Food Insecurity in the Rural South in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Food insecurity in rural communities in the Southern US continues to grow, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the characteristics of food-insecure individuals and families in this region is critical for developing creative strategies for eliminating this health disparity issue. A food insecurity survey was given to attendees at food-security events held in several counties in one Southern US state.

Progression of a large syphilis outbreak in rural North Carolina through space and time: Application of a Bayesian Maximum Entropy graphical user interface.

In 2001, the primary and secondary syphilis incidence rate in rural Columbus County, North Carolina was the highest in the nation. To understand the development of syphilis outbreaks in rural areas, we developed and used the Bayesian Maximum Entropy Graphical User Interface (BMEGUI) to map syphilis incidence rates from 1999-2004 in seven adjacent counties in North Carolina. Using BMEGUI, incidence rate maps were constructed for two aggregation scales (ZIP code and census tract) with two approaches (Poisson and simple kriging).

The 5Ws of Racial Equity in Research: A Framework for Applying a Racial Equity Lens Throughout the Research Process.

Ensuring equity in research is a critical step in advancing health equity. In this perspective, the authors introduce a guiding framework for advancing racial equity in research processes, environments, and among the research workforce, the 5Ws of Racial Equity in Research. Centering their discussion on the 5Ws: Who, What, When, Where, and Why, they use historical and contemporary examples of research inequities to demonstrate how these five simple questions can encourage open discussion and proactive planning for equity in research.

Predictors of Burnout, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Among CRNAs During COVID-19 Surging.

This study examined the relationship between demographic factors, job characteristics, relations between Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and administration, and conflict between work and personal responsibilities using structural equation modeling to determine levels of burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intention among CRNAs during COVID-19 surges. Survey data were collected from CRNAs practicing in Massachusetts and Texas through an email link distributed by their respective state associations of nurse anesthetists. Results of the structural equation modeling showed a decrease in feedback, low CRNA-administration relations scores, and prioritizing work over personal responsibilities were predictive of CRNA burnout.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in underserved communities of North Carolina.

Background: In the United States, underserved communities including Blacks and Latinx are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, describe attitudes related to vaccination, and identify correlates among historically marginalized populations across 9 counties in North Carolina.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey distributed at free COVID-19 testing events in underserved rural and urban communities from August 27 -December 15, 2020.

Guaranteed Financial Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccination: A Pilot Program in North Carolina.

This quasi-experimental study examines whether offering an incentive cash card to adults who receive or drive someone to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine raises vaccination rates.

Lost and found: applying network analysis to public health contact tracing for HIV.

Infectious disease surveillance is often case-based, focused on people diagnosed and their contacts in a predefined time window, and treated as independent across infections. Network analysis of partners and contacts joining multiple investigations and infections can reveal social or temporal trends, providing opportunities for epidemic control within broader networks. We constructed a sociosexual network of all HIV and early syphilis cases and contacts investigated among residents of 11 contiguous counties in North Carolina over a two-year period (2012-2013).

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Underserved Communities of North Carolina.

Background: In the United States, underserved communities including Blacks and Latinx are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and widespread vaccination is critical for curbing this pandemic. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, describe attitudes related to vaccination, and identify correlates among racial minority and marginalized populations across 9 counties in North Carolina.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire distributed at free COVID-19 testing events in underserved rural and urban communities from August 27 - December 15, 2020.

Think Inside the Box: the Heterogeneity of "in Risk" Among "at Risk" Female African American Adolescents in North Carolina.

Introduction: An abundance of research investigates the health of often referred to as "at risk" or "high risk" youth from underserved communities and usually racial/ethnic minorities. These ubiquitous terms relate to poverty, violence, and unsafe behaviors (e.g.

Factors Associated With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections Linked in Genetic Clusters But Disconnected in Partner Tracing.

Background: Successful partner notification can improve community-level outcomes by increasing the proportion of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are linked to HIV care and virally suppressed, but it is resource intensive. Understanding where HIV transmission pathways may be undetected by routine partner notification may help improve case finding strategies.

Methods: We combined partner notification interview and HIV sequence data for persons diagnosed with HIV in Wake County, NC in 2012 to 2013 to evaluate partner contact networks among persons with HIV pol gene sequences 2% or less pairwise genetic distance.

Sarcopenia as a predictor of survival and chemotoxicity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer receiving platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy.

Objectives: Severe skeletal muscle loss (sarcopenia) is associated with poor cancer outcomes, including reduced survival and increased treatment toxicity. Our goal was to evaluate if sarcopenia was associated with worse survival outcomes and chemotoxicity in EOC patients undergoing primary platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy.

Methods: EOC patients diagnosed between 06/2000 and 02/2017 who received treatment with platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy were included.

Leveraging Phylogenetics to Understand HIV Transmission and Partner Notification Networks.

Background: Partner notification is an important component of public health test and treat interventions. To enhance this essential function, we assessed the potential for molecular methods to supplement routine partner notification and corroborate HIV networks.

Methods: All persons diagnosed with HIV infection in Wake County, NC, during 2012-2013 and their disclosed sexual partners were included in a sexual network.

Adaptive Learning in Medical Education: The Final Piece of Technology Enhanced Learning?

Technology enhanced learning (TEL) is now common practice in the field of medical education. One of the primary examples of its use is that of high fidelity simulation and computerised mannequins. Further examples include online learning modules, electronic portfolios, virtual patient interactions, massive open online courses and the flipped classroom movement.

Efficacy of the Young Women's CoOp: An HIV Risk-Reduction Intervention for Substance-Using African-American Female Adolescents in the South.

HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk-reduction interventions are needed to address the complex risk behaviors among African-American female adolescents in disadvantaged communities in North Carolina. In a two-group randomized trial, we reached 237 sexually active, substance-using African-American female adolescents, to test a risk-reduction intervention, the Young Women's CoOp (YWC), relative to a nutrition control. In efficacy analyses adjusting for baseline condom use, at three-month follow-up participants in the YWC were significantly less likely to report sex without a condom at last sex relative to control.

MEMO: an mHealth intervention to prevent the onset of depression in adolescents: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Depression often starts in adolescence making it an ideal time to intervene. We developed a universal cognitive behavioural therapy-based programme (MEMO CBT) to be delivered via multimedia mobile phone messages for teens.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled superiority trial in 15 high schools in Auckland, New Zealand, comparing MEMO CBT with a control programme [MEMO control] matched for intensity and type of message but with alternative content not targeting depression.

Seek, test, treat: substance-using women in the HIV treatment cascade in South Africa.

Background: Women in South Africa who use alcohol and other drugs face multiple barriers to HIV care. These barriers make it difficult for women to progress through each step in the HIV treatment cascade from diagnosis to treatment initiation and adherence. This paper examines correlates of HIV status, newly diagnosed HIV status, and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Event-level analyses of sex-risk and injection-risk behaviors among nonmedical prescription opioid users.

Background: Nonmedical prescription opioid use has been linked to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs and with using high dead space syringes that retain more blood and transfer more HIV if shared. Little is known regarding its effects on sex-risk behaviors.

Objectives: This paper examines event-level associations between nonmedical prescription opioid use and sharing high dead space syringes (injection risk) and unprotected intercourse (sex risk) behaviors.

Correlates of lifetime trauma exposure among pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa.

A cross-sectional survey of 298 pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa was conducted to examine socio-demographic, reproductive health, mental health, and relationship correlates of lifetime trauma exposure and whether these correlates vary as a function of age. Overall, 19.8% of participants reported trauma exposure.

The male factor: Outcomes from a cluster randomized field experiment with a couples-based HIV prevention intervention in a South African township.

Background: This study examined the effects of the Couples Health CoOp intervention on heavy drinking, condom use, and HIV incidence.

Methods: Thirty neighborhoods from one South African township were cluster randomized into three intervention arms: Couples Health CoOp (CHC), Women's Health CoOp/Men's Health CoOp (WHC/MHC), or a comparison arm. We recruited 290 men from informal drinking establishments who reported drinking alcohol regularly.

Gang membership and marijuana use among African American female adolescents in North Carolina.

The southeastern US sustains the highest high school dropout rates, and gangs persist in underserved communities. African American female adolescents who drop out of school and are gang members are at substantial risk of exposure to severe violence, physical abuse, and sexual exploitation. In this study of 237 female African American adolescents 16-19 years of age from North Carolina who dropped out or considered dropping out, 11% were current or past gang members.

Aligning the use of portfolios with digital badging.

While the place of portfolios in medical training is established, there are limits to their use. This article discusses the potential use of digital badges to complement portfolios, as these provide a transparent overview of a learner's level of competence.

Characteristics of African American Women and Their Partners With Perceived Concurrent Partnerships in 4 Rural Counties in the Southeastern U.S.

Background: To the individual with concurrent partners, it is thought that having concurrent partnerships confers no greater risk of acquiring HIV than having multiple consecutive partnerships. However, an individual whose partner has concurrent partnerships (partner's concurrency) is at increased risk for incident HIV infection. We sought to better understand relationships characterized by partner's concurrency among African American women.