Childhood abuse and initial presentation for HIV care: an opportunity for early intervention

The dimensionality of adverse childhood experiences: A scoping review of ACE dimensions measurement

OBJECTIVE

Despite extensive research, the concept of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is not fully developed and there is low agreement on how the concept should be defined and measured. The purpose of this study was to 1) identify different conceptual dimensions associated with ACEs, such as timing or frequency; and 2) determine how these dimensions have been operationalized and analyzed to this point, in order to advance the conceptual understanding of ACEs.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of empirical journal articles on ACEs published after the original ACE-Study in 1998 to summarize the use of dimensions for the 10 conventional ACE domains. We used a PRISMA methodology to identify articles that assessed at least two of the 10 conventional ACE domains and at least two ACE dimensions. A standardized data extraction spreadsheet was used to record basic article information and specifics on ACE domains and dimensions.

RESULTS

Of 15,417 initial search results, 61 articles met all selection criteria. We identified four primary dimensions used for most ACE domains: frequency, timing, perception, and the role of the perpetrator. Additionally, we found several secondary and domain-specific dimensions, which relate to the intensity of the adverse event.

DISCUSSION

We identified the most commonly used ACE dimensions, but these lack standardized phrasing of items and response options. The inclusion of ACE dimensions may increase the accuracy of the association between ACEs and health outcomes and provide for more tailored treatment plans for people who have experienced ACEs. Future research should include a more comprehensive list of ACE domains and aim to develop a clearly articulated, standardized approach to assessing and analyzing ACE dimensions.

Childhood Sexual Trauma and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been shown to be more prevalent among populations living with HIV. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial for populations living with HIV as it significantly increases the likelihood of attaining and maintaining viral suppression. Previous findings on the association between CSA and ART adherence have been mixed. The current mixed-methods systematic review aimed to identify quantitative and qualitative studies from CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science examining the relationship between CSA and ART adherence. Authors were also contacted if relevant data were unpublished. Studies had to be published from January 1, 2000 to April 1, 2019, written in English, and examined CSA as an exposure and ART adherence as an outcome. Four domains were combined: 1) childhood sexual abuse; 2) child; 3) antiretroviral; and 4) adherence. Eight quantitative and two qualitative studies were retained. The results showed that four quantitative studies found no association while the other four found factors such as timing of victimization, mental health and gender influenced the association between CSA and ART adherence. Themes emerging from the qualitative studies included use of ART evoking memories of CSA; CSA impacting mental health; and mental health treatment improving ART adherence. Mixed insights included the intricate links between CSA and ART adherence and the role of external factors on the relationship. ART adherence intervention programs may be needed for people who have experienced CSA. However, future studies are needed that will examine the association between CSA and ART adherence and include subgroup analyses.

Addressing the dual health epidemics of HIV and sexual abuse among children and adolescents in Kenya: uptake of HIV counseling and post-exposure prophylaxis

Purpose

Child sexual abuse and HIV are key health challenges in Kenya. In 2015, LVCT Health conducted a study aimed at assessing the quality of HIV-related services offered to child survivors of sexual violence in public health facilities.

Materials and methods

A qualitative data collection approach was utilized. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 31 providers. Quantitative methods included a retrospective review of 164 records of child survivors of rape who had accessed services 6 months prior to the commencement of the study. SPSS Version 22 was used in the descriptive analysis of the medical records. Client exit interviews and observation data were analyzed using MS Excel. In-depth interviews were analyzed using a thematic analytical approach.

Results

Twenty-seven percent (n=164) survivors were documented to have received the first dose of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Providers did not conduct HIV pre- and posttest counseling for the survivors. There were no longitudinal follow-up mechanisms to ensure child survivors initiated on PEP adhered to the treatment plan. Less than 30% of survivors returned to the facility for PEP adherence counseling and follow-up HIV testing. Twenty providers cited capacity gaps in undertaking HIV risk assessment for child survivors. Limited availability of PEP is a barrier to HIV prevention, as most departments only offer services between 8 am and 5 pm. HIV tests were only available on weekdays before 5 pm. PEP being out of stock remains a barrier to HIV prevention.

Conclusion

Existing post-rape care services are not adequately structured to facilitate delivery of quality HIV-related services to child survivors. Health provider capacity in the management of children remains weak due to lack of skill-based training on the dynamics of responding to the needs of child survivors. There is a need for standard operating procedures and training modules on the prevention of HIV in the context of child sexual abuse.

Childhood maltreatment and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders share similar pathophysiology: a potential sensitisation mechanism?

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are increasingly prevalent despite the use of antiretroviral therapies. Previous research suggests that individual host factors play an important role in determining susceptibility to HAND. In this review, we propose that childhood trauma (CT) and HAND share several common aetiological mechanisms, namely hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. These convergent and consequent mechanisms may translate into an increased risk of developing HAND in individuals who have experienced early life stress. We provide an overview of basic and clinical research relating to these pathophysiological mechanisms and suggest that further research examine brain-derived neurotrophic factor and telomere length as common mediating factors and potential therapeutic targets for HAND and CT. Graphical abstract Both childhood trauma and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders are associated with HPA axis dysregulation, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Test site predicts HIV care linkage and antiretroviral therapy initiation: a prospective 3.5 year cohort study of HIV-positive testers in northern Tanzania

Background

Linkage to HIV care is crucial to the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs worldwide, loss to follow up at all stages of the care continuum is frequent, and long-term prospective studies of care linkage are currently lacking.

Methods

Consecutive clients who tested HIV-positive were enrolled from four HIV testing centers (1 health facility and 3 community-based centers) in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania as part of the larger Coping with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (CHAT) prospective observational study. Biannual interviews were conducted over 3.5 years, assessing care linkage, retention, and mental health. Bivariable and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations with early death (prior to the second follow up interview) and delayed (>6 months post-test) or failed care linkage.

Results

A total of 263 participants were enrolled between November, 2008 and August, 2009 and 240 participants not already linked to care were retained in the final dataset. By 6 months after enrollment, 169 (70.4 %) of 240 participants had presented to an HIV care and treatment facility; 41 (17.1 %) delayed more than 6 months, 15 (6.3 %) died, and 15 (6.3 %) were lost to follow up. Twenty-six patients died before their second follow up visit and were analyzed in the early death group (10.8 %). Just 15 (9.6 %) of those linked to care had started ART within 6 months, but 123 (89.1 %) of patients documented to be ART eligible by local guidelines had started ART by the end of 3.5 years. On multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 1.72; 95 % CI 1.08, 2.75), testing due to illness (OR 1.63; 95 % CI 1.01, 2.63), and higher mean depression scale scores (4 % increased risk per increase in depression score; 95 % CI 1 %, 8 %) were associated with early death. Testing at a community versus a hospital-based site (OR 2.89; 95 % CI 1.79, 4.66) was strongly associated with delaying or never entering care.

Conclusions

Nearly 30 % of the cohort did not have timely care linkage, ART initiation was frequently delayed, and testing at a hospital outpatient department versus community-based testing centers was strongly associated with successful care linkage.

Barriers to HIV Medication Adherence: Examining Distinct Anxiety and Depression Symptoms among Women Living with HIV Who Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse

Experiencing sexual violence in childhood or adolescence is highly prevalent among some women living with HIV, often resulting in anxiety and depression symptoms in adulthood. Anxiety and depression have been associated with HIV medication nonadherence, yet little research has assessed distinct components of anxiety and depression as risk factors of HIV medication nonadherence. The current study examined distinct symptom components of anxiety and depression as predictors of HIV medication non-adherence among women living with HIV and childhood sexual abuse enrolled in a coping intervention. This secondary analysis included a sample of 85 women living with HIV and childhood sexual abuse and being prescribed antiretroviral medication who completed measures on anxiety, depression, and medication adherence. Results from a logistic regression analysis suggest that distinct components of anxiety may be related to medication nonadherence among this population. Targeted mental health interventions for this population may increase adherence to antiretroviral medication.

Early parenting: the roles of maltreatment, trauma symptoms, and future expectations

The psychosocial determinants of early parenting are still not well understood. The current study used data on 115 girls in the Capella Project, who were followed longitudinally for the first 18 years of life. Potential predictors of early parenting assessed were child maltreatment, trauma symptoms, and girls' expectations for their socioeconomic outcomes. Cox regression survival analyses were conducted to predict time to the birth of first child. Significant unique predictors of early parenting included neglect, anxiety, low depression, and low expectations of going to college. Practice and research implications of these findings include the importance of neglect for risk of early parenting, the importance of ongoing trauma symptoms in youth, and the potentially protective influence of expectations of going to college.

A cross-sectional survey of childhood trauma and compliance with general health care among adult primary care outpatients

OBJECTIVE

Beyond the examination of medication compliance among individuals with substance abuse or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), few studies have examined relationships between childhood trauma and health care compliance in adulthood-the focus of the present study.

METHOD

Using a cross-sectional approach and a self-report survey methodology, we examined 5 types of childhood trauma (ie, witnessing violence, physical neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse) in relationship to 4 measures of general health care compliance (ie, self-rated general conscientiousness with medical treatment; 5 items pertaining to general health care compliance such as scheduling regular dental checkups, timely arrival for doctor's appointments, and timely completion of laboratory work; 2 medication compliance items; and the Medical Outcomes Study general adherence score) among a sample of adult primary care outpatients (N = 272). Data were collected in March 2014.

RESULTS

According to findings, some health care adherence variables demonstrated relationships with the summed childhood trauma score, whereas others did not. It could be interpreted that the more subjective health care compliance variables (eg, self-rated conscientiousness with regard to medical treatment) demonstrated no relationship with a summed childhood trauma score, whereas the more objective health care compliance variables (eg, frequency of regular dental checkups, ability to remember to take all medications, Medical Outcomes Study general adherence score) did demonstrate statistically significant relationships with a summed childhood trauma score (most at P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with histories of childhood trauma demonstrate some deficits with health care compliance in comparison to those without childhood trauma. One interpretation is that the mistreated appear to believe that they are fairly compliant with health care treatment, but objective variables appear to suggest otherwise.

The clinical implications of high rates of intimate partner violence against HIV-positive women

INTRODUCTION

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with increased risk of HIV infection among women, however, whether IPV affects outcomes after HIV infection is uncertain. We assess the impact of IPV on HIV-positive women.

METHODS

All HIV-positive women who received outpatient HIV care in southern Alberta between March 2009 and January 2012 were screened for IPV. The associations with IPV of sociodemographic factors, health-related quality of life, clinical status, and hospitalizations were obtained from a regional database and evaluated with multivariable regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 339 women screened, 137 (40.4%) reported experiencing IPV. Those disclosing IPV had higher rates of smoking [adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) = 5.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.72 to 9.43]; illicit drug use (APR = 7.58; CI: 2.45 to 23.26); a history of incarceration (APR = 4.84, CI: 1.85 to 12.68); depression (APR = 2.50, CI: 1.15 to 5.46); and anxiety disorders (APR = 5.75, CI: 2.10 to 15.63). Health-related quality of life was diminished with IPV (APR = 2.94, CI: 1.40 to 6.16) for poor/fair versus very good/excellent. IPV-exposed women were hospitalized 256 times per 1000 patient-years compared to 166/1000 patient-years among IPV-unexposed (P < 0.001) women. The relative risk was increased for HIV-unrelated hospitalizations (APR = 1.42, CI: 1.16 to 1.73) and for HIV-related hospitalizations after outpatient HIV care was initiated (APR = 2.19, CI: 1.01 to 4.85). Modifiable contributors to the poor outcomes included decreased use of antiretroviral therapy (APR = 0.55, CI: 0.34 to 0.91) and additional interruptions in care longer than 1 year (APR = 1.90, CI: 1.07 to 3.39).

CONCLUSIONS

IPV is associated with deleterious HIV-related and HIV-unrelated health outcomes, of which, suboptimal engagement in care is a contributor. To improve outcomes, practitioners should aim to increase engagement in care of these women in particular.

HIV-infected men who have sex with men and histories of childhood sexual abuse: implications for health and prevention

A personal history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is prevalent and deleterious to health for people living with HIV (PLWH), and current statistics likely underrepresent the frequency of these experiences. In the general population, the prevalence of CSA appears to be higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) than heterosexual men, but there are limited data available for HIV-infected MSM. CSA is associated with poor mental and physical health and may contribute to high rates of HIV risk behaviors, including unprotected sex and substance abuse. CSA exposure is also associated with low engagement in care for PLWH. More information is needed regarding CSA experiences of HIV-infected MSM to optimize health and wellbeing for this population and to prevent HIV transmission. This article reviews the epidemiology, implications, and interventions for MSM who have a history of CSA.

Social adversity experience and blood pressure control following antihypertensive medication use in a community sample of older adults

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial stress is a risk factor for hypertension and has been shown to affect response to treatment for psychiatric illnesses.

PURPOSE

We investigate the relationship between a history of social adversity experience and blood pressure control following antihypertensive medication use.

METHODS

A total of 1,186 participants selected from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk study (531 men and 655 women, aged 42 to 80 years) had attended two health checks at which blood pressure measurements were taken; were taking antihypertensive medication at the second, but not the first health check; and had completed a questionnaire assessment of their social and psychological circumstances which included details of traumatic experiences in childhood and of adverse life events, long-term difficulties, and perceived stress in adulthood.

RESULTS

Experience of recent loss events in adulthood was associated with a smaller reduction in systolic blood pressure after starting hypertension treatment (β = 1.78, 95 % confidence interval 0.15-3.40, per life event), independently of age, sex, preexisting health conditions, cigarette smoking history, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and obesity.

CONCLUSION

Results from this study suggest that stress caused by recent losses may be associated with reduced effectiveness of treatment for hypertension. Subject to replication, these findings may help determine the specific physiological mechanisms by which medication treatment effectiveness is affected by stress.

Linking childhood sexual abuse and early adolescent risk behavior: the intervening role of internalizing and externalizing problems

A robust literature links childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to later substance use and sexual risk behavior; yet, relatively little empirical attention has been devoted to identifying the mechanisms linking CSA to risky behavior among youth, with even less work examining such processes in boys. With the aim of addressing this gap in the literature, the current study examined the indirect effect of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; from age 2 to 12) trajectory group on risky behavior at age 14 (alcohol use & sexual intercourse) via the intervening role of caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Analyses were conducted with a subsample of youth (n = 657 sexual intercourse; n = 667 alcohol use) from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), a multisite prospective study of youth at risk for maltreatment. For boys and girls, there was an indirect effect from CSA to sexual intercourse through externalizing problems. The same pattern emerged for alcohol use, but only for girls. Findings did not support an indirect path through internalizing problems for either boys or girls for either outcome. Findings suggest more focal targets for prevention efforts aimed at maintaining the health and safety of maltreated boys and girls during the adolescent transition.

Domestic violence screening: prevalence and outcomes in a Canadian HIV population

There is a strong association between domestic violence victimization and HIV infection. This may lead to poor health outcomes including mental health disorders and reduced access to care. A standardized domestic violence screening interview was incorporated into ongoing care in the large and diverse population living with HIV in Southern Alberta, Canada. Results from May through December 2009 are reported, including the prevalence and outcomes of abuse. Thirty-four percent of 853 patients screened reported abuse. Of these, 16% reported abuse in their current relationship, 58% in a previous relationship, and 57% reported a history of childhood abuse. High-risk groups for abuse included females (43%), gay/bisexual males (35%), and Aboriginals (61%). We found an association between a history of domestic violence and delayed access to care (p < 0.05), missed appointments (p < 0.001), and an increased use of clinic resources such as social work (p < 0.0001) and psychiatry (p < 0.001). Mental health conditions prior to HIV diagnosis, including depression (p < 0.0001), suicidal ideation (p < 0.0001), and anxiety disorder (p < 0.0001) were associated with abuse at any time, while a history of adjustment disorder was associated with childhood abuse (p < 0.05). A simple domestic violence screening tool was helpful for identifying patients experiencing abuse in our diverse HIV-infected population. This high prevalence of domestic violence among our HIV patients was associated with poor outcomes and an increased use of medical resources. HIV caregivers should be aware of domestic violence in order to optimize care and refer patients to appropriate support professionals as needed.

Utilization of medical treatments and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adults with histories of childhood sexual abuse

HIV is a chronic, life-threatening illness that necessitates regular and consistent medical care. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a common experience among HIV-positive adults and may interfere with treatment utilization. This study examined rates and correlates of treatment utilization among HIV-positive adults with CSA enrolled in a coping intervention trial in New York City. The baseline assessment included measures of treatment utilization, mental health, substance abuse, and other psychosocial factors. In 2002-2004, participants (50% female, 69% African-American, M = 42.3 +/- 6.8 years old) were recruited. Nearly all (99%) received HIV medical care. However, 20% had no outpatient visits and 24% sought emergency services in the past 4 months. Among 184 participants receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), 22% were less than 90% adherent in the past week. In a multivariable logistic regression model, no outpatient treatment was associated with African American race (AOR = 3.46 [1.42-8.40]), poor social support (AOR = 1.59 [1.03-2.45]), and abstinence from illicit drug use (AOR = 0.37 [0.16-0.85]). Emergency service utilization was associated with HIV symptoms (AOR = 2.30 [1.22-4.35]), binge drinking (AOR=2.92 (1.18-7.24)), and illicit drug use (AOR = 1.98 [1.02-3.85]). Poor medication adherence was associated with trauma symptoms (AOR = 2.64 [1.07-6.75]) and poor social support (AOR = 1.82 [1.09-2.97]). In sum, while participants had access to HIV medical care, a sizable minority did not adhere to recommended guidelines and thus may not be benefiting optimally from treatment. Interventions targeting HIV-positive adults with CSA histories may need to address trauma symptoms, substance abuse, and poor social support that interfere with medical treatment utilization and adherence.