Qualitative study of barriers and facilitators of health entrepreneurship in rural and semirural communities of Armenia.

Introduction: Low- and middle-income countries often face the issue of unequal distribution of healthcare services and human resources between rural and urban areas. Globally, there are many factors negatively affecting the willingness of physicians to work in remote and rural areas, such as low wages, poor living conditions, poorer and sicker patients, suboptimal equipment and supplies, and a lack of quality infrastructure and transportation.

Methods: This study explored the perceptions of barriers and facilitators of medical entrepreneurship and the impact of medical entrepreneurship on the served communities among the owners of private medical practices in rural and semirural areas of Armenia.

Male labor migration, patriarchy, and the awareness-behavior gap: HIV risks and prevention among migrants' wives in Armenia.

Unlike in most of the world, HIV incidence in the former Soviet Union continues to rise. While international labor migration has been identified as a potentially important contributor to this trend, most attention has been focused on risks of male migrants themselves. This study uses recent household survey data to examine HIV-related perceptions and actions of migrants' left-behind wives in Armenia.

Correlates of Inconsistent Refusal of Unprotected Sex among Armenian Female Sex Workers.

This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and correlates of inconsistent refusal of unprotected sex among female sex workers (FSWs) in Armenia. One hundred and eighteen street-based FSWs between the ages of 20 and 52 completed a questionnaire assessing FSWs' demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics. A total of 52.

Gender based violence as a risk factor for HIV-associated risk behaviors among female sex workers in Armenia.

This cross-sectional study identified the prevalence of gender based violence (GBV) and examined its association with sexual risk behavior among female sex workers (FSWs). Among 120 participants between ages 20 and 52, a total of 56.7 % reported lifetime GBV.

Application of condoms on male clients by female sex workers in Yerevan, Armenia: prevalence and correlates.

This study sought to assess the prevalence of consistent condom application on male clients by female sex workers (FSWs) in Armenia and its association with demographic, psychosocial and behavioural factors. In this cross-sectional study, 120 street-based FSWs aged 20-52 completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome measure was consistent application of condoms by FSWs on their male clients.

A randomized controlled trial of an HIV prevention intervention for street-based female sex workers in Yerevan, Armenia: preliminary evidence of efficacy.

This study evaluated the efficacy of an HIV intervention among female sex workers (FSWs) randomized to an intervention or wait-list control. FSWs (N = 120) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. A health educator implemented 2-hour intervention emphasized gender-empowerment, self-efficacy to persuade clients to use condoms, condom application skills, and eroticizing safer sex.

Effect of antihypertensive medication adherence among employees with hypertension.

Objectives: To determine if antihypertensive medication adherence is associated with decreased medical and drug costs, medical service utilization, and work absence days.

Study Design: Retrospective database study using medical, pharmacy, sick leave, short-term and long-term disability, and workers' compensation claims data from multiple large US employers from 2001 to 2008.

Methods: We used medical and pharmacy claims to identify employees with hypertension.

Incremental employee health benefit costs, absence days, and turnover among employees with ADHD and among employees with children with ADHD.

Objective: To assess employer economic burden of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for employees with ADHD and employee caregivers of children with ADHD.

Methods: A large multi-employer database was used to compare: 1) employees diagnosed with ADHD versus employees without ADHD and 2) employee caregivers of children with ADHD versus employee caregivers of children without ADHD. Regression modeling compared many employer-relevant outcomes.

Meeting the challenge of injection drug use and HIV in Armenia.

This article is based on research on the response to drug use and HIV in Armenia and its conflicts with international law. It was conducted via an assessment of legal documents, resolutions, and position papers on drugs, human rights, and HIV, and an analysis of their practical exercise in Armenia. The article provides an overview of challenges to effective responses to drug use and HIV in Armenia, outlines the rationale for adopting human rights-based approaches, provides justification that the latter approaches would allow Armenia to better comply with its obligations under international treaties, and proposes policy recommendations for the promotion of human rights-based approaches.

Correlates of HIV risk and preventive behaviors in Armenian female sex workers.

This study describes HIV risk and preventive behaviors and their correlates among Armenian female commercial sex workers (CSWs) as a prerequisite to developing gender and culturally appropriate interventions. Ninety-eight CSWs from three Armenian cities were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative findings were further elaborated by focus group discussions (N = 25) and key informant interviews (N = 8).