[The alternative medicine used as complementary in patients positive for HIV].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and to identify the type and factors associated to its use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study made in HIV clinics of three majors institutions from Morelos State, Mexico; the sample was 293 subjects; a specific questionnaire looking for demographic information and CAM use was applied.


RESULTS
The use of CAM was 73.4%; 71% informed to the physician of their use. 51% of the patients reported using nutritional complements, 29.7% herbal products and 19% used physical agents like exercise, Chinese medicine, and therapy by contact. A total of 96.6 % of the users reported some perception of benefit with its use. The patients with low income, IMSS beneficiaries and on antirretroviral treatment were the greatest CAM users.


CONCLUSIONS
CAM use is a common practice among HIV (+) patients. The multivitamins and herbal products were the most used. The majority was prescribed by health personnel and the users showed some benefit. Other longitudinal studies are required to establish the CAM impact on the disease evolution and the quality of life of HIV (+) patients.
Herrera-Arellano
Armando
A
Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Xochitepec, Morelos, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico. armandoha_mx@yahoo.com.mx
Jaime-Delgado
Minerva
M
Herrera-Alvarez
Sara
S
Oaxaca-Navarro
Jesús
J
Salazar-Martínez
Eduardo
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult