Public Health Commons^™

Using Risk-Tracing Snowball Approach To Increase Hiv Case Detection Among High-Risk Populations In Cambodia: An Intervention Study, Srean Chhim, John Macom, Chettana Pav, Nirada Nim, Phearun Yun, Sopheap Seng, Siyan Yi

Background: Early HIV diagnosis and initiation onto antiretroviral therapy may prevent ongoing spread of HIV. Risk Tracing Snowball Approach (RTSA) has been shown to be effective in detecting new HIV cases in other settings. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of RTSA in increasing the rate of newly identified HIV cases among high-risk populations. Our second objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of RTSA, as compared to the walk-in group, in increasing the number of HIV tests and early case detection.

Methods: This study was conducted from April 1 to September 30, 2016 at two …

Changing Hearts And Minds: Results From A Multi-Country Gender And Sexual Diversity Training, Tonia Poteat, Chulwoo Park, Diego Solares, John K. Williams, R. Cameron Wolf, Noah Metheny, Andrea Vazzano, Juan Dent, Ashley Gibbs, Bareng Aletta Sanny Nonyane, Nora Toiv

Faculty Publications

Engaging key populations, including gender and sexual minorities, is essential to meeting global targets for reducing new HIV infections and improving the HIV continuum of care. Negative attitudes toward gender and sexual minorities serve as a barrier to political will and effective programming for HIV health services. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), established in 2003, provided Gender and Sexual Diversity Trainings for 2,825 participants including PEPFAR staff and program implementers, U.S. government staff, and local stakeholders in 38 countries. The outcomes of these one-day trainings were evaluated among a subset of participants using a mixed methods pre- …

High Prevalence Of Non-Communicable Diseases And Associated Risk Factors Amongst Adults Living With Hiv In Cambodia, Pheak Chhoun, Sovannary Tuot, Anthony D. Harries, Nang Thu Thu Kyaw, Khuondyla Pal, Carinne M. Brody, Siyan Yi

BACKGROUND:

With rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy for HIV, there are rising life expectancies among people living with HIV. As a result, co-morbidity from non-communicable diseases in those living and aging with HIV is increasingly being reported. Published data on this issue have been limited in Cambodia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia and associated risk factors in adults living with HIV in Cambodia.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in five provinces of Cambodia from May-June 2015. Information was obtained on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics through face-to-face interviews using …

Hiv Prevalence, Risky Behaviors, And Discrimination Experiences Among Transgender Women In Cambodia: Descriptive Findings From A National Integrated Biological And Behavioral Survey, Siyan Yi, Chanrith Ngin, Sovannary Tuot, Pheak Chhoun, Srean Chhim, Khuondyla Pal, Gitau Mburu

Background: Transgender people are disproportionately affected by HIV. Despite their high vulnerability to HIV, lack of adequate epidemiological and surveillance data related to this population in many countries prevents provision of appropriate services. This paper summarizes descriptive findings from a national integrated biological and behavioral survey and discusses policy implications of the findings on HIV prevention among transgender women in Cambodia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2015 and February 2016. Participants were recruited from 20 sites in the capital city and 12 provinces of Cambodia using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) method. Behavioral data were collected …

Non-Communicable Diseases And Related Risk Behaviors Among Men And Women Living With Hiv In Cambodia: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Study, Pheak Chhoun, Chanrith Ngin, Martin Steel, Jennifer Dionisio, Hattie Pearson, Carinne M. Brody, Siyan Yi

Background: There is a growing concern for an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in people living with HIV. This concern is evident especially in developing countries where dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with NCDs are becoming more prominent. This study explored the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia and related risk factors in men and women living with HIV in Cambodia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 510 adult people living with HIV randomly selected from one city and four provinces in Cambodia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, …

Awareness And Willingness To Use Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Siyan Yi, Sovannary Tuot, Grace W. Mwai, Chanrith Ngin, Kolab Chhim, Khuondyla Pal, Gitau Mburu

Introduction: To facilitate provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), a better understanding of potential demand and user preferences is required. This review assessed awareness and willingness to use oral PrEP among men who have sex with men (MSM) in LMIC.

Methods: Electronic literature search of Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, PsychINFO, CINHAL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted between July and September 2016. Reference lists of relevant studies were searched, and three authors contacted for additional data. Non-peer reviewed publications were excluded. Studies were screened for inclusion, and relevant data abstracted, assessed …

West Virginia Needle Exchange Program, Briana Washington, Sara Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Needle Exchange Programs (NEPs) have been controversial aspects of public healthcare due to conflicting beliefs and opinions for public policies. NEPs allow Injection Drug Users (IDUs) the ability to exchange their used equipment for clean, unused supplies.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to determine the effectiveness of needle exchange programs and the impact it has had on the reduction of HIV and viral hepatitis infections in people who inject drugs. It further explores if these strategies have had a positive impact on the reduction of HIV and viral hepatitis C in West Virginia.

Methodology …

What Are The Most Commonly Used Tools To Screen Depression In Hiv-Infected Gay And Bisexual Men?, Michael Isner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gay and bisexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprise a sizable, medically vulnerable population. Depression is the most commonly experienced mental health disorder affecting this group of people, lending itself to a host of risks associated with depression. As screening of depression in this population can be challenging, it is vital that clinicians have the best available tools and guidelines to detect depressive symptomology. This focused, comprehensive review of the literature examined current data describing the clinical instruments used to detect depressive symptoms in HIV-infected gay and bisexual men. The aim of this analysis was to seek out …

Association Between Hiv And Violence Among Female Commercial Sex Workers In Ukraine : Analysis Of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Conducted In 2015-2016, Ganna Momotyuk

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A cross-sectional analysis investigated the association between HIV and violence in female commercial sex workers (FCSW) in Ukraine between 10/2015 and 01/2016. Methods: 3,885 FCSW from a total of 4,300 were questioned about behavioral and social demographics and tested for HIV in mobile testing van. Results: of the 3,885 respondents, 5.89% were HIV positive, and 47.00% had experienced violence. We tested for and found that drug use was an effect modifier for the association between HIV and violence. Analyses were stratified by injecting drug use and no injecting drug use. High risk for HIV was found in the non-IDU stratum …

Factors Influencing Quality Of Life Of Persons Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Bakhytkul Zhakipbayeva Zhakipbayeva

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Introduction: Health-related Quality of life (HRQoL) is recognized as a significant medical outcome measure for persons living with HIV (PLWH). Identification of potentially modifiable determinants of HRQoL could help target people in need of additional health care and social services in order to improve their HRQoL. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors with the strongest impact on HRQoL in PLWH.

Improving Hiv Outcomes In Pakistan : The Interaction Between Politics, Power And Implementation, Hina Khalid

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

HIV contributes to the highest number of deaths from infectious diseases in low-income countries. In this three-paper dissertation, using the case of Pakistan, I focus on understanding how the exercise of power by actors at three different levels of the health system, individual, program and societal, influences policy implementation and shapes HIV program outcomes. The objective is to improve HIV service provision thereby achieving improved health policy outcomes. I adopt a mixed-methods approach and use quantitative (logit regression) and qualitative techniques (content analysis of newspapers and semi-structured interviews). One paper tests the role played by network operators in influencing condom …

Exposure To Hiv Prevention Messages On Social Media And Behavior Change Intent, Yoshika Shajuan Eason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans living in the Southeastern region of the United States disproportionately contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Facebook and other social media sites are becoming a way to deliver health-related messaging to targeted populations. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine the association between selected demographic factors and impact of social media on intent to change sexual behaviors among 112 African Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 in the Southeastern United States who viewed STI/HIV prevention materials on Facebook within 1 year prior to the study. The theory of planned …

Development And Pilot Testing Of A Behavioral Intervention For Chronic Pain Tailored To Individuals With Hiv, Jessica Merlin

All ETDs from UAB

Background. Chronic pain is a common and disabling comorbidity in individuals living with HIV. Behavioral interventions are among the most effective and safe nonpharmacologic treatments for chronic pain. However, the success of a behavioral intervention is influenced by how well it is tailored to the target population’s biological, psychological, and social context. Given well-documented psychosocial vulnerabilities among persons with HIV, it is critical to develop a behavioral intervention for chronic pain tailored to this population. Objective. To use qualitative methods to investigate patient preferences for the structure and delivery of a behavioral intervention for chronic pain in individuals with HIV. …

Determinants Of Hiv Screening Among Adults In New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy, Nathaniel R. Geyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV screening is recommended to destigmatize the condition, prevent partner transmission, and postpone AIDS progression. However, determinants associated with implementation of opt-out HIV screening are not well understood. The purpose of the study was to examine determinants that predicted odds of HIV screening for persons impacted by Hurricane Sandy, and how these factors differed according to demographic characteristics, geographical attributes, health-related quality of life score, access-to-care, and health insurance status. The social ecologic model provided the framework for this multilevel cross-sectional study that included New Jersey data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. Bivariate chi-square, simple logistic regression, and …

The Relationship Between Hispanics/Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men And Women Cultural Beliefs, Risk Behaviors And Self-Disclosure, Donnalee Maria Lawson-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behaviors, and disclosure among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). Minority men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular MSM who are Hispanic/Latino or African American. Limited research is available on the link between Hispanic/Latino MSMW, their cultural/spiritual beliefs, risk behavior, and disclosure about risk behaviors to friends and family. The data were obtained from the SJS Project, which used survey methods to gather data on participants from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Among the participants …

Impact Of The Affordable Care Act On The Hiv Care Continuum, Ebere Erugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS; PLWHA) are at increased risk of insufficient medical care due to lack of insurance. Inadequate medical care for PLWHA contributes to increases in HIV transmission rates. The U.S. Surveillance Report noted that in 2015, over 1.2 million people were living with HIV infection, and there were approximately 50,000 new infections every year. The report further stated that about 675,000 people have died from HIV-related illnesses since its discovery in 1981. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014 was intended to provide Americans, including people at …

The Association Between Sexual Risk Behaviors Of Latinos And Hiv Knowledge In South Carolina, Danielle Nicole Sill

Theses and Dissertations

HIV/AIDS inordinately impacts Hispanics/Latinos, which are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. 16,222 South Carolinians are infected with HIV, with 70 new cases being diagnosed each month. Few studies have been conducted to determine if HIV knowledge is associated with sexual risk behaviors in South Carolina. Bilingual/bicultural interviewers conducted a survey of Latinos living in the Pee Dee and Midlands regions of South Carolina. The survey consisted of questions regarding demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, and sexual risk behaviors. We enrolled 203 participants in which 193 were eligible for our study (97 females and 96 males). We hypothesized …

Feasibility Of Antiretroviral Treatment Monitoring In The Era Of Decentralized Hiv Care: A Systematic Review, Minh D. Pham, Lorena Romero, Bruce Parnell, David A. Anderson, Suzanne M. Crowe, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Regular monitoring of HIV patients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is required to ensure patient benefits and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of ART programs. Prompted by WHO recommendations for expansion and decentralization of HIV treatment and care in low and middle income countries, we conducted a systematic review to assess the feasibility of treatment monitoring in these settings.

Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was developed using a combination of MeSH and free text terms relevant to HIV treatment and care, health service delivery, health service accessibility, decentralization and other relevant terms. Five electronic databases and two conference …

Hiv Glycoprotein Gp120 Impairs Fast Axonal Transport By Activating Tak1 Signaling Pathways, Sarah H. Berth, Nichole Mesnard-Hoaglin, Bin Wang, Hajwa Kim, Yuyu Song, Maria Sapar, Gerardo Morfini, Scott T. Brady

Publications and Research

Sensory neuropathies are the most common neurological complication of HIV. Of these, distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is directly caused by HIV infection and characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Mechanisms for axonal degeneration in DSP remain unclear, but recent experiments revealed that the HIV glycoprotein gp120 is internalized and localized within axons of DRG neurons. Based on these findings, we investigated whether intra-axonal gp120 might impair fast axonal transport (FAT), a cellular process critical for appropriate maintenance of the axonal compartment. Significantly, we found that gp120 severely impaired both anterograde and retrograde FAT. Providing a …

Towards An Integrated Primary And Secondary Hiv Prevention Continuum For The United States: A Cyclical Process Model, Tim Horn, Jennifer Sherwood, Robert H. Remien, Denis Nash, Judith D. Auerbach

Publications and Research

Introduction: Every new HIV infection is preventable and every HIV-related death is avoidable. As many jurisdictions around the world endeavour to end HIV as an epidemic, missed HIV prevention and treatment opportunities must be regarded as public health emergencies, and efforts to quickly fill gaps in service provision for all people living with and vulnerable to HIV infection must be prioritized.

Discussion: We present a novel, comprehensive, primary and secondary HIV prevention continuum model for the United States as a conceptual framework to identify key steps in reducing HIV incidence and improving health outcomes among those vulnerable to, as well …

Hiv/Stis And Intimate Partner Violence: Results From The Togo 2013-2014 Demographic And Health Surveys, Anthony H. Nguyen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Among clinic based studies, intimate partner violence (IPV) has been shown to contribute to HIV/AIDS among young girls and women. Results from studies among the general population have been less consistent. This study evaluated the associations between HIV infection, any sexually transmitted infections, and IPV in a population based sample of Togolese women.

Methods: Data from the Togo 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Surveys were utilized for these analyses. Women aged 15-49 who were currently married, had HIV test results and answered the Domestic Violence Module were analyzed (n = 2386). Generalized linear mixed-models adjusting for sociodemographic variables, risk behaviors, …

Accuracy Of Name And Age Data Provided About Network Members In A Social Network Study Of People Who Use Drugs: Implications For Constructing Sociometric Networks, April M. Young, Abby E. Rudolph, Amanda E. Su, Lee King, Susan Jent, Jennifer R. Havens

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Purpose—Network analysis has become increasingly popular in epidemiologic research, but the accuracy of data key to constructing risk networks is largely unknown. Using network data from people who use drugs (PWUD), the study examined how accurately PWUD reported their network members’ (i.e., alters’) names and ages.

Methods—Data were collected from 2008 to 2010 from 503 PWUD residing in rural Appalachia. Network ties (n=897) involved recent (past 6 months) sex, drug co-usage, and/or social support. Participants provided alters’ names, ages, and relationship-level characteristics; these data were cross-referenced to that of other participants to identify participant-participant relationships and to determine …

Progress Toward Eliminating Mother To Child Transmission Of Hiv In Kenya: Review Of Treatment Guideline Uptake And Pediatric Transmission At Four Government Hospitals Between 2010 And 2012., Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, Kristine F. Clark, Samoel Khamadi, Brad J. Gautney, Vincent Okoth, Kathy Goggin, Hitsystem Study Team

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

We analyzed prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) data from a retrospective cohort of n = 1365 HIV+ mothers who enrolled their HIV-exposed infants in early infant diagnosis services in four Kenyan government hospitals from 2010 to 2012. Less than 15 and 20 % of mother-infant pairs were provided with regimens that met WHO Option A and B/B+ guidelines, respectively. Annually, the gestational age at treatment initiation decreased, while uptake of Option B/B+ increased (all p's < 0.001). Pediatric HIV infection was halved (8.6-4.3 %), yet varied significantly by hospital. In multivariable analyses, HIV-exposed infants who received no PMTCT (AOR 4.6 [2.49, 8.62], p < 0.001), mixed foods (AOR 5.0 [2.77, 9.02], p < 0.001), and care at one of the four hospitals (AOR 3.0 [1.51, 5.92], p = 0.002) were more likely to be HIV-infected. While the administration and uptake of WHO PMTCT guidelines is improving, an expanded focus on retention and medication adherence will further reduce pediatric HIV transmission.

Associations Between Major Depression, Health-Risk Behaviors, And Medication Adherence Among Hiv-Positive Adults Receiving Medical Care In Georgia, Rachel Culbreth, Shanta R. Dube, David Maggio

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: There are approximately 1.2 million people in the United States living with HIV, and 25.6% of HIV-positive adults suffer from depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of depression to substance use and medication adherence among HIV-positive adults receiving medical care for HIV in Georgia.

Methods: Secondary data with a probability sample of 775 HIV-positive adults who took part in the 2009-2013 Georgia Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) were analyzed. Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to assess relationships between depression and current cigarette smoking, injection drug use, other non-injection drug use, and medication …

Epidemiology Of Hpv Genotypes Among Hiv Positive Women In Kenya: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sonia Menon, Aibibula Wusiman, Marie Claude Boily, Mbabazi Kariisa, Hillary Mabeya, Stanley Luchters, Frode Forland, Rodolfo Rossi, Steven Callens, Davy Vanden Broeck

Population Health, East Africa

Background: There is a scarcity of data on the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in the HIV positive population and in invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in Kenya. This may be different from genotypes found in abnormal cytology. Yet, with the advent of preventive HPV vaccines that target HPV 16 and 18, and the nonavalent vaccine targeting 90% of all ICC cases, such HPV genotype distribution data are indispensable for predicting the impact of vaccination and HPV screening on prevention. Even with a successful vaccination program, vaccinated women will still require screening to detect those who will develop ICC from …

Correlation Between Vacs Index And Frailty In Hiv+ People And How It Affects Cognition And Brain Volume, Aslee Welch, Beau Ances, Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes an infection within the immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not properly addressed. While this disease specifically attacks the immune system, it also affects other systems, such as the brain.

One major relationship we will be investigating is between HIV status and the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) index, which includes race, sex and other biomarkers such as CD4 count, viral load, hepatitis C infection, and hemoglobin. We hypothesize that there will be a strong correlation between the VACS index and frailty in those with …

Potential Cost Savings Of Not Doing Cd4 Counts In Hiv Positive People In Rhode Island With An Undetectable Viral Load, Ruth Dele-Oni, Ferdinand Schumacher, Zachary Markus, Timothy Flanigan, Md

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

CD4 cells fight infections in the body. When someone contacts Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), their CD4 cells are taken over by HIV which turns them into manufacturers of many copies of the virus. The Viral Load (VL) measures the amount of virus in the blood. When HIV takes over the CD4 cells, the VL increases while the number of necessary CD4 cells decreases. When patients maintain stable treatment, their CD4 counts rise, and VLs may become undetectable, indicating the virus is too little to be detected in their blood. Knowing this, is frequent CD4 counts necessary for those with undetectable …

Stigmatization Fo Hiv/Aids: A Cross-Cultural Analysis, Jamie Doctrow

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the cause of a public health epidemic that has impacted millions of individuals worldwide. Though medical advances have decreased the number of AIDS related deaths by 42% since the peak year of 2004 (UNAIDS, 2015), many individuals with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their status and are not currently receiving antiretroviral treatment. Many experts have suggested that a significant barrier to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment is the social stigma that has become attached to the disease. No single cause of this stigmatization has been identified, but a variety of influences may play a role. To …

Husband’S Support Towards Unmet Need Of Hiv Positive-Infected Women Of Childbearing Age, Sophia Sophia, Anita Deborah Anwar, Bony Wiem Lestari

Kesmas

Jutaan wanita usia subur (WUS) dengan HIV positif di negara berkembang saat ini tidak menggunakan kontrasepsi untuk menunda atau mengakhiri kehamilan. Pencegahan kehamilan yang tidak diinginkan pada WUS dengan HIV positif sangat penting untuk meningkatkan kualitas hidup ibu dan anak. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang berpengaruh terhadap unmet need pada WUS dengan HIV positif. Metode penelitian adalah cross sectional dengan sampel berjumlah 130 WUS dengan HIV positif yang diambil secara consecutive sampling. Penelitian dilakukan pada 24 Maret - 30 Juni 2015 di Klinik Mawar Kota Bandung. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara dengan menggunakan kuesioner, kemudian data dianalisis dengan …

Hiv Vaccines: Progress, Limitations And A Crispr/Cas9 Vaccine, Omar A. Garcia Martinez

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 pandemic continues to thrive due to ineffective HIV-1 vaccines. Historically, the world’s most infectious diseases, such as polio and smallpox, have been eradicated or have come close to eradication due to the advent of effective vaccines. Highly active antiretroviral therapy is able to delay the onset of AIDS but can neither rid the body of HIV-1 proviral DNA nor prevent further transmission. A prophylactic vaccine that prevents the various mechanisms HIV-1 has to evade and attack our immune system is needed to end the HIV-1 pandemic. Recent advances in engineered nuclease systems, like the CRISPR/Cas9 system, have …