Marriage in people with epilepsy: A compelling theme for psycho-behavioral research.

People with epilepsy frequently experience problems in marriage including reduced marital prospects, poor marital outcomes and diminished quality of married life. Conversely, marriage might impact epilepsy self-management and quality of life in people with epilepsy. There is little in published literature on marriage and epilepsy, so there is a need for psycho-behavioral research.

Impact of Asha intervention on stigma among rural Indian women with AIDS.

Rural women living with HIV/AIDS (WLA) in India face multifarious challenges which affect access to antiretroviral regimens and management of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this pilot study, using cluster randomization, is to compare the effectiveness of the Asha-Life (AL) intervention, delivered by HIV-trained village women, Asha (Accredited Social Health Activists), with a usual care group on reduction of internalized stigma and avoidant coping among 68 WLA in rural India over a 6-month period. The findings demonstrated that participation in the AL intervention was associated with significant reductions in internalized stigma and the use of avoidant coping strategies at follow-up.

Impact of protein supplementation and care and support on body composition and CD4 count among HIV-infected women living in rural India: results from a randomized pilot clinical trial.

Body composition in HIV-infected individuals is subject to many influences. We conducted a pilot 6-month randomized trial of 68 women living with AIDS (WLA) from rural India. High protein intervention combined with education and supportive care delivered by HIV-trained village women (activated social health activist [Asha] life [AL]) was compared to standard protein with usual care delivered by village community assistants (usual care [UC]).

Impact of a rural village women (Asha) intervention on adherence to antiretroviral therapy in southern India.

Background: Despite the increased prevalence of HIV in the rural female population of India, adherence to antiretroviral therapy continues to be low because of several barriers that discourage rural women.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an intervention (Asha-Life) delivered by Accredited Social Health Activists (Asha) to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence of rural women living with AIDS in India compared with that of a usual care group.

Methods: Sixty-eight rural women living with AIDS, aged 18-45 years, participated in a prospective, randomized pilot clinical trial and were assessed for several factors affecting adherence, such as sociodemographic characteristics, health history, CD4 cell count, enacted stigma, depressive symptomology, help getting antiretroviral therapy, and perceived therapy benefits.

Impact of an Asha intervention on depressive symptoms among rural women living with AIDS in India: comparison of the Asha-Life and Usual Care program.

The purpose of this randomized pilot study is to conduct an intervention with 68 rural women living with AIDS to compare the effectiveness of two different programs on depressive symptoms. The trial was designed to assess the impact of the Asha-Life intervention engaging with an HIV-trained village woman, Asha (Accredited Social Health Activist), to participate in the care of women living with AIDS (WLA), along with other health care providers compared to a Usual Care group. Two high prevalence HIV/AIDS villages in rural Andhra Pradesh, which were demographically alike and served by distinct Public Health Centers, were selected randomly from a total of 16 villages.

Challenges experienced by rural women in India living with AIDS and implications for the delivery of HIV/AIDS care.

Researchers explored the barriers to AIDS care for rural women living with AIDS, and they investigated alternative delivery models to increase the women's adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Community-based participatory research focus groups were conducted by the researchers with a convenience sample of 39 women living with AIDS from a primary health center (PHC) near Chennai, India, and with nurses, physicians, and Accredited Social Health Activists (Ashas), who are lay health care workers. The most prevalent barriers expressed by the women were sickness-related, psychological, financial issues with childcare, and distance, or transportation to the site.

Deconstructing social resistance to pulse polio campaign in two North Indian districts.

Objective: To gain an insight into the phenomenon of social resistance and rumors against pulse polio campaign.

Design: Qualitative, community-based investigation, mapping perceptions of various stakeholders through in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), non-formal interactions and observations.

Setting: Moradabad and JP Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Caregiver burden and coping: a prospective study of relationship between burden and coping in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder.

Introduction: Caregivers of patients of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (BAD) experience considerable burden while caring their patients. They develop different coping strategies to deal with this burden. Longitudinal studies are required to assess the relationship between caregiver burden and coping.