Publications by authors named "Easter Thamburaj"
Article Synopsis
- Long-term follow-up for HIV-infected individuals is crucial for their health, yet there is a scarcity of data on patient dropout rates from care, especially in resource-limited areas.
- A study at YRGCARE in South India analyzed 7,995 patients registered between 2004-2009, revealing a dropout rate of 38.1 per 100 person-years, primarily occurring within the first six months.
- Factors that made patients less likely to drop out included participation in clinical projects offering free medications, being on antiretroviral therapy, and having a CD4 count above 350, indicating that providing similar incentives in routine care could improve patient retention.
We characterize the demographics, injection practices and risk behaviours of 1,158 injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India, who were recruited during 2005-2006 by community outreach. The median age was 35 years; the majority of IDUs were male, of Tamil ethnicity and married, and earning less than US$75 per month. Most (76%) had injected in the prior month.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the changes in HIV services provided and the patient population utilizing voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services at private testing laboratories in Chennai, India in 2001 and 2006.
Methods: In 2001, a cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted to assess the services provided and client population of 1,031 private laboratories. A subset of labs (9%) that had been surveyed in 2001 were also studied in 2006.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfections and current risk behaviors among HIV-positive and -negative injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, India.
Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of 912 IDUs recruited between March 2004 and April 2005. Specimens were tested for HIV, HBV, and HCV.
Objective: To estimate the incidence of HIV and study the impact of risk-reduction counseling (RRC) in a cohort of people with high-risk behavior for HIV transmission in Chennai, India.
Design: Prospective cohort follow-up of 500 HIV-negative people (250 men and 250 women) at increased risk for HIV acquisition in Chennai, India for a maximum of 1 year was conducted. They received RRC at 0, 6, and 12 months.