Application of the unified theory of behavior to strengthen sexual health discussions between providers and young patients in the United States.

Context: Sexual health discussions between healthcare providers and adolescent and young adult patients are an important strategy for addressing and improving sexual health. However, healthcare providers often do not engage in comprehensive sexual health discussions with young patients during routine clinical visits.

Methods: We propose the use of a conceptual model, the Unified Theory of Behavior (UTB), as a tool that can aid healthcare providers in facilitating more comprehensive sexual health conversations with young patients.

A Descriptive Study of Maternal Vaccination Uptake, Attitudes, and Beliefs in Pregnancy Among Persons Delivering at an Urban Safety Net Hospital.

Objective: To estimate uptake of influenza, tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), and COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy and describe vaccine attitudes and beliefs among predominantly racial and ethnic minority individuals delivering at a publicly funded hospital.

Methods: We collected survey and electronic medical record data for English-speaking postpartum individuals who delivered a live-born infant from July 7, 2022, through August 21, 2022, and agreed to participate in our study. The 58-item survey included questions about general vaccine attitudes and beliefs as well as vaccine-specific questions.

HIV Knowledge among African Americans Living with HIV in the Rural South: Implications for Improving HIV Prevention and Care Outcomes.

Purpose: This study examines the HIV knowledge of people living with HIV (PLWH) and its implications for improved healthcare outcomes.

Methods: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study, and a total of 41 PLWH were recruited from a larger faith-based anti-stigma study. Data was collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SAS.

Feasibility and acceptability of B6: a social capital program for young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men living with HIV.

Young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) are disproportionately burdened by HIV and often exhibit suboptimal engagement in HIV care. With the goal of increasing engagement in HIV care, we designed a culturally specific, theory-based group-level program, Brothers Building Brothers by Breaking Barriers (B6), which aimed to strengthen resilience and social capital among YB-GBMSM living with HIV. We conducted a pilot trial to evaluate the program's acceptability and feasibility.

More than just oral PrEP: exploring interest in rectal douche, dissolvable implant, removable implant and injection HIV prevention approaches among racially diverse men who have sex with men in the Northeast Corridor.

Objectives: HIV scholars and practitioners have worked to expand strategies for prevention among marginalised populations who are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic, such as racial minority men who have sex with men (MSM). Given this urgency, the objective of this study was to assess interest in biomedical prevention strategies.

Methods: This exploratory and cross-sectional study investigated interest in four biomedical prevention tools-rectal douche, dissolvable implant, removable implant and injection-among a racially diverse sample of MSM from the Northeast Corridor region between Philadelphia and Trenton.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive Health Services and Outcomes, 2020.

Racial and ethnic disparities in women's health have existed for decades, despite efforts to strengthen women's reproductive health access and utilization. Recent guidance by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) underscores the often unacknowledged and unmeasured role of racial bias and systemic racial injustice in reproductive health disparities and highlights a renewed commitment to eliminating them. Reaching health equity requires an understanding of current racial-ethnic gaps in reproductive health and a concerted effort to develop and implement strategies to close gaps.

Vital Voices: HIV Prevention and Care Interventions Developed for Disproportionately Affected Communities by Historically Underrepresented, Early-Career Scientists.

Background: HIV prevention interventions which support engagement in care and increased awareness of biomedical options, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are highly desired for disproportionately affected Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) populations in the United States (US). However, in almost 40 years of HIV research, few interventions have been developed directly by and for these priority populations in domestic counties most at risk. We submit that interventions developed by early-career scientists who identify with and work directly with affected subgroups, and which include social and structural determinants of health, are vital as culturally tailored HIV prevention and care tools.

Uptake of online HIV-related continuing medical education training among primary care providers in Southeast United States, 2017-2018.

Primary care providers play a vital role for HIV prevention and care in high burden areas of the Southeast United States. Studies reveal that only a third of these providers had previous HIV-related training. We evaluated the effects of targeted online continuing medical education training on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among providers in the Southeast.

Perceptions of Patient HIV Risk by Primary Care Providers in High-HIV Prevalence Areas in the Southern United States.

The southern United States accounted for 52% of new HIV diagnoses in 2015. Visits to primary care providers (PCPs) offer opportunities for routine HIV screening. However, of at-risk persons in the United States who visited a health care provider within the previous year, >75% were not offered a test for HIV.

HIV Testing Among Black and Hispanic/Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Black and Latino men who have sex with men (BLMSM) accounted for 53% of males newly diagnosed with HIV in New York City (NYC) in 2015. Despite increased HIV testing efforts with BLMSM in the U.S.

Associations Between Neighborhood Problems and Sexual Behaviors Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Deep South: The MARI Study.

There is a disproportionately high HIV incidence among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) despite equal or lower levels of HIV risk behaviors compared to White MSM. Due to high levels of racial segregation in the U.S.

Social and Structural Determinants of HIV Treatment and Care Among Hispanic Women and Latinas Living with HIV Infection in the United States: A Qualitative Review: 2008-2018.

In 2017, among all women in the United States, Hispanic women and Latinas (Hispanics/Latinas) accounted for 16% of women with HIV. Populations with high HIV disparities, including Hispanics/Latinas, experience treatment and care outcomes that are well below the national goals. The objective of this qualitative review was to identify social and structural barriers to HIV care from the perspective of Hispanics/Latinas.

HIV prescriptions on the frontlines: Primary care providers' use of antiretrovirals for prevention in the Southeast United States, 2017.

HIV disproportionately affects persons in Southeast United States. Primary care providers (PCPs) are vital for HIV prevention. Data are limited about their prescribing of antiretrovirals (ARVs) for prevention, including non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Successfully Recruiting Black and Hispanic/Latino Adolescents for Sexually Transmitted Infection and HIV Prevention Research.

Disparities in rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV between Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino adolescents and their white counterparts are well documented. Researchers may encounter notable challenges recruiting Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino adolescents for sexual risk reduction studies. In this article, we present information to assist with planning, implementing, and evaluating recruitment and retention strategies.

Comparison of Selected Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Risk Behaviors of Black/African American Men Who Have Sex with Men Only and Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women, Southeastern United States, 2013-2016.

Purpose: Compare selected sociodemographic and sexual risk characteristics of black/African American (black) men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) in the southeastern United States (the South).

Methods: We conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses to explore the sociodemographic characteristics and sexual risk behaviors of 584 MSMW and MSMO in the South.

Results: MSMW had lesser odds of having a college or graduate degree (aOR = 0.

Use of Recommended Preventive Health Care Services and Variations in HIV Care Among Women With HIV in the United States, 2013-2014: Opportunities for Expanded Partnerships in Support of Ending the HIV Epidemic.

Background: Despite recommendations for preventive health services and routine HIV care for HIV-positive women, limited data are available regarding uptake of recommendations.

Methods: We used data from the 2013-2014 data cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project. We calculated weighted estimates and used multivariable logistic regression with adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals to examine associations between preventive health screenings, routine HIV care [based on viral load (VL) and CD4 measures as proxies], and sociodemographic factors.

HIV infection among women in the United States: 2000-2017.

Although HIV diagnoses among women have declined in recent years in the United States (U.S.), women accounted for 19% of new HIV diagnoses in 2016.

HIV-Related Training and Correlates of Knowledge, HIV Screening and Prescribing of nPEP and PrEP Among Primary Care Providers in Southeast United States, 2017.

The Southeast accounted for most HIV diagnoses (52%) in the United States in 2015. Primary care providers (PCPs) play a vital role in HIV prevention for at-risk persons and treatment of persons living with HIV. We studied HIV-related training, knowledge, and clinical practices among PCPs in the Southeast to address knowledge gaps to inform HIV prevention strategies.

Psychological and social determinants of health, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and viral suppression among HIV-positive black women in care.

Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 61% of women diagnosed in 2016. Black women with HIV are less likely to be adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and virally suppressed compared to women of other racial/ethnic groups. We analyzed 2013-2014 data from 1703 black women patients in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Medical Monitoring Project to examine whether select psychological and social determinants of health (SDH) factors were associated with ART adherence and viral suppression.

Differences by Sex in Cardiovascular Comorbid Conditions Among Older Adults (Aged 50-64 or ≥65 Years) Receiving Care for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Differences by sex in cardiovascular comorbid conditions among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons aged 50-64 years have been understudied; even fewer data are available for persons aged ≥65 years.

Methods: We used matched interview and medical record abstraction data from the 2009-2012 data cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project, a nationally representative sample of HIV-infected adults in care. We included men and women aged 50-64 and ≥65 years at time of interview.

Disparities in Viral Suppression and Medication Adherence among Women in the USA, 2011-2016.

We assessed disparities in viral suppression (VS) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among women of the HIV Outpatient Study to inform HIV treatment strategies. We used adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess VS by race/ethnicity and generalized estimating equations to investigate factors associated with not achieving VS and ART non-adherence. Among 426 women (median age = 46 years), at baseline, VS was less prevalent among black women (63%) compared with Hispanic women/Latinas (73%) and white women (78%).

Changes in Disparities in Estimated HIV Incidence Rates Among Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in the United States, 2010-2015.

Background: During 2008-2015, the estimated annual HIV incidence rate in the United States decreased for each transmission risk category, except for men who have sex with men (MSM). Racial/ethnic disparities exist, with higher incidence rates for Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM.

Setting: This analysis examines changes, 2010-2015, in disparities of HIV incidence among Black, Hispanic/Latino and White MSM.

Effectively Addressing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disparities Affecting US Black Women.

Black women have disproportionately higher rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and low percentages being linked to care and becoming virally suppressed, compared with women of other races/ethnicities. To date, few evidence-based HIV prevention and care interventions tailored for black women exist. We highlight three essential factors to consider in designing culturally and gender-appropriate studies to address HIV-related disparities affecting black women: (1) social determinants of HIV risk, (2) determinants of equity, and (3) perceptions of black women's sexuality.

HIV-Related Stigma by Healthcare Providers in the United States: A Systematic Review.

Reducing HIV-related stigma may enhance the quality of HIV prevention and care services and is a national prevention goal. The objective of this systematic review was to identify studies of HIV-related stigma among healthcare providers. For studies published between 2010 and 2017, we: (1) searched databases using our keywords, (2) excluded nonpeer reviewed studies, (3) limited the findings to the provider perspective and studies conducted in the United States, (4) extracted and summarized the data, and (5) conducted a contextual review to identify common themes.