Risk factors for HIV infection among adolescents and the youth: a systematic review

Geospatial pattern of HIV seropositivity and its predictors among women in Ethiopia. A spatial and multiscale geographically weighted regression analysis

BACKGROUND

Although promising efforts have been made so far, HIV remains a public health concern. Women in Ethiopia are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for a majority of new infections and AIDS-related deaths. However, the geospatial distribution of HIV among women in Ethiopia is not well understood, making it challenging to develop geographically targeted measures. Besides, to accelerate the pathway of decreasing HIV prevalence and plan geographically specific interventions, understanding the geospatial distribution of HIV seropositivity and its predictors among women plays a significant role.

METHODS

A spatial and multiscale geographically weighted regression analysis was conducted using the 2016 EDHS dataset, comprising 14,778 weighted samples of women in the reproductive age group. The EDHS sample underwent two-stage stratification and selection. The data were extracted between October 18 and 30, 2023. Non-spatial analysis was carried out using STATA version 17. Additionally, ArcGIS Pro and Sat Scan version 9.6 were used to visually map HIV seropositivity. Global Moran's I was computed to evaluate the distribution of HIV seropositivity. The Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistic was utilized to identify significant spatial clusters of cold and hot spot areas. Geographically weighted regression analysis was subsequently performed to identify significant predictors of HIV seropositivity. Significance was established at a P-value <0.05 throughout all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

HIV seropositivity among women in Ethiopia is distributed non-randomly (Global Moran's I = 0.16, p-value <0.001 and Z-score = 7.12). Significant hotspot clustering of HIV seropositivity was found in the Addis Ababa, Harari, Dire Dawa, and Gambela region. Poor wealth index, being divorced and widowed, having more than one sexual partner, and early first sexual experience (<15 years) were found to be predictors of geographical variation of HIV seropositivity among women.

CONCLUSION

HIV seropositivity among women in Ethiopia varies geographically. Thus, deploying additional resources in high hotspot regions is recommended. Programs should focus on improving the economic empowerment of women to prevent the from engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Furthermore, comprehensive sex education programs in schools and community settings regarding the consequences of early first sexual debut might play a role in reducing HIV seropositivity among women in Ethiopia.

Spatial analysis of HIV detection rates among Brazilian young men, 2007-2021

The main goal of this study was to spatially analyze the HIV epidemic scenario in young men in Brazil, 2007-2021. We used secondary data obtained from the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases. Individuals aged 15-29 years with permanent residence in Brazil who were diagnosed with HIV during the study period were included in the analysis. Municipality HIV age-adjusted detection rates were analyzed through spatial distribution, autocorrelation, and spatiotemporal risk analyses. During the study period, 108,392 HIV cases were reported in young Brazilian men. The HIV epidemic increased territorially in the northern, northeastern, midwestern, and southeastern regions but decreased in the southern region. Although the number of clusters comprising municipalities with high HIV detection rates (hotspots) decreased, new ones appeared, expanded, or stopped changing size. Hotspots and spatio-temporal risk zones (spatial areas with increased HIV detection in a specific period) comprised economically developed municipalities with high demographic density surrounded by less developed municipalities. The period of the spatiotemporal risk zones was between 2008 and 2021. Our study showed that HIV detection rates continue to increase among young Brazilian men, and health authorities should reinforce efforts mainly in capitals and surrounded municipalities in the north, northeast, southeast, and midwest regions.

A Geospatial Analysis of Social and Structural Determinants of Health and High HIV Prevalence in Alabama, USA

OBJECTIVE

This study utilizes geospatial analytic techniques to examine HIV hotspots in Alabama leveraging Medicaid utilization data.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study leveraged Medicaid utilization data from Alabama's 67 counties, averaging 9,861 Medicaid recipients aged > 18 years old per county. We used Alabama Medicaid administrative claims data from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, to identify individuals with HIV. Using Microsoft SQL Server, we obtained the average annual count of HIV Medicaid claims in each of the 67 Alabama counties (numerator) and the number of adult Medicaid recipients in each county (denominator), and standardized with a multiplier of 100,000. We also examined several other area-level summary variables (e.g., non-high school completion, income greater than four times the federal poverty level, social associations, urbanicity/rurality) as social and structural determinants of health. County-boundary choropleth maps were created representing the geographic distribution of HIV rates per 100,000 adult Medicaid recipients in Alabama. Leveraging ESRI ArcGIS and local indicators of spatial association (LISA), results were examined using local Moran's I to identify geographic hotspots.

RESULTS

Eleven counties had HIV rates higher than 100 per 100,000. Three were hotspots. Being an HIV hotspot was significantly associated with relatively low educational attainment and less severe poverty than other areas in the state.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggesting that the HIV clusters in Alabama were categorized by significantly less severe poverty and lower educational attainment can aid ongoing efforts to strategically target resources and end the HIV epidemic in U.S.' Deep South.

Temporal trend in the incidence of tuberculosis-HIV coinfection in Brazil, by macro-region, Federative Unit, sex and age group, 2010-2021

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the temporal trend in the incidence of tuberculosis-HIV coinfection in Brazil, by macro-region, Federative Unit, sex and age group, from 2010 to 2021.

METHODS

This was a time series study using surveillance data to estimate average annual percentage changes (AAPC), and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) via joinpoint regression.

RESULTS

122,211 cases of tuberculosis-HIV coinfection were analyzed; a falling trend was identified for Brazil as a whole (AAPC = -4.3; 95%CI -5.1;-3.7), and in the country's Southern (AAPC = -6.2; 95%CI -6.9;-5.5) and Southeast (AAPC = -4.6; 95%CI -5.6;-3.8) regions, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021); the greatest falling trend was seen in Santa Catarina (AAPC = -9.3; 95%CI -10.1;-8.5), while the greatest rising trend was found in Tocantins (AAPC = 4.1; 95%CI 0.1;8.6); there was a rising trend among males, especially in Sergipe (AAPC = 3.9; 95%CI 0.4;7.9), and those aged 18 to 34 years, especially in Amapá (AAPC = 7.9; 95%CI 5.1;11.5).

CONCLUSION

The burden and trends of tuberculosis-HIV coinfection were geographically and demographically disparate.

Factors Associated with HIV Testing Among Spanish and English-Speaking Latino Adolescents Aged 13-18

Adolescent Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) in the U.S. are disproportionately impacted by HIV. However, there has been limited focus on their HIV prevention and risk behaviors. In this study, we examine the rates of HIV testing and explore the significant demographic and healthcare factors that influence HIV prevention among adolescent LMSM. The analysis for this study utilized data collected during the baseline assessment of SMART, a pragmatic trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an online HIV prevention intervention for adolescent LMSM (N = 524). Only 35.5% of participants had ever had an HIV test in their lifetime. Rates of testing increased among adolescent LMSM who had a doctor with whom they spoke about their sexual health (odds ratio: 4.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.1-8.4; P < 0.001) or HIV testing (odds ratio: 5.8; 95% confidence interval: 3.1-10.7; P < 0.001). Out of the 61 participants who took part in the survey conducted in Spanish, only 26% reported ever having an HIV test. Additionally, 24.5% stated that they had discussed their sexual orientation with a doctor, and only 8.2% had undergone HIV testing. Spanish-speaking adolescents who completed the SMART survey were less likely to openly discuss their sexual orientation or sexual health with most people or have a doctor with whom they discussed these topics, compared to those who completed the survey in English. These findings suggest that Spanish-speaking adolescent LMSM may face obstacles in accessing HIV prevention services in the U.S.

Sociodemographic profile and gestacional aspects of women with hiv/aids in Curitiba, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sociodemographic and gestational profile of HIV-positive women in Curitiba-PR, years 2018-2020.

METHOD

Observational, cross-sectional research, with data obtained from the Information System of Diseases of Notification of Pregnant Women. Data were analyzed for consistency exploration, description and analysis.

RESULTS

The sample consisted mostly of women aged 13-30 years, white and with incomplete elementary school. Prenatal care was performed by 93.8% of pregnant women, 66.1% of whom knew their serological status before prenatal care and 45% received notification in the first gestational trimester. Access to antiretroviral medication occurred for 82.4% of pregnant women and for 74.6% the pregnancy outcome was alive newborns. The statistical variables associated with prenatal care were pregnancy evolution, ART prophylaxis, type of delivery and ART at delivery (p<0.00).

CONCLUSION

The pregnant women in the sample presented desired gestational indicators. The collected data allowed describing the sample's profile and evaluating the performance of the health policy for pregnant women.

Increased HIV Incidence in Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilaria Positive Individuals in Tanzania

Background: Infections with Wuchereria bancrofti are associated with reduced immunity against concomitant infections. Indeed, our previous study described a 2.3-fold increased HIV incidence among individuals with W. bancrofti infection, as measured by the circulating filarial antigen of the adult worm. This new study aimed to retrospectively determine microfilariae status of the participants to assess if the previously described increased HIV susceptibility was associated with the presence of MF in the same cohort. Methods: CFA positive but HIV negative biobanked human blood samples (n = 350) were analyzed for W. bancrofti MF chitinase using real time PCR. Results: The PCR provided a positive signal in 12/350 (3.4%) samples. During four years of follow-up (1109 person years (PY)), 22 study participants acquired an HIV infection. In 39 PY of W. bancrofti MF chitinase positive individuals, three new HIV infections occurred (7.8 cases per 100 PY), in contrast to 19 seroconversions in 1070 PY of W. bancrofti MF chitinase negative individuals (1.8 cases per 100 PY, p = 0.014). Conclusions: In the subgroup of MF-producing Wb-infected individuals, the HIV incidence exceeded the previously described moderate increased risk for HIV seen in all Wb-infected individuals (regardless of MF status) compared with uninfected persons from the same area.