Effects of ZDV-based patient education on intentions toward ZDV use, HIV testing and reproduction among a US cohort of women

Abstract

This study examined the immediate effects of exposure to a patient education brochure concerning the risks and benefits of zidovudine (ZDV) therapy during pregnancy to reduce perinatal HIV transmission (protocol ACTG 076) on related knowledge, behavioural intentions and attitudes of women with and at-risk for HIV-infection. Self-reports were collected from 653 women of childbearing age from community family planning clinics and hospital-based HIV centres in 19 sites from nine US cities between May and November 1995. The intervention was a nine-page patient education brochure in Spanish, Creole and English versions, evently presenting the pros and cons of ZDV therapy to reduce perinatal HIV-transmission. Brochure exposure increased knowledge (p < 0.001) for all but one scale concerning ZDV resistance and increased the likelihood of women reporting intentions to take ZDV during pregnancy (p < 0.001) and to believe ZDV reduced transmission (p < 0.001). Brochure exposure had differential effects for some subpopulations. Intentions to have or terminate current or future pregnancies, knowledge about ZDV and attitudes toward ZDV varied mostly by ethnicity/race, language preference and HIV status. Pregnancy status, age, education and having an HIV-positive child had less impact on the brochure's effect, while income had no impact.

HIV stigma, psychological distress and social support and their relationship to fertility intentions amongst HIV positive (HIV+) women

“…The results demonstrated that intention to use AZT was directly related to beliefs about its effectiveness. Similar results were found by Healton, Taylor, Messeri, Weinberg and Bamji (1999) and Richter, Sowell, and Pluto (2002). Prenatal screening for HIV is extremely beneficial to begin early harm reduction procedures, however, only recommendations, and not screening requirements, are in place in Ontario.…”

The impact of an educational pamphlet on knowledge and anxiety in women with preeclampsia

“…8 We admit that our findings may not be applicable in all settings and locations. The high level of knowledge about symptoms and the treatment of preeclampsia in both groups may be related to the fact that we included only inpatients hospitalized for suspected or proven preeclampsia.…”

“…The primary outcome, improvement of knowledge, was easily achieved in several areas in the intervention group at similar levels that had been demonstrated in another study looking at an educational intervention. 8 We admit that our findings may not be applicable in all settings and locations. The high level of knowledge about symptoms and the treatment of preeclampsia in both groups may be related to the fact that we included only inpatients hospitalized for suspected or proven preeclampsia.…”

Esterilização feminina, AIDS e cultura médica: os casos de São Paulo e Porto Alegre, Brasil

“…Apenas Lindsay et al (1995) encontraram uma probabilidade de ser laqueada três vezes maior entre mulheres HIV positivo. Após a implementação do ACTG 076, os estudos americanos que investigaram o impacto do conhecimento dos benefícios do AZT no pré-natal mostraram que essa informação adicional não tinha efeito nas taxas de fertilidade, no uso de contraceptivos ou nas taxas de aborto entre mulheres HIV positivo (Healton et al, 1999;Smits et al, 1999). Somente Bedimo et al (1998) encontraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre mulheres HIV positivo e HIV negativo que incluíram diminuição nas taxas de fertilidade e aumento nas de esterilização para as primeiras.…”