Does the Association Between Stimulant use and High Risk Sexual Behavior Vary by Injection Drug Use, Sexual Minority Status, or HIV Infection Status? A Meta-analysis
In this study, we systematically reviewed associations between stimulant use (i.e., methamphetamine, crack cocaine, cocaine) and sexual risk behaviors among populations facing elevated risk of HIV transmission and acquisition (i.e., SMM, people who inject drugs (PWID), and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH)). Random-effects meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses that included crude and adjusted estimates separately were conducted to evaluate the impact of potential confounding variables. The results showed strong relationships between stimulant use and condomless sex, transactional sex, and multiple sexual partners. Result...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Injection Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among People who Inject Drugs in Ukraine: A Random-Intercept Latent Transition Analysis
AbstractHIV transmission in Ukraine is driven in part by unsafe injection drug use and sexual risk behaviors among people who inject drugs. We performed a random-intercept latent transition analysis on responses to 9 binary injection drug use and sexual behavior items from 1195 people who inject drugs with negative HIV status enrolled in a clustered randomized clinical trial of a social network intervention in Odessa, Donetsk, and Nikolayev, Ukraine. We identified 5 baseline classes: “Social injection/equipment-sharing” (11.7%), “Social injection” (25.9%), “High-risk collective preparation/splitting” (17.0% )...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Willingness to Participate in and Preferences for Studies of mHealth HIV Prevention Interventions: Cross-Sectional Study Among Sexual and Gender Minority Groups in the Southern United States
AbstractA number of mobile HIV prevention interventions have been developed to increase uptake of HIV prevention services such as HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Most of these interventions have been tested among urban populations. However, sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups in rural areas might also benefit from mobile HIV prevention interventions. These groups have heightened experiences of stigma and discrimination and have limited access to culturally competent healthcare. We conducted a survey of SGM participants in the southern United States to assess willingness to use the common features of mo...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
A Psychometric Evaluation and a Framework Test of the HIV Stigma Mechanisms Scale Among a Population-Based Sample of Men and Women Living with HIV in Central Uganda
This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the HIV Stigma Mechanisms Scale (HIV-SMS) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in central Uganda and tests the underlying framework. Using data from the PATH/Ekkubo study, (n = 804 PLHIV), we assessed the HIV-SMS’ reliability and validity (face, content, construct, and convergent). We used multiple regression analyses to test the HIV-SMS’ association with health and well-being outcomes. Findings revealed a more specific (5-factor) stigma structure than the origi nal model, splitting anticipated and enacted stigmas into two subconstructs: family and healthcare wor...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Attitudes Towards Treatment as Prevention Among PrEP-Experienced Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia
AbstractThe introduction of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to impact the attitudes gay and bisexual men (GBM) who consequently choose to take PrEP have towards treatment as prevention (TasP), and the extent to which they are willing to have condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) with an HIV-positive sexual partner who has an undetectable viral load (UVL). Using a cross-sectional sample from an observational cohort study conducted from August 2018 to March 2020, we examined the extent to which PrEP-experienced GBM are willing to have CLAI with a partner who has a UVL. Simple and multiple logistic regressi...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Effects of M-DEPTH Model of Depression Care on Maternal HIV Viral Suppression and Adherence to the PMTCT Care Continuum Among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Uganda: Results from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial at Pregnancy Completion
We examined the effects of the M-DEPTH (Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV) depression care model (including antidepressants and individual Problem Solving Therapy) on depression, maternal viral suppression and adherence to PMTCT care processes in an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial of 391 HIV-infected pregnant women (200 usual care; 191 intervention) with at least mild depressive symptoms enrolled across 8 antenatal care clinics in Uganda. At baseline, 68.3% had clinical depression and 41.7% had detectable HIV viral load. Adjusted repeated-measures multivariable regression models found that the intervention g...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - August 31, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Moderating Role of Social Support and HIV Stigma on the Association Between Depression and ART Adherence Among Young Thai Men Who Have Sex with Men
AbstractIn Thailand, antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs still have difficulties reaching and promoting adherence among a key population - young men who have sex with men (YMSM) living with HIV. As such, we sought to examine potential psychosocial barriers that may contribute to suboptimal levels of ART adherence for this population. Data were drawn from a study of 214 YMSM living with HIV from Bangkok, Thailand. Linear regression models tested the association between depression and ART adherence, and whether social support and HIV-related stigma moderated that relationship. Multivariable models demonstrated social suppo...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 29, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Identifying Patterns of Discontinuing and Recommencing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the Context of Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia
AbstractWe mapped gay and bisexual men ’s (GBM) patterns of using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) over time and explored sexual behavior as PrEP use changed. We conducted semi-structured interviews between June 2020 and February 2021 with 40 GBM living in Australia who had changed their PrEP use since initiating. There was considerable diversity in patterns of discontinuation, suspension, and recommencement of PrEP. Reasons for changing PrEP use mostly centered on accurate perceived changes to HIV risk. Twelve participants reported condomless anal intercourse with casual or f.buddy partners after discontinuing PrEP. Thes...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 29, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
More than just Reminders: Using text Messaging to Improve HIV care Outcomes Among Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV
This study evaluated engagement, satisfaction, and efficacy of an automated and live two-way text messaging intervention that linked youth and young adults at high risk for poor HIV outcomes to their medical case managers, with the aims of increasing viral load suppression rates and improving medical visit attendance. Participants (N = 100) were an average age of 22–23 years old. Most were Black (93%) and men who have sex with men (82%). A total of 89,681 automated text messages were sent to participants; and 62% of participants engaged in monthly text-message exchanges with medical case managers. McNemar’s test r...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 29, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Acceptability and Use of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring and Daily Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) During Breastfeeding in South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Uganda
This study examines qualitative acceptability of the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR) and oral daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among breastfeeding persons participating in Microbicide Trials Network 043/B-PROTECTED, a phase 3B safety and drug detectability study of DVR and oral PrEP in breastfeeding. A subsample of 52 participants were purposively sampled to participate in an in-depth interview (IDI). Breastfeeding participants found both study products to be acceptable, and easy to use. A common motivation for product use was to protect the baby from HIV, although participants ’ understanding of how the study drug wo...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 11, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Cannabis Use Frequency is Associated with PrEP Cessation and Self-reported HIV Diagnosis
AbstractTo achieve stated targets in the United States of Ending the HIV Epidemic by 2030, it is necessary to decrease rates of pre-exposure prophylaxis use (PrEP) cessation. In particular, it is key to assess PrEP use and cannabis use frequency given the recent wave of cannabis decriminalization across the U.S., particularly among sexual minority men and gender diverse (SMMGD) individuals. We used data from the baseline visit of a national study of Black and Hispanic/Latino SMMGD. Among participants reporting any lifetime cannabis use, we further assessed the association between frequency of cannabis use in the past 3 mon...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 8, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Experiences of Stigma and HIV Status Associated with Awareness and Usage of Safer Sex Functions in Dating Apps Among MSM, 2019 American Men ’s Internet Survey (AMIS) Study
AbstractDating apps represent opportunities to implement sexual health interventions among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly those who may avoid traditional health services due to intersecting stigmas. We used multivariable models to explore whether stigma experience was associated with awareness and usage of safer sex functions in dating apps among 7700 MSM who completed a 2019 US nationwide online survey. Perceived community intolerance of gay and bisexual men was associated with reduced awareness of sexual health strategy profile options (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 0.95; 95% con...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 8, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Psychosocial Syndemic Classes and Longitudinal Transition Patterns Among Sexual Minority men Living with or Without HIV in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)
AbstractMental health and substance use epidemics interact to create psychosocial syndemics, accelerating poor health outcomes. Using latent class and latent transition analyses, we identified psychosocial syndemic phenotypes and their longitudinal transition pathways among sexual minority men (SMM) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS, n = 3,384, mean age 44, 29% non-Hispanic Black, 51% with HIV). Self-reported depressive symptoms and substance use indices (i.e., smoking, hazardous drinking, marijuana, stimulant, and popper use) at the index visit, 3-year and 6-year follow-up were used to model psychosocial syn...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 7, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
HIV Focused Sexual Risk-Reduction Interventions Targeting Adolescent Boys and Young Men in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review
AbstractAdolescent girls and young women ’s exceptionalism with HIV interventions has left adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) trailing behind, thus becoming a marginalized and underserved population. The scoping review aimed to provide an overview of interventions that have targeted sexual risk behaviors in ABYM in Sub-Saharan Africa ( SSA) over the previous 21 years with critical insights on ‘what works’ in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. A scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s (in Int J Soc Res Methodol 8(1):19–32,16) framework and the 2015 Johanna Briggs Institute ’s guidelines was c...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 5, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Acceptability and Effectiveness of a One-Hour Healthcare Provider Intervention Integrating HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Cultural Competence Training
AbstractEnhanced provider training could improve PrEP access and equity. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing (a) a one-hour, group-based provider intervention integrating PrEP and Cultural Competence (PCC) training with (b) a standard HIV continuing medical education session (n = 56). PCC participants favorably rated the intervention and reported increased PrEP knowledge. The PCC intervention increased their confidence performing PrEP-related clinical activities and intention to prescribe PrEP. The percentage of participants discussing PrEP with patients increased mar ginally in both study condit...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - July 4, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
