Browsing by Author "Kaswa, Ramprakash"

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    The effect of substance uses on antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV in Mthatha, Eastern Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Kaswa, Ramprakash; De Villiers, Marietjie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Family and Emergency Medicine. Family Medicine and Primary Care.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: INTRODUCTION: Around 13.3% of South Africa's population use illicit substances during their lifetime. The prevalence of substance use disorders is significantly higher than the global average. The increasing number of people living with HIV who use substances is a serious threat to the ongoing HIV epidemic and could compromise the continuity of care. Although the number of individuals infected with the virus has decreased since implementing the universal test and treat program in the country, co-infection remains a significant issue. In South Africa, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection is high among people living with HIV. The success of treatment is determined by how well an individual follows their treatment. Unfortunately, people who use substances are more prone to experiencing suboptimal adherence. Although the exact effects of their use on the adherence rate are unknown, it is believed that they could significantly impact the quality of care. As the gatekeepers of health, primary care providers are responsible for providing the best possible care to patients. They have a responsibility to identify and manage individuals who use substances. In addition, primary care providers can also help individuals reduce their use of substances by integrating them into their regular health care. This process can help them provide effective treatment and prevent them from developing substance use dependency. The researcher conducting this study is motivated by the lack of co-morbidity data and the poor adherence to ART among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in primary healthcare settings. The study aimed to evaluate the co-morbidity of HIV and substance use and their management in the primary healthcare settings in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
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    Prevalence of substance use amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus who attend primary healthcare services in Mthatha, South Africa
    (AOSIS, 2020) Kaswa, Ramprakash; De Villiers, Marietjie
    Background: About 13.3% of the South African population use some kind of substance during their lifetime. The incidence of substance use disorders is twice the global average. The use of various substances amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has increased tremendously in recent years. The growing culture of substance use amongst PLWH is a serious threat adding to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and is likely to compromise the continuity of HIV care. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey recruited adult PLWH who attended primary healthcare (PHC) services in Mthatha between 15 March and 15 April 2018. The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test questionnaire (ASSIST), a tool validated by the World Health Organization, was used for data collection. Results: Out of a total 347 participants, 53% reported lifetime substance use and 32% admitted current use of a substance. Alcohol was the most common substance reported, followed by tobacco and cannabis. The majority of participants were female (75.2%), unemployed (70.8%), had secondary school-level education (85.2%) and a per capita household income below the national food poverty line (75%). The mean age of the participants was 37.9 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 10.33); this was marginally higher for male (39.9 years; SD ± 10.92) than female (37.2 years; SD ± 10.06) participants. Conclusion: This study has shown that there is a high prevalence of lifetime and current alcohol abuse amongst PLWH who make use of PHC services in the Mthatha area of South Africa. Of particular concern are the strong pointers towards younger people and males.