIV infections and sexually transmitted infections—due to poverty and stigma (WomensHealth.gov), geographic inequities, racial discrimination, and medical mistrust (Randolph et al., 2020). Furthermore, women with HIV face additional risks of gynecological abnormalities, cervical cancer,  heart disease, and aging-related issues (HIV.gov).

We will focus the conversation of this Special Issue around recent findings that paint a holistic picture of what is known about women with HIV in the world. The environments and frameworks that encompass multi-level approaches to understanding the unique challenges and vulnerabilities faced by all women will be included. There will be a special focus on racial/ethnic minority women, and migrant and refugee women. Strength-based approaches that consider not just risk, but protective factors are encouraged. The full life spectrum, from HIV acquisition to aging with HIV, including adolescents, emerging adults, and older adults, will frame this topic. Protocols, reviews, preliminary findings, and null findings are welcomed.

Dr. Lunthita M. Duthely
Dr. Patricia P. Jeudin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • minority health
  • HIV/AIDS
  • well-being
  • resilience
  • psycho-education
  • interventions
  • implementation

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

9 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Barriers and Facilitators to Using Antiretroviral Therapy among Women Living with HIV in Plateau State, Nigeria
by Emmanuel O. Osayi, Sarah C. Blake, Tolulope Afolaranmi, Oluseye Ajayi, John Onyeji, Atiene S. Sagay, Albert Anderson and Taiwo J. Obindo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050546 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 301
Abstract
Background: Women and girls account for more than 50% of the global HIV population. In Nigeria, the proportion of women living with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been on the rise. Despite this, little research exists on their experiences regarding antiretroviral [...] Read more.
Background: Women and girls account for more than 50% of the global HIV population. In Nigeria, the proportion of women living with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been on the rise. Despite this, little research exists on their experiences regarding antiretroviral therapy use, especially for women living with HIV (WLHIV) in Plateau State, Nigeria. This study investigates the barriers and facilitators influencing antiretroviral therapy use among women living with HIV. Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design, using focus groups, and included women (female sex workers, pregnant and non-pregnant women living with HIV) and the male partners of serodiscordant couples. Eligibility criteria were being 18 years of age or older, on antiretroviral therapy for more than one year/on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for more than one month, and speaking English, Hausa, or both. Data coding utilized both inductive and deductive approaches, and standard content analysis was applied to develop emerging themes. Results: Of the 106 participants, 88 were women living with HIV, and 18 were men in serodiscordant couples. The first facilitator shared by the participants was feeling healthier and stronger due to the antiretroviral therapy, which was also expressed by the male participants on PrEP as feeling good while taking the drug. Additional facilitators shared by the participants included weight gain and having a more positive outlook on life. Participants also disproportionately described barriers to using antiretroviral therapy, including experiences with emotional challenges, physical discomfort, and side effects of ART. Such barriers were linked to feelings of past regret, frustration, and disappointment. Conclusion: This study underscores the significance of maintaining a positive perspective on ART use, demonstrated by the connection between a positive outlook and weight gain, and highlights the hurdles that Plateau State’s women living with HIV face in adhering to antiretroviral therapy. Policymakers and healthcare providers can utilize these findings to formulate targeted strategies aimed at minimizing identified barriers and enhancing antiretroviral therapy utilization among this population via peer- support groups, economic empowerment, and psychosocial support. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women Living with HIV)
11 pages, 333 KiB  
Article
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced HIV Care: Are We Prepared Enough for Future Pandemics? An Assessment of Factors Influencing Access, Utilization, Affordability, and Motivation to Engage with HIV Services amongst African, Caribbean, and Black Women
by Emily McKay, Emmanuela Ojukwu, Saima Hirani, Tatiana Sotindjo, Ijeoma Okedo-Alex and Patience Magagula
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(11), 6051; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20116051 - 05 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1496
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruption in healthcare delivery for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). African, Caribbean, and Black women living with HIV (ACB WLWH) in British Columbia (BC) faced barriers to engage with HIV care services prior to the COVID-19 [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruption in healthcare delivery for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). African, Caribbean, and Black women living with HIV (ACB WLWH) in British Columbia (BC) faced barriers to engage with HIV care services prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that were intensified by the transition to virtual care during the pandemic. This paper aims to assess which factors influenced ACB WLWH’s access to, utilization and affordability of, and motivation to engage with HIV care services. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive approach using in-depth interviews. Eighteen participants were recruited from relevant women’s health, HIV, and ACB organizations in BC. Participants felt dismissed by healthcare providers delivering services only in virtual formats and suggested that services be performed in a hybrid model to increase access and utilization. Mental health supports, such as support groups, dissolved during the pandemic and overall utilization decreased for many participants. The affordability of services pertained primarily to expenses not covered by the provincial healthcare plan. Resources should be directed to covering supplements, healthy food, and extended health services. The primary factor decreasing motivation to engage with HIV services was fear, which emerged due to the unknown impact of the COVID-19 virus on immunocompromised participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women Living with HIV)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop