Pandemic expertise: qualitative findings on the experiences of living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) in the San Francisco Bay Area, United States, during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health restrictions at a safety net HIV clinic. Patients ( = 30) were recruited for Spanish/English language semi-structured interviews ( = 30), translated when necessary, and analyzed thematically. The recurring theme of "pandemic expertise" emerged from the data: skills and attitudes developed through living with HIV helped PLWH cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, including effective strategies for dealing with anxiety and depression; appreciation for life; and practical experience of changing behavior to protect their health.

Mental Distress and Use of Stimulants: Analysis of a Longitudinal Cohort of Transgender Women.

The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of mental distress (depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), incarceration, and hate crime on stimulant use (methamphetamine, crack, and cocaine) among transgender women. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected from 2016 to 2018 with 429 transgender women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Generalized estimating equation log-binomial regressions were used to calculate relative risks of stimulant use associated with mental distress, incarceration, and hate crime.

HIV Disclosure Practices to Family Among Mexican and Puerto Rican Sexual Minority Men with HIV in the Continental USA: Intersections of Sexual Orientation and HIV Stigma.

Disclosing a seropositive HIV status still is a complex process of assessing the risks, benefits, and potential personal and interpersonal outcomes associated with disclosure, such as stigma, rejection, or emotional support. We examined HIV disclosure practices to family and intersectional stigma related to HIV and sexual orientation among Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) of Mexican and Puerto Rican origin with HIV in the continental USA. Guided by Framework Analysis, we present data from 54 interviews with 33 LSMM participants in HIV care engagement interventions, and 21 project staff implementing the interventions.

Assessment of Academic-Community Partnerships in Translational Research.

Objective: The Community Engagement Core (CEC) of the Center of Collaborative Research in Health Disparities focuses on developing and implementing strategies to increase academic-community collaborations and partnerships, enhance the recruitment and retention of study participants, disseminate research findings to a broader audience, and mitigate health disparities in Puerto Rico.

Methods: In order to assess the current state of academic-community relationships and also collect ideas for their improvement, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted. Participants for the SWOT analysis activity were drawn from a pool of stakeholders at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus and a group of community representatives.

Unpacking the "backpack of shame": Exploring intersections of stigma among Latinx people living with HIV in San Francisco, CA.

Objective: Ending the HIV epidemic requires addressing structural determinants of health, including stigma. In this qualitative study, we applied an intersectional framework to study various forms of stigma among Latinx people living with HIV (PLWH).

Method: We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with Spanish- and English-speaking Latinx PLWH ( = 19) at an HIV safety-net clinic in San Francisco, California.

Testing for Differences in the Reporting of Somatic Symptoms of Depression in Racial/Ethnic Minorities.

We tested if Latinx and Black individuals are more likely to somaticize depression compared with their White counterparts. We analyzed 14,745 depression ratings from 4,101 people living with HIV from 2007 to 2014. We calculated the percentage of each depression score accounted for by somatic symptom items (e.

Experiences and factors associated with transphobic hate crimes among transgender women in the San Francisco Bay Area: comparisons across race.

Background: Trans women experience high rates of gender-based violence (GBV)-a risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Transphobic hate crimes are one such form of GBV that affect trans women. However, little is understood about factors that shape transphobic hate crimes and racial/ethnic variation in these experiences.

Characterizing the COVID-19 illness experience to inform the study of post-acute sequelae and recovery: a qualitative study.

We aimed to characterize the variability in the illness experience and recovery process from COVID-19. We conducted in-depth individual interviews with participants enrolled in the Long-term Immunological Impact of Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) cohort study in San Francisco, California from June through October of 2020. Participants were adults who had a previously confirmed positive SARV-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result, had recovered or were recovering from acute infection, and underwent serial evaluations at our clinical research center.

HIV Stigma and Its Associations with Longitudinal Health Outcomes Among Persons Living with HIV with a History of Unhealthy Alcohol Use.

This study examined the demographic and clinical correlates of HIV stigma and evaluated how HIV stigma was associated with physical and mental health outcomes one year later in a primary-care based cohort of persons living with HIV (PLHIV; N = 584). HIV stigma was measured using a modified Berger HIV stigma scale, which includes four subscales: (1) personalized stigma; (2) disclosure concerns; (3) negative self-image; and (4) concerns around public attitudes towards PLHIV. Physical and mental health were assessed using the 12-item short form survey (SF-12).

"Holidays Come, Sundays Come. It is Very Sad to be Alone": Transnational Practices and the Importance of Family for Mexican and Puerto Rican Latinxs Living with HIV in the Continental U.S.

Latinxs continue to be overrepresented in the U.S. HIV epidemic.

Comorbidities in a sample of adults with HIV in Puerto Rico: an exploratory study.

Background: Puerto Rico is among the areas with the highest estimated rates of people living with HIV in the United States. Despite the epidemiologic data available, there is limited real-world information that can help understand the comorbidities of people with HIV. In this study, we describe common comorbidities among adults with HIV attending treatment clinics in Puerto Rico.

Sexual health knowledge and stigma in a community sample of HIV-positive gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Puerto Rico.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are at increased risk for HIV infection and disease progression. Also, HIV-positive GBMSM are among those less likely to be retained in care. In this study we analyzed sexual health knowledge (SHK) and various manifestations of stigma in a community sample of HIV-positive GBMSM in Puerto Rico.

Discrimination and Health among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People in Puerto Rico.

Objective: To identify the experiences of discrimination among and the perceived priorities for the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people in Puerto Rico (PR).

Methods: Data were collected during the 2013 LGBT Pride Parade in San Juan, using a brief self-administered survey that included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, the disclosure of sexual orientation/gender identity, experiences of discrimination, experiences while receiving social and health services, and perceived healthcare priorities and needs.

Results: Most participants reported that they had disclosed their sexual orientation to at least one person.