Use of Alternative Therapists Among People in Care for HIV in the United States

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2003 May 30

PMID 12773365

Citations 16

Authors

Andrew S London

Carrie E Foote-Ardah

John A Fleishman

Martin F Shapiro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the influence of sociodemographic, clinical, and attitudinal variables on the use of alternative therapists by people in care for HIV.

Methods: Bivariate and multivariate analyses of baseline data from the nationally representative HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study were conducted.

Results: Overall, 15.4% had used an alternative therapist, and among users, 53.9% had fewer than 5 visits in the past 6 months. Use was higher for people who were gay/lesbian, had incomes above 40,000 dollars, lived in the Northeast and West, were depressed, and wanted more information about and more decisionmaking involvement in their care. Among users, number of visits was associated with age, education, sexual orientation, insurance status, and CD4 count.

Conclusions: Among people receiving medical care for HIV, use of complementary care provided by alternative therapists is associated with several sociodemographic, clinical, and attitudinal variables. Evaluation of the coordination of provider-based alternative and standard medical care is needed.

Citing Articles

Age matters: differences in correlates of self-reported HIV antiretroviral treatment adherence between older and younger Black men who have sex with men living with HIV.

Mutchler M, Bogart L, Klein D, Wagner G, Klinger I, Tyagi K AIDS Care. 2019; 31(8):965-972.

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Prevalence and factors associated with the use of traditional medicines among human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Oche O, Sadiq U, Oladigbolu R, Chinna K Ann Afr Med. 2018; 17(3):125-132.

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Sexual Orientation Differences in Complementary Health Approaches Among Young Adults in the United States.

Upchurch D, Krueger E, Wight R J Adolesc Health. 2016; 59(5):562-569.

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A review of the use of complementary and alternative medicine and HIV: issues for patient care.

Lorenc A, Robinson N AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2013; 27(9):503-10.

PMID: 23991688 PMC: 3760022. DOI: 10.1089/apc.2013.0175.

Why HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment and/or cotrimoxazole prophylaxis use traditional medicine: perceptions of health workers, traditional healers and patients: a study in two provinces of South Africa.

Puoane T, Hughes G, Uwimana J, Johnson Q, Folk W Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013; 9(4):495-502.

PMID: 23983385 PMC: 3746650. DOI: 10.4314/ajtcam.v9i4.6.

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