Dataset Information

Vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children living on the streets are an underprivileged population of Bangladesh and are likely to be more vulnerable to STIs/HIV for their day-to-day risky behaviours and lifestyles. This study assessed the vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS using qualitative participatory methods.

Methods

This ethnographic participatory, qualitative study was conducted during February 2010- December 2011 among children aged 5-12 years, who live and/or work on the streets in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Data were collected in three phases: (a) social mapping (n?=?493), (b) participatory group discussions (n?=?119), and (c) individual interviews (n?=?36).

Results

Results showed that street-children were engaged in behaviour that entails risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS. They possessed poor knowledge of the transmission of disease and of the benefits of using condoms; most of them reported never using a condom. The experience of selling sex for money and a variety of sexual activities, like anal, vaginal and oral sex, were commonly reported. The children also reported that they were regular users of one or more types of drugs, including those taken by injection.

Conclusions

The deplorable living conditions of street children, with no obvious rights or way out, make them highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Urgent attention of the policy- makers to implement services addressing issues relating to social conditions, sexual health, and drug-use is warranted to prevent the possible epidemic of HIV/AIDS among this group of population.

SUBMITTER: Uddin MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4232676 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study.

Uddin Md Jasim MJ Sarma Haribondhu H Wahed Tasnuva T Ali Md Wazed MW Koehlmoos Tracey Perez TP Nahar Quamrun Q Azim Tasnim T

BMC public health 20141106

<h4>Background</h4>Children living on the streets are an underprivileged population of Bangladesh and are likely to be more vulnerable to STIs/HIV for their day-to-day risky behaviours and lifestyles. This study assessed the vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS using qualitative participatory methods.<h4>Methods</h4>This ethnographic participatory, qualitative study was conducted during February 2010- December 2011 among children aged 5-12 years, who live and/or work on the s ...[more]

PMID: 25373415

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Project description:BackgroundNepal is facing escalating infection rates of HIV/AIDS, a major global public health threat. Continuum of services is an identified strategic component of Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) commitment to end this public health crisis by 2030 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). Pharmacists are integral members of the continuum of care in HIV/AIDS but the idea is novel to Nepal. Realizing need to explore and identify potential roles of pharmacists in HIV/AIDS care delivery, this study aimed to gain an insight into the views of stakeholders on the roles of pharmacists in this arena.MethodsA qualitative approach was used where 14 key informants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol. Participants were selected through a sequence of purposive sampling and snowball sampling technique. The interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsPotential roles of pharmacists reside in adherence monitoring, pharmacovigilance, provincial and district level ART centers. Pharmacists and other stakeholders held divergent views on the pharmacist's role in dispensing and counseling antiretroviral medications. Barriers to the pharmacists' involvement were lack of workforce, advocacy and government support, frailty of professional organizations, self-limited scope, policy constraints, structural limitations, biasedness, and societal unawareness. Pharmacists themselves and organizations such as National Government Organizations (NGOs) and International Government Organizations (INGOs) were identified as the facilitators.ConclusionStakeholders are willing to expand role of pharmacists in HIV/AIDS care in Nepal. Nevertheless, some crucial impediments exist. Primarily, an aggressive and assertive advocacy is needed from pharmacists themselves and their professional organizations to establish their roles in HIV/AIDS care delivery. Additionally, unearthing potential of pharmacists as contributors in HIV/AIDS care delivery or any other chronic disease management equally demands a strong support from the government officials as well as the other health care professionals.

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Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the lived experiences of palliative care among critically unwell people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), caregivers and relatives of deceased patients. It also aimed to understand the broader palliative care context in Bihar.DesignThis was an exploratory, qualitative study which used thematic analysis of semistructured, in-depth interviews as well as a focus group discussion.SettingAll interviews took place in a secondary care hospital in Patna, Bihar which provides holistic care to critically unwell PLHA.ParticipantsWe purposively selected 29 participants: 10 critically unwell PLHA, 5 caregivers of hospitalised patients, 7 relatives of deceased patients who were treated in the secondary care hospital and 7 key informants from community-based organisations.ResultsCritically ill PLHA emphasised the need for psychosocial counselling and opportunities for social interaction in the ward, as well as a preference for components of home-based palliative care, even though they were unfamiliar with actual terms such as 'palliative care' and 'end-of-life care'. Critically unwell PLHA generally expressed preference for separate, private inpatient areas for end-of-life care. Relatives of deceased patients stated that witnessing patients' deaths caused trauma for other PLHA. Caregivers and relatives of deceased patients felt there was inadequate time and space for grieving in the hospital. While both critically ill PLHA and relatives wished that poor prognosis be transparently disclosed to family members, many felt it should not be disclosed to the dying patients themselves.ConclusionsDespite expected high inpatient fatality rates, PLHA in Bihar lack access to palliative care services. PLHA receiving end-of-life care in hospitals should have a separate dedicated area, with adequate psychosocial counselling and activities to prevent social isolation. Healthcare providers should make concerted efforts to inquire, understand and adapt their messaging on prognosis and end-of-life care based on patients' preferences.

Dataset Information

Vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study.

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