Alternative or complementary? Nonallopathic therapies for HIV/AIDS.
BACKGROUND
Many people with HIV/AIDS use alternative therapies. Do they choose alternative therapies instead of allopathic therapies?


OBJECTIVE
To examine patterns of use of allopathic therapies and alternative therapies among people living with HIV/AIDS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of convenience sample.


METHODS
Nonclinical setting in Australia.


METHODS
925 men and women living with HIV/AIDS in Australia.


METHODS
Correlates of choice of therapy included demographic variables, sources of information about treatment, and attitudes toward treatments and health management.


RESULTS
56% of people living with HIV/AIDS in Australia use alternative therapies. Attitudes toward both allopathic and alternative therapies were positive. The choice of allopathic and/or alternative therapies was related to disease progression. Choice of therapy was also related to attitudes toward allopathic and alternative therapies. Many users of alternative therapies believe that such therapies can alleviate the side effects of antiretroviral drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that rather than being used as an alternative to allopathic medicine, nonallopathic therapies are used by people living with HIV/AIDS as complementary therapies.
de Visser
R
R
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Ezzy
D
D
Bartos
M
M
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents