ATTITUDES TO PREVENTION AMONG HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - THE CASE OF SPECIFIC PROPHYLAXIS FOR PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA

Despite a consensus on the need for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PC P) prophylaxis for HIV-infected patients with fewer than 200 CD4+ lymp hocytes/mm3, the number of cases of PCP has remained stable, and about 70% involve patients who are not receiving prophylaxis. The aim of th is study was to determine why these patients are not covered by prophy laxis. It was based on a retrospective analysis of semidirective inter views with 32 patients who developed PCP while not receiving prophylax is. The reasons given were a lack of knowledge of risk factors for HIV infection, the fear of HIV testing, unawareness of the existence of P CP prophylaxis, a refusal to see a doctor in the absence of symptoms, unwillingness to be monitored and in four cases a failure of the docto r to prescribe prophylaxis.