A Syndemic Approach to Explore Factors Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common genital infection in women and is associated with an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. This study uses a syndemic approach to evaluate factors associated with BV. Non-pregnant, HIV-negative, sexually active, cis-gender women aged 18-45 years living in Miami, Florida were recruited from Nov.2018- Jun.2021. Participants completed a sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaire along with gynecological examinations. BV was diagnosed by Amsel criteria and confirmed by a Nugent score ≥ 4. A syndemic score was calculated as the sum of factors associated with BV. The association between syndemic score and BV was assessed using logistic regression. Of 166 women included, 60.2% had BV. Race, ethnicity, education, vaginal sex, recent cannabis use, and reasons for intravaginal practices were included in the syndemic score. Higher odds of BV were found in women with a score of ≥ 3 compared to women with a score of 0/1. A higher syndemic score was associated with increased odds of having BV. Multilevel interventions to decrease BV are needed to decrease women's risk of acquiring HIV.

RESUMEN: La vaginosis bacteriana (VB) es la infección genital más común en mujeres y está asociada con un mayor riesgo de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) y de VIH. Este estudio utilizó un enfoque sindémico para evaluar factores asociados con VB. Entre noviembre del 2018 y junio del 2021, se reclutaron mujeres cisgénero de entre 18­45 años, que no estuvieran embarazadas, que fueran VIH negativas y sexualmente activas, y que vivieran en Miami, Florida. Las participantes completaron un cuestionario sociodemográfico y de comportamiento junto con un examen ginecológico. Se diagnosticó VB empleando los criterios de Amsel y se confirmó empleando el criterio de Nugent con una puntuación ≥ 4. La puntuación sindémica fue calculada como la suma de factores asociados con VB utilizando. La asociación entre la puntuación sindémica con VB se evaluó mediate una regresión logística. De 166 mujeres incluidas, 60.2% fueron diagnosticadas con VB. Los factores incluidos en la puntuación sindémica fueron la raza, etnia, educación, sexo vaginal, consumo reciente de cannabis, y el uso de prácticas intravaginales. Se encontraron mayores probabilidades de VB en mujeres con una puntuación ≥ 3 en comparación con aquellas con una puntuación de 0/1. Una puntuación sindémica alta se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de tener VB. Son necesarias intervenciones multinivel para disminuir la VB y disminuir el riesgo de que las mujeres contraigan ETS y VIH.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: Vaccine Hesitancy Among Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups With HIV in Miami, Florida.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disproportionally affect underrepresented ethnoracial groups in the United States. Medical mistrust and vaccine hesitancy will likely impact acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. This study examined SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among underrepresented ethnoracial groups with HIV and identified factors that may reduce vaccine uptake. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults ≥18 years of age with HIV residing in Miami, Florida. Participants were invited to participate in the ACTION (A Comprehensive Translational Initiative on Novel Coronavirus) cohort study. A baseline survey was administered from April to August 2020 and followed by a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy survey from August to November 2020. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy survey was adapted from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts survey. Comparisons by race and ethnicity were performed using the Freedman-Haltmann extension of the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 94 participants were enrolled; mean age was 54.4 years, 52% were female, 60% were Black non-Latinx, and 40% were non-Black Latinx. Black non-Latinx participants were less likely to agree that vaccinations are important for health when compared to non-Black Latinx (67.8% vs 92.1%, P = .009), less likely to agree that vaccines are effective in preventing disease (67.8% vs 84.2%, P = .029), less likely to believe that vaccine information is reliable and trustworthy (35.7% vs 71.1%, P = .002), and less likely to believe vaccines were unnecessary because COVID-19 would disappear soon (11% vs 21%, P = .049). CONCLUSIONS: Medical mistrust, vaccine hesitancy, and negative sentiments about SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are prevalent among underrepresented ethnoracial groups with HIV, particularly Black non-Latinx. Targeted strategies to increase vaccine uptake in this population are warranted.