Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among K-12 Staff, Parents, and Students: District of Columbia, February to April, 2022.

Objective: Despite widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, millions of Americans have not received the recommended vaccine doses. In the District of Columbia (DC), COVID-19 vaccination rates are lowest among residents who are Non-Hispanic (NH) Black and among school-aged children. We assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff and parents of students in DC K-12 public and public charter schools.

Resistance is common in paediatric patients failing ART in South Africa.

Background: Minimal data exist on HIV drug resistance patterns and prevalence among paediatric patients failing ART in resource-limited settings. We assessed levels of HIV drug resistance in children with virological failure.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, performed from March 2017 to March 2019 in South Africa, enrolled HIV-positive children aged ≤19 years, receiving ART through public health facilities with recent evidence suggestive of virological failure (at least one viral load ≥1000 copies/mL), across 45 randomly selected high-volume clinics from all nine provinces.

The HIV Epidemic in South Africa: Key Findings from 2017 National Population-Based Survey.

South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV worldwide. South Africa has implemented five population-based HIV prevalence surveys since 2002 aimed at understanding the dynamics and the trends of the epidemic. This paper presents key findings from the fifth HIV prevalence, incidence, and behaviour survey conducted in 2017 following policy, programme, and epidemic change since the prior survey was conducted in 2012.

Comparative study on lesions of reproductive disorders of cows and female dromedary camels slaughtered at Addis Ababa, Adama and Akaki abattoirs with bacterial isolation and characterization.

Background: Reproduction is a basic prerequisite to efficient livestock production. Reproductive performance depends on the normal structure and function of genital organs. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 to identify and compare the frequency of reproductive tract pathological lesions and to isolate bacteria associated to uterine lesions in female dromedary camels and cows slaughtered at Akaki camel slaughterhouse and Addis Ababa and Adama municipal abattoirs.

National health information systems for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Objectives: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require data-driven public health action. There are limited publications on national health information systems that continuously generate health data. Given the need to develop these systems, we summarised their current status in low-income and middle-income countries.

Timing and Predictors of Initiation on Antiretroviral Therapy Among Newly-Diagnosed HIV-Infected Persons in South Africa.

Despite a decade of advancing HIV/AIDS treatment policy in South Africa, 20% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) eligible for antiretroviral treatment (ART) remain untreated. To inform universal test and treat (UTT) implementation in South Africa, this analysis describes the rate, timeliness and determinants of ART initiation among newly diagnosed PLHIV. This analysis used routine data from 35 purposively selected primary clinics in three high HIV-burden districts of South Africa from June 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.

Uptake and predictors of early postnatal follow-up care amongst mother-baby pairs in South Africa: Results from three population-based surveys, 2010-2013.

Background: Achieving World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for postnatal care (PNC) within the first few weeks of life is vital to eliminating early mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) and improving infant health. Almost half of the annual global deaths among children under five occur during the first six weeks of life. This study aims to identify uptake of three PNC visits within the first six weeks of life as recommended by WHO among South African mother-infant pairs, and factors associated with uptake.

Adverse Drug Reactions Causing Admission to Medical Wards: A Cross-Sectional Survey at 4 Hospitals in South Africa.

Limited data exist on the burden of serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in sub-Saharan Africa, which has high HIV and tuberculosis prevalence. We determined the proportion of adult admissions attributable to ADRs at 4 hospitals in South Africa. We characterized drugs implicated in, risk factors for, and the preventability of ADR-related admissions.

Sex, drugs (methamphetamines), and the Internet: increasing syphilis among men who have sex with men in California, 2004-2008.

Objectives: We examined primary and secondary syphilis cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) in California, and the association of methamphetamine use and Internet use to meet sex partners (Internet use) with number of sex partners.

Methods: We analyzed California surveillance data for MSM who were diagnosed with syphilis between 2004 and 2008, to assess differences in the mean number of sex partners by methamphetamine use and mutually exclusive groups of patients reporting Internet use (Internet users).

Results: Large proportions of patients reported methamphetamine use (19.

Community-embedded disease intervention specialist program for syphilis partner notification in a clinic serving men who have sex with men.

Background/objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness of a Community-Embedded Disease Intervention Specialist (CEDIS) in providing partner notification (PN) for primary syphilis cases in a high STD morbidity, community-based clinic serving men who have sex with men in Los Angeles.

Methods: The CEDIS was trained by the same standards as the local health department Disease Investigator Specialists but was employed by and stationed at the clinic where the primary cases were diagnosed. We compared the CEDIS on specific PN outcomes before and after placement of the CEDIS and among countywide men who have sex with men primary syphilis cases, excluding the cases from the CEDIS clinic.

Strategies used in the detection of acute/early HIV infections. The NIMH Multisite Acute HIV Infection Study: I.

Acute/early HIV infection plays a critical role in onward HIV transmission. Detection of HIV infections during this period provides an important early opportunity to offer interventions which may prevent further transmission. In six US cities, persons with acute/early HIV infection were identified using either HIV RNA testing of pooled sera from persons screened HIV antibody negative or through clinical referral of persons with acute or early infections.

Sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease in women.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an important public health challenge in the United States. Primary care clinicians can contribute to decreasing these largely preventable causes of morbidity and mortality by integrating routine screening, testing, counseling, treatment, and partner management of STIs into their practice. Newer tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea that can be performed on urine specimens allow screening without a pelvic examination.

A consequence of the syphilis epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM): neurosyphilis in Los Angeles, 2001-2004.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology and clinical findings of neurosyphilis (NS) cases diagnosed during the current syphilis epidemic occurring predominantly among men who have sex with men.

Methods: Syphilis cases reported to the health department were reviewed for diagnosis of NS, cerebrospinal fluid venereal disease research laboratory results, and/or treatment for NS.

Results: During 2001-2004, 7083 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in Los Angeles.

Methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men diagnosed with early syphilis in Los Angeles County.

Methamphetamine use has been associated with risky sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Field interview records for MSM early syphilis (ES) patients were reviewed for factors associated with methamphetamine use during January 2001 through December 2004. There were a total of 2915 ES cases reported during the study period.

Epidemiologic investigation of a cluster of workplace HIV infections in the adult film industry: Los Angeles, California, 2004.

Background: Adult film production is a legal, multibillion dollar industry in California. In response to reports of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission by an adult film worker, we sought to determine the extent of HIV infection among exposed workers and to identify means of improving worker safety.

Methods: The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services initiated an outbreak investigation that included interviews of infected workers to elicit information about recent sex partners, review of the testing agency's medical records and laboratory results, molecular analysis of HIV isolates from the 4 infected workers, and a risk assessment of HIV transmission in the adult film industry.

Sexually transmitted disease testing protocols, sexually transmitted disease testing, and discussion of sexual behaviors in HIV clinics in Los Angeles County.

Objective/goal: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of written protocols for sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening, the frequency and types of STD tests performed, and the occurrence and frequency of obtaining sexual risk assessments among HIV clinics.

Study: A survey was administered to 36 medical directors, clinic directors, and HIV providers representing 48 HIV healthcare clinics in Los Angeles.

Results: The use of a written or electronic protocol for STD testing was reported by 50% of clinics.

Use of the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS) to identify recently acquired HIV infections in men with early syphilis in Los Angeles County.

Background: Syphilis outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, many of whom are HIV infected, have prompted increased concern for HIV transmission.

Methods: To identify whether men are acquiring HIV concomitantly or within the critical period of syphilis infection, banked Treponema pallidum particle agglutination-positive serum specimens from men with early syphilis infection were screened for HIV-1 antibody. Samples that were positive for HIV antibody were then tested with a less sensitive (LS) HIV-1 antibody enzyme immunoassay (serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion [STARHS]) to identify HIV infections that occurred on average within the previous 6 months.

Correlates of Internet use to meet sex partners among men who have sex with men diagnosed with early syphilis in Los Angeles County.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate use of the Internet to solicit sex partners by men who have sex with men (MSM) who were diagnosed with early syphilis infection.

Study: Field interview records for syphilis patients were reviewed for factors associated with Internet use.

Results: Internet users were more likely to be of white race (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.

Who and why? HIV-testing refusal during pregnancy: implication for pediatric HIV epidemic disparity.

To identify characteristics of pregnant women who refuse HIV testing and determine predictive factors and the reasons for refusal, we conducted face-to-face interviews of pregnant women at prenatal clinics of public and private hospitals. We found 8% (n=65) of 826 pregnant women interviewed refused HIV testing. In bivariate analysis, foreign-born pregnant women residing in Los Angeles County were twice more likely to refuse HIV testing than U.