The Associations Between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual Minority Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sexual minority men (SMM) experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at a substantially high rate and also bear high burdens of adverse mental health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to consolidate existing evidence on the associations between experiencing IPV and adverse mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, etc.) among SMM.

A Microsimulation Model of Mpox in Los Angeles County: Implications for Future Disease Prevention and Control Strategies among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Background: The 2022 monkeypox (mpox) outbreak in Los Angeles County (LAC) emphasized the need to prepare for emergent infectious disease outbreaks. Vaccination and promotion of sexual risk reduction practices appeared successful in LAC, as mpox cases declined starting in August. Nonetheless, questions persisted regarding the effectiveness of targeting vaccinations and the role of sexual risk reduction in reducing mpox cases.

A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Pharmacists' Readiness to Provide Long-Acting Injectable HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in California.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains low among people who could benefit, some of whom may prefer alternatives to oral PrEP, such as long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP). We evaluated the potential for LAI-PrEP provision in pharmacies through a mixed methods study of pharmacists in California, where Senate Bill 159 enables pharmacists to independently provide oral PrEP.

Methods: In 2022-2023, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of California pharmacists and pharmacy students (n = 919) and in-depth interviews with pharmacists (n = 30), both of which included modules assessing attitudes about PrEP provision.

Novel Machine Learning HIV Intervention for Sexual and Gender Minority Young People Who Have Sex With Men (uTECH): Protocol for a Randomized Comparison Trial.

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young people are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States, and substance use is a major driver of new infections. People who use web-based venues to meet sex partners are more likely to report substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and sexually transmitted infections. To our knowledge, no machine learning (ML) interventions have been developed that use web-based and digital technologies to inform and personalize HIV and substance use prevention efforts for SGM young people.

Engagement Along the PrEP Care Continuum Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including daily oral, on-demand, and long-acting injectable (LAI), is a promising HIV prevention intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a systematic review on engagement with the PrEP continuum among MSM in China. A total of 756 studies were initially identified and 36 studies were included (N = 26,021).

Changes in alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substance use and its association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among sexual minority men in Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly negative impact on mental wellbeing of vulnerable individuals, such as sexual minority men (SMM) living in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), where the social-political climate may be restrictive for SMM. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use may be another factor contributing to exacerbated mental health among SMM in this region.

Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted using data collected as part of the COVID-19 disparities survey from active users of Hornet, a popular geo-social networking app for SMM in late 2020.

Examining Factors Associated with Cannabis Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority and Cisgender Heterosexual Emerging Adults in California.

We explored correlates of cannabis risk and examined differences between sexual and gender minority (SGM) and cisgender heterosexual emerging adults (ages 18-29) in California. We recruited 1491 participants aged 18-29 years for a cross-sectional online survey. Ordinal logistic regressions assessed associations between minority stress (discrimination and internalized homophobia [IH]), social support (perceived social support and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ [LGBTQ+] community connectedness), and cannabis risk scores (low, medium, and high risk of developing problems related to their cannabis use).

Health economics for intra-capsular hip fractures undertaking fixation.

Background: Hip fracture is a common musculoskeletal injury in the elderly requiring surgery worldwide. The operative mainstay of intra-capsular hip fractures is arthroplasty with a smaller proportion for fixation.

Aim: To determine the most beneficial method of fixation for patients with intra-capsular hip fractures.

Developing technology-based interventions for infectious diseases: ethical considerations for young sexual and gender minority people.

Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, young sexual and gender minority (YSGM) people are more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs; e.g., HIV) and to face adverse consequences of emerging infections, such as COVID-19 and mpox.

Opportunities to Increase Access to HIV Prevention: Evaluating the Implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in California.

Background: Pharmacies are a promising setting through which to expand access to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, including pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP, respectively). We aimed to evaluate and inform the implementation of California's Senate Bill 159 (2019), allowing pharmacists to independently prescribe PrEP and PEP.

Methods: From October through December 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 919 California pharmacists and pharmacy students, primarily recruited via the email listservs of professional organizations.

Latent Class Analysis of Online Platforms for Partner-Seeking and Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men from Central Kentucky.

Little is known whether engagement in sexual behaviors associated with potential HIV risks differs by subgroups of men who have sex with men (MSM), who are distinct regarding patterns of use of online tools for partner-seeking. Using latent class analysis, we revealed four classes of app-using MSM (n = 181, 18-34 y.o.

Violence Victimization, Homelessness, and Severe Mental Illness Among People Who Use Opioids in Three U.S. Cities.

This study examined the associations between violence victimization, homelessness, and severe mental illness (SMI) among people who use opioids (PWUOs) in three U.S. cities.

Development and Validation of the Military Minority Stress Scale.

Despite affecting nearly 3% of active-duty service members, little is known about how LGBT-related stress experiences may relate to health outcomes. Thus, the present study sought to create a Military Minority Stress Scale and assess its initial reliability and construct validity in a cross-sectional study of active-duty LGBT service members ( = 248). Associations between 47 candidate items and health outcomes of interest were analyzed to retain those with substantial betas.

"That's kind of like the big struggle right now is can we get PrEP?": Facilitators and Barriers to PrEP Uptake Among Active Duty Gay and Bisexual Men.

Introduction: The US Military is experiencing a rise in HIV infections among gay and bisexual men (GBM) serving on active duty, yet little is known about this population's uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an evidence-based intervention for HIV prevention. This mixed methods study examines the facilitators and barriers to PrEP access and uptake among active duty GBM.

Methods: Active duty GBM were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (2017 and 2018).

Analysis of Smartphone Text Data Related to mpox from a U.S. Sample of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men During the 2022 Outbreak.

We sought to understand technology-based communication regarding mpox (monkeypox) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) during the global outbreak in 2022. Forty-four GBMSM (M = 25.3 years, 68.

High Vaccine Confidence Is Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use Substances.

We examined associations between vaccine confidence and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted among 249 GBMSM participating in mSTUDY from May to October 2021-a cohort of GBMSM with a history of substance use in Los Angeles. Data were collected using a vaccine confidence index.

Prevalence of Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use by Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, and Sex Assigned at Birth Among Emerging Adult Tobacco Users in California, United States.

Introduction: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) nicotine and tobacco use disparities are well-documented among youth and young adults (YYA), and despite decades of prevention efforts, these disparities stubbornly persist. To better understand tobacco use disparities and craft tailored interventions, tobacco use patterns must be assessed in a contemporary sample of YYA across lines of sexual and gender identity, sex assigned at birth, and tobacco product types.

Aims And Methods: Data were from an online survey of a diverse sample of emerging adult tobacco users (ages 18-29; N = 1491) in California, United States (2020-2021).

Impact of COVID-19 Response on the HIV Epidemic in Men Who Have Sex With Men in San Francisco County: The Importance of Rapid Return to Normalcy.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, San Francisco County (SFC) had to shift many nonemergency health care resources to COVID-19, reducing HIV control resources. We sought to quantify COVID-19 effects on HIV burden among men who have sex with men (MSM) as SFC returns to pre-COVID service levels and progresses toward the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) goals.

Setting: Microsimulation model of MSM in SFC tracking HIV progression and treatment.

The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.

Purpose: With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.

Methods: We analyzed baseline data from a randomized comparison trial of a mobile app intervention aimed to address the social work and legal needs of Black sexual minority men with HIV in Los Angeles County.

Intimate Partner Violence Victimization During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among a Global Online Sample of Sexual Minority Men.

Purpose: We aimed to describe the prevalence of IPV victimization, changes of experiencing IPV victimization, and examined factors associated with more severe or frequent IPV victimization since the COVID-19 crisis among a global sample of sexual minority men (SMM).

Methods: Data were collected between October and November 2020 through a gay social networking (GSN) application. We used multinominal logistic regression to examine correlates of experiencing any IPV during the pandemic and experiencing more severe or frequent IPV since the pandemic began.

Vaccine confidence among people who use drugs: A cross-sectional survey.

Adult immunization coverage remains low in the US, particularly for people who use drugs (PWUD), a population that experiences a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. The extent of and characteristics associated with vaccine confidence (VC) held by PWUD is poorly understood. As VC strongly correlates with vaccine uptake, this cross-sectional study identifies mutable factors associated with VC and quantifies its relationship to immunization status within a highly vulnerable, underimmunized population of PWUD.

Acceptability of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis among people who inject drugs in three urban U.S. settings.

Background: Outbreaks of new HIV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) are a major public health concern. Oral daily PrEP, has been identified as a critical addition to the biomedical toolkit for this population. However, limited research on the acceptability of long-acting injectable PrEP has been conducted with this population.