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1.
Arch Sex Behav ; 53(4): 1499-1518, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38429569

ABSTRACT

Unhealthy alcohol use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are significant public health concerns for US college students. Because alcohol use and condomless sex often co-occur in this population, alcohol-associated condomless sex has been identified as a behavioral intervention target. Existing theoretical frameworks have not garnered sufficient empirical support to serve as the foundation for interventions. The primary goal of the current study was to use a mixed-methods approach to develop a model of college student alcohol-associated condomless sex that combines elements from well-established health behavior theories. In Aim 1, multilevel modeling was used to predict condomless vaginal sex in a sample of heterosexual college student drinkers (N = 53). Aim 2 consisted of in-depth interviews (n = 18) to gather perceptions about the role of alcohol in sexual activity and identify supplemental constructs omitted from theories in Aim 1. The multilevel model explained a significant proportion of variance in condomless vaginal sex at the between- and within-person level. Themes derived from the in-depth interviews identified complementary elements of condom use decision-making. Findings from both aims were synthesized to construct a combined model of alcohol-associated condomless sex. This model can be further refined and ultimately serve as the foundation of an alcohol-STI prevention-intervention.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Female , Humans , Unsafe Sex/prevention & control , Sexual Behavior , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Safe Sex , Students , Condoms , HIV Infections/epidemiology
2.
J Rural Health ; 2023 Sep 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37759376

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent among Veterans with HIV. Rural Veterans with HIV are at especially high risk for not receiving appropriate treatment. This retrospective cohort cross-sectional study aimed to investigate patterns of mental health treatment utilization across delivery modality among Veterans diagnosed with HIV and AUD. It was hypothesized that rural Veterans with HIV and AUD would receive a lower rate of mental health treatment delivered via video telehealth than urban Veterans with HIV and AUD. METHODS: A national Veterans Health Association administrative database was used to identify a cohort of Veterans diagnosed with HIV and AUD (N = 2,075). Geocoding was used to categorize rural Veterans (n = 246) and urban Veterans (n = 1,829). Negative binomial regression models tested associations between rurality and mental health treatment delivered via face-to-face, audio-only, and video telehealth modalities. FINDINGS: Results demonstrated that rural Veterans with HIV and AUD received fewer mental health treatment sessions delivered via telehealth than urban Veterans with HIV and AUD (incidence rate ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence intervals [0.44, 0.87]; P < .01). No differences were found in terms of treatment delivered face-to-face or by audio-only. CONCLUSIONS: Rural Veterans with HIV and AUD represent a vulnerable subpopulation of Veterans who may most benefit from video telehealth. Efforts to increase access and improve the uptake of evidence-based mental health treatment delivered via video telehealth are needed.

3.
Clin Psychol Sci ; 11(1): 40-58, 2023 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36865995

ABSTRACT

This experiment tested mechanisms linking alcohol intoxication and analogue determinants of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of 257 men who have sex with men (MSM). The two mechanisms tested were implicit approach biases toward CAI stimuli and executive working memory. Participants were randomized to 3 conditions (water control, placebo, or alcohol) and following beverage administration completed a working memory task, an Approach Avoidance Task of sexual vs. condom stimuli, and two video role-play vignettes of high-risk sexual scenarios. Sexual arousal and CAI intentions were assessed by self-report, and behavioral skills and risk exposure were derived from participants' role-play behavior. Estimation of four path models showed that the hypothesized mechanisms were supported for the CAI intention outcome, but the findings for the skills and risk exposure outcome were mixed. Implications for development and enhancement of HIV prevention interventions were discussed.

4.
AIDS Behav ; 26(10): 3153-3163, 2022 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35362912

ABSTRACT

Alcohol consumption is one of the strongest predictors of suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), however, there is little research that has investigated both within- and between-person associations of alcohol consumption and ART adherence at the event-level. In this secondary data-analysis, (N = 22) HIV-positive MSM prospectively reported daily alcohol consumption and ART adherence for 42-days. Multilevel models demonstrated (1) days in which participants reported consuming any alcohol was associated with 2.48 increased odds of ART non-adherence, compared to days in which participants reported no alcohol consumption, and (2) there was a non-significant trend indicating days in which participants reported consuming greater than their own average levels of alcohol was associated with increased odds of ART non-adherence. Findings highlight the importance of combining intervention efforts that address alcohol consumption and suboptimal ART adherence, and indicate a need for future research to investigate the mechanisms by which alcohol influences ART adherence.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents , HIV Infections , HIV Seropositivity , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Seropositivity/drug therapy , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Medication Adherence
5.
AIDS Behav ; 26(9): 3029-3044, 2022 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35303190

ABSTRACT

Alcohol use among people living with HIV (PWH) has been increasingly recognized as an important component of HIV care. Transdiagnostic treatments, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), that target core processes common to multiple mental health and substance-related problems, may be ideal in HIV treatment settings where psychological and behavioral health comorbidities are high. In advance of a randomized clinical trial (RCT), the overall objective of this study was to systematically adapt an ACT-based intervention originally developed for smoking cessation, into an ACT intervention for PWH who drink at hazardous levels. Consistent with the ADAPT-ITT model, the adaptation progressed systematically in several phases, which included structured team meetings, three focus group discussions with PWH (N = 13), and in-depth interviews with HIV providers (N = 10), and development of standardized operating procedures for interventionist training, supervision, and eventual RCT implementation. The procedures described here offer a template for transparent reporting on early phase behavioral RCTs.


Subject(s)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy , HIV Infections , Smoking Cessation , HIV Infections/therapy , Humans , Mental Health , Smoking Cessation/methods , Telephone
6.
J Interpers Violence ; 37(19-20): NP18104-NP18129, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34372724

ABSTRACT

Reducing substance use and negative mental health outcomes of interpersonal victimization among sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) represents a critical public health priority. Victimized individuals often develop cognitive schemas, or organized knowledge structures consisting of traits, values, and memories about the self, such as self-concept factors, in response to interpersonal victimization. Prior studies demonstrate the role of self-concept factors (e.g., mastery, control, and self-esteem) in explaining the relationship between victimization and substance use and mental health. However, mastery, control, and self-esteem have not been explored as mediators of interpersonal victimization and health among SGMY. This study is among the first to apply cognitive schema models of trauma-related health symptoms using a large sample of SGMY to examine (a) whether interpersonal victimization is associated with substance use (i.e., alcohol use, cannabis use, and cigarette use) and mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, self-perceived stress, self-rated health issues) and (b) whether diminished sense of mastery and control and lower self-esteem can partially explain elevated rates of substance use and mental health problems in this population. We used the U.S.-based 2017 LGBTQ National Teen Survey (n = 17,112; Mage = 15.57, SD = 1.27); 6,401 (37.4%) identified as gay or lesbian, 7,396 (43.2%) as cisgender women, and 10,245 (59.9%) as White. Substance use and mental health variables were positively associated with interpersonal victimization variables and negatively associated with self-concept factors. Self-concept factors partially mediated the relationship between interpersonal victimization and mental health. This model explained 74.2% of the variance in mental health and 28.4% of the variance in substance use. Cognitive coping may represent an important modifiable factor that can be targeted by trauma-focused interventions in efforts to improve victimized SGMY's mental health. Findings call for the development of identity-affirmative, evidence-based, and trauma-focused interventions for SGMY to improve this populations' overall health.


Subject(s)
Bullying , Crime Victims , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Substance-Related Disorders , Adolescent , Bullying/psychology , Crime Victims/psychology , Female , Humans , Mental Health , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology
7.
Health Psychol Rev ; 16(1): 104-133, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32757813

ABSTRACT

Alcohol consumption is one of the most prevalent correlates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, yet causal processes underlying this association remain largely unexplored. The goal of this systematic review was to develop a conceptual model that describes the causal effect of alcohol consumption on ART nonadherence. We reviewed 230 studies that examined the association between alcohol consumption and ART adherence with three primary aims: (1) to replicate and extend previous reviews of the literature, (2) to summarize and critique study designs capable of answering questions about temporal overlap and (3) to summarize potential mechanisms of action. A model of alcohol-associated ART nonadherence was proposed to guide future work, integrating general theories of ART adherence and theory on the psychological and behavioral effects of alcohol intoxication. The conceptual model describes two mechanistic processes-prospective memory impairment and interactive toxicity beliefs/avoidance behaviors-involved in alcohol-associated intentional and unintentional nonadherence, respectively. This model can be used to guide future research on the causal processes involved in the frequently observed correlation between alcohol consumption and adherence.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents , HIV Infections , Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/psychology , Humans , Medication Adherence/psychology
8.
J Am Coll Health ; 70(8): 2270-2275, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33577419

ABSTRACT

This study gathered preliminary data on the impact of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the substance use, sexual behavior, and general well-being of U.S. college students. Participants from colleges across the U.S. (N = 212; 50.5% female; M age = 22.09) completed an online survey between May 20th and July 5th, 2020 about COVID-19-related behavior change. Most students reported a decrease in quality of life (71.7%), an increase in levels of anxiety (63.7%), and problems with basic resource needs (53.8%). Reports of alcohol consumption increased for 26.9% of students and 15.1% reported an increase in cannabis use. Most students (57.5%) reported a decrease in sexual activity, yet access to, and use of, condoms generally remained unchanged. As universities resume residential instruction, existing prevention and intervention services will need to be adapted to address the mental and behavioral health needs of college students during the era of COVID-19.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Substance-Related Disorders , Female , Humans , Young Adult , Adult , Male , Students , COVID-19/epidemiology , Universities , Pandemics , Quality of Life , Sexual Behavior , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology
9.
J Health Care Poor Underserved ; 32(4): 2222-2232, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34803071

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between financial resources strain and self-reported ART adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM) who are living with HIV. Secondary data analyses were conducted with a sample of HIV-positive MSM (N = 77) who participated in a daily diary study on substance use and sexual behavior. Logistic regression was used to model the odds of self-reported ART adherence associated with financial resources strain. The adjusted model revealed a significant association between financial resources strain and self-reported ART adherence such that financially strained participants were 78.4% less likely to have "excellent" self-reported adherence ability compared with non-financially strained participants (aOR = .216, 95% CI [.063, .749], p = .016). Financial resources strain may negatively influence ART adherence. Future research should consider objectively measuring ART adherence. Health care providers might consider assessing patients' financial situation to identify those at-risk for nonadherence.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Sexual and Gender Minorities , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Medication Adherence , Self Report , Sexual Behavior
10.
Arch Sex Behav ; 50(4): 1755-1769, 2021 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34105056

ABSTRACT

PrEP delivery and routine care provide a unique opportunity to promote sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention by both increasing STI testing frequency and creating a space for affirmative and effective safer sex counseling. This study was a feasibility and acceptability pilot of an adapted framed message intervention to increase condom use frequency with PrEP. In the formative phase, two focus groups with PrEP users (N = 7) provided feedback on a provisional loss-framed message intervention and identified potential study barriers. In the pilot trial, the adapted loss-framed message intervention was compared to a gain-framed message intervention and enhanced skills condition in a sample of PrEP users (N = 29). In terms of intervention feasibility, 58% of approached PrEP users completed the eligibility screen; 79% of those eligible enrolled in the study and 66% of enrolled participants completed the three-month follow-up. In terms of intervention acceptability, participants found the informational messages, regardless of assignment, to be moderately interesting (M = 6.24, SD = 2.97) and useful (M = 7.07, SD = 3.00), and very easy to understand (M = 9.50, SD = 0.97) on Likert-type scales ranging from 1 to 10. In terms of intervention effects, there was a small effect of the gain-framed intervention (b = .58, SE = .93, CI = -1.33, 2.48, Cohen's d = .26) on HIV/STI risk transmission. There was a small-medium effect of both the loss- (b = 2.00, SE = .90, CI = .15, 3.85, Cohen's d = 1.46) and gain-framed (b = 2.24, SE = .93, CI = .34, 4.15, Cohen's d = 1.65) interventions on condom use motivation. Finally, there was a medium-large effect of both the loss- (b = .97, SE = 1.33, CI = -1.88, 3.82, Cohen's d = .54) and gain-framed intervention (b = 1.97, SE = 1.33, CI = -.88, 4.82, Cohen's d = .87) on condom use frequency. Further refinement and testing, in a larger -scale trial with higher ecological validity than this initial pilot intervention, is warranted.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis , Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Condoms , Focus Groups , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Safe Sex , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control
11.
AIDS Care ; 32(10): 1251-1257, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32482097

ABSTRACT

Although there is evidence of individual associations between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH), few studies have established how the two risk factors may interact to predict viral suppression. We conducted secondary data analyses with two cohorts of Ugandan PLWH (N = 657) to investigate the hypothesized interaction between depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test -Consumption and/or Phosphatidylethanol biomarker) prior to ART initiation with viral suppression (<550 copies/ml). We were unable to detect an interaction between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use prior to ART initiation with viral suppression in the first two years (M = 19.9 months) after ART initiation (p = 0.75). There was also no evidence of a main effect association for depressive symptoms (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.88, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.50, 1.55) or hazardous alcohol use (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.80, 2.33). PLWH with depressive symptoms and/or hazardous alcohol use appear to exhibit similar levels of viral suppression as others in care; further work is needed to determine effects on HIV testing and treatment engagement.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Depression/epidemiology , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology , Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Medication Adherence , Uganda/epidemiology
12.
AIDS Behav ; 24(11): 3232-3243, 2020 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32385676

ABSTRACT

For those most at risk of contracting HIV, new strategies for preventing transmission and increasing testing are needed. As part of a multi-site, randomized, controlled trial, we explored attitudes and preferences among 272 HIV-negative men who have sex with men and HIV-negative transgender women using an HIV self-testing (HIVST) kit to test partners. Less than one quarter had previously self-tested with HIVST kits (21.7%) and few had partner-tested (4.8%). Most preferred gum swab (96%) over fingerprick tests (69%), but would prefer a blood test if it gave results for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (86%). Five percent reported difficulties performing the test, four percent with storage, and 26% with portability. Ninety-three percent reported likelihood of using HIVST to test partners in future, but only 3% were willing to pay the current price. Efforts to improve HIVST uptake should focus on incorporating testing for other STIs, reducing test kit size, and reducing cost.


RESUMEN: Se necesitan nuevas estrategias para prevenir la transmisión del VIH e incrementar el testeo para aquellos con mayor riesgo al contagio. Como parte de un ensayo controlado aleatorio (ECA) multicentrico, exploramos las actitudes y preferencias entre 272 hombres VIH-negativos que tienen sexo con hombres y mujeres transgenero VIH-negativos que utilizaron kits del auto-test para el VIH (HIVST) para testear a sus parejas. Menos de una cuarta parte de los participantes había utilizado HIVST para auto-testearse (21.7%), y solo pocos para testear a sus parejas (4.8%) antes del comienzo del estudio. El hisopo bucal fue preferido (96%) sobre una prueba con un pinchazo de sangre (69%) por la mayoría de los participantes pero estos preferirían la prueba de sangre si puedieran obtener resultados para otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) (86%). Cinco por ciento reportó problemas con el uso de la prueba, 4% con el almacenamiento, y el 26% con la portabilidad. Noventa y tres por ciento reportó que utilizarían HIVST para testear a sus parejas en el futuro, pero solo 3% estaba dispuesto a pagar el precio actual. Los futuros esfuerzos para mejorar la adopción del HIVST deberían enfocarse en incorporar otras pruebas de ETS, en reducir el tamaño del kit y en reducir los costos.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/diagnosis , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Self Care/methods , Sexual Partners , AIDS Serodiagnosis , Attitude , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , Patient Preference
13.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep ; 17: e2, 2020 Apr 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32264992

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Hurricanes can interrupt communication, exacerbate attrition, and disrupt participant engagement in research. We used text messaging and disaster preparedness protocols to re-establish communication, re-engage participants, and ensure retention in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-test study. METHODS: Participants were given HIV home test kits to test themselves and/or their non-monogamous sexual partners before intercourse. A daily text message-based short message service computer-assisted self-interview (SMS-CASI) tool reminded them to report 3 variables: (1) anal sex without a condom, (2) knowledge of partners' testing history, and (3) proof of partners' testing history. A disaster preparedness protocol was put in place for hurricanes in Puerto Rico. We analyzed 6315 messages from participants (N = 12) active at the time of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Disaster preparedness narratives were assessed. RESULTS: All participants were able to communicate sexual behavior and HIV testing via SMS-CASI within 30 days following María. Some participants (n = 5, 42%) also communicated questions. Re-engagement within 30 days after the hurricane was 100% (second week/89%, third week/100%). Participant re-engagement ranged from 0-16 days (average = 6.4 days). Retention was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Daily SMS-CASI and disaster preparedness protocols helped participant engagement and communication after 2 hurricanes. SMS-CASI responses indicated high participant re-engagement, retention, and well-being.

14.
AIDS Behav ; 24(11): 3033-3043, 2020 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32239360

ABSTRACT

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are highly affected by HIV and need novel prevention strategies. Using HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits to screen sexual partners may represent a viable risk-reduction alternative; however, more research is needed on effective strategies for broaching HIVST with partners. In the ISUM study, 136 MSM and TGW were given ten HIVST kits for self- and partner-testing. After 3 months, they returned for a follow-up assessment; thirty participants were also selected for in-depth interviews about their experiences initiating HIVST with partners. Most found proposing HIVST to a diverse array of partners relatively easy. They employed strategies such as joint testing and integrating HIVST into larger discussions about protection and sexual health, with moderate success. Nonetheless, real or anticipated negative partner reactions were a significant barrier. Future research can inform best practices for safely and successfully broaching HIVST with sexual partners.


RESUMEN: Los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) y las mujeres tránsgenero (MTG) están muy afectados por el VIH y necesitan estrategias innovadoras de prevención. El uso del autotest de VIH (HIVST) para testear a parejas sexuales podría ser una alternativa viable de reducir el riesgo; sin embargo, se necesitan más investigaciones sobre estrategias eficaces para abordar el tema de usar el HIVST con parejas. En el estudio ISUM, 136 HSH y MTG fueron provistos de diez HIVST para testear a sí mismo y a parejas. Después de tres meses, volvieron para una evaluación de seguimiento; treinta participantes también fueron seleccionados para una entrevista en profundidad sobres sus experiencias abordando el tema del uso del HIVST con parejas. La mayoría encontró que proponer HIVST a una gran variedad de parejas fue relativamente fácil. Emplearon estrategias como hacerse la prueba juntos y integrar HIVST en una conversación más amplia sobre la protección y la salud sexual, con leve éxito. No obstante, las reacciones negativas de parejas, ya sean reales o anticipadas, representaron una barrera importante. Las investigaciones futuras pueden informar las mejores prácticas para abordar el tema de HIVST con parejas sexuales de manera segura y exitosa.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/psychology , Homosexuality, Male , Mass Screening/methods , Self-Examination/statistics & numerical data , Sexual Partners/psychology , Transgender Persons , Adult , Female , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , New York , Puerto Rico , Qualitative Research , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Self Care , Serologic Tests , Transgender Persons/psychology , Transgender Persons/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult
15.
AIDS Behav ; 24(9): 2732-2741, 2020 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32193729

ABSTRACT

HIV partner-testing (PT) may represent a unique and empowering HIV prevention strategy for groups that face structural and institutional barriers to HIV testing and care, including transgender women. We report on in-depth interviews (IDIs) with N = 10 transgender women who used HIV self-test kits for three months to screen potential sexual partners in a randomized controlled trial (iSUM; "I'll Show You Mine") that took place in New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Participants were assigned to intervention (supplied with 10 self-test kits immediately) or control groups (received 6 test kits after 3 months). We conducted IDIs with the first N = 10 transgender women to enroll in the intervention group after three months in the study (after participants used kits with partners) to understand their experiences. Themes discussed in IDIs included: partners' reaction to HIV testing, participants' reactions to partners' test results or refusal to test, partners' own reaction to their test results, and decision-making around test use. Data were independently analyzed by two coders. Overwhelmingly, participants' experiences with PT was positive. Participants reported kits were convenient and acceptable to most partners. Transgender women felt that PT could pose additional risk for them; one woman experienced violence related to kit use. Furthermore, the availability of kits appeared to encourage participants and their partners to think about their HIV status and, in some cases, modify sexual behavior. Work suggests that HIV PT could be a viable risk-reduction strategy for transgender women.


Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , HIV Infections/diagnosis , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Self Care/methods , Sexual Partners , Transgender Persons/psychology , Adult , Female , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/psychology , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Mass Screening/methods , New York City , Puerto Rico , Qualitative Research , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Serologic Tests , Sexual Behavior , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
16.
AIDS Behav ; 24(10): 2863-2871, 2020 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32200447

ABSTRACT

Two constructs from the information-motivation-behavioral skills model were used to predict HIV-serostatus among a sample of men and transgender women who have sex with men. Hypotheses were that lower levels of HIV knowledge and lower levels of motivation to remain HIV-negative would be associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a positive HIV test result at a study eligibility-screening session. Results of a backwards stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that lower levels of HIV knowledge, lower levels of motivation to remain HIV-negative, lower levels of education, and identifying as Hispanic/Latinx were associated with greater odds of receiving a positive HIV test result. These findings are consistent with the broader HIV-prevention literature that demonstrates that information and motivation are fundamental determinants of HIV preventive behavior. This work has implications for informing the development and improvement of HIV-prevention interventions.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/psychology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Motivation , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Transgender Persons/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Gender Identity , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Health Behavior , Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Reduction Behavior , Risk-Taking , Transgender Persons/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult
17.
AIDS Behav ; 24(10): 2856-2862, 2020 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32200448

ABSTRACT

HIV self-tests (HIVST) provide the possibility of testing partners prior to sexual activity. This study examines the role of substance use among men who have sex with men (n = 123) and transgender women (n = 13) who were provided HIVST to use with potential sex partners. Several reported avoiding/delaying alcohol (44%) or drug use (27%) because they intended to use HIVST. Those who used HIVST with alcohol (37%) or drugs (24%) did not differ from those who did not on number of partners asked, proportion who agreed, or intentions to use HIVST. A minority reported problems caused by substances. Ten did not ask someone to test because they were too drunk/high. Fourteen said it was fairly or very hard to use HIVST when under the influence. Eleven reported substances caused problems when discussing or administering HIVST, but only two of those felt the problems were major.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Mass Screening/methods , Sexual Partners , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Transgender Persons/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Reduction Behavior
18.
AIDS Behav ; 24(9): 2597-2605, 2020 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32078078

ABSTRACT

Secondary distribution of HIV self-tests to sexual partners is acceptable but concerns remain about reactions if a partner tests HIV-positive. We report on 14 participants whose sexual partners tested HIV-positive during the "I'll Show You Mine" Study, a randomized controlled trial (N = 272) of HIV self- and partner-testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). All 14 were MSM and racial/ethnic minorities, mean age was 36.6 years; 86% were gay-identified. Twenty-four partners tested positive; about half were new partners. Six participants had multiple partners test positive. During in-depth interviews with 10 of these participants, they reported their partners' reactions ranged from tearful and worried among those whose result was unexpected, to resignation among those who suspected a positive result, to nonchalance among partners who participants concluded knew of their HIV infection. After testing, some HIV-positive partners disclosed prior knowledge of their status. No partner reacted violently. Participants typically comforted their partners and encouraged confirmatory testing. Four participants had anal intercourse with partners who tested positive. Participants and partners were able to effectively handle situations in which the partner tested HIV-positive.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Seropositivity/diagnosis , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Mass Screening/methods , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Self Care/psychology , Sexual Behavior , Sexual Partners , Adult , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/psychology , Homosexuality, Male/ethnology , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , New York City/epidemiology , Puerto Rico , Qualitative Research , Risk
19.
AIDS Behav ; 24(7): 2220-2226, 2020 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32030526

ABSTRACT

Men who have sex with men and transgender women who had multiple sexual partners in the prior 3 months participated in ISUM, a randomized, controlled trial of self- and partner-testing in New York City and San Juan, PR. Only 2% of screened participants were ineligible to enroll due to anticipating they would find it very hard to avoid or handle violence. The intervention group received free rapid HIV self-test kits. During the trial, 114 (88%) of intervention participants who were assessed at follow-up used self-tests with at least one potential partner. Only 6% of participants who asked a partner in person to test reported that at least one of their partners got physically violent, some in the context of sex work. In total, 16 (2%) partners reacted violently. Post-trial, only one participant reported finding it very hard to handle violence, and none found it very hard to avoid potential violence.


Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , Aggression , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Self Care/methods , Self-Examination/statistics & numerical data , Sexual Partners/psychology , Transgender Persons/psychology , Violence/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Female , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/psychology , Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New York/epidemiology , New York City/epidemiology , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , Self Care/psychology , Sexual Behavior , Sexual and Gender Minorities
20.
AIDS Behav ; 24(6): 1929-1941, 2020 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31853772

ABSTRACT

ISUM ("I'll show you mine") was a randomized controlled trial in which 272 transgender women and men who have sex with men in New York, NY (NYC) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) were assigned to an intervention group (n = 136), in which they had access to free HIV self-testing (ST) kits, or to a control group (n = 136). The trial aimed to determine whether the intervention group would use ST to screen sexual partners and have fewer condomless anal intercourse (CAI) occasions with serodiscordant or unknown status partners than the control group. The intervention group had on average 10 (32%) fewer CAI occasions; though clinically relevant, this difference fell short of statistical significance (p = .08). In NYC (n = 166) intervention participants had significantly fewer CAI occasions, whereas in SJU (n = 106) they reported non-significantly more CAI occasions. Two devastating hurricanes hit SJU during the study and may have impacted results in unmeasured ways.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Condoms , Female , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , New York , Puerto Rico , Sexual Behavior , Sexual Partners , Unsafe Sex
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