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Wiginton JM, Booth R, Smith LR, Shakya S, da Silva CE, Patterson TL, Pitpitan EV. Effects of a social network intervention on HIV seroconversion among people who inject drugs in Ukraine: moderation by network gender composition. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:165. [PMID: 37940947 PMCID: PMC10631017 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00899-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women who inject drugs in Ukraine are disproportionately burdened by HIV. To help address the needs of this population, a greater understanding of how interventions may uniquely benefit women who inject drugs is needed. METHODS Data come from a randomized controlled trial of a social network intervention targeting people who inject drugs in Ukraine (N = 1195). Indexes, plus two of their injection network members, received HIV testing and counseling (control arm) or HIV testing and counseling plus a social network intervention (intervention arm), in which indexes were trained to influence network members' risk behaviors. We used Cox regressions with interaction terms to assess differences in time to HIV seroconversion between arms by network gender composition and gender of the index. For significant interaction terms, we calculated simple effects, generated survival functions using Kaplan-Meier methods, and compared survival curves using log-rank tests. RESULTS At 12 months, there were 45 seroconversions among women (40.0 [28.3, 51.7] per 100 person years) and 111 among men (28.4 [23.1, 33.6] per 100 person years) in the control arm; there were 27 seroconversions among women (17.1 [10.7, 23.6] per 100 person years) and 77 among men (18.7 [14.5, 22.9] per 100 person years) in the intervention arm. Network gender composition (but not gender of the index) moderated the intervention effect on HIV incidence (p < 0.05). Specifically, the intervention appeared to be even more protective against HIV acquisition as female gender composition increased. In the intervention arm, the HIV seroconversion hazard rate was 44% lower with 1 network female; 61% lower with 2 network females; and 72% lower with 3 network females. CONCLUSIONS A greater number of women in an injection network, coupled with the provision of risk-reduction strategies, is associated with HIV risk-mitigation, though the mechanisms through which this occurs remain unclear. Findings can support new research and practice directions that prioritize women who inject drugs and more thoughtfully support their health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mark Wiginton
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
- School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Robert Booth
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA
| | - Laramie R Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Sajina Shakya
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Cristina Espinosa da Silva
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Thomas L Patterson
- Departments of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Eileen V Pitpitan
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.
- School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA.
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Dickson MF, Tillson M, Calvert JM, Staton M. Transactional sex among rural, justice-involved Appalachian women who use drugs. J Rural Health 2023; 39:789-794. [PMID: 36648452 PMCID: PMC10350464 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Transactional sex is associated with an array of other health risk behaviors and adverse health outcomes, including HIV. However, despite concerns regarding a potential HIV outbreak, there is limited understanding of transactional sex among rural Appalachians who engage in high-risk behaviors. Thus, the current study describes the prevalence and correlates of transactional sex among a sample of rural, justice-involved Appalachian women who use drugs. METHODS Participants (N = 400) were randomly selected, screened, and interviewed face-to-face at 3 rural Appalachian jails in Kentucky. Bivariate analyses were used to examine differences between those who reported trading sex for drugs, money, goods, or services in the year prior to incarceration and those who had not, and multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent correlates of transactional sex. FINDINGS On average, participants were 33 years old with 11 years of education. They were predominantly White (99.0%), about half (43.7%) reported lifetime transactional sex, and 25.9% reported past year transactional sex. Past year transactional sex was positively associated with experiencing money problems, substance use problem severity, injection drug use, unprotected sex with a casual partner, and number of sexual partners in the year prior to incarceration. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that transactional sex is fairly common among rural Appalachian women who use drugs and are justice-involved and may signal other HIV-related risk behaviors. Given limited service availability throughout rural Appalachia, findings emphasize a need for increased access to risk-reduction interventions, including jail-based interventions, to educate vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations on the risks associated with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan F. Dickson
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Martha Tillson
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Joseph M. Calvert
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Michele Staton
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Tross S, Spector AY, Ertl MM, Berg H, Turrigiano E, Hoffman S. A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Facilitators of PrEP Uptake Among Women in Substance Use Treatment and Syringe Service Programs. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:1162-1172. [PMID: 36318430 PMCID: PMC10796210 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03853-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PrEP is an HIV prevention option that could benefit substance-involved women, a high-risk population with low PrEP uptake. Little is known about their interest in PrEP. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to examine PrEP willingness, barriers, and facilitators among 16 women in outpatient psychosocial substance use treatment, methadone, and/or harm reduction/syringe programs in NYC. All expressed willingness to use PrEP, but only during periods of perceived risk. Women perceived themselves to be at high risk for HIV when engaging in active substance use and/or transactional sex. They perceived themselves to be at low risk and therefore unmotivated to take PrEP when abstinent from these activities. Paradoxically, a major barrier to using PrEP was anticipated interference from substance use and transactional sex, the very same activities that create a perception of risk. Facilitators of PrEP use included perceptions of it as effortless (as opposed to barrier methods during sex) and effective, safe, and accessible. Other barriers included fear of stigma and doubts about adhering daily. Recommendations for best PrEP implementation practices for substance-involved women included tailored and venue-specific PrEP information and messaging, PrEP discussion with trusted medical providers, and on-site PrEP prescription in substance use treatment and harm reduction programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Tross
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 722 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Anya Y Spector
- Department of Human Services, Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Melissa M Ertl
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 722 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hayley Berg
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Susie Hoffman
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 722 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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Jain JP, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Neilands TB, Cohen MH, Wilson TE, Chandran A, Adimora AA, Kassaye SG, Sheth AN, Fischl MA, Adedimeji AA, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD, Conroy AA. Mechanisms linking gender-based violence to worse HIV treatment and care outcomes among women in the United States. AIDS 2022; 36:1861-1869. [PMID: 35950940 PMCID: PMC9529878 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether substance use mediates the associations between gender-based violence (GBV) and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and GBV and poor engagement in care, among women living with HIV (WLHIV) in the United States (US). DESIGN We analyzed longitudinal data collected among 1717 WLHIV in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). METHODS From 2013 to 2017, WLHIV completed semi-annual assessments on GBV, substance use, and HIV treatment and care. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were built to estimate the impact of GBV on; suboptimal (<95%) adherence and at least one missed HIV care appointment without rescheduling in the past 6 months. Mediation analyses were performed to test whether heavy drinking and illicit drug use mediated the associations between GBV and the two HIV outcomes. RESULTS The mean age was 47 (standard deviation = 9), 5% reported experiencing GBV, 17% reported suboptimal adherence and 15% reported at least one missed appointment in the past 6 months. Women who experienced GBV had a significantly higher odds of suboptimal adherence [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40-2.83] and missed appointments (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.32-2.33). Heavy drinking and illicit drug use mediated 36 and 73% of the association between GBV and suboptimal adherence and 29 and 65% of the association between GBV and missed appointments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Substance use is an underlying mechanism through which GBV affects outcomes along the HIV care continuum among WLHIV in the US. To optimize HIV treatment and care among women, interventions should address the combined epidemics of substance use, violence, and HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lila A Sheira
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Edward A Frongillo
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Torsten B Neilands
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Mardge H Cohen
- Department of Medicine, Stroger Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tracey E Wilson
- Department of Community Health Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, School of Public Health, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Aruna Chandran
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Adaora A Adimora
- School of Medicine and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Seble G Kassaye
- Department of Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Anandi N Sheth
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, and Grady Health System, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Adebola A Adedimeji
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Janet M Turan
- Department of Healthcare Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Phyllis C Tien
- Department of Medicine, UCSF and Medical Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sheri D Weiser
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Amy A Conroy
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
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Cyrus E, Sanchez J, Madhivanan P, Lama JR, Bazo AC, Valencia J, Leon SR, Villaran M, Vagenas P, Sciaudone M, Vu D, Coudray MS, Atice FL. Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use Disorders and Depression among Incarcerated Women in Lima, Perú. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111134. [PMID: 34769653 PMCID: PMC8583326 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Globally, there is evidence supporting the co-occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV), substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders among women in prisons, however, there is limited research investigating these domains in the Andean region where rates of female incarceration have increased. The study objective was to explore the prevalence of IPV, SUD and depression among incarcerated women in a Peruvian prison and explore associations among these variables and related correlates. Methods: 249 incarcerated women responded to a questionnaire about IPV, substance use, depression, and sexual behavior, and were screened for HIV/sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to estimate relative risk and the influence of substance use and depression on IPV rates. Results: Twelve months prior to incarceration, of the women with sexual partners pre-incarceration (n = 212), 69.3% experienced threats of violence, 61.4% experienced ≥1 acts of physical violence, and 28.3% reported ≥1 act of sexual aggression. Pre-incarceration, 68.1% of drug-using women had a SUD, and 61.7% of those who consumed alcohol reported hazardous/harmful drinking. There were 20 (8.0%) HIV/STD cases; and 67.5% of the women reported depressive symptoms. Compared to women with no experiences of physical violence, a greater proportion of women who experienced least l violent act had depressive symptoms and engaged in sex work pre-incarceration. Depression was associated with physical violence (adjusted relative risk = 1.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.14–1.58). Recommendations: The findings provide evidence of a syndemic of IPV, substance abuse and depression among incarcerated women in a Peruvian prison. To help guide policy makers, further research is needed to determine if this is indicative of trends for other at-risk women in the region, and viable options to treat these women during incarceration to prevent recidivism and other long-term negative sequalae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cyrus
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL 32827, USA; (D.V.); (M.S.C.)
- School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Jorge Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales, Callao 07006, Peru;
| | - Purnima Madhivanan
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA;
- Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore 560020, Karnataka, India
| | - Javier R. Lama
- Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima 15603, Peru; (J.R.L.); (J.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Andrea Cornejo Bazo
- International Degrees Department, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima 15023, Peru;
| | - Javier Valencia
- Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima 15603, Peru; (J.R.L.); (J.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Segundo R. Leon
- Office of Research and Technology Transfer, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Chorrillos 15067, Peru;
| | - Manuel Villaran
- Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima 15603, Peru; (J.R.L.); (J.V.); (M.V.)
| | - Panagiotis Vagenas
- Berkeley Research Development Office, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA;
| | - Michael Sciaudone
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - David Vu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL 32827, USA; (D.V.); (M.S.C.)
| | - Makella S. Coudray
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL 32827, USA; (D.V.); (M.S.C.)
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Sa M, C R, Ml M, Lr S, J TM, S J, X S, Rs G, Sa S, K D, K H, R M, Mj M, M O, A G, D W, Ai S. Examining the gender composition of drug injecting initiation events: A mixed methods investigation of three North American contexts. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 90:103056. [PMID: 33310638 PMCID: PMC8046711 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender influences the health and social risks faced by individuals initiating drug injecting. Using mixed methods across three settings in North America, we investigated the gender composition of injection initiation events and the gendered risk environments in which they occurred. METHODS The PReventing Injecting by Modifying Existing Responses (PRIMER) study pooled data from three prospective community-recruited cohorts of people who inject drugs (PWID) in San Diego, USA, Vancouver, Canada, and Tijuana, Mexico. A qualitative subsample provided narrative data on their experiences of, and the contexts for, injection initiation events. Guided by Rhodes' risk environment framework, we examined the gender composition of initiation events stratified by city, and analyzed qualitative data using abductive thematic analyses. RESULTS Among 2,622 PWID (Tijuana: n = 531; San Diego: n = 352; Vancouver: n = 1,739), 112 (4.3%) reported providing initiation assistance to injection-naïve individuals in the previous six months. The proportion of gender concordant (e.g., male-male) initiation pairs varied, (χ2 = 10.32, p <0.001) with greater than expected concordance among pairs in Tijuana compared with those in Vancouver or San Diego. Sixty-one interviews provided context for the discrepancy across sites by highlighting the gendered injection initiation risk environments of prison/jail detention in Tijuana, intimate partnerships in San Diego, and overdose risk in Vancouver. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight how gender influences injection initiation events within spatial, social, and economic risk environments, and how this influence varies across settings. These findings can inform interventions to reduce the risk of injection initiation and related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meyers Sa
- School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Rafful C
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University City, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mittal Ml
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Xochicalco, Rampa Yumalinda 4850, Colonia Chapultepec Alamar C.P. 22540, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Smith Lr
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Tirado-Muñoz J
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Jain S
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Sun X
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Garfein Rs
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Strathdee Sa
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - DeBeck K
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Hayashi K
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - McNeil R
- School of Medicine, Yale, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
| | - Milloy Mj
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9 Canada
| | - Olding M
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Guise A
- Addison House, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - Werb D
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8 Canada
| | - Scheim Ai
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8 Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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Scheibe A, Sibeko G, Shelly S, Rossouw T, Zishiri V, Venter WD. Southern African HIV Clinicians Society guidelines for harm reduction. South Afr J HIV Med 2020; 21:1161. [PMID: 33391833 PMCID: PMC7756663 DOI: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v21i1.1161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Scheibe
- TB HIV Care, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Goodman Sibeko
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shaun Shelly
- TB HIV Care, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Theresa Rossouw
- Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Vincent Zishiri
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Willem D.F. Venter
- Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Shirley-Beavan S, Roig A, Burke-Shyne N, Daniels C, Csak R. Women and barriers to harm reduction services: a literature review and initial findings from a qualitative study in Barcelona, Spain. Harm Reduct J 2020; 17:78. [PMID: 33076931 PMCID: PMC7574529 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are an estimated 3.2 million women who inject drugs worldwide, constituting 20% of all people who inject drugs. The limited data that are available suggest that women who inject drugs are at greater risk of HIV and viral hepatitis acquisition than men who inject drugs. This increased vulnerability is a product of a range of environmental, social and individual factors affecting women, which also affect their ability to engage in health promoting services such as harm reduction. Methods The researchers undertook a narrative literature review examining access to harm reduction services for women who use drugs in Europe and conducted semi-structured focus groups with women who use drugs and harm reduction and prison health workers in Barcelona, Spain. Results Women who use drugs face multiple barriers to accessing harm reduction services. These include stigma, both in society in general and from health and harm reduction workers in prisons and in the community; gender-based violence and a lack of services that are equipped to address the interaction between drug use and experiences of violence; criminalisation in the form of legal barriers to access, arrest and harassment from law enforcement, and incarceration; and a lack of services focused on the specific needs of women, notably sexual and reproductive health services and childcare. In Barcelona, participants reported experiencing all these barriers, and that their engagement with the Metzineres harm reduction centre had to some extent mitigated them. However, women continued to experience structural barriers to harm reduction service access. Conclusions Women and gender non-conforming people who use drugs face unique barriers to accessing harm reduction services. While services such as Metzineres can be life changing and life affirming for its members, it is incumbent on states to act to address the structural barriers to health faced by women who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aura Roig
- Metzineres. Environments of Shelter for Womxn Who Use Drugs Surviving Violence, c/o ICEERS, Carrer de Sepúlveda, 65, Oficina 2, 08015, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Colleen Daniels
- Harm Reduction International, 61 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AN, UK
| | - Robert Csak
- Harm Reduction International, 61 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AN, UK
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Identification of a Syndemic of Blood-Borne Disease Transmission and Injection Drug Use Initiation at the US-Mexico Border. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019; 79:559-565. [PMID: 30222661 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efforts to prevent injection drug use (IDU) are increasingly focused on the role that people who inject drugs (PWID) play in the assistance with injection initiation. We studied the association between recent (ie, past 6 months) injection-related HIV risk behaviors and injection initiation assistance into IDU among PWID in the US-Mexico border region. SETTING Preventing Injecting by Modifying Existing Responses (PRIMER) is a multicohort study assessing social and structural factors related to injection initiation assistance. This analysis included data collected since 2014 from 2 participating cohorts in San Diego and Tijuana. METHODS Participants were 18 years and older and reported IDU within the month before study enrollment. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between recent injection-related HIV risk behaviors (eg, distributive/receptive syringe sharing, dividing drugs in a syringe, and paraphernalia sharing) and recent injection initiation assistance. RESULTS Among 892 participants, 41 (4.6%) reported recently providing injection initiation assistance. In multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders, reporting a higher number of injection-related risk behaviors was associated with an increased odds of recently assisting others with injection initiation (adjusted odds ratio per risk behavior: 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 1.6, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS PWID who recently engaged in one or more injection-related HIV risk behavior were more likely to assist others in injection initiation. These results stress the syndemic of injection initiation and risk behaviors, which indicates that prevention of injection-related HIV risk behaviors might also reduce the incidence of injection initiation.
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10
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Park JN, Footer KH, Decker MR, Tomko C, Allen ST, Galai N, Sherman SG. Interpersonal and structural factors associated with receptive syringe-sharing among a prospective cohort of female sex workers who inject drugs. Addiction 2019; 114:1204-1213. [PMID: 30694587 PMCID: PMC6548574 DOI: 10.1111/add.14567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the interpersonal and structural factors associated with receptive syringe sharing (RSS) among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDU), a group at high risk of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) acquisition. DESIGN Sex workers And Police Promoting Health In Risky Environments (SAPPHIRE) study, a prospective cohort study. SETTING Baltimore, MD, USA PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eighty FSW-IDU; mean age = 33 years, 77.1% white and 62.9% in a relationship/married. MEASUREMENTS Surveys were conducted between April 2016 and February 2018. The main outcome was recent RSS (past 3 months). In addition to socio-demographic characteristics and drug use behaviors, we assessed factors at the interpersonal level, including injection practices, intimate partner and client drug use and exposure to violence. Structural-level factors included methods of syringe access. FINDINGS Nearly all FSW-IDU used heroin (97.1%) or crack cocaine (89.7%). Recent RSS was reported by 18.3%. Syringes were accessed from needle exchange programs (64.6%), pharmacies (29.7%), street sellers (30.3%) or personal networks (29.1%). Some FSW-IDU had clients or intimate partners who injected drugs (26.3 and 26.9%, respectively). Longitudinal factors independently associated with RSS in the multi-level mixed-effects model were recent client violence [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-4.33], having an intimate partner who injected drugs (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI = 0.98-4.85), being injected by others (aOR = 4.95, 95% CI = 2.42-10.10) and obtaining syringes from a street seller (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI = 0.94-3.78) or from a member of their personal network (aOR = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.21-8.90). CONCLUSIONS Client violence, intimate partner injection drug use, being injected by others and obtaining syringes from personal connections appear to increase parenteral HIV/HCV risk among female sex workers who inject drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Nyeong Park
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore MD 21205, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Katherine H.A. Footer
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Michele R. Decker
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Catherine Tomko
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Sean T. Allen
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Noya Galai
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore MD 21205, USA,Department of Statistics, University of Haifa, Mt Carmel, Israel
| | - Susan G. Sherman
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21205, USA,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
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11
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A qualitative study on intersectional stigma and sexual health among women on opioid substitution treatment in England: Implications for research, policy and practice. Soc Sci Med 2019; 222:315-322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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Stoicescu C, Cluver LD, Spreckelsen T, Casale M, Sudewo AG. Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviour Among Women Who Inject Drugs in Indonesia: A Respondent-Driven Sampling Study. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:3307-3323. [PMID: 29948336 PMCID: PMC6154010 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Women who inject drugs are disproportionately affected by HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV); however, the link between IPV and HIV remains under-researched among substance-using women in low- and middle-income countries. This study examined associations and additive effects of different forms of IPV victimization (psychological, physical and/or injurious, and sexual) on HIV sexual risk behavior among women who inject drugs in Indonesia. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit 731 women from Greater Jakarta and Bandung, West Java. RDS-II weighted prevalence of any past-year IPV was 68.9% (95% CI 65.0, 72.6) in Jakarta and 55.9% (95% CI 48.0, 63.5) in Bandung. In separate logistic regressions controlling for socio-demographic covariates, all three forms of IPV showed statistically significant associations with sexual risk behavior. After adjusting for all IPV types, psychological (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.17, 2.99; p = 0.009) and sexual (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.22, 3.21; p = 0.006) IPV independently predicted women’s sexual risk behavior. Marginal effects models suggested that co-occurrence of multiple forms of IPV had greater adverse consequences: sexual risk behavior was reported by 64.1% of women who did not experience any IPV, but increased to 89.9% among women exposed to all three types. Comprehensive harm reduction services that integrate IPV monitoring and prevention are urgently needed to reduce both HIV and IPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Stoicescu
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, UK.
| | - Lucie D Cluver
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thees Spreckelsen
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, UK
| | - Marisa Casale
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, UK
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anindita Gabriella Sudewo
- HIV and AIDS Research Centre, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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13
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Walters SM, Rivera AV, Reilly KH, Anderson BJ, Bolden B, Wogayehu A, Neaigus A, Braunstein S. Exchange Sex Among Persons Who Inject Drugs in the New York Metropolitan Area: The Importance of Local Context, Gender and Sexual Identity. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:2773-2787. [PMID: 29468492 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2039-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Exchanging sex for money or drugs is known to increase risk for HIV among persons who inject drugs (PWID). To better understand determinants of exchange sex among PWID we examined factors associated with exchange sex in the New York metropolitan area-defined as New York City (NYC), NY; Newark, NJ; and Long Island, NY-using data from the 2012 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system cycle on injection drug use. Of the 1160 PWID in this analysis, 24% reported exchange sex, with differences in gender and sexual identity by location. In multivariable analysis gay/bisexual men, heterosexual women, and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) women were more likely to exchange sex compared to heterosexual men. Exchange sex was also associated with race/ethnicity, homelessness, incarceration, location, and non-injection crack and cocaine use. We find that heterosexual women and LGB women who injected drugs residing in Newark were more likely to report exchange sex compared to NYC. This study highlights how local conditions impact exchange sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan M Walters
- Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 152-11 Union Turnpike Apt 3A, Flushing, Stony Brook, NY, 11367, USA.
| | - Alexis V Rivera
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen H Reilly
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bridget J Anderson
- New York State Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Barbara Bolden
- Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | - Afework Wogayehu
- Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | - Alan Neaigus
- Department of Epidemiology, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Braunstein
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Pitpitan EV, Semple SJ, Zians J, Strathdee SA, Patterson TL. Mood, Meth, Condom Use, and Gender: Latent Growth Curve Modeling Results from a Randomized Trial. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:2815-2829. [PMID: 29754267 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2147-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine use poses increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There is robust evidence that methamphetamine use increases sexual risk behavior, like condomless sex, primarily among men who have sex with men but also among heterosexual women and men. Gender differences have been found among women and men who use meth, and there is a high degree of interconnectedness between meth use, depression, and condomless sex. The aims of the current study are to evaluate the efficacy of a theory-based, tri-focal intervention designed to reduce depression, meth use, and condomless sex among women and men, and to examine gender as a moderator of efficacy. A total of 432 HIV-negative women and men who use meth participated in a two-arm randomized controlled trial and completed baseline and follow-up assessments at 4, 8, and 12 months. We used latent growth curve modeling techniques to analyze the data. Results showed that while all participants exhibited reductions in depression, meth use, and condomless sex, the intervention and comparison groups did not differ in changes over time. However, we did find a significant gender moderation effect, such that among men, those in the intervention arm reported greater reductions in meth use relative to those in the comparison group; reduced meth use was associated with reduced condomless sex, but not depression. In contrast, women in the intervention condition did not differ from women in the comparison condition in changes in any of the three outcome variables. Interventions targeting heterosexual women and men who use meth must be gender-specific, and take into account the unique vulnerabilities and experiences of women, including the perceived positive aspects of using meth, gendered power dynamics, higher depression, and violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen V Pitpitan
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Shirley J Semple
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jim Zians
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, USA
| | - Steffanie A Strathdee
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Thomas L Patterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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15
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Jarlais DCD, McKnight C, Feelemyer J, Arasteh K, Tross S, Campbell AN, Cooper HL, Perlman DC. Heterosexual male and female disparities in HIV infection at the end of an epidemic: HIV infection among persons who inject drugs in New York City, 2001-2005 and 2011-2015. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 185:391-397. [PMID: 29549851 PMCID: PMC6584620 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined whether sex disparities (heterosexual male:female) in HIV infection continue to persist at the "end of the HIV epidemic" among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in New York City (NYC). An "end of the epidemic" was operationally defined as 1) prevalence of untreated HIV infection <5%, and 2) estimated HIV incidence <0.5/100 person-years. METHODS PWID were recruited from persons entering substance use treatment programs at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in 2001-2005 and 2011-2015. A structured interview was administered, and HIV and HSV-2 testing was conducted. Incidence was estimated using newly diagnosed cases of HIV. Disparity analyses compared prevalence of HIV, of untreated HIV, HIV risk behaviors, and estimated HIV incidence. RESULTS By 2011-2015, both heterosexual male and female PWID met the two criteria for an "end of the epidemic," and there were no significant differences in the prevalence of untreated HIV infection. A large sex difference remained in estimated HIV incidence. In 2013-2015, estimated HIV incidence was 2.8/10,000 PY for males and 7.1/10,000 PY for females. Females had greater risk for HIV on several factors. CONCLUSION While NYC has reached an "end of the epidemic" for both heterosexual male and female PWID, sex disparities persist, particularly differences in HIV incidence. Eliminating the sex disparities may require a greater focus on factors associated with sexual transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don C. Des Jarlais
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States,Corresponding author at: The Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 39 Broadway 5th Floor Suite 530, New York, NY, 10006, United States., (D.C. Des Jarlais)
| | - Courtney McKnight
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kamyar Arasteh
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Tross
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aimee N.C. Campbell
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hannah L.F. Cooper
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - David C. Perlman
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Smith LR, Strathdee SA, Metzger D, Latkin C. Evaluating network-level predictors of behavior change among injection networks enrolled in the HPTN 037 randomized controlled trial. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 175:164-170. [PMID: 28433895 PMCID: PMC5494981 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about ways network-level factors that may influence the adoption of combination prevention behaviors among injection networks, or how network-oriented interventions might moderate this behavior change process. METHODS A total of 232 unique injection risk networks in Philadelphia, PA, were randomized to a peer educator network-oriented intervention or standard of care control arm. Network-level aggregates reflecting the injection networks' baseline substance use dynamics, social interactions, and the networks exposure to gender- and structural-related vulnerabilities were calculated and used to predict changes in the proportion of network members adopting safer injection practices at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS At follow-up, safer injection practices were observed among 46.31% of a network's members on average. In contrast, 25.7% of networks observed no change. Controlling for the effects of the intervention, significant network-level factors influencing network-level behavior change reflected larger sized injection networks (b=2.20, p=0.013) with a greater proportion of members who shared needles (b=0.29, p<0.001) and engaged in poly drug use at baseline (b=6.65, p=0.021). Changes in a network's safer injection practices were also observed for networks with fewer new network members (b=-0.31, p=0.008), and for networks whose members were proportionally less likely to have experienced incarceration (b=-0.20, p=0.012) or more likely to have been exposed to drug treatment (b=0.17, p=0.034) in the 6-months prior to baseline. A significant interaction suggested the intervention uniquely facilitated change in safer injection practices among female-only networks (b=-0.32, p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS Network-level factors offer insights into ways injection networks might be leveraged to promote combination prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laramie R. Smith
- Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, United States, UCSD School of Medicine; 9500 Gilman Drive #0507, La Jolla, CA 92093-0507
| | - Steffanie A. Strathdee
- Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, United States, UCSD School of Medicine; 9500 Gilman Drive #0507, La Jolla, CA 92093-0507
| | - David Metzger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania and The Treatment Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Bldg. 421, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Carl Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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17
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DiStefano AS. HIV's Syndemic Links With Mental Health, Substance Use, and Violence in an Environment of Stigma and Disparities in Japan. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2016; 26:877-894. [PMID: 26848082 DOI: 10.1177/1049732315627644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A syndemics orientation has become a valuable lens through which to understand the complex system dynamics of HIV, HIV's links to other social and health problems, and the design of effective, comprehensive interventions. Using data from a broader ethnographic study of HIV epidemics in the Kansai Region and Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan, I found that HIV was synergistically linked with poor mental health, substance use, and violence, suggesting the existence of at least three syndemics. These occurred in an environment of stigma and social and health disparities, particularly for men who have sex with men, transgender persons, immigrants, and people living with HIV. Integrated interventions, led by Japan's HIV nongovernmental organizations and supported by the government, should more aggressively target stigma, which underlies most of the syndemic connections. Quantitative research should build upon the ethnographically derived associations shown here and test whether there are additive syndemic effects.
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Women Who Use or Inject Drugs: An Action Agenda for Women-Specific, Multilevel, and Combination HIV Prevention and Research. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2015; 69 Suppl 2:S182-90. [PMID: 25978486 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Women account for more than half of all individuals living with HIV globally. Despite increasing drug and HIV epidemics among women, women who use drugs are rarely found in research, harm reduction programs, or drug and HIV treatment and care. Women who use drugs continue to face challenges that increase their vulnerability to HIV and other comorbidities because of high rates of gender-based violence, human rights violations, incarceration, and institutional and societal stigmatization. This special issue emphasizes how the burdens of HIV, drug use, and their co-occurring epidemics affect women in a global context. Articles included focus on the epidemiologies of HIV and hepatitis C virus and other comorbidities; HIV treatment, prevention, and care; and policies affecting the lives of women who use drugs. This issue also highlights the state of the science of biomedical and behavioral research related to women who use drugs. The final article highlights the major findings of articles covered and presents a call to action regarding needed research, treatment, and preventive services for women who use drugs. To address these needs, we advocate for women-specific thinking and approaches that consider the social, micro, and macro contexts of women's lives. We present a women-specific risk environment framework that reflects the unique lives and contexts of women who use drugs and provides a call to action for intervention, prevention, and policies.
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