Intimate Partner Violence Attitudes: Who Tolerates the Most?

Aim: to identify whether demographic variables, the type and length of romantic relationships, and alcohol consumption were risk factors related to attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: 723 adults filled the IPVAS and a demographic survey. Results: women were less likely to accept control; participants with technical education were more likely to tolerate control and abuse; those with secondary education were at higher risk to accept physical violence, while participants aged 26-35 were at lower risk; people who were dating someone were at higher risk to tolerate control, but were at a lower risk to accept physical violence; and those who consume alcohol were more likely to accept abuse. Conclusion: As attitudes toward IPV may predict its future occurrence, research on variables modulating the association between attitudes and IPV execution can strengthen evidence to implement preventive actions, in which shaping attitudes towards IPV are the primary target.

Objetivo: Identificar si las variables sociodemográficas, el tipo, la duración de las relaciones y el consumo de alcohol son factores de riesgo asociados con las actitudes hacia la violencia de pareja (VP). Método: 723 adultos completaron las IPVAS y una encuesta sociodemográfica. Resultados: las mujeres tuvieron menor probabilidad de aceptar el control; los participantes con educación técnica toleraron más control y abuso; las personas con educación secundaria presentaron mayor riesgo de aceptar violencia física, mientras que las personas entre 26 y 35 años mostraron un riesgo menor; quienes tenían una relación tuvieron riesgo mayor para tolerar control, pero menor riesgo para aceptar violencia física; aquellos que reportaron consumir alcohol tuvieron mayor probabilidad de aceptar abuso. Conclusión: Las actitudes hacia la IPV pueden predecir la ejecución de esta conducta en el futuro. Por lo tanto, estudios que indaguen sobre variables que modulen esta asociación incrementarán la evidencia para implementar acciones preventivas, en las que la formación de actitudes hacia la VP sean el objetivo principal de cambio.

Os impactos da violência entre mulheres em relação íntima: uma revisão integrativa da literatura / The impacts of violence among women in intimate relationships: an integrative literature review

Resumo O objetivo é identificar impactos culturais, sociais e de saúde causadas pela violência na parceria íntima (VPI) em mulheres homoafetivas (MOH) e biafetivas (MOB). Estudo de revisão integrativa da literatura que buscou e analisou estudos indexados nas bases de dados PubMed e Lilacs, sendo considerados os idiomas: inglês, português e espanhol. O estudo buscou responder a seguinte pergunta de pesquisa: "Quais impactos a VPI traz para as MOB e MOH?". Foram encontrados 42 estudos e após aplicado os critérios de exclusão, 19 compuseram a amostra final. Os dados foram analisados a partir da metodologia de análise de conteúdo, modalidade análise temática de Bardin (2009). A análise na íntegra dos artigos revelou duas categorias: 1) A violência na parceria íntima e os impactos socioculturais; e 2) A violência na parceira íntima e os impactos na saúde. A vivência de situações de violência na parceria íntima entre mulheres homo e/ou biafetivas afeta suas dimensões socioculturais e de saúde, já que elas estão sob o viés da dupla vulnerabilidade: mulher em relações homo/biafetivas. Existe também invisibilidade do fenômeno nos serviços de saúde já que os profissionais não são formados para abordar as diferentes orientações sexuais entre mulheres e menos ainda as situações de violência advindas dessas relações.

Abstract The aim is to identify cultural, social and health impacts caused by intimate partner violence (IPV) in homoaffective (MOH) and biaffective (MOB) women. This is an integrative literature review that sought and analyzed studies indexed in the PubMed and Lilacs databases, considering the following languages. The study sought to answer the following research question: "What impacts does IPV bring to MOB and MOH?". Forty two studies were found and after applying the exclusion criteria, 19 went into the final sample. Data were analyzed using the content analysis methodology, Bardin's thematic analysis modality (2009). The full analysis of the articles revealed two categories: 1) Intimate partner violence and sociocultural impacts; and 2) Intimate partner violence and health impacts. The experience of situations of violence in intimate partnerships between homo and/or biaffective women affect their sociocultural and health dimensions, since they are under the bias of double vulnerability: women in homo/biaffective relationships. There is also an invisibility of the phenomenon in health services, since professionals are not trained to address the different sexual orientations among women and even less the situations of violence resulting from these relationships.

Addressing discrimination and violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) persons from Brazil: a mobile health intervention.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience higher rates of discrimination and violence when compared to cis, heterosexual peers. However, violent crimes and other hate incidents against SGM persons are consistently not reported and prosecuted because of chronic distrust between the SGM community and police. Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries for SGM persons globally. Herein, we describe the development of a mobile health intervention to address the rampant violence against this population, the Rainbow Resistance-Dandarah app. METHODS: We conducted community-based participatory research (CBPR) between 2019 and 2020. The study started with in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with representatives of the SGM community from Brazil. Descriptive qualitative data analysis included the plotting of a 'word cloud', to visually represent word frequency, data coding and analysis of more frequent themes related to app acceptability, usability, and feasibility. A sub-sample of SGM tested the app and suggested improvements, and the final version was launched in December 2019. RESULTS: Since the app was launched in December 2019, the app recorded 4,114 active SGM users. Most participants are cisgender men (50.9%), self-identified as gay (43.5%), White (47.3%), and aged 29 or less (60.9%). FGDs and IDIs participants discussed the importance of the app in the context of widespread violence toward SGM persons. Study participants perceived this mHealth strategy as an important, effective, and accessible for SGM surviving violence. The CBPR design was highlighted as a key strategy that allowed SGM persons to collaborate in the design of this intervention actively. Some users reported how the panic button saved their lives during violent attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Rainbow Resistance-Dandarah app was endorsed as a powerful tool for enhancing reporting episodes of violence/discrimination against SGM persons and a key strategy to connect users with a safe network of supportive services. Results indicate that the app is an engaging, acceptable, and potentially effective mHealth intervention. Participants reported many advantages of using it, such as being able to report harassment and violence, connect with a safe network and receive immediate support.

Associations between conflict violence, community violence, and household violence exposures among females in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to protracted public violence is increasingly referenced as a risk factor for domestic violence, but limited quantitative evidence has demonstrated this association to date. This study analyzes associations in Colombia between lifetime experiences of external violence, including the Colombia civil conflict and community interpersonal violence, and experiences of household violence, including intimate partner and caregiver violence. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We use the 2018 Colombia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, employing multi-variable logistic regressions to determine the association between exposure to external violence and household violence victimization for females aged 13-24 (n = 1406). Adjusted models controlled for age, ever married, currently in school, and past 12-mo work experience and standard errors were adjusted to account for the multi-stage sampling design. Females who had ever witnessed community violence (39.23 %) faced increased risks of experiencing both physical violence (aOR = 2.81; 95 % CIs: 1.54-5.14; p < 0.001) and emotional violence (aOR: 2.48; 95 % CIs: 1.29-4.75; p < 0.01) from caregivers. Females who had ever witnessed internal conflict (15.99 %) had a greater likelihood of experiencing emotional violence from caregivers (aOR: 5.24; 95 % CIs: 1.86-14.76; p < 0.01) as well as physical violence perpetrated by intimate partners (aOR: 3.31; 95 % CIs: 1.22-8.95; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the connection between exposure to community violence and internal conflict and household violence victimization among adolescent and young adult females in Colombia. Findings build the evidence base for more holistic and coordinated policy and programming efforts and foreground the need to identify and support vulnerable populations across socioecological domains in contexts of chronic violence.

Femicide in Mexico. Who Are the Slain Women According to News Media? A Quantitative Study of Social Representations of Victims and Perpetrators.

Research on femicide news revealed discriminatory narratives against the victims in specific cases and social contexts. This article uses a quantitative approach to analyze the news content that serves to create social representations of victims and perpetrators. We propose a methodology based on examining independent elements in the descriptions, identifying extratextual patterns, and providing the data to compare the social representations of intimate partner violence (IPV), familiar, and non-IPV femicides. Three online news outlets were analyzed from July 2014 to December 2017, creating a corpus of 2,527 articles. The results revealed that it is more common to create negative representations of victims than negative representations of the perpetrators.

Addressing Discrimination and Violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) persons from Brazil: A mobile Health intervention.

Background: Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience higher rates of discrimination and violence when compared to cis, heterosexual peers. However, violent crimes and other hate incidents against SGM persons are consistently not reported and prosecuted because of chronic distrust between the SGM community and police. Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries for SGM persons in the world. Herein we describe the development of a mobile health intervention to address the rampant violence against this population, the Rainbow Resistance - Dandarah app. Methods: We conducted community-based participatory research (CBPR) between 2019-2020. The study started with in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with representatives of the SGM community from Brazil. Descriptive qualitative data analysis included the plotting of a 'word cloud', to visually represent word frequency, data coding and analysis of more frequent themes related to app acceptability, usability, and feasibility. A sub-sample of SGM tested the app and suggested improvements, and the final version was launched in December 2019. Results: Since the app was launched in December 2019, the app recorded 4,114 active SGM users. Most participants are cisgender men (50.9%), self-identified as gay (43.5%), White (47.3%), and aged 29 or less (60.9%). FGDs and IDIs participants discussed the importance of the app in the context of widespread violence toward SGM persons. Study participants perceived this mHealth strategy as an important, effective, and accessible strategy for SGM surviving violence. The CBPR design was highlighted as a key strategy that allowed SGM persons to collaborate in the design of this intervention actively. Some users reported how the panic button saved their lives during violent attacks. Conclusions: Rainbow Resistance - Dandarah app was endorsed as a powerful tool for enhancing reporting episodes of violence/discrimination against SGM persons and a key strategy to connect users with a safe network of supportive services. Results indicate that the app is an engaging, acceptable, and potentially effective mHealth intervention. Participants reported many advantages of using it, such as being able to report harassment and violence, connect with a safe network and receive immediate support.

Somatización, ansiedad y depresión en mujeres víctimas de violencia de pareja íntima / Somatization, anxiety and depression in women victims of intimate partner violence

Resumen A pesar de que la violencia de pareja íntima (VPI) presenta en la mujer una variedad de síntomas evidenciables, varios de los actores involucrados en el sistema de salud no cuentan con mecanismos de evaluación temprana, ni de reconocimiento de los tipos de secuelas psicológicas, entre los que se incluye una diversa sintomatología psicofisiológica. Con el objetivo de conocer las características de somatización, ansiedad y depresión en mujeres víctimas de VPI, como parte de una investigación macro de corte transversal no experimental de campo, se realizó el presente estudio cuantitativo correlacional a través de las variables del Inventario de Evaluación de la Personalidad (PAI). Los datos obtenidos se sometieron a análisis estadístico con métodos descriptivos e inferenciales. La muestra consta de 50 mujeres de la población de víctimas de VPI de la sierra ecuatoriana. Los resultados obtenidos son bastante contradictorios en cuanto al bajo porcentaje de mujeres con afectación típica relacionada con este tipo de violencia, en comparación con los datos presentados por otros autores sobre los niveles de somatización, ansiedad y depresión en ellas. A pesar de esto, se obtuvieron tres factores independientes presentes en esta muestra: trastorno ansioso-depresivo, con elementos de estrés postraumático; trastorno obsesivo compulsivo, con elementos de ansiedad, y quejas somáticas. Al momento de finalizar este estudio, se puede concluir que el PAI, sin su validación previa en esta población, no muestra una idoneidad suficiente para evaluar mujeres víctimas de VPI en el Ecuador. Se recomiendan nuevas investigaciones en otras muestras, en las que se utilicen diversos esquemas empíricos que incluyan varios instrumentos y medios cualitativos.

Abstract Various studies have noticed that women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) also report having various types of health-related problems. However, health systems do not appear to have established procedures to recognize these problems (i. e., psychophysiological) in women. This study assessed somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depressive characteristics in women who have been victims of IPV. These symptoms were assessed using the scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The sample consisted of 50 women victims of IPV from the Ecuadorian sierra. Group participants came from two different cities: the first group included 28 women victims of IPV from Riobamba. Their ages ranged from 15 to 58. These women were receiving psychological services from a not-for-profit organization in the city. The second group included 22 women with similar characteristics between the ages of 27-63. This group of women came from the southern regions of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Women in this group were receiving services from two different places offering help to women experiencing IPV. Sixteen percent of women reported having a medium level of "anxiety" (some level of stress), and 14 % reported having a high level of tension and stress. Thirty-four percent of women reported medium levels of "anxiety-related disorders". These women reported having specific fears, little confidence in themselves and negative perspectives of their future. Sixteen percent of the women reported high levels of anxiety. They reported imitations in daily life (i. e., specific fears and feelings of insecurity in social situations). Thirty percent of women reported having medium levels of "depression" (sensitivity, pessimism, and feeling unhappy part of the time). Eighteen percent of women reported having high levels of "depression" (notable unhappiness and dysphoria). Forty-four percent of women in this study reported having some type of physical problem. These findings suggest that women who are victims of IPV could benefit from receiving mental health services aimed at managing their tension, stress, specific fears, and symptoms of depression. They also suggest that women victims of IPV could benefit from receiving training to increase their social competency and medical assistance to address their somatic complaints. Findings in this study are somewhat divergent from the results observed in previous investigations. Previous studies identified that most women who experienced IPV report symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, in this study, only a relatively low percentage of women reported having these symptoms. The sole utilization of the PAI as a method of evaluation may not have been sufficient to identify these symptoms. These results suggest the importance of using qualitative methods (i. e., clinical interview) or more holistic methodologies (i. e., clinical interview and tests) to better assess mental health symptoms in this group of women. It is also possible that the PAI might not be the most adequate tool to assess these symptoms in this population. The results of this investigation do reveal the importance of evaluating other mental health symptoms in women victims of IPV: post-traumatic stress, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Future studies should focus on assessing these symptoms using other assessment methodologies (e. g. instruments designed to assess post-traumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder). The efficiency of health systems evaluations and interventions depends on the methodologies used to assess problems. The sole use of one instrument such as the PAI may not provide sufficient information about symptoms experienced by women experiencing IPV. Health systems should use batteries of instruments in conjunction with the clinical interviewing processes to readily assess symptoms. However, such an alternative may not be entirely feasible taking into account that such methodology requires more time and likely financial support to acquire tests.

Lessons learned from implementing the parenting Program P in Bolivia to prevent family violence.

Parenting programs are an increasingly used strategy to prevent family violence and promote gender equality in the household. Yet, there is limited understanding of the processes and pathways to change through such programs, especially from the Global South. This paper presents key findings of a qualitative evaluation of the parenting 'Program P', which was implemented in El Alto, Bolivia. The study complements and aims to provide additional insights to an experimental evaluation of this program, which found limited impact on the intended objectives, including a reduction in violence against children and women and more gender equitable attitudes among parents. Thirty-six qualitative interviews and 6 focus groups were conducted with men and women that attended Program P, and facilitators of the program. Findings were analyzed thematically and organized around key successes and challenges of the program including motivations and ability to engage with the program, opportunities for supportive group-based processes, addressing hegemonic gender and social norms, and learning and applying skills as a platform to change behaviours. We use these findings to offer implications for more effective design and implementation of gender transformative, parenting programs in Bolivia and globally.

Declaración SLIPE: Aumento de la cobertura antipoliomielítica con vacunas más seguras: una urgencia inaplazable en Latinoamérica / SLIPE Declaration: Increasing anti-polio coverage with safer vaccines: an urgent need that cannot be postponed in Latin America

Ante el riesgo real de ocurrencia de brotes de parálisis fláccida aguda en la región debidos a poliovirus derivado de la vacuna Sabin o a la importación de poliovirus salvaje, la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Infectología Pediátrica comisionó a un grupo ad hoc de expertos integrantes del Comité de Vacunas y Biológicos de la institución, para redactar un documento oficial de posición sobre la necesidad imperiosa de incrementar los niveles de inmunización contra la enfermedad en la región e incorporar definitivamente en forma exclusiva la vacuna de polio inactivada en todos los esquemas nacionales de vacunación. La presente publicación discute las principales conclusiones y recomendaciones generadas como resultado de esta actividad.

Given the actual risk of poliomyelitis outbreaks in the region due to poliovirus derived from the Sabin vaccine or the importation of wild poliovirus, the Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases commissioned an ad hoc group of experts from the institution's Vaccines and Biologicals Committee, to draft an official position paper on the urgent need to increase immunization levels against the disease in the region and incorporate inactivated polio vaccine exclusive schedules in all national immunization programs. This publication discusses the main conclusions and recommendations generated as a result of such activity.

Increasing polio coverage with safer vaccines: a pressing need in Latin America

Given the actual risk of poliomyelitis outbreaks in the region due to poliovirus derived from the Sabin vaccine or the importation of wild poliovirus, the Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases commissioned an ad hoc group of experts from the institution's Vaccines and Biologicals Committee, to draft an official position paper on the urgent need to increase immunization levels against the disease in the region and incorporate inactivated polio vaccine exclusive schedules in all national immunization programs. This publication discusses the main conclusions and recommendations generated as a result of such activity.

Ante el riesgo real de ocurrencia de brotes de parálisis fláccida aguda en la región debidos a poliovirus derivado de la vacuna Sabin o a la importación de poliovirus salvaje, la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Infectología Pediátrica comisionó a un grupo ad hoc de expertos integrantes del Comité de Vacunas y Biológicos de la institución, para redactar un documento oficial de posición sobre la necesidad imperiosa de incrementar los niveles de inmunización contra la enfermedad en la región e incorporar definitivamente en forma exclusiva la vacuna de polio inactivada en todos los esquemas nacionales de vacunación. La presente publicación discute las principales conclusiones y recomendaciones generadas como resultado de esta actividad.

SCHC over LoRaWAN Efficiency: Evaluation and Experimental Performance of Packet Fragmentation.

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) are expected to enable the massive connectivity of small and constrained devices to the Internet of Things. Due to the restricted nature of both end devices and network links, LPWAN technologies employ network stacks where there is no interoperable network layer as a general case; instead, application data are usually placed directly into technology-specific two-layer frames. Besides not being able to run standard IP-based protocols at the end device, the lack of an IP layer also causes LPWAN segments to operate in an isolated manner, requiring middleboxes to interface non-IP LPWAN technologies with the IP world. The IETF has standardized a compression and fragmentation scheme, called Static Context Header Compression and Fragmentation (SCHC), which can compress and fragment IPv6 and UDP headers for LPWAN in a way that enables IP-based communications on the constrained end device. This article presents a model to determine the channel occupation efficiency based on the transmission times of SCHC messages in the upstream channel of a LoRaWAN™ link using the ACK-on-Error mode of standard SCHC. The model is compared against experimental data obtained from the transmission of packets that are fragmented using a SCHC over LoRaWAN implementation. This modeling provides a relationship between the channel occupancy efficiency, the spreading factor of LoRa™, and the probability of an error of a SCHC message. The results show that the model correctly predicts the efficiency in channel occupation for all spreading factors. Furthermore, the SCHC ACK-on-Error mode implementation for the upstream channel has been made fully available for further use by the research community.

"These Questions Have Everything That Happens to me": Analysis of a Femicide Risk Assessment Tool for Abused Women in Brazil.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this mixed-methods triangulation study was to assess the face validity and comprehension of a femicide risk assessment tool, the Danger Assessment-Brazil (DA-Brazil) among women seeking care in a one stop center for abused women in Curitiba, Brazil. Our secondary aim was to assess professionals' perceptions of feasibility for using the DA-Brazil in the same setting. METHOD: Fifty-five women experiencing relationship violence completed the instrument and participated in cognitive interviews about their experience; professionals attending survivors were also interviewed. RESULTS: The vast majority of women described the DA-Brazil instrument as being easy to comprehend (n = 41, 73.2%). Nearly half of participants (n = 26, 46.4%) had some kind of question regarding the DA-Brazil calendar, a tool to visualize abuse frequency and severity. Queries aligned with five categories: recollection of dates, scale, relationship status, terminology, and discomfort. Professionals reported that the DA-Brazil instrument would support referral decision-making. CONCLUSION: The overall face validity and comprehension of the DA-Brazil appears to be high. The majority of challenges were around the calendar activity. Professional perceptions of the DA-Brazil suggest a high degree of feasibility for its use in Brazilian healthcare settings. In order for the DA-Brazil to effectively be administered with facilitated support there is a need for training on the best use of the instrument. Accurate assessment of femicide risk is critical in a country like Brazil with high rates of femicide. The DA-Brazil provides a valid assessment of femicide risk and has the potential to trigger early intervention for those at risk. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10896-021-00313-1.

The great crime recovery: Crimes against women during, and after, the COVID-19 lockdown in Mexico.

This paper considers whether the COVID-19 stay-at-home order affected crimes targeting women. To answer this question, we use national municipal-level crime data from Mexico's National Public Security System. The NPSS reports sexual crimes, lapses in alimony, domestic violence, and femicides. Using the NPSS, we track monthly changes in crimes targeting women using an event-study design. Our results show that lapses in alimony, sexual crimes, and domestic violence follow a U-shaped trend. Each crime declined during the stay-at-home order, and then rose back to pre-COVID levels by October. Then, we analyze potential mechanisms for the reduction in crimes against women. We find that infection risk, victim-criminal match, and banning the sale of alcohol are related to higher declines in crime.

History matters, but differently: Persisting and perpetuating effects on the likelihood of intimate partner violence.

Ecological models of violence center on systems (micro, meso, and macro) surrounding personal history of violence, but few studies properly assess the effects of personal history on the likelihood of victimization. Using the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey (N = 74,204), we examine the effect personal history of violence has on the likelihood of recent intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. We extend the literature by breaking this history matters position into two causal mechanisms: inter-parental violence during childhood (father abused mother) and prior IPV as an adult. We account for the recognized heterogeneity of women experiencing violence by separating our sample into groups of women in vulnerability (based on assault severity and sexual victimization). Our results confirm that personal history matters, but in different ways. While inter-parental violence produces a persistence effect (intergenerational transmission of violence), prior IPV opens the door for the strategic use of violence and hence produces a perpetuating effect.

Socioecological determinants of community resource utilisation among low-income women in Mexico City who experienced male-to-female intimate partner violence.

Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) face multiple barriers to seeking help from community resources, but little research has examined the impact of ecological influences on community resource utilisation among women living in low- and middle-income countries. The current study investigated individual-, relationship-, family-, and community-level influences on community resource utilisation among Mexican women experiencing IPV. Using baseline data from 950 women in Mexico City enrolled in a clinic-based randomised controlled trial, multilevel regressions were performed to assess associations between socioecological factors and women's community resource utilisation. 41.3% women used at least one resource. At the individual-level, every additional resource that women were aware of, was associated with a 20% increase in the total number of resources used (p < .001). Every additional lethal risk factor was associated with a 5% increase in the total number of resources used (p = .004). At the family-level, women who reported having an in-law encourage IPV used 46% more resources (p < .001). At the community-level, stronger supportive norms around community resource utilisation was associated with a 6% increase in the total number of resources (p = .01). These findings suggest the importance of addressing family and community factors in the broader ecological context of Mexican women's help-seeking behaviours.

Sexual Partnership-Level Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru.

To improve understanding of factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and explore its role in sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition, we analyzed partnership-level correlates of IPV among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Peru. In a 2017 cross-sectional study of rectal STI screening and HIV prevention, MSM/TW completed a sociobehavioral survey addressing demographic characteristics, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use, and were tested for rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. Generalized estimating equations estimated individual- and partner-level correlates of IPV. Of 576 participants (median age, 27 years), 7.9% (36/456) of MSM and 15.0% (18/120) of TW reported IPV with ≥ 1 of their last three partners. MSM/TW reporting IPV were more likely to meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder (74.1%) than participants reporting no IPV (56.7%; p < .01). Physical violence (4.5% MSM; 9.2% TW) was associated with stable partnerships (aPR 3.79, 95% CI 1.79-8.04), partner concurrency (4.42, 1.19-16.40), and participant alcohol (4.71, 1.82-12.17) or drug use (5.38, 2.22-13.02) prior to sex. Psychological violence (4.5% MSM; 5.0% TW) was associated with stable partnerships (2.84, 1.01-7.99). Sexual IPV was reported by 1.1% of MSM and 5.0% of TW. Physical, psychological, and sexual IPV were reported in sexual partnerships of Peruvian MSM and TW, particularly with stable partners and in conjunction with substance use.

Immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted inactivated polio vaccine, IPV-Al, following vaccination in children at 2, 4, 6 and at 15-18 months.

BACKGROUND: Availability of affordable inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) is of major importance to meet the increasing global supply needs. The results presented here demonstrate non-inferiority of a reduced-dose, aluminium hydroxide-adjuvanted IPV (IPV-Al) to standard IPV. METHODS: A phase 3, observer-blinded, randomised, clinical trial was conducted in Panama in infants who received either IPV-Al (n = 400) or standard IPV (n = 400) at age 2, 4 and 6 months. In the booster trial, subjects received a single dose of IPV-Al at age 15-18 months. The primary endpoint was type-specific seroconversion, defined as an antibody titre ≥4-fold higher than the estimated maternal antibody titre and a titre ≥8, one month after the primary vaccination series. In the booster trial, the primary endpoint was the type-specific booster effects (geometric mean titre (GMT) post-booster (Day 28)/GMT pre-booster (Day 0). RESULTS: Seroconversion rates following primary vaccination with IPV-Al vs IPV were: 96.1% vs 100% (type 1); 100% vs 100% (type 2); and 99.2% vs 100% (type 3) respectively. IPV-Al was non-inferior to IPV, as the lower 95% confidence limits of the treatment differences were above the pre-defined -10%-point limit: 3.94% (-6.51; -2.01) for type 1; 0.0% (-1.30; -1.37) for type 2; -0.85 (-2.46; 0.40) for type 3. The booster effects for the group primed with IPV-Al versus the group primed with IPV were 25.3 vs 9.2 (type 1), 19.1 vs 6.5 (type 2) and 50.4 vs 12.5 (type 3). IPV-Al had a comparable safety profile to that of IPV. CONCLUSIONS: Non-inferiority of IPV-Al to standard IPV with respect to seroconversion after vaccination at 2, 4 and 6 months was confirmed for all three poliovirus serotypes. A robust booster response was demonstrated following vaccination with IPV-Al, regardless of the primary vaccine received. Both vaccines were well tolerated. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03025750 and NCT03671616. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Immunogenicity of Intramuscular Fractional Dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine.

BACKGROUNDS: Intradermal (id) fractional inactivated poliovirus vaccine ([fIPV] one fifth of normal IPV dose) is safe and immunogenic; however, id administration is perceived as difficult. We compared fIPV immunogenicity administered id or intramuscularly (im). METHODS: This noninferiority trial was conducted among polio vaccine-naive Cuban infants who received 2 IPV doses at 4 and 8 months of age. Infants were randomized into 4 arms: (A) fIPV, 0.1 mL im; (B) fIPV, 0.2 mL im; (C) fIPV, 0.1mL id; and (D) IPV, 0.5 mL im. Blood collected before and after vaccinations was tested for poliovirus-neutralizing antibodies. RESULTS: A total of 196 of 214 (91.6%) enrolled children completed study. Seroconversion after 2 IPV doses in each arm were as follows: (A) 97.3% (90.6-99.7), 98.7% (92.7-99.9), and 90.5% (81.5-96.1) for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively; (B) 97.2% (90.3-99.7), 100%, 95.8% (88.3-99.1) for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively; (C) 89.3% (71.8-97.7), 92.9% (76.5-99.1), 82.1% (63.1-93.9) for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and (D) 100%, 100%, 100% for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Seroconversion with fIPV im was noninferior to fIPV id for all serotypes. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated noninferiority of fIPV im compared with id when administered at 4 and 8 months of age. Further investigations in an earlier infant schedule should be pursued to explore fIPV im as option for dose-sparing strategy in countries reluctant to use fIPV id due to programmatic difficulties of id administration.

Intimate Partner Violence Against Transgender Women: Prevalence and Correlates in Lima, Peru (2016-2018).

Limited data exists on intimate partner violence (IPV) among transgender women (TW), though global trends suggest IPV is associated with HIV risk in this population. We describe the prevalence of verbal, physical, and/or sexual violence as well as participant- and partner-level correlates of IPV among TW in Lima, Peru. Among 389 respondents, 15.2% reported IPV with one or more of their last three sexual partners: 9.2% verbal, 8.2% physical, and 2.3% sexual violence. Physical and verbal violence were more common with stable partners (aPR 3.46, 95% CI 1.17-10.25, aPR 2.46, 95% CI 1.14-5.28, respectively). Physical violence was associated with condomless receptive anal intercourse (cRAI) (aPR 2.22, 95% CI 1.19-4.13) and partner alcohol use (aPR 4.38, 95% CI 1.56-12.33) while verbal violence correlated with participant inebriation (aPR 4.86, 95% CI 1.63-14.46). Our results link IPV with stable partnerships, alcohol use, and cRAI, suggesting TW in Peru may benefit from multidimensional IPV prevention strategies to foster supportive relationships and reduce HIV transmission.

Behavioral, Psychological, Gender, and Health Service Correlates to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection among Young Adult Mexican-American Women Living in a Disadvantaged Community.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Despite this, there has been limited research on the correlates to HSV-2 among disadvantaged and marginalized women, particularly among Latinas. Data for the present analysis include 125 young adult Mexican-American women enrolled in a longitudinal study in a disadvantaged urban community in San Antonio, Texas. The current rate of tested HSV-2 infection is 56.8%. Our findings suggest strong comorbidity of genital herpes with injecting heroin use, Hepatitis C, sexual violence, incarceration, and mental illness. Contributing to this population's nexus of risk are the low rates of health service utilization among those infected with HSV-2. Integration between behavioral health and primary care, including access to preventative services, are essential for improving the health of Latinas living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.