The daily life of people living with HIV in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau: perspectives, challenges and vulnerabilities

Predicting the extinction of HIV-2 in rural Guinea-Bissau

OBJECTIVE This article predicts the future epidemiology of HIV-2 in Caió, a rural region of Guinea Bissau; and investigates whether HIV-2, which has halved in prevalence between 1990 and 2007 and is now almost absent in young adults in Caió, can persist as an infection of the elderly. DESIGN A mathematical model of the spread of HIV-2 was tailored to the epidemic in Caió, a village in Guinea-...

Challenges facing HIV treatment in Guinea-Bissau: the benefits of international research collaborations

PROBLEM The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa has improved the quality of life of millions of people and reduced mortality. However, substantial problems with the infrastructure for ART delivery remain. APPROACH Clinicians and researchers at an HIV clinic in Guinea-Bissau identified problems with the delivery of ART by establishing a clinical...

Barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral therapy adherence among patients with HIV in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau: A qualitative study.

Adherence is a decisive factor in achieving a successful response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection. No previous studies have been conducted regarding HIV treatment adherence in Guinea-Bissau. In this study we assessed barriers and facilitators to patient ART adherence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adult, HIV infected individuals receiving ART at a HIV treat...

Commentary: Contrary findings from Guinea-Bissau and Papua New Guinea.

Establishing a twin registry in Guinea-Bissau.

Twins traditionally retain a special status in many African societies. In Guinea-Bissau, twins are often well regarded yet still suffer from a very high mortality, especially in the perinatal and infant period. At the Bandim Health Project, a health and demographic surveillance site, we have recently established one of the first twin registries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our short-term aim is to de...