Public Health Commons^™

Dating App Use Among Rural Men Who Have Sex With Men And Its Relationship To Hiv Prevention And Risk Behaviors: A Mixed-Methods Analysis, Lauren Bineau, Danielle Lambert, Natalia Truszczynski, Nathan Hansen, Carolyn Lauckner

Center for Health Equity Transformation Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in rural areas have limited access to HIV prevention and education resources. Given the growing usage of mobile dating apps among the wider MSM population, this research sought to explore their use among MSM in rural areas and their potential for delivering HIV prevention information.

METHODS: Participants were recruited from different areas of the rural Southern USA. This mixed-methods study consisted of an online survey (n=85) and follow-up qualitative phone interviews with 20 survey respondents. The survey assessed dating app use, sexual behaviors, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, usage, and attitudes among …

Inter-Related Factors Influencing Sexual Quality Of Life Among Women Living With Hiv In Banten Province, Indonesia: A Mixed Methods Study, Dyah Juliastuti, Judith Dean, Yati Afiyanti, Lisa Fitzgerald

Kesmas

Socio-cultural concerns often restrict women's sexual rights and well-being living with HIV (WLHIV) in developing countries. These convergent parallel mixed methods study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore factors influencing WLHIV sexual quality of life in Banten Province, Indonesia. A 2017 cross-sectional survey of 207 reproductive-aged WLHIV was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression statistics. Furthermore, in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of survey participants (n = 30) were thematically analyzed. Most of the women (60%) involved reported loss of sexual pleasure and depressed sexual life. Meanwhile, 48% affirmed low sexual quality of life which was associated with unemployment …

Neurocognitive Impairment In People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv): Risk Factors And Mortality, Zaeema Naveed

Theses & Dissertations

Despite the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI) persists in people living with HIV (PLWH) with clinical and public health implications. Studies have generated inconsistent results regarding etiological factors for NCI in PLWH and a brief user-friendly predictive tool is desirable in clinical practice to assess the probability of having NCI in PLWH. Furthermore, factors associated with clinically meaningful decline in neurocognitive status and survival disadvantage for patients with NCI are understudied in the post-cART era. The goal of this dissertation was to investigate factors associated with baseline NCI and neurocognitive decline and the association …

Mitigating Isolation Of People Aging With Hiv During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brandon Brown, Jeff Taylor, Celia B. Fisher

Covid-19 Digital Research

Before COVID-19, the HIV/AIDS pandemic had arguably been the worst public health crisis in the United States. Although an HIV diagnosis was previously regarded as a death sentence, the development of combination therapy in the 1990s transformed HIV into a largely manageable chronic condition.

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Bacteremic Pneumococcal Pneumonia Of Patients With And Without Hiv Infection In Argentina, Alejandra González

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main causative agent of pneumonia, with a 10 to 25 percent rate of isolation in blood cultures. Controversies exist regarding the prognostic impact of a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on community-acquired pneumonia.

The aim of our work was to analyze and compare the clinical presentation, radiological findings and progression of pneumococcal pneumonia in patients infected with and not infected with HIV. We retrospectively analyzed adult patients with positive blood cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae and clinical and radiological findings compatible with pneumonia in the period between January 2012 and May 2017. Age, sex, comorbidities, …

Changes In Body Mass Index Among Antiretroviral Therapy Naïve People Living With Hiv In Southeastern Nigeria, John O. Olawepo, Jennifer R. Pharr, Chad L. Cross, Babayemi O. Olakunde, Chinedu Aniekwe, Mercy Niyang, Raisa Kabir, Ayodotun Olutola

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

The proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are overweight or obese is rising, leading to a double epidemic of HIV and obesity. The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal study was to examine changes in body mass index (BMI) among PLHIV who were new to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in two states in Southeastern Nigeria. The BMI at baseline and 12 months were compared and the difference in proportions in each BMI category was tested. The association between the BMI at 12 months and the demographic and/or clinical variables was examined using multiway analysis of covariance. The study included 2,146 …

Dietary Intake Is Associated With Neuropsychological Impairment In Women With Hiv, Leah H. Rubin, Deborah R. Gustafson, Lakshmi Warrior, Lila Sheira, Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, Raha Dastgheyb, Kathleen M. Weber, Phyllis C. Tien, Audrey French, Amanda B. Spence, Anjali Sharma, Dionna W. Williams, Cory J. White, Eric C. Seaberg, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Sheri D. Weiser

Faculty Publications

Background

Diet is a modifiable risk factor that may influence cognition in people with HIV.

Objectives

We examined the association between dietary intake and cognition in women with HIV (WWH) and HIV-seronegative women.

Methods

An 18-item dietary National Cancer Institute screener was completed by 729 WWH and 346 HIV-seronegative Women's Interagency HIV Study participants. Daily intake frequencies of processed meats, sweet beverages, fish, whole milk, and vegetables were calculated. Participants completed biennial neuropsychological (NP) testing. NP domains included attention/working memory, executive function, processing speed, memory, learning, fluency, and motor function. NP impairment was defined as demographically adjusted T-scores (mean = …

Burden Of Gonorrhea Among Hiv+ Department Of Defense Beneficiaries, Alisson Baya

GW Research Showcase 2021-2026

No abstract provided.

Changes In Genital Inflammatory Biomarkers Associated With Hiv Pathogenesis In Survivors Of Acute Sexual Assault, Liana Bethala, Erica Hardy, Mimi Ghosh

GW Research Showcase 2021-2026

No abstract provided.

The Association Between Progestin-Based Contraceptive Usage And Genital Inflammatory Immune Biomarkers For Hiv Acquisition In Adolescent Females In Washington, Dc, Michelle Yang, Mélodie Nasr, Annette Aldous, Jason Daniels, Christopher Joy, Eleanor Capozzi, Patricia Moriarty, Vanessa Emmanuel-Baker, Sharyn Malcolm, Veronica Gomez-Labo, Mimi Ghosh

GW Research Showcase 2021-2026

No abstract provided.

Hiv Protease Drug Resistance Mutations In Five American Cities, 1999-2015, Gracelyn Hill

GW Research Showcase 2021-2026

No abstract provided.

Assessing Hiv Care Transition Readiness Among Adolescents And Youth Aged 13-24 Years: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Leah Harris, Heather J. Hoffman, Nara Lee, Yaphet Bryantb, Gretchen Cruz-Figueroa, Kristen Richards, Natella Rakhmanina

GW Research Showcase 2021-2026

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A Clinic-Based Peer Navigation Program (Pnp) For African Americans Living With Hiv In South Carolina, Kimberly Butler Willis

Theses and Dissertations

Peer navigation programs have been identified as a potential motivator in care engagement and retention for patients living with HIV, although the data is inconsistent. HIV management requires important disease management considerations and innovative approaches for patient care. Medication advancements and technology have drastically improved care for most patients living with this chronic disease; yet African Americans contract, live with, and die because of HIV-related complications at disproportionately higher rates compared to their White peers.The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods outcome evaluation is to: (1) determine if peer navigation is a viable intervention to improve three key HIV care metrics: …

Greater Pain Severity Is Associated With Higher Glucocorticoid Levels In Hair Among A Cohort Of People Living With Hiv, Quan Zhang, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Shuaifeng Liu, Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

Background: Pain is a common occurrence and persistent symptom, which has an adverse impact on individual well-being and quality of life among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Alteration in the activity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis resulting in abnormal glucocorticoid levels had been proposed to play important roles in those associations. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether pain severity was associated with hair glucocorticoid levels, a novel method of measuring long-term glucocorticoid exposure, among a large cohort of Chinese PLHIV. Methods: A measure of pain severity and hair samples were collected from 431 adults PLHIV in Guangxi, China. Glucocorticoid …

Consequences Of Covid-19 Crisis For Persons With Hiv: The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health, Kristie Cason Waterfield, Gulzar H. Shah, Gina D. Etheredge, Osaremhen Ikhile

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

With the indiscriminate spread of COVID-19 globally, many populations are experiencing negative consequences such as job loss, food insecurity, and inability to manage existing medical conditions and maintain preventive measures such as social distancing and personal preventative equipment. Some of the most disadvantaged in the COVID-19 era are people living with HIV/AIDS and other autoimmune diseases.

Discussion

As the number of new HIV infections decrease globally, many subpopulations remain at high risk of infection due to lack of or limited access to prevention services, as well as clinical care and treatment. For persons living with HIV or at higher …

Rural Hiv Prevalence And Service Availability In The United States: A Chartbook, Katherine Ahrens Phd, Amanda Burgess Mppm, Louisa Munk, Erika Ziller Phd

Population Health

This chartbook examines 2016 HIV prevalence and the availability of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services across the rural-urban continuum and by US Census region. Publicly available county-level HIV prevalence data from the CDC and state-produced HIV surveillance reports were used to estimate HIV prevalence across the rural-urban continuum. HIV prevalence data include all diagnoses of HIV infection, with or without a stage 3 (AIDS) diagnosis. Geocoded data on organizations that provide prevention, testing, and treatment services related to HIV were obtained from the National Prevention Information Network.

HIV prevalence is higher in urban counties than rural counties (399 per …

Capacity Of Rural Counties To Address An Hiv Or Hepatitis C Outbreak, Jennifer Lenardson Mhs, Jaclyn Janis Rn, Mph, Amanda Burgess Mppm, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Martha Elbaum Mpa

Population Health

HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) are major public health concerns in the United States and are a focus of significant federal health policy attention. Rural counties may be potentially vulnerable to an HIV or HCV outbreak among persons who inject drugs due to greater prevalence of high-risk injection practices as well as limited public health capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an HIV or HCV outbreak. This study identified states potentially at risk for an HIV or HCV outbreak and used data from the 2016 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Profile Survey, 2016 National Association …

Reproductive Intentions And Corresponding Use Of Safer Conception Methods And Contraception Among Ugandan Hiv Clients In Serodiscordant Relationships., Glenn J. Wagner, Deborah Mindry, Emily A. Hurley, Jolly Beyeza-Kashesya, Violet Gwokyalya, Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, Rhoda K. Wanyenze, Mastula Nanfuka, Mahlet G. Tebeka, Kathy Goggin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

CONTEXT: Among people living with HIV in Uganda, desires to have a child and unplanned pregnancies are both common, while utilization of safer conception methods (SCM) and modern contraceptives are low.

METHODS: Three hundred eighty-nine HIV clients who reported considering childbearing with their uninfected partner enrolled in a safer conception counseling intervention trial in Uganda. Multiple regression analysis and baseline data were used to examine correlates of reproductive intentions and behaviors, including use of safer conception methods and contraception.

RESULTS: Most (n = 313; 80.5%) reported that both they and their partner wanted to have a child now, which was …

Impact Of Adverse Childhood Events On The Psychosocial Functioning Of Children Affected By Parental Hiv In Rural China, Jordan Ezell, Sayward E. Harrison, Yanping Jiang, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Children affected by parental HIV are more likely than unaffected peers to experience trauma and are at-risk for negative psychological and social outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between adverse childhood events and psychosocial functioning among children affected by parental HIV.

Methods: A total of 790 children ages 6–17 from Henan, China were enrolled in a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial of a resilience-based psychosocial intervention. At baseline, children reported on numerous psychosocial factors, including trauma exposure, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and peer social functioning. We used linear regression analysis to test the direct effect of trauma …

Relationship Between Treatment Comorbidities And Viral Suppression Of Hiv Infections In Johannesburg, Nwogo Ekeji, Nwogo Immaculata Ekeji

School of Health Sciences Publications

HIV has globally infected 37.9 million people, of which 23.3 million (62%) are on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In South Africa, low rate of viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV persistence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment of comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18 – 49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis (TB) in Johannesburg. The HIV care continuum formed the framework for this research. A secondary dataset from the national level survey 2017 was used for …

Voices From The Field: A Qualitative Study Of The Challenges And Promising Practices Of Rural Public Health In Addressing Hiv And Hepatitis C, Martha Elbaum Williamson Mpa, Karen B. Pearson Mlis, Ms, Amanda R. Burgess Mppm, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, Erika C. Ziller Phd

Population Health

Rural areas of the United States may be vulnerable to an HIV or hepatitis C (HCV) outbreak among persons who inject drugs. Researchers at the University of Southern Maine’s Rural Health Research Center examined the capacity of rural public health systems to prepare for, identify, control, and respond to an HIV or HCV outbreak. Through semi-structured interviews with 36 state and local public health professionals from six rural states, we sought to understand the challenges related to HIV, HCV, and serving rural persons who inject drugs and to identify strategies to address those challenges. Challenges limiting the public health capacity …

Relationship Between Treatment Comorbidities And Viral Suppression Of Hiv Infections In Johannesburg, Nwogo Ekeji, Nwogo Immaculata Ekeji

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

HIV has globally infected 37.9 million people, of which 23.3 million (62%) are on antiretroviral treatment (ART). In South Africa, low rate of viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV persistence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment of comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18 – 49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis (TB) in Johannesburg. The HIV care continuum formed the framework for this research. A secondary dataset from the national level survey 2017 was used for …

Multiplex Social Factors Affecting Hiv Prevalence In Colorado, Jesse Cannella

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The objective of this paper was to investigate and analyze the relationships between the prevalence of HIV and geographic location, high-risk behaviors, and education status in Colorado in 2020. Methods: The author of this paper conducted Spearmen correlations on HIV prevalence with rural status, rates of flu vaccinations, and drug overdose deaths, as well as performed stepwise linear regressions on the variance of HIV prevalence accounted for by rates of teen births, sexually transmitted infections, high school graduation, and college education status. Results: Incidence of other STIS and teen births (F2,42 = 7.69, p = .001), as well as …

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) – An Analysis Of Trends In Hiv Diagnoses From 2008 – 2018, Ulysses G. Gardner

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: An estimated 1.1 million people are living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. Despite over two decades of research, a cure for HIV has not been approved and it remains a pandemic. This research study was conducted to determine the statistical significance in HIV incidence based on diagnoses in 2008 versus 2018; age groups 25-34 years old versus 55+ years old; Black versus Hispanic versus White; male versus female; and geographical location. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlas Plus data sets, a collection …

Exploring Barriers To Care: Provider Efforts To Improve Retention In Urban-Rural Clusters, Kenyata M. Fletcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver the years, the infection rates for HIV in the United States has changed partly due to lack of engagement and medication adherence which can lead to substantial declines in individual health. Factors that contribute to the individual’s adherence can include transportation cost, childcare, and lack of finances to name a few. These barriers can often be decreased with the help of supportive service providers and improvement in the patient-provider relationship. Currently, there is limited research that explores how to reduce patient barriers to care, specifically in rural areas. This qualitative study examines how Illinois health care providers help HIV-positive …

Challenges To Successful Health Care Transition Among Hiv Positive Youth With Perinatal Acquisition, Tyler Andrew Termeer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To ensure stability in the continuum of health care for HIV-positive youth with perinatal acquisition, there is a need for a successful transition from pediatric to adult primary care. However, there are a growing number of perinatally infected HIV-positive young persons remaining in pediatric care beyond the age of 21. Using Mohr’s program theory and a phenomenological approach, the lived experiences of Ohio HIV clinicians were examined to determine why many perinatally infected HIV-positive youths are remaining in pediatric care beyond the age of 21. Audio recorded video interviews via SKYPE were conducted with 12 participants, transcribed, underwent thematic analysis, …

Sexual Behaviors Associated With Online Partner-Seeking Among Men Who Have Sex With Men From Small/Midsized Towns Or Rural Areas In Kentucky, Vira Pravosud

Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics

The HIV epidemic remains one of the most significant public health issues in the United States, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). New avenues for partner-seeking have emerged over the past three decades, including through the Internet, social media, and geosocial networking applications. Consisting of three cross-sectional studies, this dissertation research aimed to determine associations between the use of various online tools for partner-seeking (hereafter collectively referred to as “apps”) and HIV-related sexual behaviors among 252 young adult MSM residing in small/midsized towns or rural areas in Central Kentucky, a group that has been under-represented in the …

Exploring Thai Physicians’ Perceptions Of And Willingness To Prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep), Brandi E. Moore

Public Health Theses

Background: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily medication that can prevent HIV infection. PrEP may further support HIV prevention initiatives in Thailand, particularly as it becomes more accessible in the country’s government clinics and hospitals. While studies have explored perceptions of PrEP for at-risk people in Thailand, there has been limited investigation into Thai physicians’ opinions of and willingness to prescribe PrEP. Methods: Using convenience sampling, this cross-sectional study recruited 132 Thai physicians to complete an anonymous, online survey. The survey assessed physicians’ concerns about PrEP, experience with PrEP, and willingness to prescribe PrEP. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions …

Multimorbidity, Healthcare Processes, And Mortality Among Tb/Hiv Patients Treated With Antiretroviral Therapy In Uganda, Abel Nkolo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globally, Uganda is one of the 30 tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) high burden countries with high antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, yet mortality is still high among TB/HIV patients on ART. The reasons for the high mortality have not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between multimorbidity, age, sex, marital status, phase of TB treatment, timing of initiation for ART, and type of TB and mortality among TB/HIV patients on ART in Uganda. The health outcomes conceptual framework with 3 domains that directly or indirectly affect the outcome domain was used …

Healthy Living People: A Hiv Transmission Intervention In Four Chicago Communities, Angela Wuerger

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The transmission of HIV within the city of Chicago has been established as a major health concern: however, the lack of adequate resources has created gaps within current programming available for people living with HIV. Healthy Living People (HLP) is an evidence-based program focused on reducing the transmission of HIV through strengthening adherence to antiretroviral therapy and decreasing number of higher risk sexual encounters. The Chicago Department of Public Health will provide the HLP program, which includes fifteen 90-minute sessions over the course of one year. The HLP program will be offered for people living with

HIV in four Chicago …