Positive Outliers: A Mixed Methods Study of Resiliency to Childhood Obesity in High-Risk Neighborhoods

OBJECTIVE

Despite the high prevalence of obesity and the clustering of risk by neighborhood, few studies have examined characteristics which promote healthy child weight in neighborhoods with high obesity risk. We aimed to identify protective factors for children living in neighborhoods with high obesity risk.

METHODS

We identified neighborhoods with high obesity risk using geolocated electronic health record data with measured body mass index (BMI) from well child visits (2012-2017). We then recruited caregivers with children aged 5-13 years who lived in census tracts with mean child BMI percentile >72 (February 2020- August 2021). We used sequential mixed methods (quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews) to compare individual, interpersonal and perceived neighborhood factors among families with children at healthy weight (positive outliers, PO) vs. families with ≥1 child with overweight or obesity (controls). Regression models and comparative qualitative analysis were used to identify protective characteristics.

RESULTS

Seventy-three caregivers participated in the quantitative phase (41% PO; 34% preferred Spanish) and twenty in the qualitative phase (50% PO; 50% preferred Spanish). Frequency of healthy caregiver behaviors was associated with being a PO (Family Health Behavior Scale Parent Score adjusted β 3.67; 95% CI 0.52-6.81 and qualitative data). Protective factors also included caregivers' ability to minimize the negative health influences of family members and adhere to family routines.

CONCLUSIONS

There were few differences between PO and control families. Support for caregiver healthy habits and adherence to healthy family routines emerged as opportunities for childhood obesity prevention in neighborhoods with high obesity risk.

WHAT'S NEW

In neighborhoods with high risk of child obesity, families with healthy weight children and families with children with overweight/obesity are behaviorally and socially similar. Parental modeling and support for healthy behaviors across children's environments may promote healthy child weight.

High Rates of Viral Suppression and Care Retention Among Youth Born Outside of the United States with Perinatally Acquired HIV

BACKGROUND

Youth born outside of the US with perinatally acquired HIV infection (YBoUS-PHIV) account for most children living with HIV in the US, but there are few data characterizing their care outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of YBoUS-PHIV receiving care across 3 HIV clinics in the Southeastern US between October 2018 and 2019. Primary outcomes were retention in care and viral suppression defined as (1) proportion of suppressed viral loads (VLs) and (2) having all VLs suppressed (definition 1 presented in the abstract). Primary predictors were age, adoption and disclosure status (full, partial and none/unknown). Multivariable logistic regression and χ 2 tests were used to test for associations with care outcomes. Analysis of disclosure status was restricted to youth greater than or equal to 12 years.

RESULTS

The cohort included 111 YBoUS-PHIV. Median age was 14 years (interquartile range, 12-18), 59% were female, and 79% were international adoptees. Overall, 84% of patients were retained in care, and 88% were virally suppressed at each VL measurement. Adopted youth were more likely to be virally suppressed than nonadopted youth [odds ratio (OR), 7.08; P < 0.01] although the association was not statistically significant in adjusted analysis (adjusted OR, 4.26; P = 0.07). Neither age nor adoption status was significantly associated with retention. Among 89 patients greater than or equal to 12 years, 74% were fully disclosed of their HIV status, 12% were partially disclosed, and 13% had not started the disclosure process. There was no significant difference in retention or viral suppression by disclosure status.

CONCLUSIONS

YBoUS-PHIV achieved high rates of retention and viral suppression. Adopted youth may be more likely to achieve viral suppression which may reflect the need for tailored interventions for nonadopted youth.

How COVID-19 impacted child and family health and healthcare: a mixed-methods study incorporating family voices

To describe how social disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child access to healthcare and child health behaviors in 2020. We used mixed-methods to conduct surveys and in-depth interviews with English- and Spanish-speaking parents of young children from five geographic regions in the USA. Participants completed the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS). Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted between August and October 2020. Of the 72 parents interviewed, 45.8% of participants were Hispanic, 20.8% Black (non-Hispanic), and 19.4% White (non-Hispanic). On the CEFIS, the average (SD) number of social/family disruptions reported was 10.5 (3.8) out of 25. Qualitative analysis revealed multiple levels of themes that influenced accessing healthcare during the pandemic, including two broad contextual themes: (a) lack of trustworthiness of medical system/governmental organizations, and (b) uncertainty due to lack of consistency across multiple sources of information. This context influenced two themes that shaped the social and emotional environments in which participants accessed healthcare: (a) fear and anxiety and (b) social isolation. However, the pandemic also had some positive impacts on families: over 80% indicated that the pandemic made it "a lot" or "a little" better to care for their new infants. Social and family disruptions due to COVID-19 were common. These disruptions contributed to social isolation and fear, and adversely impacted multiple aspects of child and family health and access to healthcare. Some parents of infants reported improvements in specific health domains such as parenting, possibly due to spending more time together.

PEERNaija: A Gamified mHealth Behavioral Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria

Background: HIV is the leading cause of death for youth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The rapid proliferation of smart phones in SSA provides an opportunity to leverage novel approaches to promote adherence to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYA-HIV) that go beyond simple medication reminders.

Methods: Guided by the Integrate, Design, Assess and Share (IDEAS) framework, our multidisciplinary team developed a peer-based mHealth ART adherence intervention—PEERNaija. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, and principles of contingency management and supportive accountability, PEERNaija delivers a multi-faceted behavioral intervention within a smartphone application to address important obstacles to adherence.

Results:PEERNaija was developed as a gamified Android-based mHealth application to support the behavioral change goal of improving ART adherence among AYA-HIV within Nigeria, a low- and middle- income country (LMIC). Identified via foundational interviews with the target population and review of the literature, key individual (forgetfulness and poor executive functioning), environmental (poor social support) and structural (indirect cost of clinic-based interventions) barriers to ART adherence for AYA-HIV informed application features. Further informed by established behavioral theories and principles, the intervention aimed to improve self-efficacy and self-regulation of AYA-HIV, leverage peer relationships among AYA to incentivize medication adherence (via contingency management, social accountability), provide peer social support through an app-based chat group, and allow for outreach of the provider team through the incorporation of a provider application. Gamification mechanics incorporated within PEERNaija include: points, progress bar, leaderboard with levels, achievements, badges, avatars and targeted behavior change messages. PEERNaija was designed as a tethered mobile personal health record application, sharing data to the widely deployed OpenMRS electronic health record application. It also uses the secure opensource Nakama gamification platform, in line with Principles of Digital Development that emphasize use of opensource systems within LMICs.

Conclusions: Theory-based gamified mHealth applications that incorporate social incentives have the potential to improve adherence to AYA-HIV. Ongoing evaluations of PEERNaija will provide important data for the potential role for a gamified, smartphones application to deliver multifaceted adherence interventions for vulnerable AYA-HIV in SSA.