The study of the clinical manifestations, progression, and outcome of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in women has begun in earnest. AIDS-defining diseases that are more common in women than in men include wasting syndrome, esophageal candidiasis, and herpes simplex virus disease, whereas Kaposi's sarcoma is rare. Non-AIDS-defining gynecological conditions such as vaginal candida infections and cervical pathology are prevalent among women at all stages of HIV infection. Associations have been documented between the presence of human papillomavirus, lower genital tract neoplasia, and HIV-related immunosuppression. Pregnancy has not been confirmed to have an effect on the clinical progression of HIV disease in women incremental to the effect of time. Differential access and utilization of therapeutic interventions appear to account for much of the reported gender discrepancy in survival. Well designed epidemiological and clinical studies will help further scientific knowledge leading to early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and timely prevention of the manifestations of HIV disease in women.
To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women in Newfoundland.Anonymous unlinked seroprevalence study.Newfoundland.A total of 14911 women receiving prenatal care or undergoing an abortion, representing nearly all pregnancies in Newfoundland from Nov. 1, 1991, to Oct. 31, 1993.HIV antibody status, as determined by enzyme immunoassay of leftover serum samples (initially obtained for routine screening) and confirmation of reactive samples by the Western blot technique, health region of residence, and age group.Of the 14911 serum samples 13 were positive for HIV, for an overall crude prevalence rate of 1 per 1147 or 8.7 per 10000 pregnant women (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.7 to 14.9). Seven of the positive samples were from women residing in the Eastern Health Region of the province, for a crude prevalence rate of 1 per 376 or 26.6 per 10000 pregnant women (95% CI 10.7 to 54.8) for that region. All women found to be HIV positive were 15 to 29 years of age, the peak prevalence (20.8 per 10000 pregnant women [95% CI 9.5 to 39.4]) was observed among those 20 to 24 years.The overall prevalence rate of 8.7 per 10 000 pregnant women in Newfoundland is the highest provincial rate recorded among those from similar studies in Canada. Although it may be concluded that there are an estimated 125 HIV-positive women of childbearing age in Newfoundland (95% CI 67 to 213), the age-adjusted estimate is 84 (95% CI 36 to 131). This study provides an independent confirmation of an outbreak of HIV infection among women in the Eastern Health Region of the province.
Genetic polymorphism in human papillomavirus (HPV)-33 and -35 was investigated in 1055 sexually active women (732 human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] seropositive and 323 HIV seronegative).Consecutive genital specimens obtained at 6-month intervals were screened for HPV-33 and -35 by use of MY09-MY11. HPV-33 and -35 isolates from 95 women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction sequencing of the long control region (LCR), E6, and E7.For HPV-33, 101 (20%) of 506 nucleotides in the LCR were variable, compared with 10 (2.1%) of 483 nucleotides in E6 (P<.001) and 6 (1.9%) of 324 nucleotides in E7 (P<.001). For HPV-35, the proportion of variable nucleotide sites was similar between the LCR and both E6 (P=.54) and E7 (P=.33). The presence of a 78-base pair deletion in HPV-33 (relative risk [RR], 1.8 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.7]) and the presence of nonsynonymous E7 variations in HPV-35 (RR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.4-4.6]) were associated with persistence. When the data for HPV-33 and -35 were combined, infection by HPV isolates with nonsynonymous E7 variations (RR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.6-3.4]; P=.001) and ethnicity (P=.04) were associated with persistence, whereas age (P = .14) and HIV infection/CD4 cell count status (P=.12) were not significantly associated with persistence, by logistic regression analysis.HPV-33 and -35 polymorphism was different between types and was associated with persistence of HPV infection.
Abstract The pace of medical discovery in the past century has been breathtaking with new and improved drugs, devices, and diagnostics prolonging life, relieving suffering, and curing conditions that were previously untreatable. However, delays in care, incomplete information, and failed processes continue to plague modern healthcare in countries both rich and poor so that the benefits of medical discovery are not universally realized. Implementation science is the study of strategies undertaken to implement evidence-based technologies, services, diagnostics, or therapeutics in ‘real-life’ populations and service delivery contexts. The subject of study is the implementation method itself which can vary across place and time. The primary aim of implementation science is an optimistic one-focused on finding the opportunities to improve health and healthcare for all populations where gaps in care currently persist. This chapter explores the origins of implementation science, highlights the challenges facing implementation scientists, describes the key features of an implementation science study, and reviews examples of implementation science for resource-limited and high-income country settings. As the field of implementation science remains relatively new, this chapter provides practical guidance to the would-be implementation scientist on how to conduct research in this field.
Background: Male circumcision (MC) is proven to substantially reduce men's risk of a number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We conducted a detailed systematic review of the scientific literature to determine the relationship between MC and risk of STIs and associated conditions in women. Methods: Database searches by "circumcision women" and "circumcision female" identified 68 relevant articles for inclusion. Examination of bibliographies of these yielded 14 further publications. Each was rated for quality using a conventional rating system. Results: Evaluation of the data from the studies retrieved showed that MC is associated with a reduced risk in women of being infected by oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes and of contracting cervical cancer. Data from randomized controlled trials and other studies has confirmed that partner MC reduces women's risk not only of oncogenic HPV, but as well Trichomonas vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis and possibly genital ulcer disease. For herpes simplex virus type 2, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, human immunodeficiency virus and candidiasis, the evidence is mixed. Male partner MC did not reduce risk of gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium, dysuria or vaginal discharge in women. Conclusion: MC reduces risk of oncogenic HPV genotypes, cervical cancer, Trichomonas vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis and possibly genital ulcer disease in women. The reduction in risk of these STIs and cervical cancer adds to the data supporting global efforts to deploy MC as a health-promoting and life-saving public health measure and supplements other STI prevention strategies.
Randomized controlled trials in sub-Saharan Africa have shown that adult male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV acquisition in men by about 60%. In this article, we review recent data on the association of male circumcision and HIV/sexually transmitted infection in men and women. This includes a summary of data showing some evidence of an effect of male circumcision against genital ulcer disease, HSV-2 infection, human papillomavirus and Trichomonas vaginalis, but not Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoea in men. Longitudinal studies among HIV discordant couples suggest that male circumcision may provide some direct long-term benefit to women, which may start after complete wound healing. Circumcision may also protect against HIV acquisition in men who have sex with men (MSM) and those who practice unprotected anal intercourse (either exclusively or predominantly), although these data are not consistent. To date, there is little evidence from the few studies available of either unsafe practices or reported increases in risky behaviour, or adverse changes in sexual satisfaction and function. As countries in southern and eastern Africa scale up services, operational research will likely be useful to iteratively improve programme delivery and impact while identifying the best methods of integrating safe male circumcision services into HIV prevention strategies and strengthening health systems.
