PERCEPTIONS OF HIV-INFECTION ON TUBERCULOSIS AND ITS TREATMENT

Abstract

The article focuses on socio-psychological characteristics of HIV and HIV/tuberculosis co-infection patients. Awareness of underlying HIV condition and tuberculosis among patients, as well as concept and attitude towards their treatment efficiency of tuberculosis and HIV co-infection were explored. In this study the Medical-Psychological Counseling Questionnaire has been developed, which is a multiplechoice test of 28 items. The methods of questionnaire, diagnostic interview, overt observation, and comparative analysis were used. That study has identified the socio-psychological personality characteristics of HIV and HIV/tuberculosis co-infection patients that decrease resistance to stress and social adaptiveness. The findings can then be used for selecting of existing methodic facilities and
development of new ones during psychological diagnosis, correction and psychotherapeutic counseling of HIV and HIV/tuberculosis coinfection patients. Some respondents’ questionnaire replies contradict their answers during personal diagnostic interview. So the patients tend to give socially upheld (insincere) answers in written survey. These findings highlight the need for further development of the topic, and also for individual psychological counseling of each patient.