Background: Tuberculosis among non-UK-born Black Africans has been gradually recognized as a public health problem in the UK despite the various interventions implemented. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of non...Background: Tuberculosis among non-UK-born Black Africans has been gradually recognized as a public health problem in the UK despite the various interventions implemented. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of non-UK-born Black Africans about TB health risk;to explore the health seeking behavior of the non-UK-born Black Africans in relation to TB and to explore lay views on TB health education and screening as opportunities for health promotion. Methodology and Study Design: A qualitative methodology was used on a purposively selected sample of 12 non-UK-born Black Africans living in Leeds. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the lay perceptions about TB. Thematic analysis was used to derive important themes in accordance to the study objectives. Ethical approval was provided by Leeds Metropolitan University. Setting: Community setting of non-UK-born Black Africans in Leeds, UK. Results: This population holds mixed views and perceptions about tuberculosis, few facilitators and many barriers existed to current TB prevention efforts. The barriers included: language barriers, barriers related to services and systems, immigration status and stigma despite the benefits involved. The potential for black African communities to readily increase the likelihood of behavior change was found as an important finding for this study. Conclusions: Tuberculosis is a preventable public health problem. Involvement of the non-UK-born black Africans communities in the TB prevention may be beneficial for reducing and tackling TB rates in this population. Such an approach is potentially inexpensive and more readily implementable than other suggested strategies such as changes to immigration policies.展开更多
Since the initiation of China＇s nationwide free antiretroviral therapy （ART） in 2002, the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy （HAART） in China has increased dramatically. HAART has been proven to...Since the initiation of China＇s nationwide free antiretroviral therapy （ART） in 2002, the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy （HAART） in China has increased dramatically. HAART has been proven to prolong survival and control HIV disease progression. At the same time, experience in developed countries indicates that the high mutation rate of the virus in the presence of HAART is associated with drug resistance and diminished efficacy. The increase in HAART availability and use in China therefore also comes with the potential for increased resistance. Transmission of drug-resistant strains to individuals who have never been exposed to ART is on the rise. Moreover, studies have shown that new infections by drug-resistant virus result in suboptimal response to ART. With the rapid scale up of ART in China in recent years, the prevalence of HIV drug resistance will likely increase, posing a major public health concern in China. This review article provides an overview of ART resistance, the current worldwide trends in HIV drug resistance, the effect of HIV drug resistance in clinical management, and the implications for China＇s HIV treatment and care.展开更多
文摘Background: Tuberculosis among non-UK-born Black Africans has been gradually recognized as a public health problem in the UK despite the various interventions implemented. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of non-UK-born Black Africans about TB health risk;to explore the health seeking behavior of the non-UK-born Black Africans in relation to TB and to explore lay views on TB health education and screening as opportunities for health promotion. Methodology and Study Design: A qualitative methodology was used on a purposively selected sample of 12 non-UK-born Black Africans living in Leeds. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the lay perceptions about TB. Thematic analysis was used to derive important themes in accordance to the study objectives. Ethical approval was provided by Leeds Metropolitan University. Setting: Community setting of non-UK-born Black Africans in Leeds, UK. Results: This population holds mixed views and perceptions about tuberculosis, few facilitators and many barriers existed to current TB prevention efforts. The barriers included: language barriers, barriers related to services and systems, immigration status and stigma despite the benefits involved. The potential for black African communities to readily increase the likelihood of behavior change was found as an important finding for this study. Conclusions: Tuberculosis is a preventable public health problem. Involvement of the non-UK-born black Africans communities in the TB prevention may be beneficial for reducing and tackling TB rates in this population. Such an approach is potentially inexpensive and more readily implementable than other suggested strategies such as changes to immigration policies.
文摘Since the initiation of China＇s nationwide free antiretroviral therapy （ART） in 2002, the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy （HAART） in China has increased dramatically. HAART has been proven to prolong survival and control HIV disease progression. At the same time, experience in developed countries indicates that the high mutation rate of the virus in the presence of HAART is associated with drug resistance and diminished efficacy. The increase in HAART availability and use in China therefore also comes with the potential for increased resistance. Transmission of drug-resistant strains to individuals who have never been exposed to ART is on the rise. Moreover, studies have shown that new infections by drug-resistant virus result in suboptimal response to ART. With the rapid scale up of ART in China in recent years, the prevalence of HIV drug resistance will likely increase, posing a major public health concern in China. This review article provides an overview of ART resistance, the current worldwide trends in HIV drug resistance, the effect of HIV drug resistance in clinical management, and the implications for China＇s HIV treatment and care.
