The WHO recommends monitoring viral load (VL) to gauge ART efficacy among People Living with HIV (PLHIV). Low suppression rates persist in low- and middle-income countries due to poor adherence. Enhanced Adherence Counseling (EAC) aims to improve adherence and treatment outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) continue to experience a high incidence of HIV in southern and eastern Africa, even in the context of large-scale HIV prevention interventions. In Tanzania, AGYW account for the largest proportion of new infections and have a higher risk of HIV acquisition than males of comparable age.
Methods: We used routinely collected data from the PEPFAR/USAID-funded Sauti Project, a large combination HIV prevention program, to examine the relationship between transactional sex and sex with older partners among AGYW in Tanzania (2015-2020).
Introduction: In 2016, UNAIDS set ambitious targets to reduce global HIV infections by 75% by 2020 and 90% by 2030, based on the 2.1 million new infections reported in 2010. However, by 2022, new HIV infections had only decreased by 38%, from 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: Since 2007, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs have been associated with substantially reduced HIV incidence across 15 prioritized countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Drawing on the programmatic experience of global VMMC leaders, this report reviews progress made in the first 15 years of the program, describes programmatic and research gaps, and presents considerations to maximize the impact of VMMC.
Recent Findings: Overall, key programmatic and research gaps include a lack of robust male circumcision coverage estimates due to limitations to the data and a lack of standardized approaches across programs; challenges enhancing VMMC uptake include difficulties reaching populations at higher risk for HIV infection and men 30 years and older; limitations to program and procedural quality and safety including variations in approaches used by programs; and lastly, sustainability with limited evidence-based practices.
The World Health Organization identified men as an essential group to target with HIV testing and treatment strategies;: men who have sex with men (MSM) and male clients of female sex workers (CFSW) account for 35% of new HIV infections globally. Using a cross-sectional design from a community-based HIV prevention project in Tanzania (October 2015-September 2018) and multivariable logistic regression, we identified predictors of HIV seropositivity among men. Of 1,041,343 men on their initial visit to the project, 36,905 (3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEating disorders are common, chronic illnesses that frequently arise during adolescence. Because of the impact on nutrition, individuals with eating disorders have significant health consequences, including effects on reproductive health. Adolescent women with eating disorders frequently have menstrual irregularities, though the causes of these abnormalities are complex and vary depending on the type of eating disorder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an efficacious way to lower the risk of HIV acquisition among high-risk individuals. Despite the World Health Organization's 2015 recommendation that all persons at substantial risk of HIV infection be provided with access to oral PrEP, the rollout has been slow in many low- and middle-income countries. Initiatives for national rollout are few, and subtle skepticism persists in several countries about the feasibility of national PrEP implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Evidence indicates HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious and effective. Substantial early discontinuation rates are reported by many programs, which may be misconstrued as program failure. However, PrEP use may be non-continuous and still effective, since HIV risk fluctuates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFollowing WHO's 2015 recommendation, countries in sub-Saharan Africa have progressively scaled up oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of combination HIV prevention. PrEP has potential to significantly reduce new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa if it is widely available, accessible, and effectively used. Initial scale-up efforts have generated progress, drawing lessons from existing HIV interventions, such as antiretroviral therapy and biomedical prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15 to 24 years face disproportionately high risks of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A sexual health risk stratification tool can support the development and implementation of tailored HIV and STI prevention services for sub-groups of at-risk AGYW. Data were collected among sexually active AGYW aged 15 to 24 years in Tanzania between April 2015 and March 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: For malnourished patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD), refeeding is complex; true weight (dry weight) gain must be accounted for as it accrues to safely dialyze.
Objective: This case describes the challenge of following true weight to appropriately adjust treatment for a patient with ESRD on HD requiring inpatient refeeding.
Methods: A 17-year-old female presented to an adolescent clinic after referral from her nephrologist for malnutrition and disordered eating.
Introduction: Adverse events (AEs) rates in voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) are critical measures of service quality and safety. While these indicators are key, monitoring AEs in large-scale VMMC programmes is not without challenges. This study presents findings on AEs that occurred in eight years of providing VMMC services in three regions of Tanzania, to provide discussion both on these events and the structural issues around maintaining safety and quality in scaled-up VMMC services.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe article Association of Male Circumcision with Women's Knowledge of its Biomedical Effects and With Their Sexual Satisfaction and Function: A Systematic Review, written by Jonathan M. Grund, Tyler S. Bryant, Carlos Toledo, Inimfon Jackson, Kelly Curran, Sheng Zhou, Jorge Martin del Campo, Ling Yang, Apollo Kivumbi, Peizi Li, Naomi Bock, Joanna Taliano, Stephanie M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Medical child abuse (MCA) is challenging to diagnose. Although young children are often affected, adolescents can be victims through caregiver coercion. Presentation is highly variable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol
April 2019
Background: After several visits with unrelated complaints, a 16-year-old female patient disclosed symptoms of unwanted genital arousal and was diagnosed with persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD).
Case: A 16-year-old female patient with history of depression, sexual abuse, and dysmenorrhea insistently requested etonogestrel rod removal. At 2 visits after implant removal, the patient disclosed the reason for her insistence: PGAD symptoms developed after implant insertion, although they worsened with removal.
Male circumcision (MC) is a key HIV prevention intervention for men in countries with high HIV prevalence. Women's understanding of MC is important but poorly understood. We conducted a systematic review including women's knowledge of MC's biomedical impacts and its association with female sexual satisfaction and function through October 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Pediatr (Phila)
September 2018
Concerns exist that e-cigarette use may introduce adolescents to drugs. This study explores trends and associations of inhaled tobacco use with drug use. We performed a secondary data analysis on the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey examining the inhaled tobacco and drug use patterns among US teens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalawi, like other countries with a generalized HIV epidemic, is striving to reach the ambitious targets set by UNAIDS known as the three 90's for testing, provision of antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression. Assisted by Malawi's progressive policies on HIV/AIDS, it appears possible that Malawi will attain these targets, but only by employing innovative program approaches to service delivery which help fill policy gaps. This article describes how a dedicated cadre of layperson testers and HIV-positive peers appears to have helped attain increases in HIV and viral load testing and retention in care in four districts in Malawi, and situates these innovations in a policy framework analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol
April 2018
Background: Patients' underlying medical conditions might affect the presentation and progression of an eating disorder.
Case: We describe a patient with an undiagnosed, rare, genetic skeletal dysplasia with effects on body mass index that likely led to body image distortion and delayed the diagnosis of an eating disorder.
Summary And Conclusion: It is critical to fully assess disordered eating in the context of each patient's clinical status.
A growing evidence base supports expansion of partner notification in HIV testing services (HTS) in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Njombe region, Tanzania, to evaluate partner notification within facility-based HTS. Men and women newly diagnosed with HIV were enrolled as index clients and asked to list current or past sexual partners for referral to HTS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Male circumcision reduces men's risk of acquiring HIV and some sexually transmitted infections from heterosexual exposure, and is essential for HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have also investigated associations between male circumcision and risk of acquisition of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in women. We aimed to review all evidence on associations between male circumcision and women's health outcomes to benefit women's health programmes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo meet UNAIDS' 90-90-90 treatment goals, effective approaches to HIV testing services (HTSs) are urgently needed. In 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness and feasibility of partner notification for HTS in Tanzania. Men and women newly diagnosed with HIV were enrolled as index clients, listed sexual partners, and given options to notify and link their partners to HTS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Adolesc Health
January 2017
Patients with eating disorders are at risk for electrolyte imbalances that can lead to life-threatening complications. Timely recognition and evaluation of electrolyte abnormalities, including hypokalemia, are essential. In this case report, we describe an uncommon etiology of hypokalemia in a patient with disordered eating.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS recommend early infant male circumcision (EIMC) as a component of male circumcision programs in countries with high HIV prevalence and low circumcision rates. Lesotho began incorporating EIMC into routine maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in 2013 with funding from the United States Agency for International Development and United Nations Children's Fund. This presented unique challenges: Lesotho had no previous experience with EIMC and cultural traditions link removal of the foreskin to rites of passage.
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