Qualitative data (N = 80) from a larger study of HIV-1 positive mothers have revealed mother-child relationships, that is, a strong attachment along with a bond of secrecy. The relationship is described as a strong attachment along with a bond of secrecy. Children are perceived by the mothers as sources of support as well as sources of stress in the relationship. We conclude that practice and policy decisions concerning HIV-1 positive mothers should include emphasis on maintaining the health of the mother-child dyad, providing respite to mothers and providing support for future planning.

Among Zimbabweans, LoF haplotypes constitute the majority of CYP2B6 alleles and are significantly higher in prevalence compared with Ugandans. Frequencies of LoF haplotypes and SNPs in Ugandan Nilotics appear to lie between those of Zimbabweans and Ugandan Bantus. These findings may have relevance to pharmacokinetics and dosing of efavirenz in African populations.

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We offered standardized gynecologic examinations to consecutive women admitted to an AIDS-designated inpatient medical service; 65 (97%) of 67 women consented to the examination. The median CD4+ T lymphocyte count was 54/mm3. Only 9% of the women were admitted for primary gynecologic or genitourinary diagnoses; however, on evaluation, 83% of these women had gynecologic disease. The overall prevalences of vaginitis, cervical dysplasia, genital condylomata, genital herpes, and pelvic inflammatory disease were 51%, 45%, 23%, 20%, and 5%, respectively. Unexpected findings included adenovirus infection and foscarnet-associated genital ulcerations (two cases each). For predicting disease, gynecologic symptoms had a sensitivity of 76% and a positive predictive value of 95% but a negative predictive value of only 41%. Our results document the high prevalence of comorbid gynecologic disease among women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because of the inability to fully predict disease by symptom history, it is imperative that comprehensive gynecologic evaluation be offered routinely to all HIV-infected women hospitalized for acute medical illnesses.

The article presents three examples of how mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease cope with stressors in their lives. These examples were generated through the clinical perspective and interpretation of one clinician-researcher. Knowledge of specific women over time indicates that HIV disease is often experienced within the context of poverty. To survive with hope, the individual woman faced with an HIV diagnosis must find ways to overcome the stigma of the diagnosis and adapt using individual coping responses. Social support and social networks are viewed as resources for women who struggle to survive with the diagnosis of HIV seropositivity.