Trauma, mental health, distrust, and stigma among HIV-positive persons: implications for effective care

Pathways from violence exposure to medication non-adherence: exploration of mental health symptoms and coping in people living with HIV in the U.S. South

ABSTRACTIn the current study, we examine associations between exposure to violence and antiretroviral medication adherence in persons with HIV (PWH) in a southern city in the United States. We include investigation of a variety of violence exposures including childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessing family violence, lifetime violence exposures and current stress related to violence experiences, as well as neighborhood violence exposure. We examined associations between violence exposures and adherence and mediational pathways between these variables including mental health symptoms - specifically depressive, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms - as well as coping strategies. Results suggest that physical abuse in childhood was associated with ART non-adherence, no other reported violence experiences were associated with adherence. Of the mediational paths analyzed between violence and ART adherence, only coping with substance use was significant. In post hoc analyses, we examined the mental health symptoms of depression, PTSD and anxiety as mediators between violence exposures and substance use coping. Depressive symptoms were the only significant mediational pathway. Implications for interventions to address histories of violence, depressive symptoms, coping with substance use and adherence are discussed.

Completed suicide risk factors among people living with HIV in Hunan Province identified through a psychological autopsy case-control study

Accumulating evidence has shown an increased risk of suicide among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). However, few studies have explored the risk factors associated with completed suicide among PLWHA. This study aimed to identify the characteristics and causes of completed suicide among PLWHA to guide future targeted suicide prevention and intervention programs. A 1:1 matched case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted among PLWHA in Hunan Province. We recruited 63 PLWHA who died by suicide from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019, and 63 living controls matched for age, gender, and employment. Two informants for each participant were interviewed to collect data on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, HIV-related stress, hopelessness, and social support. The median survival time from HIV diagnosis to completed suicide was 3.9 months (IQR: 0.57-14.13). Most completed suicides occurred within six months of HIV diagnosis (71.4%), with poisoning (34.9%) and hanging (22.2%) as the primary methods. After controlling for confounding factors, we identified four risk factors of completed suicide: not receiving antiretroviral treatment (OR = 6.805; 95% CI: 1.227 to 37.738), receiving low-income subsidy (OR = 16.272; 95% CI: 3.245 to 81.598), HIV-related stress (OR = 1.332; 95% CI: 1.089 to 1.629), and hopelessness (OR = 2.910; 95% CI: 1.378 to 6.144). PLWHA are at a high risk of suicide within the first six months of HIV diagnosis, indicating an urgent need for immediate suicide screening and timely intervention. Suicide risk is affected by multiple factors, including sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors, indicating the need for a multifactorial approach to suicide prevention, which may involve early initiation of ART treatment and provision of economic and psychosocial support.

Association between Childhood Trauma, Mental Health Symptoms and Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV in Botswana

Background

People living with HIV experience traumatic incidents at higher rates than the general population; and research has documented significant association between trauma exposure and the development of mental disorders. Mental health problems have a a negative impact on anti-retroviral treatment adherence. All of these psychosocial concerns play a role in potentially increasing HIV transmission to sexual partners resulting in increased incidence rates. To inform interventions that improve quality of life, and decrease risky behaviors for adolescents and youth, it is critical to understand the extent to which childhood trauma, mental health problems, and poor adherence occur and coexist in this population of adolescents living with HIV. Thus, this study examined the associations between childhood trauma, mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and substance use) and adherence to ART among HIV infected youth in Botswana.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among youth aged 15 and 24-years old living with HIV. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire- Short Form; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21; Car Relax Alone Forget Friends Trouble" or CRAFFT 2.1 + N were used to collect data on exposure to childhood trauma, mental health symptoms and problematic substance use respectively. Adherence was assessed objectively with viral load and subjectively with Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Stata version 15. Bivariate logistical regression analysis testing for associations between mental health symptoms, substance use and adherence, and childhood trauma was conducted. Multivariate logistic regression was subsequently performed controlling for variables found to be significantly associated with childhood trauma.

Results

Of the 119 youth, 47% of the participants reported experiencing at least one type of childhood trauma, and physical neglect was the most frequently reported. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly associated with non-adherence, OR 5.83; OR 3.10; OR 5.97, and OR 2.52, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that exposure to all domains of childhood trauma except physical abuse were significantly associated with non-adherence. Sexual abuse and emotional neglect had the highest odds of predicting non-adherence. This highlights the need for trauma focused psychosocial interventions in managing youth living with HIV.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-024-00658-x.

Self-injurious unnatural death among Veterans with HIV

OBJECTIVE

People with HIV (PWH) are at an increased risk of suicide and death from unintentional causes compared with people living without HIV. Broadening the categorization of death from suicide to self-injurious unnatural death (SIUD) may better identify a more complete set of modifiable risk factors that could be targeted for prevention efforts among PWH.

DESIGN

We conducted a nested case-control study using data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), a longitudinal, observational cohort of Veterans from 2006-2015. A total of 5036 Veterans with HIV, of whom 461 died by SIUD, were included in the sample.

METHODS

SIUD was defined using the International Classification of Disease 10 th revision cause of death codes. Cases ( n  = 461) included individuals who died by SIUD (intentional, unintentional, and undetermined causes of death). Controls ( n  = 4575) were selected using incidence density sampling, matching on date of birth ± 1 year, race, sex, and HIV status. SIUD and suicide was estimated using conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

A previous suicide attempt, a diagnosis of an affective disorder, recent use of benzodiazepines, psychiatric hospitalization, and living in the western US significantly increased the risk of suicide and SIUD. Risk factors that appear more important for SIUD than for suicide included a drug use disorder, alcohol use disorder, Hepatitis C, VACS Index 2.0, current smoking, and high pain levels (7-10).

CONCLUSION

Limiting studies to known suicides obscures the larger public health burden of excess deaths from self-injurious behavior. Our findings demonstrate the benefit of expanding the focus to SIUD for the identification of modifiable risk factors that could be targeted for treatment.

Cannabinoid receptor 1 positive allosteric modulator ZCZ011 shows differential effects on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is a promising therapeutic target for various neurodegenerative diseases, including HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). However, the therapeutic potential of CB1R by direct activation is limited due to its psychoactive side effects. Therefore, research has focused on indirectly activating the CB1R by utilizing positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). Studies have shown that CB1R PAMs (ZCZ011 and GAT211) are effective in mouse models of Huntington's disease and neuropathic pain, and hence, we assess the therapeutic potential of ZCZ011 in a well-established mouse model of neuroHIV. The current study investigates the effect of chronic ZCZ011 treatment (14 days) on various behavioral paradigms and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice. Chronic ZCZ011 treatment (10 mg/kg) did not alter body mass, locomotor activity, or anxiety-like behavior regardless of sex or genotype. However, differential effects were noted in hot plate latency, motor coordination, and recognition memory in female mice only, with ZCZ011 treatment increasing hot plate latency and improving motor coordination and recognition memory. Only minor effects or no alterations were seen in the endocannabinoid system and related lipids except in the cerebellum, where the effect of ZCZ011 was more pronounced in female mice. Moreover, AEA and PEA levels in the cerebellum were positively correlated with improved motor coordination in female mice. In summary, these findings indicate that chronic ZCZ011 treatment has differential effects on antinociception, motor coordination, and memory, based on sex and HIV-1 Tat expression, making CB1R PAMs potential treatment options for HAND without the psychoactive side effects.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Older Adults

As people with HIV live longer, they can experience increased incidence and earlier onset of chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes. Older people are also at substantially increased risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment for HIV. Increasing provider awareness of this is pivotal in ensuring adequate consideration of HIV testing and earlier screening for chronic conditions. In addition, evaluating patients for common geriatric syndromes such as polypharmacy, frailty, falls, and cognitive impairment should be contextualized based on how they present.

Insights into Factors Affecting Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Crystallinity in Islatravir Implant

Islatravir, a highly potent nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor (NRTTI) for the treatment of HIV, has great potential to be formulated as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer-based implants via hot melt extrusion. The crystallinity of EVA determines its physical and rheological properties and may impact the drug-eluting implant performance. Herein, we describe the systematic analysis of factors affecting the EVA crystallinity in islatravir implants. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on EVA and solid-state NMR revealed drug loading promoted EVA crystallization, whereas BaSO4 loading had negligible impact on EVA crystallinity. The sterilization through γ-irradiation appeared to significantly impact the EVA crystallinity and surface characteristics of the implants. Furthermore, DSC analysis of thin implant slices prepared with an ultramicrotome indicated that the surface layer of the implant was more crystalline than the core. These findings provide critical insights into factors affecting the crystallinity, mechanical properties, and physicochemical properties of the EVA polymer matrix of extruded islatravir implants.

Effects of acute cannabidiol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Background

Some evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) has potential to help alleviate HIV symptoms due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here we examined acute CBD effects on various behaviors and the endocannabinoid system in HIV Tat transgenic mice.

Methods

Tat transgenic mice (female/male) were injected with CBD (3, 10, 30 mg/kg) and assessed for antinociception, activity, coordination, anxiety-like behavior, and recognition memory. Brains were taken to quantify endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and cannabinoid catabolic enzymes. Additionally, CBD and metabolite 7-hydroxy-CBD were quantified in the plasma and cortex.

Results

Tat decreased supraspinal-related nociception and locomotion. CBD and sex had little to no effects on any of the behavioral measures. For the endocannabinoid system male sex was associated with elevated concentration of the proinflammatory metabolite arachidonic acid in various CNS regions, including the cerebellum that also showed higher FAAH expression levels for Tat(+) males. GPR55 expression levels in the striatum and cerebellum were higher for females compared to males. CBD metabolism was altered by sex and Tat expression.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that acute CBD effects are not altered by HIV Tat, and acute CBD has no to minimal effects on behavior and the endocannabinoid system.

Identifying the Mental Health Effects of Cumulative Traumatic Exposure in HIV-Affected Youth: A Longitudinal Assessment

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic events (TEs) in early life can precede adult psychopathology. Limited research exists on this relationship in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV-infection (PHIV) or perinatal HIV-exposure without infection (PHEU), who often experience social and health disparities. This study examined TEs experienced in childhood/adolescence and their association with psychiatric and substance use disorders in young adults with PHIV and PHEU.

METHODS

Participants in a New York City-based longitudinal cohort study were assessed for TE exposure at enrollment (mean age = 12 years) and the first 2 follow-up interviews. Past-year psychiatric and substance use disorders were evaluated via psychiatric interview (DISC-IV) at the fifth follow-up interview (mean age = 22 years). Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models assessed associations between cumulative childhood/adolescence TEs and young adult psychiatric and substance use outcomes. Group differences were tested for PHIV and PHEU subgroups.

RESULTS

Among 236 participants (60% Black, 51% Latinx), mean cumulative traumatic event count was 3.09 (SD = 1.77); 26% had a past-year psychiatric diagnosis, and 28% had a past-year substance use diagnosis. Increased TEs were associated with past-year psychiatric diagnoses in young adulthood [average marginal effects (AME) 4.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83 to 7.58]; for PHEU participants, increased TEs were associated with a past-year substance use disorder (AME 15.67, 95% CI: 8.08 to 23.25).

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of TEs in childhood/adolescence may contribute to psychiatric and substance use disorders in young adults with PHIV or PHEU. Research exploring relationships between TE exposure and later psychiatric problems is needed to inform interventions for HIV-affected youth.

Effects of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Cannabis use is highly prevalent especially among people living with HIV (PLWH). Activation of the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective endocannabinoid system by phytocannabinoids, i.e. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been proposed to reduce HIV symptoms. However, THC's effects on HIV-related memory deficits are unclear. Using HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice, the current study investigates acute THC effects on various behavioral outcomes and the endocannabinoid system. For the rodent tetrad model, THC doses (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) induced known antinociceptive effects, with Tat induction increasing antinociceptive THC effects at 3 and 10 mg/kg doses. Only minor or no effects were noted for acute THC on body temperature, locomotor activity, and coordination. Increased anxiety-like behavior was found for females compared to males, but acute THC had no effect on anxiety. Object recognition memory was diminished by acute THC in Tat(-) females but not Tat(+) females, without affecting males. The endocannabinoid system and related lipids were not affected by acute THC, except for THC-induced decreases in CB1R protein expression levels in the spinal cord of Tat(-) mice. Female sex and Tat induction was associated with elevated 2-AG, AEA, AA, CB1R, CB2R, FAAH and/or MAGL expression in various brain regions. Further, AEA levels in the prefrontal cortex of Tat(+) females were negatively associated with object recognition memory. Overall, findings indicate that acute THC exerts differential effects on antinociception and memory, dependent on sex and HIV Tat expression, potentially in relation to an altered endocannabinoid system, which may be of relevance in view of potential cannabis-based treatment options for PLWH.

Community-based participatory research to guide adoption of culturally responsive trauma-informed HIV care throughout Nashville, Tennessee

Background

Psychological trauma is a highly prevalent driver of poor health among people with HIV (PWH) in the Southern United States (U.S.). Trauma-informed care (TIC) has potential to advance national Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) goals, but formative research is needed to tailor TIC implementation to complex and interdependent HIV networks. Methods: We applied a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to iteratively engage personnel from high volume HIV care institutions in Nashville, Tennessee. Current practices and potential implementation determinants were identified through participatory process mapping (PM) and key informant interviews. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was applied to deductively code interview data. Personnel attending a dissemination summit developed a network-wide implementation plan.

Results

Data were collected with personnel from five institutions (e.g., community-based organizations, primary care clinics, public health department), for PM (n=48), interviews (n=35), and the summit (n=17). Results suggest there are limited trauma screenings, assessments, and services across the network. Relevant Characteristics of Individuals included a trauma-sensitive workforce committed to continuous learning and TIC adoption. Relevant Inner Setting Factors were networks and communications, with strong tension for change, high compatibility with TIC, and need for advancing cultural responsiveness. Relevant Outer Setting Factors included patient needs and resources and cosmopolitanism, with need for better leveraged mental health services. Relevant Process domains were champions and leadership, with need to diversify championship among leaders. Relevant Intervention Characteristics included relative advantage and complexity, with need for personnel wellness initiatives and increased engagement with the community as service designers. Four recommendations included development of shared communication systems, personnel wellness campaigns, routine evaluations to inform practices, and culturally responsive care initiatives.

Conclusion

Modifiable TIC determinants were identified, and a community-created implementation plan was developed to guide adoption. Future research will focus on city-wide implementation and strengthening pre-implementation research in other settings.

People living with HIV who inject or have injected non-prescription drugs: Evidence of substantial differences in health inequalities and experiences of clinical care

INTRODUCTION

This study investigates differences in health and well-being associated with current, past or no injecting drug use (IDU) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia, identifying key health care considerations between injecting experiences.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the HIV Futures 9 study; a survey of PLHIV conducted in 2018-2019. Chi-square and analysis of variance analyses compared clinical and treatment characteristics, major physical and mental comorbidities, sexually transmitted infection diagnoses, and quality of life for those who reported current (last 12 months), past (12+ months ago) or no IDU.

RESULTS

Current IDU (n = 106) was associated with higher rates of sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnoses, higher frequency of self-reported antiretroviral therapy non-adherence due to drug use and greater social quality of life than past (n = 126) or no IDU (n = 508; total N = 740). Past and current IDUs were associated with more mental illness diagnoses and self-reported concern about drug use. Past IDU was associated with more physical comorbidities, lower satisfaction with clinical care and greater difficulty in affording health care than current or no IDU.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Past and current IDUs are associated with unique health concerns. However, past IDU appears to be related to greater dissatisfaction in navigating health care than individuals with current IDU experience. Higher social connection and the types of services being accessed by individuals who currently inject may play a role in shaping service satisfaction. Peer-based interventions to help support individuals in accessing services that are affirming of their needs is an ongoing priority.

The mediating role of social support between HIV stigma and sexual orientation-based medical mistrust among newly HIV-diagnosed gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

HIV-related stigma and medical mistrust are significant challenges to addressing HIV inequities among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV-related stigma is associated with high levels of medical mistrust, but there is limited knowledge regarding the mechanisms that link these variables. We examined the potential mediating roles of social support and coping in the relationship between perceived HIV stigma and sexual orientation based-medical mistrust among newly HIV-diagnosed MSM. We hypothesized that HIV-related stigma would be associated with mistrust and that social support, and coping would mediate this relationship. Data were obtained from 202 newly HIV-diagnosed (<1 year) MSM receiving care at community HIV clinics in New York. A path model indicated that HIV stigma was directly related to greater sexual orientation based medical mistrust, and that this relationship was mediated by social support. However, coping did not mediate the relationship between HIV stigma and mistrust. Efforts to increase social support and decrease stigma are critical for strengthening relationships between MSM and HIV care networks. Future research should assess the feasibility of designing and implementing interventions focused on increasing social network support and improving trust in the medical community among newly HIV-diagnosed MSM.

Global trends in depression among patients living with HIV: A bibliometric analysis

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related depression has seriously affected the quality of life and treatment outcomes of patients living with HIV (PLWH), which has become a hot topic in recent years. This study aims to discover the main keywords, predict frontier topics, and give meaningful suggestions for researchers by bibliometric analysis.

Methods

Publications between 1999 and 2022 on depression in HIV/AIDS were searched in the Web of Science core collection. Microsoft Excel 2010 and VOSviewer were utilized to key contributors (e.g., authors, journals, institutions, and countries). VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the knowledge evolution, collaborative maps, hot topics, and keywords trends in this field.

Results

In total, 8,190 publications were included in the final analysis. From 1999 to 2021, the number of published articles roughly presents a steadily increasing trend. The United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom were three key contributing countries/regions to this field. University Calif San Francisco (United States), University Calif Los Angeles (United States), and Johns Hopkins University (United States) were three key contributing institutions. Safren, Steven A. was the most productive and highest cited author. AIDS Care was the top prolific journal. Antiretroviral therapy and adherence, men has sex with men, mental health, substance abuse, stigma, and Sub-Saharan Africa were the central topics regarding the depression-related research in HIV/AIDS.

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis reported the publication trend, major contributing countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals and mapped the knowledge network of depression-related research on HIV/AIDS. In this field, topics such as “adherence,” “mental health,” “substance abuse,” “stigma,” “men who have sex with men” and “South Africa” have attracted considerable attention.

Four-Year Trajectories of Internal Strengths and Socioemotional Support Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults with HIV

Positive psychological attributes are associated with better health outcomes, yet few studies have identified their underlying constructs and none have examined their temporal trajectories in clinical vs. non-clinical samples. From data collected over 4 years from people with HIV (PWH) and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) participants, we identified two latent factors (internal strengths; socioemotional support) based on responses to seven positive psychological attributes. Internal strengths increased over 4 years for PWH, but not for HIV- comparisons. Socioemotional support did not change significantly in either group. Lower internal strengths and worse socioemotional support were related to greater depressive symptoms. We speculate that improvement in internal strengths in PWH could reflect their being in care, but this requires further study to include PWH not in care. Given the apparent malleability of internal strengths and their association with improved health outcomes, these attributes can serve as promising intervention targets for PWH.

Proper distance in the age of social distancing: Hepatitis C treatment, telehealth and questions of care and responsibility

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has played a prominent role in the treatment of hepatitis C. As part of a qualitative study on the accessibility and effectiveness of telehealth for hepatitis C treatment during this period in Australia, this article considers how health-care practitioners and patients experience and manage their proximity to each other in telehealth encounters of care. Comparisons between telehealth and in-person health-care tend to focus on measures of patient satisfaction rather than qualitative changes in treatment relationships. Media scholar Silverstone (Digital media revisited: Theoretical and conceptual innovations in digital domains, MIT Press, 2003) uses the term 'proper distance' to theorise how ethical relationships are mediated by technology. Drawing on this concept, we explore how patients and health-care practitioners understand telehealth as affecting distance and proximity. We find that both groups express some ambivalence about the impact of telehealth on relationships, on the one hand expecting and privileging simple, transactional relationships, and on the other hand, expressing concerns about the loss of more intimate relationships in health care and about 'missing something' while providing health care. Given that proximity is important to the development of ethical relationships in health care, we conclude with some considerations for establishing and sustaining attentive and responsive relationships in telehealth.

The Healthcare Experiences of African Americans with a Dual Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and a Nutrition-Related Chronic Disease: A Pilot Study

For HIV-positive African Americans, the mistrust of medical providers due to anticipation of unequal treatment care, prejudice, and bias can become a major deterrent to medication and treatment adherence. Although programs and services incorporate strategies to improve patient-provider relationships, a deeper understanding of their healthcare experiences, especially among those with a dual diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and a nutrition-related chronic disease, is lacking. This qualitative study aimed to address this gap by conducting focus groups with participants who identified themselves as being African American, and having a dual diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, and a chronic disease. Content analysis generated several major themes, highlighting the impact of a negative healthcare experience on their ability to self-manage their health. Factors such as lack of consistency in care team, negative interactions with doctors, feelings of stigma due to prejudice and bias from healthcare staff, loss of privacy, and the need for comprehensive services that targeted their physical, emotional, and nutritional health emerged as recurring sub-themes. These findings provide the foundation for the design of a comprehensive intervention model that helps participants to communicate their medical needs more effectively, thus optimizing their overall health outcomes and quality of life.

A qualitative inquiry into the patient-related barriers to linkage and retention in HIV care within the community setting

Background

People with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PWH) experience barriers to care within the community that impedes their progress from when they discover that they are HIV positive to becoming virally suppressed. For individuals with HIV to achieve sustained viral suppression, they must be linked to care to start receiving anti-retroviral therapy and remain retained in care for continuous treatment. However, HIV surveillance data shows that many PWH are not linked to care and become lost to continuous follow-up care. Although pharmacists, PWH, and social workers interact with one another and are aware of their roles in HIV care, their perspectives on barriers to linkage and retention in care have not been investigated collectively.

Objectives

Explore the perspectives of PWH, pharmacists, and social workers on barriers to linkage and retention of HIV care within the community setting.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used to recruit 15 stakeholders (five PWH, five community pharmacists, and five social workers) who participated in 1-h, semi-structured interviews based on three domains of the Patient-centered Medical Home Model including (1) experiences (individual and system-level barriers to care experienced by PWH), (2) activities (social workers and pharmacists initiatives that impact adherence to care)and (3) interventions (critical issues pharmacists can address in the community to engage PWH in their HIV care). We conducted a directed content analysis based on deductive coding. To establish rigor, we focused on Lincoln and Guba's criteria of rigorous qualitative methodology: credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Similarities and divergences of themes were discussed during data analysis and agreement was reached before interpretation.

Results

Emergent themes uncovered barriers to linkage and retention in HIV care as HIV-related stigma, having mental health illnesses including a history of substance abuse and social determinants of health such as homelessness, food insecurity, and insurance issues.

Conclusion

The perspectives of pharmacists, social workers, and PWH can provide insight into barriers that should be identified and addressed in people living with HIV to enhance their linkage and retention in care.

Six-Months Retention on Treatment and Attrition Risk Factors among People Living with HIV in Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya

Early retention of patients on HIV treatment is vital in preventing new infections, reducing transmissions, preventing AIDS related deaths and achieving viral suppression. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of non-cash intervention (reminding HIV positive patients at every clinic visit that they stand to receive free T-shirts of their favorite football team or free Kiondos based on preference if they made it to the sixth month visit without missing a treatment appointment) and psychosocial support on retention during the first six months of HIV treatment. This unblinded randomized control trial was conducted at three health centers within the Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups at a ratio of 1:1. Eligible participants were patients who newly tested HIV positive and enrolled for treatment at the study sites, were 18 years and older and were willing and able to provide informed consent to participate in the study. The primary outcome of interest was retention on treatment at six months. The overall retention on treatment at six months was 93%. Retention at six months among the intervention and control groups was 94% and 91%, respectively (aRR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.98-1.09; p-value = 0.24). Attrition from treatment was significantly associated with being divorced, being single/never married, time to clinic, participant weight and being on other first line ART regimens other than TDF/3TC/DTG and TDF/3TC/EFV. Mortality and lost to follow-up rates were 1.6 and 13.5 per 100 person-years, respectively. The combination of non-cash incentives and psychosocial support did not improve retention during the first six months of HIV treatment. To reduce further attrition in the early stages of HIV treatment, innovative strategies are needed to reach divorced and not married/single patients earlier and support them to remain on treatment. Efforts should also be made to further decentralize ART treatment to reduce costs and time associated with travelling to and from hospitals.

Treatment for hepatitis C virus with direct acting antiviral agents: Perspectives and treatment experiences of people who inject drugs

INTRODUCTION

Increasingly, people who inject drugs (PWID) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are gaining access to highly effective direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Although past studies examined patient experiences with interferon-based treatments, few have explored patient experiences with these new generation therapeutics. Research and real world experience indicate that many PWID can be successfully treated with the new DAAs. Yet a substantial minority fail to complete treatment or achieve only suboptimal adherence. This qualitative study examines experiences with treatment among participants in Project HERO, a large multisite trial designed to compare treatment delivery methods for DAAs. We explored treatment experiences among HERO participants, with the goal of understanding potential barriers to treatment engagement and completion.

METHODS

We conducted qualitative interviews with a sample of 21 participants, including 14 who completed HCV treatment and 7 participants who discontinued treatment before the end of the 12-week medication course. The first phase of the analysis was descriptive, examining participants' life experiences, histories of disease and treatment seeking, experiences with the program, and barriers to treatment completion. The second phase of the analysis examined differences between completers and noncompleters.

RESULTS

Participants offered a variety of reasons for seeking treatment. Both groups of participants reported highly positive experiences of the HERO trial. Participants described research staff as caring, respectful, and nonjudgmental. Substance use was reported by both groups, yet completers described "manageable" substance use, while noncompleters described substance use that sapped their energy and motivation. Shame over drug use was a barrier to treatment completion. Homelessness and a reported lack of social support were much more common in the noncompleter group.

CONCLUSIONS

Reasons for noncompletion were not related to features of the clinical trial or treatment program. Our results indicate the importance of: 1) recognizing and addressing severe social and economic challenges such as homelessness; and 2) building a program culture of respect and compassion in treatment programs for PWID infected with HCV.

Clinic screening for adverse childhood experiences in people living with HIV to Improve Care Delivery

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes; however, screening for ACEs is not routinely performed among people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional pilot study to define the (1) prevalence of ACEs in PLWH and (2) acceptability of ACEs screening in routine out-patient clinical care. One hundred participants completed screening: median age of participants was 49 years (interquartile range: 38.5-59.5), 73% male, 66% Non-Hispanic Black/African American, and 47% gay/lesbian. Clinically significant ACEs score, defined as ≥4, was reported in 51%. High ACEs score was more common among participants <50 years old (64.7% vs. 36.7%; p < 0.01), but the prevalence of ACEs ≥4 did not differ by gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Among participants with ≥4 ACEs, 44.4% screened negative on both PHQ-9 and PC-PTSD screens. The majority of participants (89%) reported a positive experience with ACEs screening. The prevalence of clinically significant ACEs in this clinic population of PLWH was more than twice that reported in the general population. Routine ACEs screening can improve delivery of trauma-informed care in the HIV primary care setting.

HIV and Mental Health Services in the US South: A Meso Analysis

The US South is disproportionately impacted by HIV. Social, cultural, economic, and political characteristics of the South shape access to mental health services leaving adverse impacts on health and wellness outcomes among People Living with HIV. The aim of this paper was to: (a) identify meso factors (at individual, organizational and community-level manifestations) which impact mental health services among People living with HIV in the South of those factors and (b) pose community-articulated recommendation and strategies. Through qualitative interviews with People Living with HIV and service providers, this study found that the meso factors of restricted funding and compounding stigma shaped mental health services in the South. Given the disproportionate rate of HIV, lack of mental health care, and landscape of socio-political factors unique to the region, attention to intervenable meso factors and community-based strategies are needed to enhance mental health services and respond to the HIV epidemic in the US South.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the HIV Care Continuum in a Large Urban Southern Clinic

Access to care is essential for people with HIV (PWH) but may have been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of adult PWH receiving care in a large southeastern comprehensive care clinic in the United States. Patients in care between January 1, 2017, and July 30, 2020, were included. Race/ethnicity, sex, HIV-1 RNA, CD4 + lymphocyte count were included as baseline covariates. Outcomes included clinic attendance, receipt of HIV-1 RNA PCR testing, and virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA < 200 copies/mL); outpatient encounters included new patient encounters, follow-up visits, and mental health encounters. Total medical encounters, including telemedicine, decreased by 827 visits (33%) when comparing the second quarters of 2019 and 2020. New patient encounters decreased by 23.5% from 81 to 62 during this period. The second quarter of 2020 saw the lowest number of new patient visits since 2017. HIV-1 RNA testing and the proportion of patients with virologic suppression decreased during the pandemic (p < 0.001 for both). Total mental health encounters, on the other hand, increased by 14% during April-June 2020 compared to April-June 2019. Mental health electronic communications increased by 60% from 312 to 500 during the same period, with a 20% increase in medication refills. The COVID-19 pandemic affected outpatient visits, viral load surveillance, and virologic suppression but led to an increase in mental health encounters in a comprehensive care clinic setting.

Elevated trauma exposure and mental health burden among men who have sex with men in Vietnam

The purpose of this study was to characterize trauma exposure and mental health burden among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants comprise 100 HIV-positive and 98 high-risk, HIV-negative MSM, ranging from 18 to 29 years of age. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Traumatic Events Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and PTSD Symptom Scale. A subset of participants (n  =  12) were also interviewed to evaluate community perception of the prevalence, causation, and available treatment options for mental health issues within the MSM community in Vietnam. In our sample, 23.2% reported having experienced moderate-to-severe childhood physical abuse; 18.7% physical neglect; 13.6% emotional abuse; 11.1% emotional neglect; and 26.8% sexual abuse. Such trauma exposure continued into adulthood and manifested most commonly in the form of interpersonal violence. Approximately 37.4% of the sample met the criteria for probable PTSD; 26.8% for moderate-to-severe depression; and 20.2% for moderate-to-severe anxiety. Neither exposure nor mental health burden differed by serostatus. Linear regression revealed that childhood emotional abuse was the only sub-type of trauma significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. The majority of interviewees believed that mental health burden was higher among MSM relative to the general population and attributed this to their vulnerability to interpersonal violence and lack of available coping resources. However, few believed that these mental health issues warranted clinical attention, and only one participant was able to identify a mental health service provider. Our findings suggest that trauma exposure and mental health burden are prevalent among MSM, irrespective of serostatus, and much higher than what has been previously reported among the general population in Vietnam.

A Systematic Review of Risk Factors for Suicide Among Persons Living with HIV (1996-2020)

Persons living with HIV (PWH) are at elevated risk for suicide. We conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA-P guidelines to examine risk factors associated with suicide as a cause of morbidity among PWH. We searched six electronic databases using search terms (suicide, suicide attempt, self-harm, self-injurious behavior, HIV, AIDS, PWH). We focused on factors that were specific to HIV infection (CD4 count, HIV-1 RNA, and antiretroviral therapy [ART]). The initial search yielded N = 2657 studies. Eligible studies included suicide as an outcome, quantitative study design, and publication in peer-reviewed journals from 1996 through 2020. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. PWH share risk factors for suicide found in the general population: psychiatric illness, previous suicide attempt, drug and alcohol misuse. PWH also have HIV-specific risk factors for suicide. HIV diagnosis in the past two years and transmission related to injection drug use were associated with increased risk; HIV-1 RNA, ART, and AIDS-defining illness were not.

Mental health characteristics and their associations with childhood trauma among subgroups of people living with HIV in China

BACKGROUND

People living with HIV (PLWH) carry a high risk for mental health problems, which has been extensively reported in the literature. However, an understanding of mental health characteristics in different subgroups of PLWH is still limited. In the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to explore mental health characteristics and their associations with childhood trauma in two major subgroups of PLWH in China.

METHODS

A total of 533 PLWH (213 prisoners in the prison system, and 320 outpatients) were assessed using the 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

RESULTS

From the total sample, 22.0% PLWH frequently experienced psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), 21.8% had clinically significant anxiety syndrome, 34.0% had clinically significant depressive syndrome, and 63.6% experienced at least one type of traumatic exposure during their childhood, with physical neglect being the most common. Compared to outpatients with HIV, prisoners living with HIV reported more severe mental health problems and a higher frequency of childhood trauma, with childhood trauma in turn predicting higher risk for mental health problems. Similarly, among outpatients living with HIV, both childhood emotional and sexual abuse had predictive effects on all the three mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that PLWH have higher risk of anxiety, depression and PLEs, and childhood trauma could serve as predicting factors for such risks. In addition, childhood trauma may play distinct roles in predicting the risk for the mental health problems, depending on different subgroup of PLWH.

Durability of effects from short-term economic incentives for clinic attendance among HIV positive adults in Tanzania: long-term follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

Introduction

Conditional economic incentives are shown to promote medication adherence across a range of health conditions and settings; however, any long-term harms or benefits from these time-limited interventions remain largely unevaluated. We assessed 2–3 years outcomes from a 6-month incentive programme in Tanzania that originally improved short-term retention in HIV care and medication possession.

Methods

We traced former participants in a 2013–2016 trial, which randomised 800 food-insecure adults starting HIV treatment at three clinics to receive either usual care (control) or up to 6 months of cash or food transfers (~US$11/month) contingent on timely attendance at monthly clinic appointments. The primary intention-to-treat analysis estimated 24-month and 36-month marginal risk differences (RD) between incentive and control groups for retention in care and all-cause mortality, using multiple imputation for a minority of missing outcomes. We also estimated mortality HRs from time-stratified Cox regression.

Results

From 3 March 2018 to 19 September 2019, we determined 36-month retention and mortality statuses for 737 (92%) and 700 (88%) participants, respectively. Overall, approximately 660 (83%) participants were in care at 36 months while 43 (5%) had died. There were no differences between groups in retention at 24 months (86.5% intervention vs 84.4% control, RD 2.1, 95% CI −5.2 to 9.3) or 36 months (83.3% vs 77.8%, RD 5.6, –2.7 to 13.8), nor in mortality at either time point. The intervention group had a lower rate of death during the first 18 months (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.74); mortality was similar thereafter (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.33 to 3.79).

Conclusion

These findings confirm that incentives are a safe and effective tool to promote short-term adherence and potentially avert early deaths at the critical time of HIV treatment initiation. Complementary strategies are recommended to sustain lifelong retention in HIV care.

Trial registration number

NCT01957917

Medical Mistrust and Adherence to Care Among a Heterogeneous Cohort of Women Living with HIV, Followed in a Large, U.S. Safety Net Clinic

Purpose: To explore the relationship between medical mistrust, as measured by the Group-Based Medical Mistrust (GBMM) scale, and HIV care adherence among a cohort of minority women receiving care in a U.S. safety net clinic.

Methods: English-, Spanish-, and Haitian Creole (Creole)-speaking patients with a recent history of nonadherence to care were surveyed.

Results: English speakers endorsed the highest level of mistrust, followed by Spanish speakers and Creole speakers. Creole speakers endorsed lower mistrust, lower suspicion of providers, and lower levels of “perceived health care disparities.” Higher mistrust was associated significantly with lower medication adherence, and lower rates of viral suppression (nonsignificant).

Conclusion: Understanding perceptions of medical care and the relationship to HIV care adherence is an important step to addressing negative health outcomes for ethnic minority women with HIV.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT03738410.

Addressing intersectional stigma as a care barrier for HIV-positive people who inject drugs: Design of an RCT in St. Petersburg, Russia

Background

HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID) experience stigma related to their substance use and HIV, with adverse consequences to their health care utilization and mental health. To help affected individuals cope with their intersectional stigma and reduce its negative impact on health and health care, we adapted a behavioral stigma coping intervention for this HIV key population.

Objective

To conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the ‘Stigma Coping to Reduce HIV risks and Improve substance use Prevention and Treatment’ (SCRIPT) intervention, a community-based, adapted form of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), for PWID living with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Methods

We recruited 100 PWID living with HIV from civil society organizations (CSO) delivering harm reduction and HIV prevention services in St. Petersburg, Russia. We randomized participants 2:1 to receive either the intervention (three adapted ACT sessions in a group format over one month and usual CSO care) or usual CSO care alone. ACT aims to help affected individuals cope with stigma by increasing their psychological flexibility to handle stigma-related negative expectations, emotions and experiences. The primary outcomes were satisfaction with the intervention, and changes in HIV and substance use stigma scores.

Conclusions

Stigma coping interventions targeting HIV-positive PWID outside of formal health care settings may help them confront negativities in their lives originating from intersectional stigma and reduce stigma's impact as a health care barrier.

•

HIV-positive people who inject drugs face stigma due to both substance use and HIV.

•

Interventions are scarce to help this population reduce stigma as care barrier.

•

We recruited participants outside of the formal health care setting in Russia.

•

We partnered with multiple organizations to recruit and retain stigmatized people.

•

We evaluated the intervention's effects on stigma, health care, & health outcomes.

Substance use, Unlike Dolutegravir, is Associated with Mood Symptoms in People Living with HIV

Contradictory data have been reported concerning neuropsychiatric side effects of the first-line antiretroviral drug dolutegravir, which may be partly due to lack of control groups or psychiatric assessment tools. Using validated self-report questionnaires, we compared mood and anxiety (DASS-42), impulsivity (BIS-11), and substance use (MATE-Q) between dolutegravir-treated and dolutegravir-naive people living with HIV (PLHIV). We analyzed 194, mostly male, PLHIV on long-term treatment of whom 82/194 (42.3%) used dolutegravir for a median (IQR) of 280 (258) days. Overall, 51/194 (26.3%) participants reported DASS-42 scores above the normal cut-off, 27/194 (13.5%) were classified as highly impulsive, and 58/194 (29.9%) regularly used recreational drugs. Regular substance use was positively associated with depression (p = 0.012) and stress scores (p = 0.045). We observed no differences between dolutegravir-treated and dolutegravir-naive PLHIV. Our data show that depressed and anxious moods and impulsivity are common in PLHIV and associate with substance use and not with dolutegravir use.

Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among male sex workers in Mexico: an application of the RE-AIM framework

Background

The ImPrEP México demonstration project is the first to distribute free HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women living in Mexico. In Mexico City, MSM who are also male sex workers (MSWs) face a disproportionately high risk of HIV infection. PrEP is highly effective for HIV prevention, yet “real-life” implementation among MSWs is a challenge due to the unique adherence barriers faced by this population.

Methods

This study uses the RE-AIM implementation science framework to characterize the unique barriers to and facilitators of PrEP uptake among MSWs in Mexico City. We conducted 9 in-depth key informant interviews and 2 focus group discussions with MSWs across 5 clinic and community sites. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive, open coding approaches from grounded theory. We supplemented findings from the primary qualitative analysis with quantitative indicators derived from ImPrEP program records to describe the current Reach of the ImPrEP program among MSWs in Mexico City and the potential for wider PrEP Adoption among other high-risk populations in Mexico.

Results

The Reach of the ImPrEP program was 10% of known HIV-negative MSWs in Mexico City. Program Reach was lowest among MSWs who were street-based sex workers, of lower socioeconomic status, migrants from other states and self-identified as heterosexual. Barriers to program Reach included limited PrEP knowledge, HIV-related stigma, and structural barriers; facilitators included in-person program recruitment, patient-centered care, and spread of information through word of mouth among MSWs. Two out of the four eligible institutions had adopted the ImPrEP protocol. Barriers to wider program Adoption included HIV- and sexual identity– related stigma, protocol limitations, and lack of a national policy for PrEP distribution; facilitators of Adoption included existing healthcare infrastructure, sensitized providers, and community support from non-governmental organizations.

Conclusions

Increasing the ImPrEP program’s Reach among MSWs will depend on improving PrEP education and addressing HIV-related stigma and access barriers. Future Adoption of the ImPrEP program should build on existing clinical infrastructure and community support. Creation of a national policy for PrEP distribution may improve the Reach and Adoption of PrEP among highest-risk populations in Mexico.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12167-9.

Understanding Medical Distrust Among African American/Black and Latino Persons Living With HIV With Sub-Optimal Engagement Along the HIV Care Continuum: A Machine Learning Approach

Medical distrust is a potent barrier to participation in HIV care and medication use among African American/Black and Latino (AABL) persons living with HIV (PLWH). However, little is known about sociodemographic and risk factors associated with distrust. We recruited adult AABL PLWH from low socio-economic status backgrounds with insufficient engagement in HIV care (N = 512). Participants completed structured assessments on three types of distrust (of health care providers, health care systems, and counter-narratives), HIV history, and mental health. We used a type of machine learning called random forest to explore predictors of trust. On average, participants were 47 years old (SD = 11 years), diagnosed with HIV 18 years prior (SD = 9 years), and mainly male (64%) and African American/Black (69%). Depression and age were the most important predictors of trust. Among those with elevated depressive symptoms, younger participants had less trust than older, while among those without depression, trust was greater across all ages. The present study adds nuance to the literature on medical distrust among AABL PLWH and identifies junctures where interventions to build trust are needed most.

The Patient Reported Outcomes as a Clinical Tool (PROACT) Pilot Study: What Can be Gained by Sharing Computerized Patient-Reported Mental Health and Substance Use Symptoms with Providers in HIV Care?

Substance use and mental health (SU/MH) disorders are insufficiently recognized in HIV care. We examined whether conveying SU/MH screening results to patients and providers increased SU/MH discussions and action plans. Intervention participants completed a computerized patient-reported questionnaire before their HIV visit; screened positive on ≥ 1 measure: depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, at-risk alcohol use, or drug use; and reviewed screening results to decide which to prioritize with their provider. Screening results and clinical recommendations were conveyed to providers via medical record. A historic control included patients with positive screens but no conveyance to patient or provider. The patient-provider encounter was audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. For the overall sample (n = 70; 38 control, 32 intervention), mean age (SD) was 51.8 (10.3), 61.4% were male, and 82.9% were Black. Overall, 93.8% raised SU/MH in the intervention compared to 50.0% in the control (p < 0.001). Action plans were made for 40.0% of intervention and 10.5% of control encounters (p = 0.049). Conveying screening results with clinical recommendations increased SU/MH action plans, warranting further research on this intervention to address SU/MH needs.

Mental Health in Women Living With HIV: The Unique and Unmet Needs

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at higher rates than their male counterparts and more often than HIV-unaffected women. These mental health issues affect not only the well-being and quality of life of WLWH, but have implications for HIV management and transmission prevention. Despite these ramifications, WLWH are under-treated for mental health concerns and they are underrepresented in the mental health treatment literature. In this review, we illustrate the unique mental health issues faced by WLWH such as a high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse histories, caregiving stress, and elevated internalized stigma as well as myriad barriers to care. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of mental health interventions that have been tested in WLWH including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and supportive counseling. Future research is required to address individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for WLWH.

Mental health symptoms and inflammatory markers among HIV infected patients in Tanzania

Background

HIV and mental disorders are predicted to be the leading causes of illness worldwide by the year 2030. HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of developing mental disorders which are significantly associated with negative clinical outcomes and propagation of new HIV infections. There is little evidence that links inflammation to development of mental disorders among HIV patients. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate if mental health symptoms were associated with biomarkers of inflammation in HIV infected subjects.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salam, Tanzania from March to May 2018. Standardized tools were used to collect data based on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) stepwise approach for non-communicable diseases (NCD) surveillance. A total of 407 HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy were recruited. The WHO stepwise approach for NCD surveillance was used to collect data together with anthropometric measurements. Mental health symptoms were determined based on self-reported thoughts of helplessness, suicide ideation, depression, despair, discouragement, and feelings of isolation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for inflammatory markers:- C-reactive protein (CRP), Iinterleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-I (sTNFR-I), and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-II (sTNFR-II). Bivariate and multi-variate analysis was conducted to examine the association between biomarkers and mental health symptoms.

Results

The prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms was 42% (n = 169). Participants with self-reported symptoms of mental health had elevated CRP, were less likely to walk or use a bicycle for at least 10 minutes, were less likely to participate in moderate-intensity sports or fitness activities, and had poor adherence to HIV treatment (p < 0.005). CRP remained significant in the sex adjusted, age-sex adjusted, and age-sex-moderate exercise adjusted models. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, self-reported mental health symptoms were significantly associated with a higher quartile of elevated CRP (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.3–5.9) and sTNFR-II (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.4–6.6) and the third quartile of IL-18 (OR 5.1;95% CI 1.5–17.5) as compared with those reporting no mental health symptoms. The significance of sTNFR-II and IL-18 in the fully adjusted model is confounded by viral load suppression rates at the sixth month.

Conclusion

High CRP and sTNFR II were important contributors to the prevalence of mental health symptoms. This study is among the minimal studies that have examined mental health issues in HIV, and therefore, the findings may offer significant knowledge despite the potential reverse causality. Regardless of the nature of these associations, efforts should be directed toward screening, referral, and follow-up of HIV patients who are at-risk for mental health disorders.

Prevalence and predictors of fatigue among people living with HIV in Norway

Fatigue is the most commonly noted symptom among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of fatigue among PLHIV in Norway. Two hundred and forty-four people were recruited from two hospitals to participate in a survey, which contained seven instruments used to investigate mental health, addiction, quality of life, and fatigue. More than a third of the participants (38.5%) suffered from fatigue. Predictors of fatigue were the presence of mental distress (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 8.98, 95%CI 3.81, 21.15), multimorbidity (AOR 5.13, 95%CI 1.40, 18.73), living alone (AOR 2.99, 95%CI 1.36, 6.56), trouble sleeping (AOR 2.67, 95%CI 1.06, 6.71), and increased body pain (AOR 1.44, 95%CI 1.25, 1.67). To improve the quality of life for many PLHIV, the continuum of HIV care must address fatigue and its predictors.

Lived experiences of people living with HIV: a descriptive qualitative analysis of their perceptions of themselves, their social spheres, healthcare professionals and the challenges they face daily

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rates have been gradually increasing in Istanbul, Turkey. Many people living with HIV (PLWH) here encounter difficulties, for example, in adapting to the chronic disease and obtaining continuous access to healthcare services. In this study, we aimed to explore the challenges PLWH face in their daily lives and understand their perceptions of themselves, healthcare professionals and services, and their social spheres via their expressed lived experiences in the healthcare setting.

METHOD

Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face with 20 PLWH in Istanbul. All the interviews were voice-recorded and transcribed verbatim except one, upon participant request, for which the interviewer took notes. These logs and the interviewer's notes were analyzed thematically using the inductive content analysis method.

RESULTS

The themes concerned experiences in three distinct contexts: 1) Interactions with healthcare providers; 2) Participants' responses to their HIV diagnosis; and 3) Interactions with their social networks. Firstly, the results highlighted that the participants perceived that healthcare professionals did not inform them about the diagnosis properly, failed to protect patients' confidentiality and exhibited discriminative behaviors towards them. Secondly, after the diagnosis the participants had difficulty in coping with their unsettled emotional state. While many ceased sexual activities and isolated themselves, some sought support. Lastly, living with HIV affected their relationships with their families and friends either positively or negatively. Moreover, they had to face the difficulties concerning spouse/partner notification issues about which many needed professional support.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals' discriminative or inappropriate attitudes and customs in healthcare institutions are perceived to impair PLWH's utilization of healthcare services. Structural factors such as social pressure, societal ignorance about HIV, limited access to HIV prevention, and regulatory barriers might contribute to these challenges. The results suggest that it is necessary to raise healthcare professionals' and society's awareness about HIV and develop national policies to establish a well-functioning referral system and appropriate spouse/partner notification services.

Socioeconomic Mobility and Psychological and Cognitive Functioning in a Diverse Sample of Adults With and Without HIV

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study examined the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) mobility from childhood to adulthood on psychological and cognitive well-being in African American and non-Hispanic White HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-seronegative (HIV-) adults who are part of an ongoing study investigating psychosocial and neurobehavioral effects of HIV.

METHODS

Participants (N = 174, 24.1% female, 59.2% African American, 67.8% HIV+) were categorized into four groups (upward mobility, downward mobility, stable-not-poor, chronic-poverty) based on self-reported childhood and current community SES (which were correlated with objective measures of SES and proxies of childhood SES). SES groups were compared on self-report measures of psychological well-being, subjective executive functioning ratings, and performance across six cognitive domains. Primary analyses were stratified by HIV status.

RESULTS

For the HIV+ group, SES mobility was associated with psychological well-being (chronic burden of stress: F(7,101) = 3.17, mean squared error [MSE] = 49.42, p = .030, η2 = 0.14; depressive symptoms: F(7,101) = 4.46, MSE = 70.49, p = .006,η2 = 0.14), subjective ratings of executive dysfunction (F(7,101) = 6.11, MSE = 114.29, p = .001,η2 = 0.18), and objective performance in executive functioning (F(9,99) = 3.22, MSE = 249.52, p = .030, η2 = 0.15) and learning (F(9,99) = 3.01, MSE = 220.52, p = .034, η2 = 0.13). In the control group, SES mobility was associated with chronic stress burden (F(5,49) = 4.677, p = .025, η2 = 0.15); however, no other relationships between SES mobility and outcomes of interest were observed (all p values > .20). In general, downward mobility and chronic poverty were associated with worse ratings across psychological well-being measures and cognitive performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings within the HIV+ group are consistent with previous studies that report downward mobility to be associated with poor psychological outcomes. People living with HIV may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of socioeconomic instability.

Long-term consequences of interpersonal violence experiences on treatment engagement and health status in people living with HIV

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of previous interpersonal violence (IPersV) experiences on long-term healthcare engagement and health outcomes in a large Canadian HIV-cohort.

DESIGN

People living with HIV (PLHIV) were screened for IPersV, and their healthcare outcomes over the nine subsequent years were analyzed.

METHODS

A total of 1064 PLHIV were screened for past and present IPersV experiences through semistructured interviews. Follow-up included core treatment engagement (e.g. clinic visits) and health-status variables (HIV viral load, CD4+ T-cell count, mortality, comorbidities), analyzed descriptively and with longitudinal Cox regressions.

RESULTS

At intake, 385 (36%) PLHIV reported past or present IPersV including childhood (n = 224, 21%) or adulthood experiences (n = 161, 15%) and were offered conventional social work support. Over 9 years, individuals with any IPersV experiences were 36% more likely to discontinue care, 81% more likely to experience viremia, 47% more likely to experience a drop in CD4+ cell counts below 200/μl, and 65% more likely to die compared with patients not reporting IPersV (P < 0.05). Outcomes were similar when adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Childhood IPersV in particular was linked to several of the outcomes, with higher rates of discontinuation of care, viremia, and mortality related to mental health/addiction or HIV-related complications.

CONCLUSION

IPersV is associated with an increased risk over time of healthcare discontinuation, poorer long-term HIV-related health outcomes, and increased mortality, especially for patients victimized in childhood. Apart from targeted IPersV screening to initiate conventional supports (e.g. through social work), increased efforts to engage vulnerable populations in their long-term care seems warranted.

HIV and Sexual Dysfunction in Men

Sexual issues tend to go unaddressed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management, although overt sexual dysfunctions are more prevalent in people living with HIV than uninfected people. Erectile dysfunction is the most frequent sexual problem, with a prevalence of 30–50% even in men <40 years of age, but other issues such as loss of libido and ejaculatory disorders should not be overlooked. Peculiar factors related to HIV infection (e.g., fear of virus transmission, changes in body image, HIV-related comorbidities, HIV distress and stigma), alongside classical factors non-related to HIV, should be considered when approaching sexual problems in HIV patients. For this reason, the diagnostic and therapeutic workout of sexual dysfunction in the context of HIV requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving specialists in both infectious diseases and sexual medicine. This narrative review presents an overview of current knowledge on sexual dysfunction in HIV men, deepening the factors driving and taking part in these issues, providing advice for the clinical approach, and underlining the importance of caring for sexual health to improve the quality of life of HIV patients.

The LAIs Are Coming! Implementation Science Considerations for Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy in the United States: A Scoping Review

Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) is one of the latest advancements in HIV control with the potential to overcome oral ART barriers to adherence. The objective of this article is to anticipate and examine implementation considerations for LAI-ART using components of the PRISM model, a Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model for integrating research findings into practice. We conducted a scoping review from January to August 2020 of the growing literature on LAI-ART implementation and other fields using LAI therapies. Key considerations regarding LAI-ART were parsed from the searches and entered into the PRISM implementation science framework. The PRISM framework posed multiple questions for consideration in the development of an optimal implementation strategy for LAI-ART in the United States. These questions revealed the necessity for more data, including acceptability of LAI-ART among many different subgroups of people living with HIV (PLWH), cost effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and patient-reported outcomes, as well as more detailed information related to the external environment for optimal LAI-ART implementation. Ethical considerations of LAI-ART will also need to be considered. The anticipation of, and excitement for, LAI-ART represent the hope for a new direction for HIV treatment that reduces adherence barriers and improves prognoses for PLWH. We have a unique window of opportunity to anticipate implementation considerations for LAI-ART, so this new therapy can be used to its fullest potential. Outstanding questions remain, however, that need to be addressed to help achieve HIV suppression goals in diverse populations.

Challenges to the conceptualization and measurement of resilience in HIV research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the conceptualization and measurement of resilience in HIV research. Terms related to resilience and HIV were searched in three databases to identify peer-reviewed research articles. Of the 156 articles identified, 49 were included in the analyses. Applied thematic analysis was used to analyze the definitions and measurement of resilience. Articles were reviewed independently by two raters to establish inter-rater reliability. Six recurring themes were identified in the definitions of resilience: adaptation, positive mental health symptoms, the absence of negative mental health symptoms, hardiness, coping, and the ability to "bounce back". Among the articles examined, 14 measures were used to assess resilience, half of which were indirect. These findings help make sense of the available literature on resilience and highlight the importance of clearly operationalizing resilience and measuring it in a way that is congruent with its definition in future HIV research studies.

Prevalence and Correlates of Forced Sex as a Self-Reported Mode of HIV Acquisition Among a Cohort of Women Living With HIV in Canada

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global epidemic associated with increased HIV exposure. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of HIV acquisition via forced sex among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Canada. Baseline questionnaire data were analyzed for WLWH (≥16 years) with data on self-reported mode of HIV acquisition, enrolled in a community-based cohort study in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec. We assessed forced sex (childhood, adulthood) as a self-reported mode of HIV acquisition. Of 1,330 participants, the median age was 42 (interquartile range [IQR] = 35-50) years; 23.5% were Indigenous, 26.3% African/Caribbean/Black, 43% White, and 7.2% of Other ethnicities. Forced sex was the third dominant mode of HIV transmission at 16.5% (n = 219; vs. 51.6% consensual sex, 19.7% sharing needles, 5.3% blood transfusion, 3.8% perinatal, 1.3% contaminated needles, 0.4% other, 1.6% do not know/prefer not to answer). In multivariable analyses, significant correlates of HIV acquisition from forced versus consensual sex included legal status as a landed immigrant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.12, 3.54]) or refugee (aOR = 3.62; 95% CI = [1.63, 8.04]) versus Canadian citizen; African/Caribbean/Black ethnicity versus Caucasian (aOR = 2.49; 95% CI = [1.43, 4.35]), posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (aOR = 3.00; 95% CI = [1.68, 5.38]), histories of group home residence (aOR = 2.40; 95% CI = [1.10, 5.23]), foster care (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI = [1.10, 4.34]), and having one child relative to having three or more children (aOR = 0.52; 95% CI = [0.31, 0.89]). GBV must be considered a distinct HIV risk factor; forced sex is a significant underrecognized risk factor and mode of women's HIV acquistion. Public health reporting systems can separate consensual and forced sex in reporting modes of HIV acquisition. Practitioners can engage in screening practices to meet client needs.

Financial incentives to promote retention in care and viral suppression in adults with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania: a three-arm randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Financial incentives promote use of HIV services and might support adherence to the sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART) necessary for viral suppression, but few studies have assessed a biomarker of adherence or evaluated optimal implementation. We sought to determine whether varying sized financial incentives for clinic attendance effected viral suppression in patients starting ART in Tanzania.

METHODS

In a three-arm, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial at four health facilities in Shinyanga region, Tanzania, adults aged 18 years or older with HIV who had started ART within the past 30 days were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using a tablet-based application (stratified by site) to receive usual care (control group) or to receive a cash incentive for monthly clinic attendance in one of two amounts: 10 000 Tanzanian Shillings (TZS; about US$4·50) or 22 500 TZS (about $10·00). There were no formal exclusion criteria. Participants were masked to the existence of two incentive sizes. Incentives were provided for up to 6 months via mobile health technology (mHealth) that linked biometric attendance monitoring to automated mobile payments. We evaluated the primary outcome of retention in care with viral suppression (<1000 copies per mL) at 6 months using logistic regression. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03351556.

FINDINGS

Between April 24 and Dec 14, 2018, 530 participants were randomly assigned to an incentive strategy (184 in the control group, 172 in the smaller incentive group, and 174 in the larger incentive group). All participants were included in the primary intention-to-treat analysis. At 6 months, approximately 134 (73%) participants in the control group remained in care and had viral suppression, compared with 143 (83%) in the smaller incentive group (risk difference [RD] 9·8, 95% CI 1·2 to 18·5) and 150 (86%) in the larger incentive group (RD 13·0, 4·5 to 21·5); we identified a positive trend between incentive size and viral suppression (p trend=0·0032), although the incentive groups did not significantly differ (RD 3·2, -4·6 to 11·0). Adverse events included seven (4%) deaths in the control group and 11 (3%) deaths in the intervention groups, none related to study participation.

INTERPRETATION

Small financial incentives delivered using mHealth can improve retention in care and viral suppression in adults starting HIV treatment. Although further research should investigate the durability of effects from short-term incentives, these findings strengthen the evidence for implementing financial incentives within standard HIV care.

FUNDING

National Institute of Mental Health at the US National Institutes of Health.

Exploring Changes in Racial/Ethnic Disparities of HIV Diagnosis Rates Under the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" Initiative

OBJECTIVES

Racial/ethnic disparities in HIV diagnosis rates remain despite the availability of effective treatment and prevention tools in the United States. In 2019, President Trump announced the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" (EHE) initiative to reduce new HIV infections in the United States at least 75% by 2025 and at least 90% by 2030. The objective of this study was to show the potential effect of the EHE initiative on racial/ethnic disparities in HIV diagnosis rates at the national level.

METHODS

We used 2017 HIV diagnoses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National HIV Surveillance System. We developed a counterfactual scenario to determine changes in racial/ethnic disparities if the 2017 HIV diagnosis rates were reduced by 75% in the geographic regions targeted by the EHE initiative. We used 4 measures to calculate results: rate ratio, population-attributable proportion (PAP), Gini coefficient, and Index of Disparity.

RESULTS

The relative measures of racial/ethnic disparity decreased by 9%-21% in the EHE scenario compared with the 2017 HIV diagnoses data. The largest decrease was in the Hispanic/Latino:white rate ratio (-20.6%) and in the black:white rate ratio (-18.2%). The PAP measure decreased by 11.5%. The absolute versions of the Index of Disparity (unweighted and weighted) were approximately 50% lower in the EHE scenario than in the 2017 HIV diagnoses data.

CONCLUSIONS

EHE efforts could reduce but will not eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in HIV diagnosis rates. Efforts to address racial/ethnic disparities should continue, and innovative approaches, specifically those that focus on social and structural factors, should be developed and implemented for populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States.

Social and Structural Factors Associated with Sustained Viral Suppression Among Heterosexual Black Men with Diagnosed HIV in the United States, 2015-2017

This paper describes sociodemographic, sexual risk behavior, and clinical care factors associated with sustained viral suppression (SVS) among heterosexual Black men with diagnosed HIV in the US. Sample was 968 men, 2015-2017 cycles of Medical Monitoring Project. We used prevalence ratios and a multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of SVS. About 9% of sexually active men had sex that carries a risk of HIV transmission. Nearly 2/3 lived at or below the poverty level, 13% were under or uninsured, 1/4 experienced food insecurity and 15% reported recent homelessness. About 26% were not engaged in HIV care, 8% not currently taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 59% had SVS. Among men taking ART, care engagement and adherence were the only significant independent predictors of SVS. Efforts to increase VS should focus on increasing ART use, care engagement, and ART adherence, and include strategies that address the social and structural factors that influence them.

Combating HIV stigma in low- and middle-income healthcare settings: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Nearly 40 years into the HIV epidemic, the persistence of HIV stigma is a matter of grave urgency. Discrimination (i.e. enacted stigma) in healthcare settings is particularly problematic as it deprives people of critical healthcare services while also discouraging preventive care seeking by confirming fears of anticipated stigma. We review existing research on the effectiveness of stigma interventions in healthcare settings of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where stigma control efforts are often further complicated by heavy HIV burdens, less developed healthcare systems, and the layering of HIV stigma with discrimination towards other marginalized identities. This review describes progress in this field to date and identifies research gaps to guide future directions for research.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of HIV reduction interventions in LMIC healthcare settings using Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus (through March 5, 2020). Information regarding study design, stigma measurement techniques, intervention features and study findings were extracted. We also assessed methodological rigor using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for systematic reviews.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Our search identified 8766 studies, of which 19 were included in the final analysis. All but one study reported reductions in stigma following the intervention. The studies demonstrated broad regional distribution across LMIC and many employed designs that made use of a control condition. However, these strengths masked key shortcomings including a dearth of research from the lowest income category of LMIC and a lack of interventions to address institutional or structural determinants of stigma. Lastly, despite the fact that most stigma measures were based on existing instruments, only three studies described steps taken to validate or adapt the stigma measures to local settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Combating healthcare stigma in LMIC demands interventions that can simultaneously address resource constraints, high HIV burden and more severe stigma. Our findings suggest that this will require more objective, reliable and culturally adaptable stigma measures to facilitate meaningful programme evaluation and comparison across studies. All but one study concluded that their interventions were effective in reducing healthcare stigma. Though encouraging, the fact that most studies measured impact using self-reported measures suggests that social desirability may bias results upwards. Homogeneity of study results also hindered our ability to draw substantive conclusions about potential best practices to guide the design of future stigma reduction programmes.

The Role of Mental Health Conditions in the Diagnosis of Neurocognitive Impairment in People Living with HIV

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed mental health conditions (UMHC) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) on antiretroviral treatment and with long-term suppressed HIV viremia, and its association with neurocognitive impairment (NCI). A cross-sectional observational study on HIV subjects, ≥18 years old, on stable antiretroviral treatment and with HIV viral load <50 copies/mL was carried out. Patients with known comorbidities, substances abuse, anxiety or depression were excluded. UMHC were evaluated by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III and NCI by Frascati criteria. The association between NCI and sociodemographic, clinical HIV variables and mental health conditions was analyzed. Further, the relationship between mental health conditions scores and NCI diagnosis was evaluated. Eighty patients were included, 37.5% had at least one undiagnosed mental health condition, and 26.3% had NCI. The most frequent mental health conditions were: anxiety (21.3%); bipolar disorder (11.3%); and substance dependence (8.8%). Only longer time since HIV diagnosis (p = 0.030) and at least one mental health condition diagnosis (p = 0.002) showed an association with NCI. Participants with NCI presented higher scores in anxiety, alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress. Undiagnosed mental health conditions are frequent in PLWHIV. These disorders cannot be identified by HIV clinicians or basic screening questionnaires, and they are not usually self-reported by patients. UMHC could act as confounders in the evaluation of NCI.