Religion and HIV diagnosis among Africans living in London.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the paper was to describe the association of religion with HIV outcomes in newly diagnosed Africans living in London.


METHODS
A survey of newly diagnosed HIV-positive Africans attending 15 HIV treatment centres across London was carried out between April 2004 and February 2006. Confidential self-completed questionnaires were used, linked to clinical records. Bivariate analyses were conducted to ascertain whether religious beliefs were associated with late diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy, and immunological and virological outcome 6 months post diagnosis.


RESULTS
A total of 246 Black Africans were eligible and included in the analysis: 62.6% were women, and the median age was 34 years. The median CD4 count at diagnosis was 194 cells/μL (range 0-1334 cells/μL) and 75.6% presented late, as defined as a CD4 count < 350 cells/μL. Most participants were religious: non-Roman Catholic Christians (55.7%), Roman Catholics (35.2%) and Muslims (6.1%). Only 1.2% stated that they did not have a religion. Participants who attended religious services at least monthly were more likely to believe that 'faith alone can cure HIV' than those who attended less frequently (37.7% vs. 15.0%; P = 0.002). A small proportion (5.2%) believed that taking antiretroviral therapy implied a lack of faith in God. Bivariate analysis found no relationship between religiousness (as measured using frequency of attendance at religious services and religious attitudes or beliefs) and late diagnosis, changes in CD4 count/viral load 6 months post diagnosis, or initiation of antiretroviral therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong religious beliefs about faith and healing are unlikely to act as a barrier to accessing HIV testing or antiretroviral treatment for Black Africans living in London.
Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK. ibidun.fakoya@ucl.ac.uk
I
I
Fakoya
Am
A
Johnson
Ka
K
Fenton
J
J
Anderson
N
N
Nwokolo
Ak
A
Sullivan
P
P
Munday
Fm
F
Burns
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D012067:Religion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult