Growing up in the shadow of HIV: post-AIDS generation of HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Sweden and their perceptions of HIV and stigma.

Despite growing understanding and acceptance of the concept of Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) among gay men, HIV stigma remains a burden for people living with HIV. This study explored perceptions of HIV among HIV seronegative gay men in Sweden in this new context. Using snowball sampling, 15 gay men born between 1980 and 2000 were recruited to the study.

Prevalence of HIV-related stigma manifestations and their contributing factors among people living with HIV in Sweden - a nationwide study.

Background: With access to  antiretroviral therapy (ART) HIV infection is a chronic manageable condition and non-sexually transmissible. Yet, many people living with HIV still testify about experiencing HIV-related stigma and discrimination. It is well-documented that HIV-related stigma and discrimination continue to be critical barriers to prevention, treatment, care and quality of life.

Hopelessness and HIV infection: an exploratory study with a gender-specific perspective.

Background: An understudied psychological response to HIV-related stressors among people living with HIV is hopelessness. Hopelessness is the expectation that things will not improve and feeling helpless to change one's current situation. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and levels of hopelessness and its direct and indirect contributors in people living with HIV in Sweden.

Sexual (Dis)satisfaction and Its Contributors Among People Living with HIV Infection in Sweden.

Earlier research reports lower sexual satisfaction among people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to HIV-negative persons. A number of psychosocial factors directly associated with sexual dissatisfaction have been identified. Little is known about sexual satisfaction and their contributors among PLHIV in Sweden.

Project SMART: Preliminary Results From a Test of the Efficacy of a Swedish Internet-Based HIV Risk-Reduction Intervention for Men Who Have Sex With Men.

In Sweden, 57 % of HIV transmission occurs among MSM, and other sexually transmitted infections are increasing, supporting the need for innovative interventions. The Internet is a potentially useful HIV-prevention platform, but there is a lack of such programs in Sweden. The purpose of this exploratory study was to test the efficacy of the Internet-based SMART intervention to decrease HIV sexual risks in Swedish MSM.

An assessment of brief group interventions to increase condom use by heterosexual crack smokers living with HIV infection.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of brief group interventions, the positive choices intervention (PCI) and a standard intervention (SI), to increase condom use and intention to use condoms and to change condom use attitudes and beliefs. The design of the study was a randomized comparative trial. Participants were 347 heterosexual African American crack cocaine users living with HIV infection.

Lipoatrophy of the footpad in HIV-treated patients is associated with increased PAI-1.

Purpose: To describe lipoatrophy of the plantar pedis fat pads in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with or without long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART); to compare the characteristics of ART patients with and without plantar pedis lipoatrophy; and to examine the effects of HIV and metabolic/cardiovascular risk parameters and treatment history on plantar pedis lipoatrophy.

Design: Participants included 134 patients who started protease inhibitors in antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1996 and 49 treatment-naive patients, recruited in 2004. Participants were examined and graded for lipoatrophy of five body compartments including the plantar fat pads.

A cluster analysis of drug use and sexual HIV risks and their correlates in a sample of African-American crack cocaine smokers with HIV infection.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to classify a sample of HIV-seropositive African-American crack cocaine smokers into homogenous HIV drug use and sexual risk groups using a two step multivariate cluster analysis. Two hundred and fifty-eight crack cocaine smokers participated in the study. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct HIV risk groups.

Multiple sexual partnerships in a sample of African-American crack smokers.

The sample for this study consisted of 692 sexually active African-American crack cocaine users living in Houston, TX who reported more than one sexual partner in the previous 30 days. Participants were asked to describe each of their two most recent partners from a list of eight choices: spouse/like a spouse/lover; close friend/friend/acquaintance/customer you like/customer. Analyses were conducted on the 1,384 partners and 692 partnership combinations reported.

Three types of adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy and their association with AIDS diagnosis, medication side-effects, beliefs about antiretroviral therapy, and beliefs about HIV disease.

One hundred and ninety-three adults with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy completed a questionnaire on demographics, health beliefs, medication side-effects, and adherence to dose, schedule, and dietary instructions. Three health beliefs indices were identified: antiretroviral therapy (ART) benefits, ART adherence self-efficacy, and beliefs about future HIV-related health concerns. Patients who experienced medication side-effects reported strong beliefs that HIV infection would cause them future health problems or distrust in the benefits of ART.

Factors associated with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy adherence to dose, schedule, and dietary instructions.

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of suboptimal antiretroviral therapy adherence to dose, schedule, and dietary instructions and to examine the effects of extra-personal, intra-personal, and inter-personal factors on suboptimal adherence across the three types of instructions. Self-report and clinical data were collected from 193 sexually infected Swedish patients receiving ART. Effects of extra-personal, intra-personal, and inter-personal factors on suboptimal adherence were examined using multivariate logistic regression models.

Coping modes with HIV disease predict loss from HIV study cohort.

The objective of this longitudinal study of 41 Swedish men with HIV disease was to assess what variables or combination of variables might predict loss to retention at 12 months. The variables of focus were of patients' characteristics, quality of life, psychological, and medical characters. It appears that it is psychological variables relating to coping with HIV disease that are the best predictors of failure to retain respondents in this cohort.

The HIV Medication Self-Reported Nonadherence Reasons (SNAR) Index and its underlying psychological dimensions.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the construction of the HIV Medication Self-Reported Nonadherence Reasons (SNAR) index and its psychological correlates. Data were derived from a sample of 193 Swedish HIV-seropositive women and men receiving antiretroviral medications. Participants who reported dosing and/or scheduling and/or dietary instructions nonadherence in the past 7 days were presented with a modified AACTG list of 18 reasons for nonadherence.