Leveraging international stakeholders' experiences with oral PrEP costs to accelerate implementation of the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring: A qualitative study.

Background: Costing and financing systematic implementation are recognized barriers to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention. In the absence of empiric implementation and economic data, perspectives from international stakeholders involved in developing and supporting daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) policy, and programs can provide critical insights for developing costed plans to support and accelerate the rollout of novel long-acting PrEP (LA-PrEP) methods, such as the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (PrEP ring).

Methods: We interviewed stakeholders from purposively selected international organizations about anticipated PrEP-ring implementation costs, evidence gaps and key process steps for developing a costed rollout plan template (CRPT).

Correlates of verbal and physical violence experienced and perpetrated among cisgender college women: serial cross-sections during one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Violence against women is a prevalent, preventable public health crisis. COVID-19 stressors and pandemic countermeasures may have exacerbated violence against women. Cisgender college women are particularly vulnerable to violence.

Lessons learnt from daily oral PrEP delivery to inform national planning for PrEP ring introduction for women in low-income and middle-income countries: a qualitative inquiry of international stakeholders.

Introduction: Some African countries plan to introduce and scale-up new long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis methods (LA-PrEP), like the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (PrEP ring) and injectable cabotegravir. National costed implementation plans, roadmaps for successful product implementation, are often overlooked. International stakeholders engaged in oral PrEP planning, introduction and scale-up are an information resource of lessons learned to advise LA-PrEP planning.

Which Intervention Synergies Maximize AGYW's HIV Outcomes? A Classification and Regression Tree Analysis of Layered HIV Prevention Programming.

Introduction: Intersecting behavioral, social, and structural factors increase adolescent girls' (AG) and young women's (YW) HIV vulnerability. Yet, understanding of optimal intervention synergies remains limited. We identified intervention combinations that statistically maximized reductions in AGYW's HIV-related risk.

Implementation and resource needs for long-acting PrEP in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.

Introduction: Several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are preparing to introduce long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAP). Amid multiple pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options and constrained funding, decision-makers could benefit from systematic implementation planning and aligned costs. We reviewed national costed implementation plans (CIPs) to describe relevant implementation inputs and activities (domains) for informing the costed rollout of LAP.

Correlates of psychological distress among undergraduate women engaged in remote learning through a New York City college during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The study's objective is to explore psychological distress (PD) among remote learners during COVID-19.

Participants: Female undergraduates matriculated at an NYC college in Winter 2020.

Methods: Using the Kessler-6 scale, we defined PD as no/low (LPD), mild/moderate (MPD), and severe (SPD) and assessed if residing in/near NYC modified associations.

Inroads for HIV prevention among men: findings from mixed methods research in the context of the DREAMS partnership in Southern Africa.

Objective: To assess trends in men's HIV risk factors and service use, and their experiences with prevention programming, during an intensive HIV response for adolescent girls and young women and their male partners.

Design: Independent cross-sectional surveys in 2016-2017 and 2018 with men in Eswatini (20-34 years-old, n = 1391) and Durban, South Africa (20-40 years-old; n = 1665), complemented by 74 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with men exposed to HIV services/prevention programming.

Methods: Survey recruitment was primarily at hot-spot venues.

Assessing layered HIV prevention programming: optimizing outcomes for adolescent girls and young women.

Objective: To assess how exposure to multiple, layered interventions predicts HIV-related outcomes among adolescent girls (15-19 years) and young women (20-24 years) in Kenya.

Design: Survey data from adolescent girls and young women (n = 736) with 14-16 months of engagement with DREAMS, a comprehensive HIV prevention program that provides a range of health education, life skills, social protection, and social and behaviour change interventions.

Methods: Nonparametric recursive partitioning technique - classification and regression tree (CART) - to identify the best predictors (DREAMS interventions) for achieving the desired HIV-related outcomes (consistent condom use and no transactional sex or sexual violence).

Age-Restriction of a Validated Risk Scoring Tool Better Predicts HIV Acquisition in South African Women: CAPRISA 004.

We examined the predictive ability of the VOICE risk screening tool among adolescent girls and young women at heightened HIV risk in urban and peri-urban Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Africa. Using participant data from CAPRISA 004's control arm (N = 444), we applied the initial VOICE risk screening score (IRS), a modified risk score (MRS) based on predictive and non-predictive variables in our data, and age-restricted (AIRS and AMRS, respectively). We estimated incidence rates, 95% confidence bounds, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values and area under the curve (AUC).

Temporal shifts in HIV-related risk factors among cohorts of adolescent girls and young women enrolled in DREAMS programming: evidence from Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.

Objectives: To assess temporal shifts in HIV risk factors among adolescent girls (AG, aged 15-19 years) and young women (YW, aged 20-24 years) in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.

Design: Prospective cohorts with two time points (Kenya: 2016/2017, 2018; Malawi: 2017, 2018; Zambia: 2016/2017, 2018) SETTING: Community-based programming.

Participants: 1247 AG (Kenya: 389, Malawi: 371, Zambia: 487) and 1628 YW (Kenya: 347, Malawi: 883, Zambia: 398) INTERVENTION: Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS), a multisectoral approach to reduce AGYW's HIV vulnerability by delivering a package of tailored, multilayered activities and services.

Oral PrEP Consultations Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kisumu County, Kenya: Insights from the DREAMS Program.

Although Kenya nationally scaled up oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in May 2017, adolescent girls' (AG, aged 15-19 years) and young women's (YW, aged 20-24 years) PrEP use remains suboptimal. Thus, we analyzed PrEP consultations-interactions with a healthcare provider about PrEP-among Kenyan AGYW. In April-June 2018, AGYW enrolled in DREAMS in Kisumu County, Kenya self-reported their HIV-related knowledge, behaviors, and service use.

Close to Home: Evidence on the Impact of Community-Based Girl Groups.

Purpose: Community-based programming to promote gender equity, often delivered through community-based girl groups (CBGGs, sometimes called "safe spaces"), is increasing. However, evidence is weak on how CBGGs are implemented and their effect on adolescent girls' health and well-being. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify relevant CBGG programs.

Creating HIV risk profiles for men in South Africa: a latent class approach using cross-sectional survey data.

Introduction: Engaging at-risk men in HIV prevention programs and services is a current priority, yet there are few effective ways to identify which men are at highest risk or how to best reach them. In this study we generated multi-factor profiles of HIV acquisition/transmission risk for men in Durban, South Africa, to help inform targeted programming and service delivery.

Methods: Data come from surveys with 947 men ages 20 to 40 conducted in two informal settlements from May to September 2017.

Couple perspectives on unintended pregnancy in an area with high HIV prevalence: A qualitative analysis in Rakai, Uganda.

Understanding how couples perceive a recent unintended pregnancy in the context of HIV infection and high levels of gender inequality may provide insights for prevention of undesired pregnancy. We used data from 24 in-depth interviews with 8 HIV-serodiscordant and 4 seroconcordant couples living in rural Uganda and interviewed separately; between 15 and 49 years and one or both identified the pregnancy as unintended. A dyadic analysis was performed to understand each partner's perspectives on experiences of a specific pregnancy.

"It is my business": A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Covert Contraceptive Use among Women in Rakai, Uganda.

Objectives: Covert contraceptive use (CCU) is the use of family planning without a partner's knowledge. This study sought to examine CCU prevalence among women living in Rakai, Uganda, predictors of CCU, and why women resort to CCU.

Study Design: We used data from women (15-49years) currently using contraceptives (oral contraceptives, Depo Provera, implants, intrauterine devices, and periodic abstinence) during Round 15 (2011-2013) of the Rakai Community Cohort Survey (n=2206).

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: An Updated Review of U.S. Policies and Programs and Their Impact.

Adolescence is marked by the emergence of human sexuality, sexual identity, and the initiation of intimate relations; within this context, abstinence from sexual intercourse can be a healthy choice. However, programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) or sexual risk avoidance are scientifically and ethically problematic and-as such-have been widely rejected by medical and public health professionals. Although abstinence is theoretically effective, in actual practice, intentions to abstain from sexual activity often fail.

Providing Culturally Competent Care for LGBTQ Youth in School-Based Health Centers: A Needs Assessment to Guide Quality of Care Improvements.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) can take specific steps to provide culturally competent care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, potentially impacting well-being. A needs assessment survey was conducted among a convenience sample of SBHC administrators and medical directors to assess climates and actions supportive of LGBTQ quality medical care. Half (53%) of the SBHCs surveyed ( N = 66) reviewed print materials for negative LGBTQ stereotypes, and 27.