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Caregivers (mothers and non-mothers) of HIV children face many challenges related to both physical demands and emotional well-being. The perception of caregivers in the Dominican Republic, a country greatly impacted by HIV/AIDS, in regard to their children's behaviour, has not been investigated to date. To extend understanding of the potential behavioural issues involved in providing care to children without access to antiretroviral therapy, the Child Behaviour Checklist was administered to 52 caregivers of HIV Dominican children (2-8 years old). Both mothers and non-mothers perceived significant pathological internalizing behavioural symptoms in immunosuppressed children, compared to children with less disease progression. Analyses of gender comparisons revealed that older female children were perceived as withdrawn/depressed by their caregivers. These findings suggest that children's disease status may be an important contributor to caregiver perception in mothers, as well as non-mothers and indicate that gender-specific relationships warrant further study.

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to describe behavioural problems encountered in a group of Dominican children living with Human Immunodeficency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the Dominican Republic. They were not receiving antiretroviral treatment. METHOD: The participants were 43 children with HIV infection (2 to 8 years of age) who were attending an immunology clinic in the largest paediatric hospital in the Dominican Republic. All of the participants were vertically infected with the HIV virus (mother-to-child transmission) and had a very low socio-economic status. The children's caregivers were administered the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL) by trained psychologists to determine the caregivers 'perception of the children's behavioural problems. Behavioural findings were examined according to the CBCL age format: younger children (under 5 years of age) and older children (over 6 years of age). RESULTS: Descriptive statistics revealed a high proportion of the children, both younger (approximately 40%) and older (46%) scored in the borderline/clinical ranges for internalizing problems, including anxiety, withdrawn-depressed and somatic complaints. In addition, 46% of the older children were perceived as having externalizing problems (rule breaking and aggressive behaviour). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a high incidence of behavioural and mood problems may be prevalent among Dominican children with HIV Thefindings are discussed in terms of future research to examine other risk factors that might contribute to the high rate of maladaptive behaviours observed in the present report, including the contribution of socio-economic status, caregiver illness, caregiver education and parental loss.

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Caregivers (mothers and non-mothers) of HIV children face many challenges related to both physical demands and emotional well-being. The perception of caregivers in the Dominican Republic, a country greatly impacted by HIV/AIDS, in regard to their children's behaviour, has not been investigated to date. To extend understanding of the potential behavioural issues involved in providing care to children without access to antiretroviral therapy, the Child Behaviour Checklist was administered to 52 caregivers of HIV Dominican children (2-8 years old). Both mothers and non-mothers perceived significant pathological internalizing behavioural symptoms in immunosuppressed children, compared to children with less disease progression. Analyses of gender comparisons revealed that older female children were perceived as withdrawn/depressed by their caregivers. These findings suggest that children's disease status may be an important contributor to caregiver perception in mothers, as well as non-mothers and indicate that gender-specific relationships warrant further study.

Los encargados del cuidado de la salud (madres y no madres) de niños HIV+ enfrentan muchos retos, tanto en relación con las exigencias físicas cuanto con respecto al estado emocional de los niños. La percepción de los encargados del cuidado de la salud en República Dominicana ­ un país muy impactado por el VIH/SIDA ­ con respecto a la conducta de sus niños, no se ha investigado hasta hoy. A fin de extender la comprensión de los problemas potenciales de comportamiento implícitos en ofrecer cuidado a niños sin acceso a terapia antiretroviral, se administró la Lista de Conductas Infantiles ­ conocida en inglés como Chile Behaviour Checklist ­ a los encargados del cuidado de la salud de los niños dominicanos VIH+ (2 ­ 8 años de edad). Tanto las madres como las no madres percibieron síntomas significativos de conducta de interiorización patológica en los niños inmunodeprimidos, en comparación con los niños con la enfermedad menos avanzada. Los análisis de las comparaciones de género revelaron que las niñas de más edad, pero no los varones, eran percibidas como retraídas/ deprimidas por los encargados del cuidado. Estos hallazgos sugieren que el estatus de la enfermedad de los niños, puede ser un factor que contribuye de forma importante a la percepción de los encargados del cuidado de la salud, ya sean o no madres, e indioan que las relaciones específicas de género merece más estudio

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to describe behavioural problems encountered in a group of Dominican children living with Human Immunodeficency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the Dominican Republic. They were not receiving antiretroviral treatment. METHOD: The participants were 43 children with HIV infection (2 to 8 years of age) who were attending an immunology clinic in the largest paediatric hospital in the Dominican Republic. All of the participants were vertically infected with the HIV virus (mother-to-child transmission) and had a very low socio-economic status. The children's caregivers were administered the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL) by trained psychologists to determine the caregivers 'perception of the children's behavioural problems. Behavioural findings were examined according to the CBCL age format: younger children (under 5 years of age) and older children (over 6 years of age). RESULTS: Descriptive statistics revealed a high proportion of the children, both younger (approximately 40) and older (46) scored in the borderline/clinical ranges for internalizing problems, including anxiety, withdrawn-depressed and somatic complaints. In addition, 46of the older children were perceived as having externalizing problems (rule breaking and aggressive behaviour). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a high incidence of behavioural and mood problems may be prevalent among Dominican children with HIV Thefindings are discussed in terms of future research to examine other risk factors that might contribute to the high rate of maladaptive behaviours observed in the present report, including the contribution of socio-economic status, caregiver illness, caregiver education and parental loss.

Objetivo. El propósito de este reporte es describir los problemas conductuales hallados en un grupo de niños dominicanos que viven con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana/síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia humana adquirida (VIH/AIDS) en República Dominicana, sin recibir tratamiento antiretroviral. Método. Los participantes fueron 43 niños (de 2 a 8 años de edad) infectados por el VIH, que asistían a una clínica inmunológica en el mayor hospital pediátrico de la República Dominicana. Todos los participantes estaban verticalmente infectados por el virus del VIH (transmisión de madre a hijo), y tenían un estatus socioeconómico bajo. Con el propósito de determinar la percepción que los encargados del cuidado de los niños tenían de los problemas conductuales de estos, psicólogos profesionales aplicaron a los cuidadores infantiles el instrumento conocido como la Lista de Control de la Conducta del Niño (CBCL). Los hallazgos conductuales fueron examinados de conformidad con el formato de edad de la CBCL: niños menores (por debajo de los 5 años de edad) y niños mayores (más de 6 años de edad) Resultados. Las estadísticas descriptivas revelaron que una alta proporción de niños, tanto menores (aproximadamente 40%) como mayores (46%), alcanzaron puntuaciones en los rangos clínicos/límites de problemas de internalización, incluyendo ansiedad, depresión con retraimiento, y quejas somáticas. Además, del 46% de los niños mayores se tuvo la percepción de que tenían problemas de externalización (rompimiento de las reglas y comportamiento agresivo). Conclusión. Estos hallazgos sugieren que prevalece una alta incidencia de problemas conductuales y anímicos entre los niños dominicanos con VIH. Los hallazgos se discuten en término de una investigación futura a fin de examinar otros factores de riesgo que podrían estar contribuyendo a la alta tasa de comportamientos maladaptativos observados en el reporte presente, incluyendo la contribución del estatus socioeconómico, la enfermedad de los propios cuidadores, la educación de los cuidadores y la pérdida de los padres.

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Our objective was to identify sexual behaviours related to risk of HIV infection. A cluster survey of sexually experienced men from diverse sociodemographic settings in Bogotá, Colombia was carried out using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. A high response rate (96%) resulted in the enrollment of 553 men. Most participants 129/442 reported having intercourse with women and 51/111 reported having sex with other men. Most respondents (90%) engaged in high-risk sexual practices; only 2% knew their HIV-1 serostatus. Consistent condom use was reported by 20% of those who practised anal sex, and was even lower (5%) among men who had sex with women during menses. Heterosexuals exhibited a higher degree of risky sexual patterns than homosexual/bisexuals (P=0.01). In conclusion, high-risk sexual practices are prevalent among men in Bogotá, particularly heterosexuals, attesting to the urgent need for effective and specific interventions to prevent HIV transmission.

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Determinants associated with high-risk sexual behaviors were investigated in 1,133 sexually active women in Bogotá, Colombia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by two groups of women: 721 representing the general population (GP), and 412 commercial sex workers (CSWs). High-risk sexual behaviors for HIV/AIDS were evident in both groups. Nevertheless, consistent condom use was reported by only 6% of the GP group, as compared to 67% of the CSWs. Failure to recognize high-risk routes for HIV infection was indicated in 69% of the GP women for anal sex, and by the majority of both groups for intercourse during menses (56% GP women and 54% CSWs). Multivariate analysis revealed that education level, actual age, and age of first sex experience were significant predictors of high-risk sexual practices. The necessity for educational programs regarding high-risk sexual practices and risk of HIV/ AIDS is evident for HIV/AIDS prevention.

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An evaluation of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and dengue serostatus in 168 subjects from San Andrés Island, Colombia, revealed altered levels of IgE in 89% of the population. IgE levels were higher in patients with a history of dengue or with a current secondary or current primary infection than in subjects with no exposure (P = 0. 01). Dengue infection accounted for 23% of the variation in IgE levels.

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