Publications by authors named "Ben Allan Banda"
Article Synopsis
- Limited data exist on heart disease among HIV patients in southern Africa, where improved life expectancy due to antiretroviral therapy (ART) intersects with high cardiovascular risk factors.
- A study in Malawi screened 202 HIV-positive adults for heart abnormalities, finding that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was the most common issue, while severe heart conditions were rare.
- Older age, higher body mass index, and elevated blood pressure were linked to abnormal echocardiograms, with a focus on the need for additional research to explore the connections between hypertension, LVH, and related heart conditions.
Background: Although evidence from high-resource settings indicates that women with HIV are at higher risk of acquiring high-risk HPV and developing cervical cancer, data from cervical cancer "screen and treat" programs using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in lower-income countries have found mixed evidence about the association between HIV status and screening outcomes. Moreover, there is limited evidence regarding the effect of HIV-related characteristics (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFew studies have examined gender differences in reported quality of life among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in low-income countries. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults on antiretroviral therapy in Malawi, including questions focused on wellbeing, and collected clinical data on these respondents. We compared men's and women's self-reported health and wellbeing using Poisson models that included socio-demographic covariates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hypertension is among the most commonly diagnosed non-communicable diseases in Africa, and studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of hypertension among individuals with HIV. Despite high prevalence, there has been limited attention on the clinical outcomes of hypertension treatment in this population.
Objective: We sought to characterize rates of and factors associated with blood pressure control over one year among individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and antihypertensive medications.
Background: In Malawi, numerous barriers may prevent women from accessing cervical cancer screening services - including social factors such as male partner involvement. We conducted surveys that included open- and closed-ended questions with married Malawian men to evaluate their knowledge and beliefs about cervical cancer.
Methods: HIV-positive adult (≥18 years) men (married or in a stable relationship) were recruited from an antiretroviral therapy clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi.
There is relatively little research on aging with HIV and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. A cross-sectional survey was implemented in Malawi; eligible respondents were ≥ 30 years old and on ART for ≥ 2 years. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were stratified by age (younger adults: aged 30-49; older adults: aged ≥ 50) and gender.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The focused assessment with sonography for HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) (FASH) ultrasound protocol has been increasingly used to help clinicians diagnose TB. We sought to quantify the diagnostic utility of FASH for TB among individuals with HIV in Malawi.
Methods: Between March 2016 and August 2017, 210 adults with HIV who had 2 or more signs and symptoms that were concerning for TB (fever, cough, night sweats, weight loss) were enrolled from a public HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi.