Prevalence and Correlates of Heavy Alcohol use among People Living with HIV who use Unregulated Drugs in Vancouver, Canada
AbstractAmong people living with HIV (PLWH), heavy alcohol use is associated with many negative health consequences. However, the impacts of heavy alcohol use are not well described for PLWH who use drugs. Thus, we investigated the prevalence and correlates of heavy alcohol use among a cohort of people who use drugs (PWUD) living with HIV in Vancouver, Canada. We accessed data from an ongoing community-recruited prospective cohort of PLWH who use drugs with linked comprehensive HIV clinical monitoring data. We used generalized linear mixed-effects modeling to identify factors longitudinally associated with periods of heavy...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Awareness of U = U among Sexual and Gender Minorities in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru: Differences According to Self-reported HIV Status
In conclusion, awareness of U = U varied by HIV status, socio-demographic characteristics, and HIV risk behavior. The concept of U = U should be disseminated through educational strategies and include a focus on SGM to combat HIV stigma. (Source: AIDS and Behavior)
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Family Planning Counseling for Women Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of the Impact on Contraceptive Uptake, Intention to Use Contraception and Pregnancy Incidence, 2011 to 2022
AbstractWomen ’s ability to control their fertility and have the number of children they want when they want them is an internationally recognized human right. This right has been the driving force behind family planning programs in low- and middle-income countries for more than five decades. The HIV epidemic a dded greater urgency to those efforts once the risk of vertical transmission of the virus from mothers to their infants was recognized. In 2013, we published a systematic review of the evidence of effectiveness of family planning counseling for women living with HIV, emphasizing HIV related behavior s. In this upd...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Impact of Telemedicine on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Related Clinical Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this study, we compared appointment and laboratory no-show rates in an urban outpatient HIV clinic during three time periods: (1) Pre-COVID-19: 9/15/2019 –3/14/2020 (predominately in-person), (2) “Early” COVID-19: 3/15/2020-9/14/2020 (predominately telemedicine), and (3) “Later” COVID-19: 9/15/2020-3/14/2021 (mixed in-person/telemedicine). Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the two study hypotheses: (i) equivalence of Period 2 with Period 1 and of Period 3 with Period 1 and (ii) improved outcomes with telemedicine over in-person visits. No-show rates were 1% in Period 1, 4% in Period 2, and 18%...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Empirical Development of a Behavioral Intervention for African American/Black and Latino Persons with Unsuppressed HIV Viral Load Levels: An Application of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) Using Cost-Effectiveness as an Optimization Objective
We examined four scenarios: one-time intervention with and without discounting and continuous interventions with and without discounting. In all four scenarios, interventions that comprise or include SB and NL (and including health education) were cost effective (< $100,000/quality-adjusted life year). Further, with consideration of HRQoL impact, maximal intervention became cost-effective enough to be scalable. Thus, a fractional factorial experiment coupled with cost-effectiveness analysis is a promising approach to optimize multi-component interventions for scalability. The present study can guide service planning eff...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Expanding the Scope of AIDS and Behavior: Behavioral Infectiology
(Source: AIDS and Behavior)
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Socioeconomic Status and CD4 Count Among People with HIV Who Inject Drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia
AbstractLack of access to resources is a “fundamental cause” of poor HIV outcomes across the care cascade globally and may have the greatest impact on groups with co-existing marginalized identities. In a sample of people living with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs and were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART), we explored associations betwe en access to resources and HIV severity. Fundamental Cause Theory (FCT) sees socioeconomic status/access to resources as a root cause of disease and emphasizes that individuals with limited resources have fewer means to mitigate health risks and implement protective behaviors, which ulti...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 24, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on HIV Test Uptake Among People Who Inject Drugs in the Context of an HIV Outbreak
In conclusion, progress in increasing testing in response to the HIV outbreak has been eroded by COVID-19. Adoption of a linked data approach could be warranted in other settings to inform efforts to eliminate HIV transmission. (Source: AIDS and Behavior)
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Teachers ’ Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Implementation of an Evidence-based HIV Prevention Program in the Bahamas
In this study, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of a HIV prevention intervention in The Bahamas. Data were collected from 139 Grade 6 teachers in 2021 –2022. Teachers attended virtual training and received implementation monitoring from coordinators. On average, teachers taught 26.4 (SD = 9.2) of the 35 core activities, and 7.4 (SD = 2.4) out of 9 sessions. More than half (58.3%) of teachers completed 28 or more core activities; 69.1% co vered eight or all nine sessions, which is equivalent to 80% of the HIV intervention curriculum. Almost half of the teachers (43%) reported t...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 20, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Disparities in HIV Testing and PrEP Awareness for Black Women who Inject Drugs in San Francisco, California
AbstractHIV disproportionately affects Black/African Americans (AA), while PrEP is under-utilized by Black/AA, women, and people who inject drugs (PWID). In San Francisco, California ’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance among PWID in 2022, Black/AA women were the least likely to be tested for HIV among all groups by sex and race/ethnicity and the least likely to be aware of PrEP among women. Yet, Black/AA women were no less likely to see a healthcare provider in the last ye ar. Data suggest that providers’ failure to discuss and address HIV risk with Black/AA female PWID is a major barrier to accessing effective car...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 20, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Characteristics of Received HIV Prevention Advocacy from Persons Living with HIV in Uganda, and Associations with HIV Testing and Condom Use Among Social Network Members
AbstractReceiving peer advocacy has been shown to result in increased HIV protective behaviors, but little research has gone beyond assessment of the mere presence of advocacy to examine aspects of advocacy driving these effects. With baseline data from a controlled trial of an advocacy training intervention, we studied characteristics of HIV prevention advocacy received among 599 social network members of persons living with HIV in Uganda and the association of these characteristics with the social network members ’ recent HIV testing (past six months) and consistent condom use, as well as perceived influence of advocac...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 20, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AbstractVaccine hesitancy is one of the top 10 threats to global health, which affects the prevalence and fatality of vaccine-preventable diseases over the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with HIV (PLWH) may have higher risks of infection, more serious complications, and worse prognosis without the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine. A systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PLWH was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies published between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2022. The pooled prevalence with a ...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 16, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Socio-Behavioural Barriers to Viral Suppression in the Older Adult Population in Rural South Africa
AbstractSouth Africa has the largest share of people living with HIV in the world and this population is ageing. The social context in which people seek HIV care is often ignored. Apart from clinical interventions, socio-behavioural factors impact successful HIV care outcomes for older adults living with HIV. We use cross-sectional data linked with demographic household surveillance data, consisting of HIV positive adults aged above 40, to identify socio-behavioural predictors of a detectable viral load. Older adults were more likely to have a detectable viral load if they did not disclose their HIV positive status to clos...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 15, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Correction: Behavior Change Among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men Not Using PrEP in the United States
(Source: AIDS and Behavior)
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 15, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Early Effects of Scaling Up Dolutegravir-Based ARV Regimens Among Children Living with HIV in Malawi
AbstractViral suppression (VS) in children has remained suboptimal compared to that in adults. We evaluated the impact of transitioning children weighing < 20 kg to a pediatric formulation of dolutegravir (pDTG) on VS in Malawi. We analyzed routine retrospective program data from electronic medical record systems pooled across 169 healthcare facilities in Malawi supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). We included child ren who weighed < 20 kg and received antiretroviral therapy (ART) between July 2021–June 2022. Using descriptive statistics, we summarized demographic and c...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 13, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
