Motivations and barriers to cervical cancer screening among HIV infected women in HIV care: a qualitative study.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer in women worldwide and the commonest cancer among women in Uganda. Annual cervical screening is recommended for women living with HIV for early detection of abnormal cervical changes, however uptake remains grossly limited. This study assessed factors associated with cervical screening uptake among HIV infected women at Mildmay Uganda where cervical screening using Visual inspection with acetic acid and iodine (VIA and VILI) was integrated into HIV care since July 2009.

Hypertension prevalence and Framingham risk score stratification in a large HIV-positive cohort in Uganda.

Background: To report the prevalence of hypertension and projected 10-year absolute risk of acute cardiovascular disease in a large prospectively followed cohort of HIV-positive youth and adults beginning antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: HIV-positive individuals seeking HIV treatment, ages 13 years and older, were assessed for repeated blood pressure measurements over the first year following initiation of antiretroviral therapy, including serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, CD4 cell count and related clinical and laboratory measurements. Outcomes include hypertension, defined according to the 7th Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure categories, and Framingham Risk Score based 10-year cardiovascular disease risk estimates.

Long-term health care interruptions among HIV-positive patients in Uganda.

Background: Retaining patients in clinical care is necessary to ensure successful antiretroviral treatment (ART) outcomes. Among patients who discontinue care, some reenter care at a later stage, whereas others are or will be lost from follow-up. We examined risk factors for health care interruptions and loss to follow-up within a cohort receiving ART in Uganda.

The impact of a modular HIV/AIDS palliative care education programme in rural Uganda.

Over 1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda and there is a need for the provision of comprehensive palliative care. There is minimal literature with regard to the provision of palliative care in Uganda and there is no evaluation literature on the quality of palliative care education programmes. The aim of the study was to conduct an evaluation of a modular HIV/AIDS palliative care education programme undertaken in rural Uganda by the Mildmay Centre.