Understanding Typology of Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Persistence Trajectories Among Male PrEP Users in the United States.

Introduction: Understanding longitudinal patterns of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among men who have sex with men could offer insights for developing efficient and timely interventions to promote PrEP persistence.

Setting: We extracted 2 years of pharmacy fill records for 4000 males who initiated PrEP in 2017 at a national chain pharmacy in the United States.

Methods: Group-based trajectory models were used to develop PrEP trajectory clusters, with periods of use defined based on optimal PrEP seroprotection probabilities (ie, PrEP use frequency ≥4 doses/week).

Uptake and perceptions of voluntary medical male circumcision among HIV-negative men in serodiscordant relationships in Zambia (2012-2015).

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a recommended HIV prevention strategy that few studies have promoted to HIV-negative men in serodiscordant relationships. We conducted a cross-sectional study on uptake and perceptions of VMMC among serodiscordant couples between 2012 and 2015. Heterosexual couples attending couples voluntary counselling and testing for HIV who had discordant results (M-, F+) were referred for VMMC.

Prenatal and Postpartum Home Visits and Postpartum Contraceptive Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

The postpartum period is a time of unmet contraceptive need for many women. Home visits by a health care worker during pregnancy or after delivery could increase postpartum contraceptive use and decrease barriers to accessing postpartum care. This study investigated the association between prenatal or postpartum home visits and postpartum contraceptive use using a large sample of U.

Female Genital Schistosomiasis Lesion Resolution Post-Treatment with Praziquantel in Zambian Adults.

We evaluated changes in female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) 6 to 12 months after praziquantel treatment among 43 adult Zambian women. Most women (60%) experienced decreased FGS severity and 23% experienced complete lesion resolution. This is the first study to demonstrate a meaningful effect of praziquantel treatment of FGS in adult women.

Use of "Strengthening Our Vows" Video Intervention to Encourage Negotiated Explicit Sexual Agreements in Zambian Heterosexual HIV Seroconcordant-Negative Couples.

Negotiating sexual agreements in combination with couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) may help further reduce HIV transmission in Zambian concordant HIV-negative couples (CNC). Though CVCT has been shown to reduce HIV transmission in CNC by 47%, approximately half of residual infections occur in this group. We developed a "Strengthening Our Vows" video session to foster communication and negotiation of explicit sexual agreements to reduce concurrent sexual exposures and prevent HIV transmission to the spouse due to unprotected, extramarital sex.

A Relationship-Focused HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Sexual Minority Men in the United States: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the We Prevent Intervention.

We Prevent is a virtual counseling intervention designed to improve communication as a mechanism for reducing HIV risk among young sexual minority men (SMM) in relationships. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of We Prevent in comparison to standard Counseling, Testing, and Referral among a national sample of 318 SMM ages 15-24 in a pilot randomized control trial. We found significant differences in condomless sex with outside partners; however, there were no differences in other sexual behaviors, sexual agreements, intimate partner violence (IPV), or communication between the conditions across the 9-month follow-ups.

Engaging Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men for HIV Testing and Prevention Services Through Technology: Protocol for the iSTAMP Comparative Effectiveness Trial.

Background: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly Black or African American MSM (BMSM) and Hispanic or Latino MSM (HLMSM), continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic in the United States. Previous HIV self-testing programs have yielded high testing rates, although these studies predominantly enrolled White, non-Hispanic MSM. Mobile health tools can support HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

Factors Associated With Anal High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesions and Carcinoma Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women With HIV in Atlanta.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with anal high-grade intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and anal carcinoma among young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) with HIV in Atlanta, GA, to better inform screening guidelines and preventative measures.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective chart review was completed for cisgender MSM and TW with HIV aged 13-25 years at the Grady Ponce and Family Youth Clinic in Atlanta, GA, from 2009 to 2020. High-grade anal disease was defined as anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) 2, 3, or anal carcinoma (AIN 2+).

Interest in and Uptake of Postabortion Long-Acting Reversible Contraception After Counseling at a Free-Standing Abortion Care Ambulatory Surgery Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 2017‒2018.

We sought to determine the impact of brief previsit counseling on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) interest and uptake immediately after abortion. We conducted a randomized controlled trial at a free-standing abortion care ambulatory surgery center in metro-Atlanta, Georgia (2017-2018). Among 1270 women, a brief previsit counseling intervention increased interest in LARC by 4.

Monitoring of Adverse Events in Recipients of the 2-Dose Ebola Vaccine Regimen of Ad26.ZEBOV Followed by MVA-BN-Filo in the UMURINZI Ebola Vaccination Campaign.

Background: From 2019 to 2021, Rwandan residents of the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo were offered the Ad26.ZEBOV (adenovirus type 26 vector vaccine encoding Ebola virus glycoprotein) and MVA-BN-Filo (modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector vaccine, encoding glycoproteins from Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and nucleoprotein from Tai Forest viruses) Ebola vaccine regimen.

Methods: Nonpregnant persons aged ≥2 years were eligible.

Safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of a 2-dose Ebola vaccine regimen of Ad26.ZEBOV followed by MVA-BN-Filo in healthy adult pregnant women: study protocol for a phase 3 open-label randomized controlled trial.

Background: Risks to mother and fetus following Ebola virus infection are very high. Evaluation of safety and immunogenicity of non-replicating Ebola vaccine candidates is a priority for use in pregnant women. This is the protocol for a randomized, open-label, single-center phase 3 clinical trial of the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of the 2-dose Ebola vaccine regimen in healthy adult pregnant women.

HIV testing and linkage to ART following secondary distribution of HIV self-test kits to male partners of women living with HIV: a pilot randomized control trial in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Introduction: South African men are underrepresented in HIV testing and treatment services. Secondary distribution of oral HIV self-test (HIVST) kits by women living with HIV (WLHIV) to their male partners (i.e.

Trichomonas vaginalis and Spontaneous Preterm Birth in a High-Risk Obstetric Cohort in Atlanta, GA.

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted infection globally, but routine screening is not recommended in HIV-negative individuals. There is a significant racial/ethnic health disparity in TV infection rates. Evidence regarding the association between TV and adverse perinatal outcomes is conflicting, but a recent large meta-analysis found a modest increased risk of preterm birth with TV infection (odds ratio, 1.

Implementation and evaluation of a large-scale postpartum family planning program in Rwanda: study protocol for a clinic-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Though the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MOH) prioritizes the scale-up of postpartum family planning (PPFP) programs, uptake and sustainability of PPFP services in Rwanda are low. Furthermore, highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive method use (LARC), key in effective PPFP programs, is specifically low in Rwanda. We previously pilot tested a supply-demand intervention which significantly increased the use of postpartum LARC (PPLARC) in Rwandan government clinics.

Measles immunity gap among reproductive-age women participating in a simulated HIV vaccine efficacy trial in Zambia.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable viral disease whose vaccination coverage remains low in Zambia, where the target group for vaccination is children aged 9 to 18 months. In addition to inadequate measles vaccination coverage among children, few studies address potential resultant immunity gaps among adults. We analyzed data from a simulated HIV vaccine efficacy trial (SiVET) conducted from 2015-2017 among adult Zambian women of childbearing age to determine measles antibody seroprevalence before and after vaccination with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Cross-sectional assessment of government health center needs to implement long-acting reversible contraception services in rural Rwanda.

Background: There is unmet need for family planning in Rwanda. We previously developed an evidence-based couples' family planning counseling (C)FPC program in the capital city that combines: (1) fertility goal-based family planning counseling with a focus on long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) for couples wishing to delay pregnancy; (2) health center capacity building for provision of LARC methods, and (3) LARC promotion by community health workers (CHW) trained in community-based provision of oral and injectable contraception. From 2015 to 2016, this service was integrated into eight government health centers in Kigali, reaching 6072 clients and resulting in 5743 LARC insertions.

A cluster randomized trial to reduce HIV risk from outside partnerships in Zambian HIV-Negative couples using a novel behavioral intervention, "Strengthening Our Vows": Study protocol and baseline data.

Background: Heterosexual couples contribute to most new HIV infections in areas of generalized HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. After Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (CVCT), heterosexual concordant HIV negative couples (CNC) in cohabiting unions contribute to approximately 47% of residual new infections in couples. These infections are attributed to concurrent sexual partners, a key driver of the HIV epidemic in Zambia.

Evolution of Condom Use Among a 5-Year Cohort of Female Sex Workers in Zambia.

Observing sexual behaviour change over time could help develop behavioural HIV prevention interventions for female sex workers in Zambia, where these interventions are lacking. We investigated the evolution of consistent condom use among female sex workers and their clients and steady partners. Participants were recruited into an HIV incidence cohort from 2012 to 2017.

Association of Delayed Treatment of Chlamydial Infection and Gonorrhea in Pregnancy and Preterm Birth.

Background: Treating chlamydia and gonorrhea in pregnancy has been shown to decrease the associated risk of preterm birth in some studies. Delayed treatment of these infections among nonpregnant patients carries known consequences. It is unclear whether delayed treatment in pregnancy similarly increases adverse outcomes.