A mixed methods exploration of HIV and drug use disclosure in healthcare settings among HIV-positive women who inject drugs in Ukraine.

Disclosing one's HIV status or drug use in healthcare settings has significant implications for public and individual health. It is related to reduced occupational risk of infection for medical providers, improved care, reduction in disease transmission, and other clinical benefits for patients. However, disclosure can be challenging and problematic due to its discrediting aspects.

Evaluating a Washington DC Community-based meal-kit service aimed at mitigating dietary disparities: Results from the SouthEats pilot study.

Background: Vegetable consumption is known to reduce the risk of various chronic health conditions. Yet a small percentage of US adults consume enough vegetables to meet national dietary guidelines. The SouthEats community-led meal-kit service was developed in Washington DC to address known barriers to healthy eating and vegetable consumption among middle- and low-income households.

Increasing the Repertoire for Depression Care: Methods and Challenges of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Peer Support for Vulnerable Older Adults.

Objective: Low-income White and older adults of color face barriers to depression care. Our purpose is to describe the methods and challenges encountered during the implementation of a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a peer support depression care intervention for low-income White and older adults of color during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Peer Enhanced Depression Care (Peers) is an 8-week community-based intervention that uses peer mentors who are trained and supervised to provide social support and self-care skills to depressed older adults.

The Relationship Between Intersectional Drug Use and HIV Stigma and HIV Care Engagement Among Women Living with HIV in Ukraine.

This study used an intersectional approach to explore the association between enacted and internalized drug use and HIV stigma on HIV care outcomes among HIV-positive women who inject drugs in Ukraine. Surveys were conducted in Kyiv in 2019-2020. Among the 306 respondents, 55% were engaged in HIV care.

Accelerating integration of social needs into mainstream healthcare to achieve health equity in the COVID-19 era.

It is known that social inequities result in health disparities in outcomes, highlighted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This commentary discusses the actionable initiatives that have been implemented to address social inequities in healthcare in the United States. The publicly available social needs screening tools and International Classification of Disease Systems-10 Z codes for social determinants of health are introduced.

Branched sexuality and sexual health among Black cisgender sexual minority men in Baltimore, Maryland: an exploratory study.

Branched sexuality - in form of combinations of sexual identity, behaviour and attraction (e.g. heterosexual identity, sex with men, attraction to women) that differ from coincident combinations (e.

A socio-ecological perspective on parents' intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

Introduction: Vaccinating children against COVID-19 protects children's health and can mitigate the spread of the virus to other community members.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to use a socio-ecological perspective to identify multi-level factors associated with US parents' intention to vaccinate their children.

Methods: This study used a longitudinal online cohort.

Exploring Challenges and Strategies in Partnering With Community-Based Organizations to Advance Intervention Development and Implementation With Older Adults.

Minoritized older adults face multiple health inequities and disparities, but are less likely to benefit from evidence-based health care interventions. With the increasing diversity of the U.S.

Exploring the role of sex differences in the relationship between sex partner attitudes and current quit attempt among a sample of smokers.

Introduction: Limited research has explored sex differences in the relationship between partner support and smoking cessation among minority low-income population. Further, scarce attention has been given to the influence of partners who are not married. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between negative and positive social support provided by partners and smoking cessation among men and women smokers.

Awareness of and Interest in Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Patients Receiving Services at Public Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in an Urban Setting.

The goal of this study was to assess awareness of, interest in, and sources of knowledge about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among 1,464 HIV-uninfected patients from public STD clinics in Baltimore. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with PrEP awareness and interest. Results suggest PrEP awareness and interest in knowing more about PrEP was highest among men who reported sex with men or with both men and women.

Exploring the evolution of engagement between academic public health researchers and decision-makers: from initiation to dissolution.

Context: Relationships between researchers and decision-makers have demonstrated positive potential to influence research, policy and practice. Over time, interest in better understanding the relationships between the two parties has grown as demonstrated by a plethora of studies globally. However, what remains elusive is the evolution of these vital relationships and what can be learned from them with respect to advancing evidence-informed decision-making.

Use of effective training and quality assurance strategies is associated with high-fidelity EBI implementation in practice settings: a case analysis.

High-quality implementation of evidence-based interventions is important for program effectiveness and is influenced by training and quality assurance (QA). However, gaps in the literature contribute to a lack of guidance on training and supervision in practice settings, particularly when significant adaptations in programs occur. We examine training and QA in relationship to program fidelity among organizations delivering a widely disseminated HIV counseling and testing EBI in which significant adaptations occurred due to new testing technology.

The Interaction of Smoking Cessation Norms and Nicotine Dependence on Quit Attempts: Gender-Stratified Results for Low-Income Smokers in Baltimore, MD.

Declines in smoking prevalence among low-income adults lag behind national samples. Understanding the influence of social context factors such as gender, and normative influence on smoking attitudes and behaviors, can inform smoking cessation interventions. This study explored how gender, smoking dependence, and cessation norms influenced the likelihood of current quit attempts among urban-dwelling, predominately African American adults.

More than just availability: Who has access and who administers take-home naloxone in Baltimore, MD.

Background: Fatal opioid overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States. Addressing barriers and augmenting facilitators to take-home naloxone (THN) access and administration could expand program reach in preventing fatal overdoses.

Methods: THN access (i.

Patients' response to an emergency department-based HIV testing program and perception of their friends' attitudes on HIV testing among patients seeking care at an urban emergency department in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Background: Little is known regarding the possible role of social network members and peer attitudes on emergency department (ED) patients' willingness to be tested for HIV.

Methods: We conducted mixed methods in-depth interview and quantitative survey with ED patients from November 2013 to June 2014 to assess peer and personal perceptions of ED-based HIV testing. Patients enrolled were asked about their own attitudes toward HIV testing as well as those of their friends.

Low overdose responding self-efficacy among adults who report lifetime opioid use.

Background: Evaluations of overdose response programs suggest effectiveness in preventing overdose-related death and individual willingness to respond to an overdose. However, knowledge of and confidence in performing response behaviors is necessary for individuals to intervene. This study assessed overdose responding self-efficacy among adults who reported lifetime opioid use.

Beyond HIV prevention: a qualitative study of patient-reported outcomes of PrEP among MSM patients in two public STD clinics in Baltimore.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could have a substantial impact on the HIV epidemic within the US. However, the implementation of PrEP interventions outside of clinical trials has been slow and faces considerable barriers. The aim of the current study was to qualitatively explore PrEP-related patient-reported outcomes (PRO) among MSM patients who enrolled in a PrEP program at two public STD clinics in Baltimore.

Stigma and drug use settings as correlates of self-reported, non-fatal overdose among people who use drugs in Baltimore, Maryland.

Background: Fatalities from opioid overdose quadrupled during the last 15 years as illicit opioid use increased. This study assesses how stigma and drug use settings are associated with non-fatal overdose to identify targets for overdose risk reduction interventions and inform overdose education and naloxone distribution programs.

Methods: We surveyed 444 people who used drugs in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, from 2009 to 2013 as part of a randomized clinical trial of a harm reduction intervention.

An examination of grit in black men who have sex with men and associations with health and social outcomes.

Aims: This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of grit in a sample of Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Methods: A trained research assistant administered the Short-Grit and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scales and surveyed participants of a community-based behavioral health intervention for demographic, health, and sexual behaviors.

Results: Of 239 participants, two-thirds scored in the high grit category.

Fentanyl and Drug Overdose: Perceptions of Fentanyl Risk, Overdose Risk Behaviors, and Opportunities for Intervention among People who use Opioids in Baltimore, USA.

Background: Fentanyl-related mortality has skyrocketed among people who use opioids (PWUO) in North America. The current study of PWUO aims to examine the perceived fentanyl risk and training needs; fatal overdose prevention behaviors; and, feasibility of a peer education approach to reducing fentanyl-related fatal overdoses in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Methods: 316 street-recruited PWUO were interviewed about fentanyl in Baltimore, MD.

The role of perceived friend depression and perceived stigma on self-reported depression among individuals who use drugs.

Depression and substance use are highly comorbid, and stigmatized, mental health conditions influenced by social network factors. The objective of this study was to explore the role of perceived depression and perceived mental health stigma among friends on self-reported depression over time. Between 2009 and 2012, 527 participants who used drugs completed baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys in Baltimore, Maryland.