Identifying Subgroups of Intersectional Stigma, Discrimination, and the Association with Mental Health Outcomes Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Latent Class Analysis.

This study aimed to (1) identify latent classes of stigma and discrimination experiences among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV; (2) examine the associations between class membership and mental health outcomes, and (3) investigate the moderating effects of social support and resilience. The study used the baseline (N = 224) and six-month follow-up data (N = 118) from a longitudinal cohort study on HIV and hypertension among African American and Asian Pacific American MSM in Hawai'i and Philadelphia from 2019 to 2023. Latent class analysis was conducted to characterize the patterns of stigma and discrimination experience.

Intimate Partner Violence Among LGBTQ+ Adults in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We present the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) among LGBTQ+ adults in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Of 1,234 articles, 22 met inclusion criteria, and data were extracted for 4 key research areas: prevalence, measurement, risk and protective factors, and interventions. LGBTQ+ adults in LAC experience IPV at similar or higher rates than those documented among cisgender heterosexuals, with estimates ranging from 0.

Childhood Sexual Abuse, Alcohol Problem Scores, and Race Are Associated With Syphilis Incidence in a Prospective Cohort of Young Sexual and Gender Minority Adults Assigned Male at Birth.

Background: Syphilis rates in the United States have dramatically increased in recent years and are high among young men who have sex with men and transgender women. However, few studies have examined a wide range of risk factors for syphilis incidence prospectively in young sexual and gender minority (YSGM) populations in the United States. One framework that may have utility in understanding syphilis risk factors is syndemics, which focuses on comorbid factors and their mutual influence.

Factors associated with self-reported suboptimal antiretroviral adherence and limited retention in care among people living with HIV who attend a large ART clinic in Panama City, Panama.

Background: The prevalence of HIV in Panama is estimated to be 1.0%; only 71% of individuals on antiretroviral treatment (ART) were virally suppressed in 2022. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of suboptimal adherence (≥1 missed doses in previous four weeks) and limited retention in HIV care (≥1 missed HIV care appointments in previous 12 months) among adults (aged ≥18 years) who attended the most populous urban ART Clinic in Panama City.

Depression and Plasma pTau Levels Are Associated with Frailty Status in Hispanic Community-Dwelling Older Women.

The population of Hispanic older adults is growing along with the burden of chronic diseases. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the factors associated with frailty among community-dwelling Hispanic women aged ≥60 years ( = 357) enrolled in the Panama Aging Research Initiative-Health Disparities study of cognitive-functional health of older persons in Panama. Cognitive function was assessed with a neuropsychological test battery.

A hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation trial of a positive emotion regulation intervention among people living with HIV engaged in Ryan White Medical Case Management: protocol and design for the ORCHID study.

Background: The Ryan White Medical Case Management System, which serves more than half of people living with HIV (PLWH) in the USA, is an opportune setting for identifying and addressing depression among PLWH. A growing body of research suggests that interventions that promote positive emotion may lessen symptoms of depression and improve physical and psychological well-being among people experiencing a variety of health-related stress, including living with HIV. Research on how best to integrate standardized mental health screening and referral to evidence-based interventions in Ryan White Medical Case Management settings has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of PLWH.

Examining biopsychosocial predictors of risk for cognitive impairment among a racially diverse sample of men who have sex with men living with HIV.

Background: Cognitive decline among people living with HIV (PLWH) is growing concern as world populations become increasing older including higher proportions of PLWH. It is vitally important to understand psychosocial predictors of age-related cognitive decline men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV.

Objectives: The current study seeks to examine psychosocial risk factors the contribute to the risk of age-related cognitive impairment as measured by Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score in a racially diverse sample of MSM living with HIV.

Health Service Utilization and Its Associations with Depression and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Transgender Women in Shanghai, China.

Purpose: Given the limited research on health care utilization among transgender women in China, we described the use of primary health care and gender-affirming health care, and the associations between utilization of gender-affirming health care and depression and sexual risk behaviors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2017 among a purposive sample of transgender women in Shanghai, China (=199). We examined correlates of health care utilization and its association with depression and sexual risk behaviors with Chi-square (), Fisher's exact tests, and analysis of variance.

"Everything That Is Here, I Have Lived": A Triangulated Analysis of an Intimate Partner Violence Assessment Tool in Curitiba, Brazil.

Using a mixed-methods triangulation approach we piloted the Composite Abuse Scale-Brazilian version (CAS-Brazil) at the House of the Brazilian Woman of Curitiba among 62 survivors of intimate partner violence and four professionals serving survivors to assess its feasibility for use. Quantitative data were tabulated using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were recorded, coded, and thematically analyzed. Four qualitative domains emerged: (a) conceptual understanding; (b) item definitions; (c) women's experiences; and (d) professionals' perspectives.

Syphilis Prevalence, Incidence, and Demographic Differences in a Longitudinal Study of Young Sexual and Gender Minority Adults Assigned Male at Birth.

Background: Syphilis rates in the United States have increased. Few studies have examined syphilis incidence and prevalence prospectively among young sexual and gender minorities (YSGM).

Methods: This study of YSGM assigned male at birth comes from a Chicago-based prospective cohort at 2 visits 6 months apart (N = 882).

Depression as a mediator between intimate partner violence (IPV) and CD4 cell count among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV in China.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse mental and physical outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Few studies focus on psychological IPV, such as verbal threats. This study examined the associations between different forms of IPV and depression and CD4+ cell count, with depression as a mediator for the association between IPV and CD4+ cell count.

Utilizing Latent Class Analysis to Assess the Association of Intersectional Stigma on Mental Health Outcomes Among Young Adult Black, Indigenous, and Sexual Minority Women of Color.

Discrimination has detrimental effects on mental health, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and people of color who are also sexual minority women (BIPOC SMW); however, measurement of multiple intersecting forms of discrimination (e.g., race, gender, and sexual identity discrimination among BIPOC SMW) poses methodological challenges.

Dating violence prevalence and risk factors among adolescents (14-19 years) in urban public schools in Panama.

Background: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) can have lasting effects on youth's well-being and development. However, few studies in Latin America have described its prevalence and risk factors for having experienced ADV.

Methods: We conducted a multisite, cross-sectional study using two-stage cluster sampling among adolescents (14-19 years) attending public high schools in the urban districts of Panama, San Miguelito, Colón, and Arraiján/La Chorrera from 2015 to 2018 (N = 2469).

Reassessing the Importance of PrEP Use Given Reduced Sex During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives From a Sample of Young Sexual Minority Men.

Research has begun to examine sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative methods, but less is known about the context surrounding these changes using qualitative methods, including corresponding changes in risk reduction methods. This qualitative study, guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model, examines the pandemic's impact on PrEP adherence among young men who have sex with men in Chicago. PrEP-using participants from a cohort study were recruited into a 90-day diary study measuring sexual behaviors and PrEP use.

Beyond Viral Suppression-The Impact of Cumulative Violence on Health-Related Quality of Life Among a Cohort of Virally Suppressed Patients.

Objective: To elucidate how and in what ways cumulative violence affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among a clinical cohort of virally stable people living with HIV.

Design: We used data from the University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research HIV clinical cohort. Our analysis was limited to participants with an undetectable viral load (<200) and those who completed the Clinical, Sociodemographic, and Behavioral Survey between 2008 and 2017 ( n = 284).

Identifying Strategies for Improving Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence: Perspectives from a Sample of Highly Adherent Young Men Who have Sex with Men.

Most research on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence and persistence uses a deficit-based approach to identify negative influences on PrEP adherence; however, an alternative set of approaches (such as resilience, asset-based, and positive variation) may identify equally important positive influences on PrEP adherence. Thus, the current study presents qualitative perspectives of PrEP adherence strategies from a sample of adherent YMSM. PrEP-using YMSM living in the Chicago area from a larger cohort study were recruited into a 90-day diary study that measured sexual health behaviors including PrEP use.

Determinants of Implementation for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Based on an Updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research: A Systematic Review.

Background: Delivery and use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are suboptimal in the United States. Previous reviews of barriers and facilitators have not used an implementation science lens, limiting comprehensiveness and the link to implementation strategies. To summarize the state of the science, we systematically reviewed determinants of PrEP implementation using the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR 2.

Identifying leaks in the STEM recruitment pipeline among sexual and gender minority US secondary students.

Purpose: Research establishes the critical need to address the underrepresentation of women and racial/ethnic minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While emergent research addresses similar challenges for sexual and gender minorities (SGM), this research remains scant and focuses on adult experiences. This analysis examines subgroup differences and the impact of bullying on STEM engagement outcomes among a national sample of SGM secondary students in the U.

Predictors of Re-Initiation of Daily Oral Preexposure Prophylaxis Regimen After Discontinuation.

Daily oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for reducing HIV transmission is recommended for those at elevated risk, including sexual gender and minorities assigned male at birth (SGM-AMAB). Few studies have examined re-initiation among PrEP discontinuers, which is critical to ensuring optimization of PrEP's protection. The current study examined predictors of re-initiation in a longitudinal sample of SGM-AMAB PrEP discontinuers (n = 253) from 10 waves of an ongoing cohort study (analytic n = 1,129).

Examining the impact of social distancing and methamphetamine use on sexual risk and intimate partner violence in sexual and gender minority young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, concerns were raised about the potential impact of pandemic-related social distancing measures on existing health disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults, including HIV transmission risk and intimate partner violence (IPV). Another concern was the potential for increased methamphetamine use during the pandemic, which is a known risk factor for HIV transmission and IPV.

Methods: The present analysis examines the impact of COVID-19 social distancing (social distancing and quarantining) and methamphetamine use on HIV risk and IPV in a combined dataset from 3 cohort studies of SGM young adults (two in Los Angeles and one in Chicago) from May 2020 to April 2021 (n = 1142).

Race and Sexual Identity Differences in PrEP Continuum Outcomes Among Latino Men in a Large Chicago Area Healthcare Network.

U.S. HIV incidence is threefold higher among Latino individuals than non-Latino Whites.

? A Community-Based Content Validation of a Translated Femicide Risk Assessment Instrument.

The Danger Assessment (DA) is a widely-used risk assessment instrument designed to help women understand their risk of femicide. Currently, no validated tool exists in Brazilian Portuguese. The purpose of this study was to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the DA for use in the Brazilian context as a precursor to validation and broader testing among women in Brazil.