title: Retention in medical care and antiretroviral treatment according to skin color in southern Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the retention in medical care and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment of individuals living with HIV and AIDS to antiretroviral therapy in southern Brazil according to their "race" or skin color. This study is part of a 225-day prospective trial, comprising 7 interviews, in which an intervention designed to improve adherence to treatment was tested. A convenience sample of 73 individuals living with HIV and/or AIDS enrolled in this follow-up procedure. The mean length of continuance in treatment was 161.5 (standard deviation [SD] = 18.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 125-198) and 138.4 (SD = 14.1; 95% C.I. = 111-166) days in the "nonwhite" and "white" categories, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 categories, χ(2)(1, n = 72) = 0.76, P = .38, which include similar levels of retention in medical care and treatment with ARV medications between groups of individuals categorized as white and nonwhite in this sample.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zubaran
authors.forename: Lessandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michelim
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Foresti
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: José Mauro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Madi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012923:Social Class; D044465:White People
keywords: Brazil; continental population groups; highly active antiretroviral therapy; medication adherence; patient compliance