SummaryOur aim was to identify the factors that influence the care-seeking behaviour of chest symptomatics in urban and rural areas in South India. We conducted in-depth interviews with 649 participants: 80% of 310 urban residents and 63% of 339 rural people had sought care (P < 0.01), 93% within 1 month of onset of symptoms. Private health care facilities were the first and preferred point of contact for 57% of urban and 48% of rural participants; the major reasons were proximity to residence and their perception that good-quality care would be available there. Symptomatics who did not seek care attributed their inaction to insufficient severity of symptoms (51%), unaffordability (46%) and lack of time due to work pressures (25%). Socio-economic factors such as literacy and family income significantly influenced care-seeking behaviour. Our results indicate that most chest symptomatics seek care promptly; their initial response is to go to the nearest private health care facility, shifting to another if they are dissatisfied. Fifty per cent of the participants who did not seek care felt that their symptoms were not severe.

Introduction: Psychological disturbance particularly depression is common among people living with HIV infection. More so among pregnant mothers due to concerns with regard to safe delivery, transmission of HIV infection to child, worries about the future and so on. Therefore, this study was undertaken to explore and describe the prevalence and correlates of depression in order to plan an appropriate intervention to ensure quality of life to women with HIV and their children.Methodology: Antenatal mothers with HIV infection who attended Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai between December 2007 and September 2008 for parturition were included in the study. Depression was assessed using the center for epidemiology studies depression scale (CES-D). The scale has 20 items, with a 4 point Likert scale scores ranging from 0-3 for each statement.Results: A total of 53 respondents were included in the study. Median age of the respondents was 25 years. Despite availability of services of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) only 34 respondents underwent HIV screening Depression score. One tenth of them have experienced major depression. Sixteen respondents were depressed on knowing their HIV status, 22 respondents were shocked on receiving of positive results while six respondents attempted to commit suicide. Feeling of discrimination (p-0.003) and thought of abortion after knowing the HIV positive status (p-.003) had significant influence in experience of major depression.Conclusion: Quality of services of counsellors at antenatal clinics need to be improved and encouraged to periodically assess the psychological needs of antenatal / pregnant mothers. Sensitizing women on methods of family planning should begin during pregnancy and in the post natal period. Referral services should be strengthened further for timely intervention.SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2017; XIV(1), Page: 40-45

Introduction: With the advent of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in 1996, HIV-infected patients are living longer and are concerned not only with treatment’s ability to extend their life butalso with the quality of the life they are able to lead, because, efficacy of treatment is strongly relatedto meaningful outcome i.e., better Quality of Life. Especially Health related quality of life has not been studied well. Hence, this study was necessitated with the objectives to evaluate Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in HIV infected persons on ART. The secondary objectives were to assess the family burden experienced by the families of HIV infected, and measure influence of family burden on overall quality of life.Methodology: The HIV infected individuals who were started on treatment six months prior to date of interview were considered for the study The SF36 (Short Form with 36 questions) was used to evaluate function and mental Health while Pai and Kapur’s Family Burden Interview schedule was used to assess family burden. Interview schedule was pre-tested on 10 HIV infected individuals for consistency. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 11 (SPSS inc. Chicago, IL, USA). Pearson product moment Correlation were computed to explore the relationships of SF36 with SLI, Family Burden and BMI. Further, Independent student “t” – test was performed to see the association between HRQoL and gender.Results: Of 91 participants interviewed 51.6% were women. Median age (years) of the respondents was 33. The overall mean score for Physical health was 45.13 SD (12.40) and for Mental health 56.91 SD (15.52). Age of HIV infected persons had significant influence in scores in social functioning (p-value .015), emotional well being scores (.015), and Mental health (.010). Socio life Index was directly related to physical health, mental health, Vitality, social functioning and emotional scores on HRQoL. Physicalhealth score was negatively affected by the Family burden score. Similarly, BMI status of the respondents correlated with Mental health, Body Pain, Vitality and Role emotional scores of HRQoL scale SF 36.Conclusion: Socio Life Index and BMI appear to be the two important predictors of HRQoL. Therefore, special attention may be required to HIV infected persons with lower SLI and BMI. Nutritional supplements, in addition to ART drugs, may be provided to ensure some improvements in physical functioning.SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2016; XIII(1), Page: 1-8

Background: Shame and stigma brings about undesirable attribute and significantly contributes to the HIV screening and STI treatment seeking, particularly among sex workers. Societal compulsion and feelings of perceived stigma and shame make the sex workers more vulnerable and likely to destabilize their community and the community at large, if no attention is paid. Hence this study was necessitated to document the experiences of stigma and shame and its influence in HIV screening.

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