INTRODUCTION: Same-sex serodiscordant male dyads represent a high-priority risk group, with approximately one to two thirds of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men attributable to main partnerships. Early initiation and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy is a key factor in HIV prevention and treatment; however, adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in the United States is low, with poor retention throughout the continuum of care. This study examines the perceptions of dyadic HIV treatment of men who have sex with men across the continuum of care to understand the preferences for how care may be sought with a partner.
METHODS: We conducted 5 focus group discussions in Atlanta, GA, with 35 men who reported being in same-sex male partnerships. Participants discussed perceptions of care using scenarios of a hypothetical same-sex male couple who recently received serodiscordant or seroconcordant HIV-positive results. Verbatim transcripts were segmented thematically and systematically analyzed to examine patterns in responses within and between participants and focus group discussions. RESULTS: Participants identified the need for comprehensive dyadic care and differences in care for seroconcordant HIV-positive versus serodiscordant couples. Participants described a reciprocal relationship between comprehensive dyadic care and positive relationship dynamics. This combination was described as reinforcing commitment, ultimately leading to increased accountability and treatment adherence.
DISCUSSION: Results indicate that the act of same-sex male couples "working together to reach a goal" may increase retention to HIV care across the continuum if care is comprehensive, focuses on both individual and dyadic needs, and promotes positive relationship dynamics.
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C Hendricks Brown;
David C. Mohr;
Carlos G. Gallo;
Christopher Mader;
Lawrence Palinkas;
Gina Wingood;
Guillermo Prado;
Sheppard G. Kellam;
Hilda Pantin;
Jeanne Poduska;
Robert Gibbons;
John McManus;
Mitsunori Ogihara;
Thomas Valente;
Fred Wulczyn;
Sara Czaja;
Geoff Sutcliffe;
Juan Villamar;
Christopher Jacobs
African Americans and Hispanics in the United States have much higher rates of HIV than non-minorities. There is now strong evidence that a range of behavioral interventions are efficacious in reducing sexual risk behavior in these populations. Although a handful of these programs are just beginning to be disseminated widely, we still have not implemented effective programs to a level that would reduce the population incidence of HIV for minorities. We proposed that innovative approaches involving computational technologies be explored for their use in both developing new interventions and in supporting wide-scale implementation of effective behavioral interventions. Mobile technologies have a place in both of these activities. First, mobile technologies can be used in sensing contexts and interacting to the unique preferences and needs of individuals at times where intervention to reduce risk would be most impactful. Second, mobile technologies can be used to improve the delivery of interventions by facilitators and their agencies. Systems science methods including social network analysis, agent-based models, computational linguistics, intelligent data analysis, and systems and software engineering all have strategic roles that can bring about advances in HIV prevention in minority communities. Using an existing mobile technology for depression and 3 effective HIV prevention programs, we illustrated how 8 areas in the intervention/implementation process can use innovative computational approaches to advance intervention adoption, fidelity, and sustainability.
Although the number of new infections has declined recently, women still constitute almost half of the world's 34 million people with HIV infection, and HIV remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Prevention research has made considerable progress during the past few years in addressing the biological, behavioral, and social factors that influence women's vulnerability to HIV infection. Nevertheless, substantial work still must be performed to implement scientific advancements and to resolve many questions that remain. This article highlights some of the recent advances and persistent gaps in HIV prevention research for women and outlines key research and policy priorities.
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Michael J. Vinikoor;
Anna Cope;
Cynthia L. Gay;
Guido Ferrari;
Kara S. McGee;
Joann D. Kuruc;
Jeffrey L Lennox;
David M. Margolis;
Charles B. Hicks;
Joseph J. Eron
Initiation of antiretroviral therapy during acute HIV-1 infection may prevent persistent immune activation. We analyzed longitudinal CD38+HLA-DR+ CD8+ T-cell percentages in 31 acutely infected individuals who started early (median 43 days since infection) and successful antiretroviral therapy, and maintained viral suppression through 96 weeks. Pretherapy a median of 72.6% CD8+ T cells were CD38+HLA-DR+, and although this decreased to 15.6% by 96 weeks, it remained substantially higher than seronegative controls (median 8.9%, P = 0.008). Shorter time to suppression predicted lower activation at 96 weeks. These results support the hypothesis that very early events in HIV-1 pathogenesis may result in prolonged immune dysfunction.
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Tamil Kendall;
Isabella Danel;
Diane Cooper;
Sophie Dilmitis;
Angela Kaida;
Athena Kourtis;
Ana Langer;
Ilana Lapidos-Salaiz;
Eva Lathrop;
Allisyn Moran;
Hannah Sebitloane;
Janet M. Turan;
D. Heather Watts;
Mary Nell Wegner
Introduction: HIV makes a significant contribution to maternal mortality, and women living in sub-Saharan Africa are most affected. International commitments to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and reduce HIV-related deaths among pregnant and postpartum women by 50% will not be achieved without a better understanding of the links between HIV and poor maternal health outcomes and improved health services for the care of women living with HIV (WLWH) during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.Methods: This article summarizes priorities for research and evaluation identified through consultation with 30 international researchers and policymakers with experience in maternal health and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and a review of the published literature.Results: Priorities for improving the evidence about effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health among WLWH include better quality data about causes of maternal death among WLWH, enhanced and harmonized program monitoring, and research and evaluation that contributes to improving: (1) clinical management of pregnant and postpartum WLWH, including assessment of the impact of expanded antiretroviral therapy on maternal mortality and morbidity, (2) integrated service delivery models, and (3) interventions to create an enabling social environment for women to begin and remain in care.Conclusions: As the global community evaluates progress and prepares for new maternal mortality and HIV targets, addressing the needs of WLWH must be a priority now and after 2015. Research and evaluation on maternal health and HIV can increase collaboration on these 2 global priorities, strengthen political constituencies and communities of practice, and accelerate progress toward achievement of goals in both areas.
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, women's disclosure of HIVpositive status to others may affect their use of services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) of HIV and maternal and child health-including antenatal care, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for PMTCT, and skilled birth attendance.Methods: Using data from the Migori and AIDS Stigma Study conducted in rural Nyanza Province, Kenya, we compared the use of PMTCT and maternal health services for all women by HIV status and disclosure category (n = 390). Among HIV-infected women (n = 145), associations between disclosure of HIV-positive status and the use of services were further examined with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: Women living with HIV who had not disclosed to anyone had the lowest levels of maternity and PMTCT service utilization. For example, only 21% of these women gave birth in a health facility, compared with 35% of HIV-negative women and 49% of HIV-positive women who had disclosed (P < 0.001). Among HIVpositive women, the effect of disclosure to anyone on ARV drug use [odds ratio (OR) = 5.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9 to 17.8] and facility birth (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.7) remained large and significant after adjusting for confounders. Disclosure to a male partner had a particularly strong effect on the use of ARVs for PMTCT (OR = 7.9; 95% CI: 3.7 to 17.1).Conclusions: HIV-positive status disclosure seems to be a complex yet critical factor for the use of PMTCT and maternal health services in this setting. The design of interventions to promote such disclosure must recognize the impact of HIV-related stigma on disclosure decisions and protect women's rights, autonomy, and safety.
Background: HIV infection is clinically managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART), but only with sustained adherence. Cost-efficient interventions to improve and sustain ART adherence remain a pressing priority for populations challenged by nonadherence. The aim of this study was to test the independent and interactive effects of (1) brief phone-delivered self-regulation counseling and (2) daily phone-delivered text message medication reminders on HIV adherence and HIV viral suppression. Method: A randomized 2 (5 sessions of phone-delivered adherence support counseling vs. contact-matched control) × 2 (daily ART text reminders vs. no reminders) trial with primary end points of monthly phone-based unannounced pill count-determined ART adherence and HIV viral suppression monitored over 12 months. Results: Self-regulation adherence counseling demonstrated significant improvements in achieving 90% ART adherence relative to the control group over the first 6 months of follow-up. Effects remained significant in sensitivity analyses conducted at 85% and 95% adherence. Counseling also demonstrated modest but significant effects on HIV suppression. There were no main effects or interactions for daily text message reminders, with some evidence for adverse effects on adherence self-efficacy. Conclusions: Brief adherence support counseling delivered by phone demonstrates clinically meaningful improvements in ART adherence and HIV suppression, although these benefits were not evidenced in all patients or in the long-term. Advancing adherence interventions along with an effective means for sustaining gains in adherence remain priorities if ART is to achieve its potential clinical and public health benefits.
Background
The Step Study, a Phase IIb HIV vaccine proof of concept study, enrolled approximately 3,000 persons in Clade B regions. The Atlanta site sought to enroll a diverse population. This prospective cohort study examined key factors associated with participant enrollment.
Methods
We obtained participant information (e.g., sociodemographic, medical) and followed outcomes from 2005 to 2007. Of the 810 potential “Step Study” participants, 340 cases were analyzed.
Results
The recruitment strategy generated strong interest among minorities with 37% eligible following prescreening, yet 25% of the minorities enrolled. However, the percentage of whites increased from 62% eligible (prescreened sample) to 75% enrolled. The regression model was significant with educational level being an enrollment predictor (p = 0.0023). Those with at least a bachelor’s degree were more likely to enroll compared to those with a K-12 education or some college (OR = 2.424, 95% CI = 1.372–4.281, p < 0.01). White race was also a significant factor (OR=2.330; 95% CI = 1.241–4.375, p < 0.01). No difference in enrollment was observed among recruitment approaches, Pearson χ2 (2, N = 336) = 5.286, p = 0.07.
Conclusions
The results from this study indicate that women, minorities, and those with lower educational attainment were less likely to enroll in an HIV vaccine efficacy study at our site. The findings highlight an important consideration on the role of health literacy to sustain participation of eligible minorities in HIV vaccine trials.