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

AIDS Behav. 2013 Jan;17(1):260-5. doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-0132-7.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cohort Studies
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Medicine, African Traditional / methods
  • Medicine, African Traditional / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Uganda
  • Viral Load
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents