Changes in Health and Antiretroviral Adherence Among HIV-Infected Adults in Kenya: Qualitative Longitudinal Findings from a Livelihood Intervention.

This longitudinal qualitative study sought to understand how and why a livelihood intervention affected the health and health behaviors of HIV-infected Kenyan adults. The intervention included a microfinance loan, agricultural and financial training, and a human-powered water pump. In-depth interviews were conducted at two time points with intervention and control participants and program staff.

Stated product formulation preferences for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among women in the VOICE-D (MTN-003D) study.

Introduction: The effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) requires consistent and correct product use, thus a deeper understanding of women's stated product formulation preferences, and the correlates of those preferences, can help guide future research. VOICE-D (MTN-003D), a qualitative ancillary study conducted after the VOICE trial, retrospectively explored participants' tablet and gel use, as well as their preferences for other potential PrEP product formulations.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from VOICE-D participants.

Measuring Men's Gender Norms and Gender Role Conflict/Stress in a High HIV-Prevalence South African Setting.

Gender norms and gender role conflict/stress may influence HIV risk behaviors among men; however scales measuring these constructs need further development and evaluation in African settings. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to evaluate the Gender Equitable Men's Scale (GEMS) and the Gender Role Conflict/Stress (GRC/S) scale among 581 men in rural northeast South Africa. The final 17-item GEMS was unidimensional, with adequate model fit and reliability (alpha = 0.

A Tunable, Biodegradable, Thin-Film Polymer Device as a Long-Acting Implant Delivering Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis.

Purpose: The effectiveness of Tenofovir based HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is proven, but hinges on correct and consistent use. User compliance and therapeutic effectiveness can be improved by long acting drug delivery systems. Here we describe a thin-film polymer device (TFPD) as a biodegradable subcutaneous implant for PrEP.

Divergent adherence estimates with pharmacokinetic and behavioural measures in the MTN-003 (VOICE) study.

Introduction: In the Microbicide Trial Network MTN-003 (VOICE) study, a Phase IIB pre-exposure prophylaxis trial of daily oral or vaginal tenofovir (TFV), product adherence was poor based on pharmacokinetic (PK) drug detection in a random subsample. Here, we sought to compare behavioural and PK measures of adherence and examined correlates of adherence misreporting.

Methods: We included participants with PK and behavioural data from VOICE random subsample.

Protobacco Media Exposure and Youth Susceptibility to Smoking Cigarettes, Cigarette Experimentation, and Current Tobacco Use among US Youth.

Purpose: Youth are exposed to many types of protobacco influences, including smoking in movies, which has been shown to cause initiation. This study investigates associations between different channels of protobacco media and susceptibility to smoking cigarettes, cigarette experimentation, and current tobacco use among US middle and high school students.

Methods: By using data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey, structural equation modeling was performed in 2013.

A cluster randomized-controlled trial of a community mobilization intervention to change gender norms and reduce HIV risk in rural South Africa: study design and intervention.

Background: Community mobilization (CM) interventions show promise in changing gender norms and preventing HIV, but few have been based on a defined mobilization model or rigorously evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to describe the intervention design and implementation and present baseline findings of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of a two-year, theory-based CM intervention that aimed to change gender norms and reduce HIV risk in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

Methods: Community Mobilizers and volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs) implemented two-day workshops, a range of outreach activities, and leadership engagement meetings.

Applying a Family-Level Economic Strengthening Intervention to Improve Education and Health-Related Outcomes of School-Going AIDS-Orphaned Children: Lessons from a Randomized Experiment in Southern Uganda.

Children comprise the largest proportion of the population in sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, millions are orphaned. Orphanhood increases the likelihood of growing up in poverty, dropping out of school, and becoming infected with HIV.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Measured by Plasma Drug Level in MTN-001: Comparison Between Vaginal Gel and Oral Tablets in Two Geographic Regions.

Despite strong evidence that daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces HIV risk, effectiveness across studies has varied. Inconsistent adherence constitutes one explanation. Efforts to examine adherence are limited when they rely on self-reported measures.

Male victims of sexual violence in rural Malawi: the overlooked association with HIV infection.

In sub-Saharan Africa, research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has largely failed to consider men's experiences as victims by female perpetrators - particularly within ongoing heterosexual relationships such as marriage. The objectives of this study were to document the prevalence of sexual coercion among men, to describe the characteristics of male victims, and to test for an association between sexual coercion and HIV positivity. In 2010, cross-sectional data on HIV risk behaviors, HIV status, and IPV were collected from a sample of 684 mostly married men in rural Malawi.

Stimulant use and HIV disease management among men in same-sex relationships.

Background: Research conducted to date has focused primarily on identifying individual-level, psychological determinants of stimulant use and HIV disease management. The present cross-sectional study examined relationship factors as correlates of stimulant use and HIV disease management among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: In total, 266 male couples completed a baseline assessment for a cohort study examining the role of relationship factors in HIV treatment.

Evaluation of 3 approaches for assessing adherence to vaginal gel application in clinical trials.

Background: Accurate measurement of adherence to product use is an ongoing challenge in microbicide trials.

Methods: We compared adherence estimates using 2 applicator tests (a dye stain assay [DSA] and an ultraviolet light assay [UVA]), the Wisebag (an applicator container that electronically tracks container openings), and self-reported adherence (ability, frequency, and percent missed doses). Healthy, HIV-negative, nonpregnant US women aged 23 to 45 years received a Wisebag and 32 applicators filled with placebo gel were instructed to insert 1 applicator daily for 30 days, returned the Wisebag and all applicators, and completed an exit interview.

Characteristics of research-related HIV testing programmes contribute to detection of more HIV infections.

HIV prevalence estimates from bathhouse testing programmes differ widely, ranging from 3% to 11%. The observed difference may be a consequence of whether the programme was part of a research project or a community-based programme. A research-funded testing programme was offered at a bathhouse between May 2001 and December 2002.

Cost-effectiveness of the Mpowerment Project, a community-level intervention for young gay men.

Objectives: Previous evaluation demonstrated that the Mpowerment Project community-level intervention for young gay men reduces HIV risk behaviors. The current analysis was undertaken to estimate the intervention's health and economic outcomes.

Design/methods: We conducted a retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis.

Knowledge of and attitudes toward the pill: results of a national survey in Japan.

Context: After decades of debate, the oral contraceptive pill was legalized in Japan in June 1999. Because the pill had been unavailable up until then, little is known about the public's knowledge about, attitudes toward and intentions to use the pill.

Methods: In a nationwide probability sample, 630 women and men were interviewed in their homes in March 1999.

Relapse outcomes in a randomized trial of residential and day drug abuse treatment.

Relapse outcomes at 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals were compared between clients randomly assigned to day (n=114) versus residential (n=147) drug abuse treatment. Day clients were more likely than residential clients to relapse 6 months post-admission (OR=3.06, p<0.

Sources of information for HIV prevention program managers: a national survey.

This study's objective was to find out if HIV prevention program planners seek out science in designing interventions, and if not, where they turn for prevention information. Researchers conducted a survey of 284 program managers of AIDS prevention programs across the United States. Respondents' three most important sources of information were peers and colleagues, departments of public health (DPH) and the centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Adolescent sexuality in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Objectives: To describe adolescent knowledge, attitudes and behavior relevant to sexuality and the prevention of AIDS in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed, taking a random sample of 10th grade students at 14 Saint Petersburg grade schools, which were stratified by socio-economic district. A total of 185 female and 185 male students completed a self-administered 46-item questionnaire, with a response rate of 94%.

Socioeconomic status and risk of HIV-1, syphilis and hepatitis B infection among sex workers in São Paulo State, Brazil. Instituto Adolfo Lutz Study Group.

Objectives: To determine how HIV risk behavior and the prevalences of sexually transmitted diseases vary according to socioeconomic status and city among sex workers in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 600 female sex workers (100 of a higher socioeconomic status and 100 of a lower socioeconomic status in each city) was conducted in the cities of São Paulo, Campinas and Santos. HIV risk behavior was assessed by questionnaire; serological tests were administered to assess prior exposure to HIV-1, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Collaborative AIDS prevention research in the developing world: the CAPS experience.

Background: Prevention through behavior change is the only way to control the spread of HIV infection in the developing world. Success in prevention requires consistent and persistent intervention over time, a clear understanding of the realities of target populations and involvement of members of these populations in prevention efforts. Applied local research is urgently needed, especially in the developing world, to design interventions that meet these criteria and to test their effectiveness.

Sexual communication is associated with condom use by sexually active incarcerated adolescents.

Purpose: Incarcerated adolescents are at increased risk for infection by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Moreover, condom use by this population is extremely low. Although interpersonal variables such as sexual communication have been found to be associated with condom use in other populations, few researchers have investigated this relationship among adolescents requiring detention in juvenile facilities.