No association found between traditional healer use and delayed antiretroviral initiation in rural Uganda

Russell H. Horwitz; Alexander C. Tsai; Samuel Maling; Francis Bajunirwe; Jessica E. Haberer; Nneka Emenyonu; Conrad Muzoora; Peter W. Hunt; Jeffrey N. Martin; David R. Bangsberg

doi:10.1007/s10461-011-0132-7

No association found between traditional healer use and delayed antiretroviral initiation in rural Uganda

Russell H. Horwitz, Alexander C. Tsai, Samuel Maling, Francis Bajunirwe, Jessica E. Haberer, Nneka Emenyonu, Conrad Muzoora, Peter W. Hunt, Jeffrey N. Martin, David R. Bangsberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Traditional healer and/or spiritual counselor (TH/SC) use has been associated with delays in HIV testing. We examined HIV-infected individuals in southwestern Uganda to test the hypothesis that TH/SC use was also associated with lower CD4 counts at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Approximately 450 individuals initiating ART through an HIV/AIDS clinic at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) were recruited to participate. Patients were predominantly female, ranged in age from 18 to 75, and had a median CD4 count of 130. TH/SC use was not associated with lower CD4 cell count, but age and quality-of-life physical health summary score were associated with CD4 cell count at initiation while asset index was negatively associated with CD4 count at ART initiation. These findings suggest that TH/SC use does not delay initiation of ART.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	260-265
Number of pages	6
Journal	AIDS and Behavior
Volume	17
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0132-7
State	Published - Jan 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

HIV/AIDS
Late presentation
Spiritual counselor
Traditional healer
Uganda

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

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10.1007/s10461-011-0132-7

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title = "No association found between traditional healer use and delayed antiretroviral initiation in rural Uganda",

abstract = "Traditional healer and/or spiritual counselor (TH/SC) use has been associated with delays in HIV testing. We examined HIV-infected individuals in southwestern Uganda to test the hypothesis that TH/SC use was also associated with lower CD4 counts at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Approximately 450 individuals initiating ART through an HIV/AIDS clinic at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) were recruited to participate. Patients were predominantly female, ranged in age from 18 to 75, and had a median CD4 count of 130. TH/SC use was not associated with lower CD4 cell count, but age and quality-of-life physical health summary score were associated with CD4 cell count at initiation while asset index was negatively associated with CD4 count at ART initiation. These findings suggest that TH/SC use does not delay initiation of ART.",

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note = "Funding Information: version of the Hopkins Symptom Check list. This study received funding by the National Institutes of Health (RO1MH54907; K24MH87227; P30AI027763; UL1RR024131). Dr. Tsai acknowledges salary support through the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program. Funding Information: Acknowledgments We would like to acknowledge Dr. Paul Bolton of Boston University for generously providing the locally validated",

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AU - Emenyonu, Nneka

AU - Muzoora, Conrad

AU - Hunt, Peter W.

AU - Martin, Jeffrey N.

AU - Bangsberg, David R.

N1 - Funding Information: version of the Hopkins Symptom Check list. This study received funding by the National Institutes of Health (RO1MH54907; K24MH87227; P30AI027763; UL1RR024131). Dr. Tsai acknowledges salary support through the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program. Funding Information: Acknowledgments We would like to acknowledge Dr. Paul Bolton of Boston University for generously providing the locally validated

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No association found between traditional healer use and delayed antiretroviral initiation in rural Uganda

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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