Tag: Public Health

Demographic Factors Influencing HIV Disclosure Rates in India

Presenter(s): Nisha Sridhar − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy, Ezhilarasi Chandrasekaran

Poster 96

Research Area: Public Health

Background: Disclosure of HIV seropositive status by an individual to family members can help improve quality of life and reduce transmission by promoting better access to medical services, and psychosocial support for seropositive individuals (1). Objective: We studied the disclosure rates and demographic factors influencing non-disclosure among HIV positive individuals in Southern India. Methods: We reviewed patient questionnaires from 6,458 seropositive patients between 2009 and 2017 seeking treatment at a large non-profit HIV/AIDS medical and research institution (Y.R.G. CARE) in Chennai, India. We analyzed demographic factors including age, sex, marital status, education, employment status, sexual orientation, ART status, mode of transmission, condom use, alcohol, and smoking status. Results: The overall self-reported disclosure rate of HIV status to family members was high at 98.7%. However, the disclosure to workplace remains low at 1.2%. Women, married individuals, housewives and unskilled workers showed a positive association with seropositive status disclosure. The self- reported disclosure rate for families found in this study is higher than those noted in other studies in developing nations. This may be due to the comprehensive education and counseling services provided at this clinic. This supports the importance of voluntary counseling services to promote disclosure supported by previous studies. Conclusion: Disclosure rates of HIV status to family remain high in this study when compared to other studies performed in developing nations. Seropositive status disclosure is an essential factor when developing strategies to increase access to treatment, reduce HIV-related stigma, and discourage HIV-transmission related behavior globally.

1. “HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partners: Rates, Barriers and Outcomes for Women.” World Health Organization, 2004.

Participant Observational Research Looking At Changes In Traditional Nutrition In Putre, Chile That Includes An Examination Of The Gap Between Programmatic Goals And Practical Realities In Global Health Nutrition

Presenter(s): Paige Plaskoff − International Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Kristen Yarris

Poster 92

Research Area: Public Health and Traditional Medicine

Global health nutrition is a priority for achieving overall population health and preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even death (WHO). Healthy nutrition is related to a number of causes of morbidity and overall mortality. In Chile, the Ministry of Health has established a comprehensive plan for the nutritional health of its people by promoting healthy lifestyle campaigns and creating informative nutritional guides. However, there are barriers to achieving the guidelines set out in this plan. This project looks at the divide between nutritional goals and realities of modern day families, using the case study of a nutritionist working at CESFAM (Centro de Salud Familiar), a family health center in Putre, a small town in Northern Chile. The research included participant observation at the health center alongside the nutritionist, interviews with the nutritionist and traditional healers, and participant observation in the agricultural fields of Putre. The project asks: What changes are occurring from traditional to contemporary dietary patterns and practices, and how are these changes linked to changing agricultural practices? I respond to this question in part by analyzing nutritional differences between the large city of Arica and the town of Putre. The project foregrounds the obstacles that the Chilean population must overcome in order to move towards nutritional health, including cultural values placed on different types of food and availability of food for rural v. urban residents. Finally, I examine the recent change in Chile’s public health junk food legislation as a case study for global health nutrition.

The Challenges, Academic Potential, and Personal Power of Qualitative Research

The Challenges, Academic Potential, and Personal Power of Qualitative Research

Gabrielle Aufderheide – Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Judith Raiskin, Jessica Cronce

Data Story Session 1CS

Research Area: Public Health

I performed qualitative interviews with ten individuals from the HIV Alliance in Eugene, Oregon to investigate how the agency employs the harm reduction philosophy when providing services and how this impacts their clients who inject drugs. The stories interviewees recalled and the vocabulary they used provided insight to their understanding and implementation of harm reduction. I felt unsuccessful at relaying the profundity of information I obtained from the interviews. However, the information greatly impacted how I did interpret my research and influenced my own definition of harm reduction and my overall opinion on harm reduction interventions targeting HIV prevention.