Primary prevention lessons learned from those with HIV in Chennai, India.

Background: As each HIV-infected individual represents a breakdown of HIV primary prevention measures, formative data from representative individuals living with HIV can help shape future primary prevention interventions. Little is known about sexual behaviours and other transmission risk factors of high-risk group members who are already HIV-infected in Chennai, India.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 HIV-infected individuals representing each high-risk group in Chennai (five men who have sex with men (MSM), five female commercial sex workers (CSW), four truckers and other men who travel for business, four injecting drug users (IDU), five married male clients of CSW, and four wives of CSW clients, MSM, truckers, and IDU).

Predictors of nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected South Indians in clinical care: implications for developing adherence interventions in resource-limited settings.

In light of the increasing availability of generic highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in India, further data are needed to examine variables associated with HAART nonadherence among HIV-infected Indians in clinical care. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 198 HIV-infected South Indian men and women between January and April 2008 receiving first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based HAART. Nonadherence was defined as taking less than 95% of HAART doses in the last 1 month, and was examined using multivariable logistic regression models.

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for adherence and depression (CBT-AD) in HIV-infected individuals.

Objective: To evaluate cognitive-behavioral therapy to enhance medication adherence and reduce depression (CBT-AD) in individuals with HIV.

Design: A two arm, randomized, controlled, cross-over trial comparing CBT-AD to enhanced treatment as usual only (ETAU). ETAU, which both groups received, included a single-session intervention for adherence and a letter to the patient's provider documenting her or his continued depression.

Participants' perspectives on cognitive-behavioral therapy for adherence and depression in HIV.

As part of the process of developing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for medical adherence and depression (Safren, Gonzalez, & Soroudi, 2007), the authors conducted exit interviews among 14 HIV-infected patients who received the intervention, and transcribed, coded, and analyzed these data. The authors concluded that CBT was structured yet flexible, developed self-awareness emphasized social support, and involved therapist empathy and supportiveness. Limitations included the discomfort of discussing personal information and the impact of feeling ill on attendance and homework completion.

Sexual behaviors of individuals with HIV living in South India: a qualitative study.

Formative data on the sexual behaviors of HIV-infected individuals in regions disproportionately affected by the epidemic can help generate hypotheses about sexual risk taking in HIV-infected individuals and shape interventions to prevent further transmission. India is home to the highest number of HIV-infected individuals in the world, and very little information is available about the sexual behaviors of HIV-infected Indians. The present qualitative study presents themes from individual in-depth interviews with 30 HIV-infected individuals in South India.

Barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral medication adherence among patients with HIV in Chennai, India: a qualitative study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is increasingly being introduced and utilized in diverse areas of the world. However, little research exists on adherence to ART in different cultural settings, particularly in developing countries such as India. This formative qualitative study examined barriers and facilitators of ART adherence among 60 (49 men, 11 women; 33 taking ART, 27 not currently taking ART) patients receiving HIV primary care at YRG CARE, a nongovernmental organization, in Chennai, India.