Suchergebnisse

BACKGROUND: Since May 2004, ten Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have joined the European Union, leading to a large influx of CEE migrants to the United Kingdom (UK). The SALLEE project (sexual attitudes and lifestyles of London's Eastern Europeans) set out to establish an understanding of the sexual lifestyles and reproductive health risks of CEE migrants. CEE nationals make up a small minority of the population resident in the UK with no sampling frame from which to select a probability sample. There is also difficulty estimating the socio-demographic and geographical distribution of the population. In addition, measuring self-reported sexual behaviour which is generally found to be problematic, may be compounded among people from a range of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This paper will describe the methods adopted by the SALLEE project to address these challenges. METHODS: The research was undertaken using quantitative and qualitative methods: a cross-sectional survey of CEE migrants based on three convenience samples (recruited from community venues, sexual health clinics and from the Internet) and semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposively selected sample of CEE migrants. A detailed social mapping exercise of the CEE community was conducted prior to commencement of the survey to identify places where CEE migrants could be recruited. A total of 3,005 respondents took part in the cross-sectional survey, including 2,276 respondents in the community sample, 357 in the clinic sample and 372 in the Internet sample. 40 in-depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with a range of individuals, as determined by the interview quota matrix. DISCUSSION: The SALLEE project has benefited from using quantitative research to provide generalisable data on a range of variables and qualitative research to add in-depth understanding and interpretation. The social mapping exercise successfully located a large number of CEE migrants for the community sample and is recommended for other migrant populations, especially when little or no official data are available for this purpose. The project has collected timely data that will help us to understand the sexual lifestyles, reproductive health risks and health service needs of CEE communities in the UK.

IntroductionThe evolving HIV epidemic, coupled with advances in HIV treatment, has resulted in an ageing HIV‐diagnosed population. It has been suggested that adverse physical and psychological effects of HIV may be higher among older people. However, few studies have examined the effect of older age on well‐being for people with HIV.Materials and MethodsThe ASTRA study included 3258 HIV‐diagnosed individuals (2248 MSM; 373 heterosexual men; 637 women) recruited from eight UK clinics in 2011–12 (64% response rate). Participants completed a questionnaire that included standard inventories on symptoms and health‐related quality of life (HrQoL). Associations of age group with: physical symptom distress (reporting significant distress for ≥1 of 26 symptoms), depression and anxiety (score ≥10 on PHQ‐9 and GAD‐7, respectively) and HrQoL problem (reporting problems on ≥1 of 5 Eurqol‐5D domains) were assessed; adjustment was made for gender/sexuality and time with diagnosed HIV.ResultsOf all participants, 87% were taking ART, 76% had VL ≤50c/mL and 19% had CD4 <350/mm3. Mean age was 45 years (range 18–88) with 5% <30, 23% 30–39, 43% 40–49, 22% 50–59 and 7% ≥60 years. The most prevalent distressing physical symptoms were: lack of energy/tiredness (26%), difficulty sleeping (24%), muscle‐ache/joint pain (21%) and pain (18%). With older age, there was no clear trend in prevalence of physical symptom distress, but prevalence of depression and anxiety decreased, while prevalence of HrQoL problems increased. This pattern remained after adjustment for gender/sexuality and time diagnosed with HIV. The increase with age in overall prevalence of HrQoL problem was due to increased problems for "mobility," "self‐care" and "performing usual activities" domains, not an increase in "depression/anxiety." Longer time with diagnosed HIV was strongly associated with higher prevalence of all symptoms measures and HrQoL problem (p<0.001 for trend, adjusted models).ConclusionsPhysical and psychological symptoms are common among people living with HIV, but the burden of these symptoms is not highest among the older age group. While HrQoL tended to worsen with older age, physical symptom distress did not, and mental health improved. This may reflect greater resilience in older adults, or the potential for "successful ageing": maintaining mental health despite age‐related health losses.