Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Neurocognitive Impairment On Treatment Outcomes Among Drug-Involved People Living With Hiv/Aids, Ifeoma O. Ezeabogu

Master's Theses

Drug- and sex-related HIV risk behaviors and sub-optimal adherence to HIV medication regimens can jeopardize the health of HIV–infected injection drug users (IDUs) and threaten community health. Findings to date indicate that it is feasible to deliver a brief behavioral risk reduction/medication adherence group intervention to HIV-infected IDUs in a community-based setting. Being adherent to HAART or being able to successfully participate in behavioral interventions targeting adherence and harm reduction often requires a relatively high level of cognitive abilities. HIV infection and substance abuse are known to independently affect the central nervous system and this can result in neuro-cognitive impairment. …