Firearm Ownership Among a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Veterans.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of firearm ownership in a large, contemporary, nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans.

Randomized controlled trial of a theory-informed mHealth intervention to support ART adherence and viral suppression among women with HIV in Mombasa, Kenya: preliminary efficacy and participant-level feasibility and acceptability.

Background: Mobile Health ("mHealth") interventions have shown promise in improving HIV treatment outcomes for stigmatized populations. This paper presents the findings from a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy, participant-level feasibility and acceptability of a theory-informed mHealth intervention, Motivation Matters!, designed to improve viral suppression and ART adherence among HIV-seropositive women who engage in sex work in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods: A total of 119 women were randomized between the intervention and standard of care control.

Adaptation of a social vulnerability index for measuring social frailty among East African women.

Background: The number of older women living with HIV in Africa is growing, and their health outcomes may be adversely impacted by social frailty, which reflects deficits in social resources that accumulate over the lifespan. Our objective was to adapt a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) originally developed in Canada for use in a study of older women living with or without HIV infection in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods: We adapted the SVI using a five-step process: formative qualitative work, translation into Kiswahili, a Delphi procedure, exploration of potential SVI items in qualitative work, and a rating and ranking exercise.

Iterative Development of an mHealth Intervention to Support Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation and Adherence Among Female Sex Workers in Mombasa, Kenya.

Nurses have an integral role to play in achieving the 95-95-95 goals to stem the HIV epidemic. We used the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) theoretical model to develop a nurse-delivered, mHealth intervention to support antiretroviral therapy adherence among female sex workers living with HIV in Mombasa, Kenya. Twenty-three purposively sampled female sex workers living with HIV participated in 5 focus group discussions to iteratively develop the message content as well as the format and structure of the nurse-delivered, text-based intervention.

Alcohol Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Non-Adherence Among Adults Living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is efficacious in improving clinical outcomes among people living with HIV (PLWH) and reducing HIV transmission when taken regularly. Research examining modifiable factors associated with ART non-adherence is critical for informing novel intervention development in settings with high HIV prevalence. Alcohol use has been linked with ART non-adherence in studies in sub-Saharan Africa; however, no review has pooled estimates across studies.

Depression and anxiety among HIV-positive men who have sex with men and men who have sex with women in China.

China is experiencing an emerging HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). Minority stress theory posits that marginalized populations experience additional stress, which influences experiences of psychological distress and health outcomes. This study aimed to understand psychological distress of MSM relative to men who have sex with women (MSW) in an urban Chinese setting.

Health Behavior Theory to Enhance eHealth Intervention Research in HIV: Rationale and Review.

Purpose Of Review: Optimal design and evaluation of eHealth interventions requires the specification of behavioral targets and hypothesized mechanisms of action-both of which can be enhanced with the use of established health behavior theories (HBTs). In this paper, we describe the major HBTs and examine their use in studies of eHealth interventions for HIV prevention and treatment and assess the contribution of HBT in developing and evaluating eHealth interventions.

Recent Findings: Based on our review of the literature, we argue the field can benefit from more systematic selection, application, and reporting of HBT.

HIV Viral Suppression Trends Over Time Among HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Care in the United States, 1997 to 2015: A Cohort Study.

Background: Because HIV viral suppression is essential for optimal outcomes and prevention efforts, understanding trends and predictors is imperative to inform public health policy.

Objective: To evaluate viral suppression trends in people living with HIV (PLWH), including the relationship of associated factors, such as demographic characteristics and integrase strand transfer inhibitor (ISTI) use.

Design: Longitudinal observational cohort study.

Process Evaluation of a Peer-Driven, HIV Stigma Reduction and HIV Testing Intervention in Latino and African American Churches.

Faith-based organizations may be effective in addressing HIV-related disparities, but few interventions have been implemented across diverse churches. The Facilitating Awareness to Increase Testing for HIV (FAITH) intervention harnessed peer leadership to decrease HIV stigma and promote HIV testing in African American and Latino congregations. A pilot study found more consistent effects among Latino congregations.

Achieving Broad Participation in Congregational Health Surveys at African American and Latino Churches.

Congregation-based health program evaluations often rely on surveys, but little documentation is available regarding specific methods and challenges. Here we describe methods used to achieve acceptable response rates (73-79%) to a survey of HIV-related attitudes and behaviors in 2 African American and 3 Latino churches in high HIV prevalence communities in Los Angeles County. Survey participation was enhanced by: conducting survey sessions at church-based meetings (e.

Church-Based HIV Screening in Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities of California, 2011-2012.

Community-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing at religious congregations has been proposed as a potentially effective way to increase screening among disproportionately affected populations, such as those self-identifying as African American and Latino. Although congregations may provide reach into these communities, the extent to which church-based HIV testing alleviates access barriers, identifies new cases, and reaches people at increased risk for HIV is not well documented. We examined the results of an HIV testing program that was conducted as part of a larger intervention aimed at reducing HIV stigma at five churches in Los Angeles County, California, in 2011-2012.

Development and pilot testing of an intervention to promote care engagement and adherence among HIV-positive Kenyan MSM.

Objectives: In many African settings, MSM are a stigmatized group whose access to and engagement in HIV care may be challenging. Our aim was to design a targeted, culturally appropriate intervention to promote care engagement and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence for MSM in coastal Kenya, and describe intervention safety, feasibility, and acceptability based upon a small pilot study.

Design: Based on qualitative work including in-depth interviews with HIV-positive MSM and focus groups with providers, we developed a tailored intervention and conducted a pilot test to refine intervention materials and procedures.

An Exploratory Study of HIV Risk Behaviors and Testing among Male Sex Workers in Beirut, Lebanon.

Male sex workers (MSW) are a particularly high-risk subset of men who have sex with men in Lebanon and report higher numbers of sex partners and lower rates of condom use. The purpose was to explore the factors influencing sexual risk behaviors and HIV testing among MSW. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 MSW living in Beirut and working in bathhouses (hammam) or as escorts; content analysis identified emergent themes.

Effectiveness of antidepressants and predictors of treatment response for depressed HIV patients in Uganda.

Antidepressant medication is well established for the treatment of depression but little is known about its effectiveness for HIV populations in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment and predictors of treatment response among depressed HIV patients in Uganda. Data were obtained from two open-label trials in which 184 HIV patients were diagnosed with depression and started on antidepressants.