Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27832759›Full record

Observational studyBMC infectious diseases2016

'People say that we are already dead much as we can still walk': a qualitative investigation of community and couples' understanding of HIV serodiscordance in rural Uganda.

Jiho Kim, Mastula Nanfuka, David Moore, Murisho Shafic, Maureen Nyonyitono, Josephine Birungi, Florence Galenda, Rachel King

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC infectious diseases, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. "AIDS care · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jiho KimBC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Mastula NanfukaThe AIDS Support Organization, Jinja, Uganda.
David MooreBC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Murisho ShaficThe AIDS Support Organization, Jinja, Uganda.
Maureen NyonyitonoThe AIDS Support Organization, Jinja, Uganda.
Josephine BirungiThe AIDS Support Organization, Jinja, Uganda.
Florence GalendaThe AIDS Support Organization, Jinja, Uganda.
Rachel KingGlobal Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. Rach@vtx.ch.

Funding

CIHR MOP-119369CIHR MOP-8970
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStable, co-habiting HIV serodiscordant couples are a key population in terms of heterosexual transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the wide availability of antiretroviral treatment and HIV educational programs, heterosexual transmission continues to drive the HIV epidemic in Africa. To investigate some of the factors involved in transmission or maintenance of serodiscordant status, we designed a study to examine participants' understanding of HIV serodiscordance and the implications this posed for their HIV prevention practices.

methodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 28 serodiscordant couples enrolled in a treatment-as-prevention study in Jinja, Uganda. Participants were asked questions regarding sexual behaviour, beliefs in treatment and prevention, participants' and communities' understanding and context around HIV serodiscordance. Qualitative framework analysis capturing several main themes was carried out by a team of four members, and was cross-checked for consistency.

resultsIt was found that most couples had difficulty explaining the phenomenon of serodiscordance and tended to be confused regarding prevention. Many individuals still held beliefs in pseudoscientific explanations for HIV susceptibility such as blood type and blood "strength". The participants' trust of treatment and medical services were well established. However, the communities' views of both serodiscordance and treatment were more pessimistic and wrought with mistrust. Stigmatization of serodiscordance and HIV-positive status were reported frequently.

conclusionsThe results indicate that despite years of treatment and prevention methods being available, stigmatization and mistrust persist in the communities of HIV-affected individuals and may directly contribute to new cases and seroconversion. We suggest that to optimize the effects of HIV treatment and prevention, clear education and support of such methods are sorely needed in sub-Saharan African communities.

Indexed as

Attitude to HealthSexual BehaviorAdultAnti-HIV AgentsFamily CharacteristicsFemaleHeterosexualityHIV InfectionsHIV SeropositivityHumansMaleRural HealthRural PopulationSafe SexSexual PartnersUgandaAnti-HIV AgentsAfricaHIVSerodiscordanceSexual healthUganda

Identifiers

PMID27832759
PMCPMC5103364

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.