A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador
In 2013 approximately 37,000 people were living with HIV in Ecuador (prevalence 0.4%), representing a generalized epidemic where most new infections arise from sexual interactions in the general population. Studies that examine attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLWH), individual risk percept...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-11-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2726.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797419360606748672 |
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| author | Adam L. Beckman Magdalena M. Wilson Vishaal Prabhu Nicola Soekoe Humberto Mata Lauretta E. Grau |
| author_facet | Adam L. Beckman Magdalena M. Wilson Vishaal Prabhu Nicola Soekoe Humberto Mata Lauretta E. Grau |
| author_sort | Adam L. Beckman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2013 approximately 37,000 people were living with HIV in Ecuador (prevalence 0.4%), representing a generalized epidemic where most new infections arise from sexual interactions in the general population. Studies that examine attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLWH), individual risk perception of acquiring HIV amongst Ecuadorians, and the ways in which levels of risk perception may affect risk behaviors are lacking. This qualitative study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by investigating these issues in the rural, coastal community of Manglaralto, Ecuador, which has among the highest incidence of HIV in Ecuador. We conducted interviews with 15 patients at Manglaralto Hospital. Analysis of interview transcripts revealed widespread negative attitudes towards PLWH, prevalent risk behaviors such as multiple sex partners and lack of condom use, and low individual risk-perception of contracting HIV. These findings underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent further growth of the HIV epidemic in Ecuador. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:47:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-588adc13022b42769bdbe395e2c8a0b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:47:10Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-588adc13022b42769bdbe395e2c8a0b82023-12-03T10:34:28ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-11-014e272610.7717/peerj.2726A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal EcuadorAdam L. Beckman0Magdalena M. Wilson1Vishaal Prabhu2Nicola Soekoe3Humberto Mata4Lauretta E. Grau5Yale College, New Haven, CT, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United StatesYale College, New Haven, CT, United StatesDepartment of Ethics, Politics and Economics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesFundación VIHDA, Guayaquil, EcuadorCenter for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS and the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United StatesIn 2013 approximately 37,000 people were living with HIV in Ecuador (prevalence 0.4%), representing a generalized epidemic where most new infections arise from sexual interactions in the general population. Studies that examine attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLWH), individual risk perception of acquiring HIV amongst Ecuadorians, and the ways in which levels of risk perception may affect risk behaviors are lacking. This qualitative study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by investigating these issues in the rural, coastal community of Manglaralto, Ecuador, which has among the highest incidence of HIV in Ecuador. We conducted interviews with 15 patients at Manglaralto Hospital. Analysis of interview transcripts revealed widespread negative attitudes towards PLWH, prevalent risk behaviors such as multiple sex partners and lack of condom use, and low individual risk-perception of contracting HIV. These findings underscore the need for increased efforts to prevent further growth of the HIV epidemic in Ecuador.https://peerj.com/articles/2726.pdfHIV/AIDSHIV risk perceptionHIV risk behaviorHIV attitudesEcuadorGlobal health |
| spellingShingle | Adam L. Beckman Magdalena M. Wilson Vishaal Prabhu Nicola Soekoe Humberto Mata Lauretta E. Grau A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador PeerJ HIV/AIDS HIV risk perception HIV risk behavior HIV attitudes Ecuador Global health |
| title | A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador |
| title_full | A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador |
| title_short | A qualitative view of the HIV epidemic in coastal Ecuador |
| title_sort | qualitative view of the hiv epidemic in coastal ecuador |
| topic | HIV/AIDS HIV risk perception HIV risk behavior HIV attitudes Ecuador Global health |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2726.pdf |
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