Cervical Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Screening in Rural Indigenous Guatemalan Women: Time to Rethink VIA.

Single-visit "screen-and-treat" strategies using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy (liquid nitrous oxide ablation) in low-resource settings are commonly used to detect and treat precancerous lesions for cervical cancer prevention. This study compared VIA sensitivity and specificity in rural indigenous Guatemalan communities, to that of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for detection of precancerous changes, using cytology as the reference standard. Between 3-8 September 2017, trained nurses examined 222 women aged 23-58 years with VIA.

Self-reported factors associated with dental care utilization among Hispanic migrant farmworkers in South Florida.

Objectives: To explore patterns of dental care utilization among adult Hispanic migrant farmworkers utilizing the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services.

Methods: In 2010, 278 Hispanic migrant workers participated in the oral health assessment. Hierarchical logistic regression modeling was used to assess the effects of multiple factors on having a past-year dental visit.

Determining the Long-Term Effectiveness of a Group-Based Physical Activity Program.

Objective: In 2015, only half (48%) of older adults in the United States (≥60 years) reported engaging in any kind of physical activity. Few studies examine the impact of evidence-based programs when adopted in community-based settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of EnhanceFitness (EF) upto 12-months.

HIV-Related Stigma, Quality of Care, and Coping Skills: Exploring Factors Affecting Treatment Adherence Among PLWH in Haiti.

Stigma is a primary barrier to care and support for people living with HIV (PLWH). We explored relationships between HIV-related stigma and treatment adherence and the effects of psychological and structural factors on these relationships. HIV treatment adherence, stigma, and coping strategies were measured with questionnaires.

Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Abilities in U.S. Adolescents.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is increasingly common in U.S. adolescents and has been linked to cognitive dysfunction.

Blended Infant Massage-Parenting Enhancement Program on Recovering Substance-Abusing Mothers' Parenting Stress, Self-Esteem, Depression, Maternal Attachment, and Mother-Infant Interaction.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether a blended Infant Massage-Parenting Enhancement Program (IMPEP) improved maternal psychosocial health outcomes (parenting stress, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, maternal attachment) and maternal-infant interaction among substance-addicted mothers (SAMs) actively engaged in outpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: Designed as a randomized, three-group controlled trial testing two levels of psychoeducational intervention (IMPEP vs. PEP) and a control group (standard care parenting resources), the study was conducted in two substance abuse centers in southeast Florida on a convenience sample of 138 recovering SAM-infant pairs.

Structural Characteristics of Migrant Farmworkers Reporting a Relationship with a Primary Care Physician.

Migrant farmworkers are disproportionately affected by many adverse health conditions, but access healthcare sparingly. This study of migrant farmworkers examined the distribution and general characteristics associated with having access to healthcare. Access to healthcare was measured by asking whether the participants (N = 413) had a primary care physician.

Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors in a Migrant Worker Community.

There are not many studies exploring the association between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors among migrant workers. This study analyzed how changes in alcohol use was associated with changes in risky sexual behavior and psychosocial variables. Data for this study was drawn from an HIV risk reduction project.

Intermediate outcomes of chronic disease self-management program offered by members of the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative in South Florida.

Currently, 80% of adults over the age of 65 have at least one chronic disease. The Chronic Disease Self-management Program (CDSMP) focuses on increasing self-efficacy for managing chronic disease. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of CDSMP when offered by multiple agencies, as a collaborative effort, in community-based settings.

Newcomer Status as a Protective Factor among Hispanic Migrant Workers for HIV Risk.

The HIV rate among U.S. migrant workers is 10 times that of the national rate.

A needs assessment of health department employees in Puerto Rico and Florida.

Public health training centers were established to enhance competencies in skills required to meet 21st-century public health challenges. In 2011, the Puerto Rico-Florida Public Health Training Center conducted surveys to assess the training needs of two populations of public health workers serving Hispanic communities: Florida Department of Health employees and workers at the regional and central offices of the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The two surveys were similar, but not identical in content and administration.

Risky sexual behaviors: The role of ethnic identity in HIV risk in migrant workers.

Migrant workers have been shown to be at a heightened level of risk for HIV, and ethnic identity has been posited to have an impact on engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Our longitudinal study examined associations between baseline and short-term changes in ethnic identity and high-risk sexual behaviors. Baseline (n = 431) and 6-month assessment (n = 270) data were obtained from a larger HIV prevention study conducted among African American and Hispanic migrant workers.

Proficiency in condom use among migrant workers.

Consistent and correct use of condoms is important to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. We evaluated condom use skills on an 11-point scale in which participants were observed placing a condom on a penile model. Participants were 375 sexually active African American and Hispanic migrant workers.

The impact of ethnic identity on changes in high risk HIV behaviors in sexually active migrant workers.

Among migrant workers (MWs) in the US, HIV/AIDS prevalence may be as high as 13.5%. This serial cross-sectional study examines associations between Ethnic Identity (EI) in African American and Hispanic MWs and short-term changes in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Lessons from the fields: a migrant HIV prevention project.

Migrant and seasonal workers are vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to poverty, inadequate knowledge of preventive strategies, and lack of access to health care. This study addresses the disparate impact of HIV among Hispanic and African American migrant workers in Immokalee, Florida, who use alcohol and other drugs. Through pilot testing to adapt the experimental and comparison interventions to these two distinct populations, research staff have learned the importance of (1) establishing and maintaining trust between outreach staff and the migrant community; (2) being aware of cultural nuances and practices that might create challenges to the research process, and the interaction of these factors with poverty; and (3) having flexibility in recruitment and intervention.

Methodological challenges in intervention studies.

Parental substance abuse is a risk factor for child maltreatment, neglect and multi-generational drug abuse. Developing efficacious, cost-efficient interventions is critical to addressing this growing problem. This article by Brian Porter, Luz Porter, Virginia McCoy, Mayra Lima, Clare Pryce and Sachin Nunnewar highlights lessons learned during the first year of a study based in Florida to evaluate a novel parenting intervention targeting substance-abusing mothers and their babies.

Mammography use among Haitian women in Miami, Florida: an opportunity for intervention.

When compared to other racial/ethnic minorities and immigrants in Miami, Florida, Haitian women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer when the prognosis for survival is poor. This disparity likely reflects mammography underutilization. Previous research has not examined the frequency of mammography use among Haitian women in Miami.

Differences in HIV-related hospitalization among white, black, and Hispanic men and women of Florida.

Patients hospitalized for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease among the multi-ethnic population of Florida have been incompletely characterized to date. The objectives of the present study were to determine the race/ethnic (whites, blacks, Hispanics) differences in characteristics of patients by gender and the correlates of HIV-related mortality among them. A retrospective analysis of 9,113 discharge records (January to December 2001) with primary diagnosis of HIV disease was performed.

A strategy for improving community effectiveness of HIV/AIDS intervention design: the Community Readiness Model in the Caribbean.

The Community Readiness Model (CR) offers a solution to the development of prevention strategies at the community level that makes use of community collaborations and community capacity. CR was administered in the U.S.

HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Beliefs Among Haitian Adolescents in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

This study examined HIV/AIDS knowledge and beliefs in Haitian adolescents in an HIV epicenter, Miami-Dade Florida. This study examined survey data from 300 Haitian adolescents, aged 13 through 18, from both low-and middle-income neighborhoods. A sub-sample of 80 adolescents was selected for in-depth interviews and continuous observations with their families and networks of friends, which added rich descriptions to the quantitative data.

Technology trauma: barriers to increasing technology utilization.

While most social workers might agree that increasing the use of technology in agencies may be important for developing efficiency and effectiveness, little is known about the obstacles of doing so. In an NIDA-funded demonstration project to increase technology in agencies that serve drug abusing populations, researchers logged all email and memorandum communication for a two and a half year period. These communications documented the progress of the intervention from inception to implementation.

Improving access to primary health care for chronic drug users: an innovative systemic intervention for providers.

An intervention was designed to improve access to primary care for chronic drug users (CDUs) by enhancing health care providers' knowledge and skills. Using a case study method, three study sites were systematically selected for intervention implementation: a primary care clinic (PC), an emergency department (ED), and a drug treatment (DT) facility. Participants completed pre- and postintervention tests of knowledge, skills, and intentions to practice.

Satisfaction with access to health care among injection drug users, other drug users, and nonusers.

This article examines the satisfaction of users of cocaine and/or opiates and non-drug users with access to the health care system. Data were obtained from a sample of 1,477 injection drug users, non-injection drug users, and non-drug users recruited from neighborhoods with high drug use. Multiple regression examined the relationship between satisfaction with access to health care and demographic, health status and health care utilization, ability to pay, and alcohol and drug use variables.