Purpose Ukraine has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics globally. Due to their engagement in high-risk behaviors, adolescents and emerging adults involved with the penitentiary system are at a particularly high risk of HIV-acquisition. To address the epidemic, young males (aged 14 to 20 years) in penitentiary institutions across Ukraine participated in a ten-week, group-based HIV-prevention intervention (STEPS). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed clinical and programmatic services data collected as part of an evaluation of the STEPS intervention. Paired t-tests and χ were used to examine pre- and post-intervention differences in HV knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors and alcohol and other drug use knowledge. Findings In total, 105 male youths participated in the ten-session STEPS intervention. At baseline, males reported high frequencies of risk behaviors (e.g. unprotected sexual activity, injection drug use), moderate levels of HIV-related knowledge, and negative attitudes toward HIV and people living with HIV. At follow-up (immediately following the last STEPS session), participants' HIV-related knowledge substantially improved and participants tended to have more favorable attitudes toward HIV. Research limitations/implications Outcomes suggest that knowledge and attitudes about HIV among Ukrainian incarcerated youth can improve as a result of group-based HIV-prevention intervention. Originality/value In Ukraine, individuals involved with the criminal justice system are one of the populations most-at-risk for HIV; criminal justice-involved adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Research among this sub-population is limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating an on-going group-based HIV-prevention program designed to reduce adolescent risk of HIV.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7427503 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-02-2017-0007 | DOI Listing |
BMJ Glob Health
November 2024
Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Background: Parenting programmes, including those delivered in the Global South, are effective strategies to reduce violence against children (VAC). However, there is limited evidence of their impact when implemented at scale within routine delivery systems. This study aimed to address this gap by evaluating the real-world delivery of Parenting for Lifelong Health for Teens in Tanzania.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOpen Forum Infect Dis
November 2024
Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Introduction: Understanding longitudinal patterns of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among men who have sex with men could offer insights for developing efficient and timely interventions to promote PrEP persistence.
Setting: We extracted 2 years of pharmacy fill records for 4000 males who initiated PrEP in 2017 at a national chain pharmacy in the United States.
Methods: Group-based trajectory models were used to develop PrEP trajectory clusters, with periods of use defined based on optimal PrEP seroprotection probabilities (ie, PrEP use frequency ≥4 doses/week).
AIDS Behav
December 2024
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Transactional sex and sexual relationships with older partners increase HIV risk in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), yet little is known about how these behaviors co-evolve over time. We characterize temporal patterns of transactional sex and age-disparate relationships among AGYW in South Africa. Longitudinal data are from a randomized controlled trial (HPTN 068) of school-aged, HIV-negative, AGYW who attended ≥ 3 study visits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAddict Sci Clin Pract
July 2024
Social Intervention Group (SIG), Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
Background: In the U.S. there are significant racial and gender disparities in the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBehav Sci (Basel)
June 2024
Psychological Health and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
Theory-based HIV prevention programs have resulted in increased condom use, which remains the best method for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sexually active heterosexual individuals. Particularly, the integrative model of behavior prediction theorizes that attitudes, norms, self-efficacy, and socioenvironmental factors influence intention and behavior and has been useful in understanding STI risk among adolescents. However, more research is needed regarding young African American adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!