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
Measuring Spatial Access of Vulnerable Population to HIV Testing Facilities in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area, Louisiana
AbstractEnsuring adequate and equitable access to affordable HIV testing is a crucial step toward ending the HIV epidemic (EHE). Using the high-burden Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as an example, we measure spatial access to HIV testing facilities for vulnerable populations and assess whether their access would improve if eliminating a considerable barrier —costs. Locations and status (free, low-cost, and full cost) of HIV testing facilities are searched on the Internet and confirmed through a field survey. Vulnerable populations include the uninsured and people living with HIV (PLWH), disaggregated fro...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 12, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Prevalence and Correlates of Substance Use Among Youth Living with HIV in Fishing Communities in Uganda
AbstractAlcohol and drug use (ADU) poses a significant barrier to optimal HIV treatment outcomes for adolescents and youths living with HIV (AYLHIV). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of ADU among ALHIV in Ugandan fishing communities, areas characterized by high HIV and poverty rates. AYLHIV aged 18 –24, who knew they were HIV-positive, were selected from six HIV clinics. Substance use was determined through self-report in the last 12 months and urine tests for illicit substances. Utilizing a socioecological framework, the study structured variables into a hierarchical logistic regression ana lysis to...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 12, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Avoiding Shots in the Dark: Learning from the Past To Inform the Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for Black American Cisgender Women
AbstractThe FDA ’s approval of long-acting injectable cabotegravir pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI PrEP) as an alternative to daily oral PrEP represents a crucial development in HIV prevention, particularly for American Black cisgender women who face high HIV-1 risks. Yet, uptake may be hindered by racial and gende r inequities. Addressing these requires learning from the roll-out of oral PrEP, creating culturally tailored PrEP campaigns, and enhancing provider training to meet Black women’s needs. Tools for discussing PrEP within personal relationships and product preference research tailored to Black women ’s needs a...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 12, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Examining the Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Community Level Correlates of Access to Medical Care Among Women Employed by Sex Work in Southern Uganda: A cross-sectional Analysis of the Kyaterekera Study
AbstractWomen employed by sex work (WESW) experience significant gaps in accessing necessary healthcare services, leading to unmet health needs. Yet, there is a dearth of literature on the barriers to medical care access among WESW in Uganda. We used data from the Kyaterekera baseline to examine the correlates of access to medical care among WESW, defined as the ability of individuals to obtain the necessary healthcare services they require in a timely, affordable, and equitable manner. The Kyaterekera study recruited 542 WESW aged 18 –58 years from Southern Uganda. We conducted a multilevel linear regression model to de...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 12, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Acceptability of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy Among People with HIV Receiving Care at Three Ryan White Funded Clinics in the United States
AbstractUnderstanding the acceptability of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) among people with HIV (PWH), especially priority populations, is essential for effective implementation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients in three Ryan White-funded HIV clinics in San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. We employed maximal variation sampling across age, gender, race, ethnicity, and time living with HIV and oversampled for individuals with suboptimal clinical engagement. An 8-step hybrid deductive and inductive thematic analysis approach guided data analysis. Between August 2020 and July 2021...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 10, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Community-Identified Implementation Strategies for Promoting the Adoption of HIV Self-Testing in a Southern California American Indian community: A Rapid Qualitative Analysis
The objectives of this study were to understand factors influencing HIV testing decisions and identify implementation strategies to promote the acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in a southern California AI community. A total of 15 semi-structured interviews were completed with adult community members of a southern California AI reservation. Analysis used a rapid analytic approach that was guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework and expert recommendations for implementing change (ERIC) compilation. Two team members applied a standardized summary template to elucidate impl...
Source: AIDS and Behavior - April 9, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
