South Africa Jonathan Golub MD/PhD Program at the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases concentration)
Background: There is a high prevalence of smoking (particularly in men) in South Africa, a country that is heavily burdened by HIV and tuberculosis (TB) mortality. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of TB. Although its effects on TB in HIV+ individuals are still being characterized, recent studies indicate that smoking is associated with increased TB incidence and other lung diseases. Smoking cessation may provide substantial health benefits to HIV+ individuals, but desire and motivators for smoking cessation in this population in South Africa are poorly understood.
Objectives: 1. To assess the prevalence of interest in quitting smoking among HIV+ and HIV/TB co-infected smokers in South Africa. 2. To determine factors currently associated with interest in quitting smoking among HIV+ and TB-infected smokers in South Africa 3. To identify factors that would influence interest in quitting smoking among HIV+ and TB-infected smokers in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional survey will be conducted to assess interest in quitting smoking. 150 HIV+ and HIV/TB co-infected individuals who smoke in two hospital and clinic settings will be interviewed to determine smoking habits, health status, perceptions of smoking influence on health, and willingness to quit smoking. Participants will also be asked about factors that would increase their willingness to quit.
| 
