Living With HIV Survey Highlights Need For Continuing Education Of Black And Minority Ethnic Population, UK

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 22 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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With an estimated 63,500 adults living with HIV in the UK, and two-thirds of new HIV diagnoses occurring within the BME (black and minority ethnic) UK population[1], results launched from the Living with HIV survey[2] give further insight into the specific needs and concerns of the HIV positive BME population.

Amongst those taking or thinking about taking medication, results demonstrated varied comprehension of current HIV treatments with 31% still querying efficacy, whilst 26% listed the long-term effects of treatment as their key concern. These concerns exist at opposite ends of the knowledge spectrum and illustrate the disparity of understanding of HIV medication amongst the BME population.

The greatest information gap by far was on the potential long-term effects of HIV medication, with 42% of BME respondents feeling they do not have enough access to such information. This may contribute to the 26% of BME respondents who are concerned about the long-term effects of taking HIV medicines due to the potential for health issues in later life.

Mohammed Kikambi of African Community Involvement Association (ACIA), commented, "Public awareness programmes and the delivery of education messages have highlighted the accessibility of treatments. However, the Living with HIV survey results demonstrate that key treatment information is not reaching the BME population. It is important that doctors take these concerns seriously and make sure that patients have the information they are lacking in order to make informed decisions about their HIV treatment options."

As part of an initiative between leading HIV BME community groups and GSK to identify and raise awareness of the specific needs of BME people living with HIV in the UK, the Living with HIV survey also looked at a number of HIV related issues that patients face. The results showed that:

-- On diagnosis, early death (67%) and the need to keep the diagnosis secret from family and friends (49%) were of the greatest concern, with more than a quarter (26%) worried about telling their partner and 20% afraid of losing their job or of being unable to work.

-- With regards to obtaining further information about HIV, 30% of respondents chose community groups as their top source of information, 25% the Internet, and 17% selected hospitals/clinics.

"The fact that patients from the BME community don't feel that they have access to enough information about their medication is a major concern. The benefits of taking medication to treat HIV have been proven time and again" said Dr John McSorley, a Consultant Physician at the Central Middlesex Hospital. "HIV management should be a shared process involving co-operation between the patient and their clinician. Empowering patients to understand their treatment options enables them to plan positively for their future."

About the Living with HIV survey

The Living with HIV survey was a collaborative research initiative between leading HIV BME (black and ethnic minority) community groups, to identify the long-term concerns of BME people living with HIV in the UK. Organisations included: Positively Women; SLAWO; UKC; the African Eye Trust; African Community Involvement Association (ACIA); Zimbabwe Women's Network; Faith Health Project; Positive East and the NAZ Project.

From a distribution to 10,000 BME people in April 2007, a total of 465 completed responses (by post and Internet) were received from a core BME population aged between 16-65 years. The findings were analysed by IDA (Independent Data Analysis). Full survey details are available on request.

The survey was sponsored by from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), as part of its Embrace HIV health promotion programme for African people living in the UK.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline has an extensive HIV portfolio, and continues to support health care professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV. GSK is committed to improving the health of people with HIV and is actively involved in working in partnership with many local community initiatives.

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

About HIV/AIDS

What is HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus which weakens the body's immune system, which can ultimately lead to AIDS.[3]

What is AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is an umbrella term for a cluster of medical conditions, often referred to as opportunistic infections and cancers caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and for which, to date, there is no cure.[4]

A substantial proportion of HIV patients, who maintain a CD4 cell count of over 500 cells/mm3 while on treatment, can now expect to live as long as those in the general population.[5]

HIV-positive patients in the United Kingdom remained on their first potent antiretroviral combination a median of seven years and side-effects are likely to be the major cause of treatment failure at this time.[6]

http://www.gsk.com

References

[1] Health Protection Agency report. A complex picture: HIV & other sexually transmitted infections in the UK: 2006. Click here (last accessed June 2007)

[2] Living with HIV survey. Embrace Advisory Panel sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. May 2007.

[3] The World Health Organization (WHO) Joint ILO/WHO guidelines on health services and HIV/AIDS. Accessible at: Click here. Last accessed 23 May 2007

[4] The World Health Organization (WHO) Joint ILO/WHO guidelines on health services and HIV/AIDS. Accessible at: Click here. Last accessed 23 May 2007

[5] Lewden C. Responders to antiretroviral treatment over 500 CD4/mm3 reach same mortality rates as general population: APROCO and Aquitaine Cohorts, 10th European AIDS Conference, Ireland, abstract PE18.4/8, 2005 [6] Mandilia S et al. Cause and time to treatment failure of HAART and cost of care in UK NPMS-HHC clinics, 1996 - 2002. HIV Med 7 (supplement 1), abstract 033, 2006.