People living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher risk of experiencing sexual assault compared to populations without HIV. Prior studies have shown independent associations between sexual assault, depression, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. However, research analyzing the potential mediating effects of depressive symptoms between sexual assault and ART adherence, and the associated age and sex disparities, especially among PLWH in the Southern United States, is lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnsuring the wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLWH) has become a significant public health concern in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. This study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) among PLWH in South Carolina (SC) and to examine the relationship between self-reported viral load (VL) suppression and their perceived QoL. In 2018, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 402 PLWH from a large immunology clinic in SC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Herpes Simplex Virus type-2 (HSV-2) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Given this gender disparity and women's vulnerability to HIV/STIs, prevention efforts often target women, but relatively little attention has been paid to compare whether HIV interventions produce equal program effects across gender. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the school support intervention had equal program effects on study outcomes and biomarkers by gender among orphaned adolescents in Kenya.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of stigma on psychological wellness and treatment outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been well documented. However, within the context of the southern United States, the intersection between HIV-related stigma and social-ecological factors has been understudied. Thus, a results-based convergent, mixed synthesis design was used to examine the manifestations of HIV-related stigma in PLWH in the U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen are disproportionately affected by HIV in many regions of the world and they represent the fastest growing demographic in the HIV epidemic. In addition, sexual violence against women is a global public health issue which increases women's vulnerability of HIV/STI acquisition. However, the relationship between sexual violence and HIV/STI risk are complex and contribute to the growing epidemic of women infected with HIV/STIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this research is to explore the negotiation strategies of college women as they interpret ambiguous rape scenarios. In focus groups, 1st- and 4th-year college women were presented with a series of three vignettes depicting incidents that meet the legal criteria for rape yet are ambiguous due to the presence of cultural rape myths, contexts involving alcohol consumption, varying degrees of consent, and a known perpetrator. These contexts are critical in understanding how college women define rape.
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