Prevalence and Characteristics of CAM Use among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Lebanon: Implications for Patient Care
Table 1
Sociodemographic and disease characteristics of users and nonusers of CAM among study participants (PLWHA) ().
(%) ()
Users of CAM (%) ()
Nonusers of CAM (%) ()
OR (CI)
Sociodemographic characteristics
Age (years)
<35
40 (34.5)
24 (44.4)
16 (25.8)
1 (ref)
≥35
76 (65.5)
30 (55.6)
46 (74.2)
0.43 (0.19–0.95)
Gender
Male
91 (78.4)
44 (81.5)
47 (75.8)
1 (ref)
Female
23 (19.8)
9 (16.7)
14 (22.6)
0.69 (0.27–1.74)
Transgender
2 (1.7)
1 (1.9)
1 (1.6)
1.07 (0.06–17.60)
Marital status
Single/separated/widowed
75 (64.7)
42 (77.8)
33 (53.2)
1 (ref)
Married/living with a partner
41 (35.3)
12 (22.2)
29 (46.8)
0.32 (0.14–0.73)
Monthly income (USD)
No income
47 (40.9)
22 (40.7)
25 (41.0)
1 (ref)
<500
21 (18.3)
9 (16.7)
12 (19.7)
0.85 (0.30–2.40)
≥500
47 (40.9)
23 (42.6)
24 (39.3)
1.09 (0.48–2.45)
Employment status
Unemployed
55 (47.4)
27 (50.0)
28 (45.2)
1.21 (0.58–2.52)
Employed
61 (52.6)
27 (50.0)
34 (54.8)
1 (ref)
Health insurance
Uninsured
84 (72.4)
37 (68.5)
15 (24.2)
1 (ref)
Insured
32 (27.6)
17 (31.5)
47 (75.8)
1.44 (0.64–3.23)
Educational level
Less than high school diploma
59 (50.9)
17 (31.5)
42 (67.7)
1 (ref)
High school/university degree
57 (49.1)
37 (68.5)
20 (32.3)
4.57 (2.09–10.00)
Crowding index
<2
65 (56.0)
38 (70.4)
27 (43.5)
1 (ref)
≥2
51 (44.0)
16 (29.6)
35 (56.5)
0.32 (0.15–0.70)
Disease characteristics
Duration of awareness of HIV status
<6 years
56 (48.3)
27 (50.0)
29 (46.8)
1 (ref)
≥6 years
60 (51.7)
27 (50.0)
33 (53.2)
0.88 (0.42–1.82)
Perceived health status
Very poor/poor
10 (8.6)
6 (11.1)
4 (6.5)
1 (ref)
Fair
30 (25.9)
11 (20.4)
19 (30.6)
0.39 (0.89–1.67)
Good/excellent
76 (65.5)
37 (68.5)
39 (62.9)
0.63 (0.16–2.42)
Currently receiving HAART
Yes
99 (85.3)
44 (81.5)
55 (88.7)
0.56 (0.19–1.59)
No
17 (14.7)
10 (18.5)
7 (11.3)
1 (ref)
CD4 count
<200
10 (11.6)
3 (7.3)
7 (15.6)
1 (ref)
≥200
76 (88.4)
38 (92.7)
38 (84.4)
2.33 (0.56–9.70)
Total number of symptoms reported
0
27 (23.3)
13 (24.1)
14 (22.6)
1 (ref)
1-2
46 (39.7)
20 (37.0)
26 (41.9)
0.83 (0.32–2.15)
≥3
43 (37.1)
21 (37.1)
22 (35.5)
1.03 (0.39–2.69)
Column total may be different because of missing data. OR and their 95% CI were derived using a univariate logistic model with CAM use as the dependent variable. Crowding index was defined as the average number of people per room, excluding the kitchen and bathroom. The symptoms reported include fatigue, loss of appetite/smell/taste, respiratory, cutaneous, infectious, digestive, orthopedic, and cardiovascular symptoms.
