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Access to HIV/AIDS care: a systematic review of socio-cultural determinants in low and high income countries

Gari, Sara and Doig-Acuna, Camilo and Smail, Tino and Malungo, Jacob R. S. and Martin-Hilber, Adriane and Merten, Sonja. (2013) Access to HIV/AIDS care: a systematic review of socio-cultural determinants in low and high income countries. BMC Health Services Research, 13. p. 198.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6243476

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The role of socio-cultural factors in influencing access to HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support is increasingly recognized by researchers, international donors and policy makers. Although many of them have been identified through qualitative studies, the evidence gathered by quantitative studies has not been systematically analysed. To fill this knowledge gap, we did a systematic review of quantitative studies comparing surveys done in high and low income countries to assess the extent to which socio-cultural determinants of access, identified through qualitative studies, have been addressed in epidemiological survey studies. METHODS: Ten electronic databases were searched (Cinahl, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, IBSS, JSTOR, MedLine, Psyinfo, Psyindex and Cochrane). Two independent reviewers selected eligible publications based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize data comparing studies between low and high income countries. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included in the final review, 21 (62%) done in high income countries and 13 (38%) in low income countries. In low income settings, epidemiological research on access to HIV/AIDS services focused on socio-economic and health system factors while in high income countries the focus was on medical and psychosocial factors. These differences depict the perceived different barriers in the two regions. Common factors between the two regions were also found to affect HIV testing, including stigma, high risk sexual behaviours such as multiple sexual partners and not using condoms, and alcohol abuse. On the other hand, having experienced previous illness or other health conditions and good family communication was associated with adherence to ART uptake. Due to insufficient consistent data, a meta-analysis was only possible on adherence to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This review offers evidence of the current challenges for interdisciplinary work in epidemiology and public health. Quantitative studies did not systematically address in their surveys important factors identified in qualitative studies as playing a critical role on the access to HIV/AIDS services. The evidences suggest that the problem lies in the exclusion of the qualitative information during the questionnaire design. With the changing face of the epidemic, we need a new and improved research strategy that integrates the results of qualitative studies into quantitative surveys
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Former Units within Swiss TPH > Gender and Health (Zemp Stutz)
UniBasel Contributors:Gari, Sara and Merten, Sonja and Martin Hilber, Adriane
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Book Review
Publisher:BioMed Central
e-ISSN:1472-6963
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal item
Language:English
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Last Modified:24 Feb 2017 12:47
Deposited On:25 Apr 2014 08:01

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