HIV oral self-screening test among HIV/STD/TB clinic attendees: A mixed-method pilot investigation examining merit for larger evaluation.

Background & Objectives: Globally, several countries consider HIV self-test as an important element in the toolbox to end AIDS by 2030. Against this background, the present investigation was conducted to pilot test the performance of an indigenous HIV oral self-test (HIVOST) and explore its acceptability. The overall purpose was to examine if this kit could serve as a promising tool and merit future larger clinical evaluation.

A Qualitative Exploration to Understand the Sexual Behavior and Needs of Young Adults: A Study Among College Students of Pune, India.

Objective: Youth and adolescents are the priority population to target the interventions as risky behaviors persist and they contribute to almost half of the new Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. The youth in India have a unique and diverse need of sex health education. The present study was conducted with the objective to understand their sexual behavior and requirements of sexual health.

Persons living with HIV continue to present late for care: A trend analysis from 2011 to 2015.

Context: The clinical and prevention benefits of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have led to the adoption of test and treat policy for HIV. Early diagnosis of HIV is crucial for maximal benefits from ART.

Aims: This study aims to assess trends in CD4 cell counts at diagnosis and determinants of late presentation.

Incomplete functional T-cell reconstitution in immunological non-responders at one year after initiation of antiretroviral therapy possibly predisposes them to infectious diseases.

Background: Immunological non-responders (INR) represent a unique category of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy. These patients have suppressed viremia but a suboptimal increase in CD4 cell count, which might have opposing effects on functional immune reconstitution. Hence, the extent of immune reconstitution in INR patients was investigated in order to determine their susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

GeneXpert HIV-1 quant assay, a new tool for scale up of viral load monitoring in the success of ART programme in India.

Background: Recent WHO guidelines identify virologic monitoring for diagnosing and confirming ART failure. In view of this, validation and scale up of point of care viral load technologies is essential in resource limited settings.

Methods: A systematic validation of the GeneXpert® HIV-1 Quant assay (a point-of-care technology) in view of scaling up HIV-1 viral load in India to monitor the success of national ART programme was carried out.

Clinical profile of HIV infected patients attending a HIV referral clinic in Pune, India.

Background & Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected several million individuals in India. Various interventions have been implemented for early detection and prevention of transmission of HIV infection. This has progressively changed the clinical profile of HIV infected individuals and this study documents the clinical presentation of individuals positive for HIV in 2010, in Pune, Maharashtra, India.