Adaptation of the HIV Care Continuum as a Method for Evaluating Syphilis and Gonorrhea Disease Control Activities in Los Angeles County.

BACKGROUND: Treatment verification and contact elicitation are core approaches used to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Methodology adapted from the HIV care continuum is presented as an evaluation and communication tool for STD control activities. METHODS: Sexually transmitted disease surveillance and program data for Los Angeles County in 2013 were used to construct a 2-part continuum to examine syphilis (all stages) and gonorrhea outcomes among index patients and elicited contacts. The Index Case Continuum (Part 1) assesses the proportion of patients who were treated, assigned for interview, interviewed, and provided name and locating information for at least 1 contact. The Elicited Contact Continuum (Part 2) assesses the proportion of contacts who were located, interviewed, and treated. RESULTS: Among 3668 patients with syphilis, 97% (n = 3556) were treated, 72% (n = 2633) were interviewed, and 25% (n = 920) provided name and locating information for at least 1 contact. The corresponding numbers for 12,541 gonorrhea cases were 95% (n = 11,936), 45% (n = 5633), and 16% (1944), respectively. Among the 1392 contacts elicited from syphilis cases, 53% (n = 735) were either interviewed or determined to not need an interview and 43% (n = 595) were treated. The corresponding numbers for the 2323 contacts elicited from gonorrhea cases were 53% (n = 1221) and 46% (n = 1075), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of the HIV continuum is a useful tool for evaluating treatment verification and contact elicitation activities. In Los Angeles County, this approach revealed significant drop-offs in the proportion of index cases naming contacts and in the proportion of contacts who are interviewed and treated.

A comparison of MSM stigma, HIV stigma and depression in HIV-positive Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM).

Little research has examined differences in HIV stigma versus MSM stigma and the role of these stigmas in depression for HIV-positive Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM), subgroups disproportionately impacted by HIV in the US. MSM stigma, HIV stigma, depression, stress and social support were examined among HIV-positive Latino (n = 100) and African American (n = 99) MSM patients at five HIV clinics in Los Angeles County, California. In multiple regression models, Latino MSM had higher HIV stigma scores (p = 0.002) but lower MSM stigma scores (p < 0.001) compared to African American MSM. General support and stress were associated with HIV stigma (p < 0.001), but not MSM stigma. Both HIV stigma (p < 0.0001) and MSM stigma (p < 0.0001) were associated with depression. These data underscore the differences in experienced stigma for Latino and African American MSM and can be used to shape effective stigma reduction programs and behavioral counseling.

Do social support, stress, disclosure and stigma influence retention in HIV care for Latino and African American men who have sex with men and women?

Limited research has examined the role that social support, stress, stigma and HIV disclosure play in retention in HIV care for African Americans and Latinos. Among 398 Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM) and women, the major predictor of retention in HIV care was disclosure of HIV status to more social network members (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9). Among those who had disclosed (n = 334), female gender (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.1) and disclosure of HIV status to more network members (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9) was associated with retention in HIV care. General stress was associated with retention in care (OR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.3) for African American MSM who had disclosed. More MSM-stigma was associated with poorer retention (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.8, 0.9) for Latino MSM. Interventions that help patients safely disclose their HIV status to more social network members may improve HIV care retention as would social network counseling for Latino MSM to reduce MSM-stigma.

A youth-focused case management intervention to engage and retain young gay men of color in HIV care.

HIV-positive Latino and African-American young men who have sex with men (YMSM) have low rates of engagement and retention in HIV care. An evaluation of a youth-focused case management intervention (YCM) designed to improve retention in HIV care is presented. HIV-positive Latino and African-American YMSM, ages 18-24, who were newly diagnosed with HIV or in intermittent HIV care, were enrolled into a psychosocial case management intervention administered by Bachelor-level peer case managers at two HIV clinics in Los Angeles County, California. Participants met weekly with a case manager for the first two months and monthly for the next 22 months. Retention in HIV primary care at three and six months of follow-up was evaluated as were factors associated with retention in care. From April 2006 to April 2009, 61 HIV-positive participants were enrolled into the intervention (54% African-American, 46% Latino; mean age 21 years). At the time of enrollment into the intervention, 78% of the YMSM had a critical or immediate need for stable housing, nutrition support, substance abuse treatment, or mental health services. Among intervention participants (n=61), 90% were retained in primary HIV care at three months and 70% at six months. Among those who had previously been in intermittent care (n=33), the proportion attending all HIV primary care visits in the previous six months increased from 7% to 73% following participation in the intervention (p<0.0001). Retention in HIV care at six months was associated with increased number of intervention visits (p=0.05), more hours in the intervention (p=0.02), and prescription of HAART. These data highlight the critical needs of HIV-positive African-American and Latino YMSM and demonstrate that a clinic-based YCM can be effective in stabilizing hard-to-reach clients and retaining them in consistent HIV care.

Social support, stress and social network characteristics among HIV-positive Latino and African American women and men who have sex with men.

Social support and stress have been poorly characterized for persons with HIV, particularly for racial/ethnic minorities. To address this gap, data on general and HIV-specific support and stress and social network characteristics were collected for 399 African American and Latino women and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Los Angeles County. African American (mean = 41; SD = 17) and Latina (mean = 40; SD = 19) women reported the highest general support. Stress was also highest for Latina women (mean = 18; SD = 11) and higher compared to Latino and African American MSM. African American and Latina women reported receiving most of their social support and stress from family members, while African American and Latino MSM received their support and stress from friends and providers. Finally, Latina and African American women disclosed their HIV status to more network members and received more HIV-specific support compared to MSM. Interventions are needed to help Latino and African American MSM enhance their support networks to manage a stigmatized illness.

Factors associated with late HIV testing for Latinos diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles.

Latinos are more likely to test late for HIV infection compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. A population-based interview study was used to examine factors associated with late HIV testing for Latinos diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles County (LAC) to develop more effective HIV testing outreach strategies. Latinos testing for HIV within one year of an AIDS diagnosis were considered as late testers, while those diagnosed with AIDS more than one year after an HIV diagnosis were defined as non-late testers. After adjusting for age, education, country of birth, and injection drug use in a logistic regression analysis, completion of the interview in Spanish was the main factor associated with late testing (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.9, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs): 1.4, 6.0). Latinos testing late for HIV were also more likely to test due to illness (p<0.0001) and less likely to test as part of a clinical screening (p<0.0001). Late testers were more likely to receive their first positive HIV test as a hospital inpatient (p<0.0001) and less likely to test positive at a community health center or public clinic (p=0.05). To accomplish widespread and timely HIV testing for Latinos in LAC, Spanish-language social marketing campaigns are needed and Spanish-speaking patients should be offered HIV testing in all clinical settings.

Demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors associated with methamphetamine use among MSM and non-MSM diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles County.

Demographic and behavioral factors associated with methamphetamine use are presented for 455 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 228 non-MSM diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles County (LAC) from 2000 to 2004, as there are limited population-based data for these subgroups. Lifetime methamphetamine use was 35% for MSM, 14% for non-MSM, 50% for white MSM, and 35% for black MSM. Methamphetamine use in the previous 12 months among MSM (11%) and non-MSM (0.4%) was less than lifetime use. Compared to MSM with no history of methamphetamine use in a multivariate analysis, MSM methamphetamine users were more likely to be non-Latino (white or black) (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 4.9) compared to Latino and reported > or = 10 sexual partners in the previous 12 months (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.6). These data indicate that methamphetamine has been widely used by both MSM and non-MSM with AIDS in LAC and that lifetime use is associated with sexual risk behaviors among MSM.

Locating People Diagnosed With HIV for Public Health Action: Utility of HIV Case Surveillance and Other Data Sources.

INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) case surveillance and other health care databases are increasingly being used for public health action, which has the potential to optimize the health outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH). However, often PLWH cannot be located based on the contact information available in these data sources. We assessed the accuracy of contact information for PLWH in HIV case surveillance and additional data sources and whether time since diagnosis was associated with accurate contact information in HIV case surveillance and successful contact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Case Surveillance-Based Sampling (CSBS) project was a pilot HIV surveillance system that selected a random population-based sample of people diagnosed with HIV from HIV case surveillance registries in 5 state and metropolitan areas. From November 2012 through June 2014, CSBS staff members attempted to locate and interview 1800 sampled people and used 22 data sources to search for contact information. RESULTS: Among 1063 contacted PLWH, HIV case surveillance data provided accurate telephone number, address, or HIV care facility information for 239 (22%), 412 (39%), and 827 (78%) sampled people, respectively. CSBS staff members used additional data sources, such as support services and commercial people-search databases, to locate and contact PLWH with insufficient contact information in HIV case surveillance. PLWH diagnosed <1 year ago were more likely to have accurate contact information in HIV case surveillance than were PLWH diagnosed ≥1 year ago ( P = .002), and the benefit from using additional data sources was greater for PLWH with more longstanding HIV infection ( P < .001). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: When HIV case surveillance cannot provide accurate contact information, health departments can prioritize searching additional data sources, especially for people with more longstanding HIV infection.

Population-based linkage of AIDS and cancer registries: importance of linkage algorithm.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates linkage algorithms used in 1997 for Los Angeles County by the AIDS-Cancer Match Registry to estimate the risk of cancer among people with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: In 2001, a linkage between the Los Angeles County cancer and AIDS registries using a five-pass algorithm was compared with the 1997 linkage results that used a two-pass algorithm. RESULTS: The five-pass linkage detected all of the previously identified matches (6571) as well as another 431 (6.2%), which had been missed. CONCLUSIONS: Record linkage methodologic decisions can markedly affect matching sensitivity and specificity. It is probable that the AIDS-Cancer Match Registry two-pass linkage has underestimated the risks of some cancers among people with AIDS.

Methods to Obtain a Representative Sample of Ryan White-Funded Patients for a Needs Assessment in Los Angeles County: Results from a Replicable Approach.

The Health Resources and Services Administration requires that jurisdictions receiving Ryan White (RW) funding justify need, set priorities, and provide allocations using evidence-based methods. Methods and results from the 2011 Los Angeles Coordinated HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment-Care (LACHNA-Care) study are presented. Individual-level weights were applied to expand the sample from 400 to 18 912 persons, consistent with the 19 915 clients in the system. Awareness, need, and utilization for medical outpatient care were high (>90%). Other services (eg, child care) had limited awareness (21%). Majority of participants reported at least 1 service gap (81%). Lack of insurance (risk ratio [RR] = 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-6.2), substance use (RR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3-6.4), and past lapses in medical care (RR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3-5.9) were associated with gaps. Within clusters, past incarceration was associated with gaps for housing (RR = 13.5, 95% CI: 3.5-52.1), transportation (RR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2-8.4), and case management (RR = 4.0, 95% CI: 1.3-12.2). Applied methods resulted in representative data instrumental to RW program planning efforts.

Project Engage: Snowball Sampling and Direct Recruitment to Identify and Link Hard-to-Reach HIV-Infected Persons Who Are Out of Care.

INTRODUCTION: Innovative strategies are needed to identify and link hard-to-find persons living with HIV (PLWH) who are out of care (OOC). Project Engage, a health department-based project in Los Angeles County, used a mixed-methods approach to locate and provide linkage for PLWH who have limited contact with HIV medical and nonmedical services. METHODS: Incentivized social network recruitment (SNR) and direct recruitment (DR) was used to identify eligible OOC alters for a linkage intervention that included HIV clinic selection, appointment and transportation support, reminder calls/texts, and clinic navigation. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2015, 112 alters were identified using SNR (n = 74) and DR (n = 38). Most alters were male (80%), African American (38%), and gay (60%). Sizable percentages were homeless (78%), had engaged in sex work (32%) in the previous 6 months, had injected drugs (47%), were incarcerated in the previous 12 months (50%), and had only received HIV care during the previous 5 years while incarcerated (24%). SNR alters were more likely than DR alters to be African American, uninsured, unemployed, homeless, sex workers, injection drug users, recently incarcerated, and have unmet service needs. Alters linked to care within 3 (69%), 4-6 (5%), and 7-12 months (8%), and 72% were retained at 6-12 months. The percent virally suppressed increased (27% vs. 41%) and the median viral load decreased (P = 0.003) between linkage and follow-up at 6-12 months. DISCUSSION: The alternative approaches presented were effective at locating marginalized HIV-positive persons who are OOC for linkage and retention. The SNR approach was most successful at identifying alters with serious social challenges and gaps in needed medical/ancillary services.

Antiretroviral Prescription and Viral Suppression in a Representative Sample of HIV-Infected Persons in Care in 4 Large Metropolitan Areas of the United States, Medical Monitoring Project, 2011-2013.

BACKGROUND: Comparisons of antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription and viral suppression among people in HIV care across US metropolitan areas are limited. Medical Monitoring Project, 2011-2013, data were used to describe and compare associations between sociodemographics and ART prescription and viral suppression for persons receiving HIV care. SETTING: Chicago, Los Angeles County (LAC), Philadelphia, and San Francisco in the United States. METHODS: Bivariate and multivariable methods were used. RESULTS: The proportion of patients prescribed ART (91%-93%) and virally suppressed (79%-88%) was consistent although more persons were virally suppressed in San Francisco compared with the other areas, and a smaller proportion was virally suppressed in Philadelphia compared with Chicago. In the combined cohort, persons aged 30-49 years were less likely than persons 50+ (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) -0.97, confidence interval (CI): 0.94 to 0.99); persons reporting non-injection drug use were less likely than non-users (aPR = 0.94, CI: 0.90 to 0.98); and Hispanics were more likely than whites (aPR - 1.04, CI: 1.01 to 1.08) to be prescribed ART. Blacks (aPR = 0.93; CI: 0.87 to 0.99) and homeless persons (aPR = 0.87; CI: 0.80 to 0.95) were less likely to be virally suppressed in the combined cohort. In LAC, persons aged 30-49 years were less likely than those 50+ to be prescribed ART (aPR = 0.94, CI: 0.90 to 0.98). Younger persons (18-29) (aPR = 0.77; CI: 0.60 to 0.99) and persons with less than a high school education (aPR = 0.80; CI: 0.67 to 0.95) in Philadelphia, blacks (aPR = 0.90; CI: 0.83 to 0.99) and men who have sex with women only (aPR = 0.89; CI: 0.80 to 0.99) in Chicago, and homeless individuals in LAC (aPR = 0.80; CI: 0.67 to 0.94) were less likely to be virally suppressed. CONCLUSION: Data highlight the need to increase ART prescription to achieve viral suppression among younger persons, noninjection drug users, blacks, and homeless persons in US metropolitan areas and underscores the importance of region-specific strategies for affected subgroups.

Plasma Tenofovir Levels to Support Adherence to TDF/FTC Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in MSM in Los Angeles, California.

BACKGROUND: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective against HIV acquisition when taken as prescribed. Strategies that identify and intervene with those challenged by adherence to daily medication are needed. SETTING: PATH-PrEP was an open-label single-arm interventional cohort study conducted at 2 community-based clinical sites in Los Angeles, CA. METHODS: We enrolled self-identified men who have sex with men and transgender women ≥18 years of age at an elevated risk of HIV acquisition. Participants received a postexposure prophylaxis (PEP)-based or PrEP-based HIV prevention package for at least 48 weeks. Plasma tenofovir levels from each PrEP visit assessed as below the limit of quantitation (<10 ng/mL) triggered increased adherence support. RESULTS: Three hundred one participants enrolled. Forty-eight-week retention in the PrEP cohort was 75.1%. Biomarker evidence of PrEP adherence consistent with ≥4 doses per week at weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 was found in 83.1%, 83.4%, 75.7%, 71.6%, and 65.5% of participants, respectively; younger and African American participants were less likely to have protective drug levels. Most of those with suboptimal adherence had adherence improvement after brief intervention. One seroconversion occurred in a participant who discontinued PrEP. Nearly half (46.4%) of participants were diagnosed with at least 1 incident sexually transmitted infection during 48 weeks of study follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: PrEP was acceptable and well tolerated in a diverse population of men who have sex with men in Los Angeles. A brief intervention triggered from biomarkers of poor adherence was associated with improved adherence. Drug level monitoring has the potential to allow targeting of additional adherence support to those struggling with daily tablet adherence.

A randomized trial of directly administered antiretroviral therapy and adherence case management intervention.

BACKGROUND: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of a directly administered antiretroviral therapy program (DAART) and intensive adherence case management (IACM) intervention on virologic and immunologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among patients at 3 public human immunodeficiency virus clinics in Los Angeles County, California. METHODS: Participants included 250 treatment-naive and treatment-experienced persons for whom no more than 1 prior HAART regimen had failed. Five days per week for 6 months, a community worker delivered 1 HAART dose to DAART participants and observed the participant take it. IACM participants met weekly with a case manager to overcome barriers to HAART adherence. A control group (the standard of care [SOC] group) received the usual care. RESULTS: The majority of patients were Latino (64%) or African American (24%); 57% were monolingual Spanish speakers. Seventy-five percent of the patients were male, and 64% reported an annual income of <10,000 dollars. In an intent-to-treat analysis, no statistical differences were observed in the percentage of patients with an undetectable viral load (i.e., <400 copies/mL) at 6 months between the DAART group (54%), IACM group (60%), and SOC group (54%; P>.05). An on-treatment analysis determined that there were no statistical differences in the percentage of patients with an undetectable viral load at 6 months between the DAART group (71%), IACM group (80%), and SOC group (74%; P>.05). Additionally, there were no statistical differences in 6-month changes in the CD4+ cell count or in self-reported adherence to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with limited prior HAART experience and adherence barriers that had not been assessed before randomization, no differences were found in virologic or immunologic response for DAART or IACM, compared with SOC, at 6 months. DAART and IACM did not improve short-term outcomes when SOC included other means of adherence support that were not controlled for by the study design.

Implementation and Operational Research: The Navigation Program: An Intervention to Reengage Lost Patients at 7 HIV Clinics in Los Angeles County, 2012-2014.

The Navigation Program is a health department-community agency collaboration to reengage lost HIV clinic patients in Los Angeles County using best practices from disease investigator services locator activities and the Antiretroviral Treatment Access Study (ARTAS), a CDC-recommended intervention. Clinic databases were reviewed to identify HIV patients who: (1) had no HIV care visits in 6-12 months and last viral load was greater than 200 copies per milliliter; (2) had no HIV care visits in >12 months; (3) were newly diagnosed and never in care; or (4) were recently released from jail/prison/other institution with no regular HIV medical provider. Patients were contacted by trained Navigators using locator information from clinic medical records, HIV/sexually transmitted disease surveillance, and people-finder databases and offered enrollment in a modified ARTAS intervention. Among the 1139 lost clinic patients identified, 36% were in care elsewhere, 29% could not be located, 8% returned to the clinic independently, 4% declined enrollment, and 7% (n = 78) were located and enrolled in the intervention. Participants received an average of 4.5 Navigator sessions over 11.6 hours. Among reengaged patients, 68% linked within 3 months, 85% linked within 6 months, and 94% linked within 12 months, and 82% of linked patients were retained in care 12 months after study enrollment. The percentage of linked patients virally suppressed was compared at time of linkage by the Navigators (52%) with a second viral load measure after linkage to care (63%) (χ(2) = 11.8; P = 0.01). The combined disease investigator services/ARTAS model of reengagement was effective for locating and reengaging lost HIV clinic patients. Access to HIV surveillance data is critical for the efficient identification of persons truly in need of reengagement.

The role of person-to-person transmission in an epidemiologic study of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: Recent laboratory studies suggest that may be transmitted from person-to-person. Recent exposure to persons with pneumonia (PCP) among HIV-infected persons with and without PCP was assessed to evaluate the person-to-person transmission hypothesis. DESIGN: A case-control study design was used. METHODS: In Seattle and Los Angeles, a history of contact with persons with PCP was compared between HIV-infected patients with laboratory-confirmed PCP (n = 209) and HIV-infected patients with no history of PCP (n = 254). RESULTS: No association was found between past exposures to persons with PCP and an increased odds for PCP [odds ratio (OR), 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3-1.1] in the total study group. In addition, no association was observed when the analysis was restricted to cases and controls who were not on adequate PCP prophylaxis in the previous 3 months (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3-1.5). Most cases in Los Angeles (95%) and Seattle (96%) were not receiving PCP prophylaxis in the 3 months prior to a PCP diagnosis. Many controls in Los Angeles (54%) and Seattle (47%) were also not on prophylaxis. In addition, 23% of the Seattle cases and 42% of the Los Angeles cases were unaware of their HIV infection at the time of their PCP diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although most participants were not on adequate prophylaxis, we found no evidence of person-to-person transmission of Pneumocystis carinii in a population with advanced HIV disease. The difficulty quantifying past exposures to persons with PCP is a limitation of this type of research.

Survival in patients with HIV infection and viral hepatitis B or C: a cohort study.

AIM: To assess survival in patients with HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection. METHODS: A prospective university clinic cohort of 472 patients with HIV infection who were followed for 8343 patient-months. The outcome measures were the survival from HIV or liver disease assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable analysis using a Cox regression model identified variables associated with mortality. RESULTS: Patients were divided into four subgroups: HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) (n = 72), HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) (n = 256), multiple hepatitides (n = 18) and HIV alone (n = 126). One hundred and thirty-four patients (28.4%) died during follow-up. Liver mortality was noted in 55 patients, representing 12% of the cohort and 41% of the total mortality. Survival curves were similar in patients with HIV alone and those with any viral hepatitis co-infection. Liver deaths were more common in patients with multiple hepatitides (28%) HIV/HBV (15%), HIV/HCV co-infection (13%) versus HIV alone (6%). Liver mortality was comparable in HIV/HBV as in HIV/HCV co-infected patients and was not associated with gender, ethnicity, age, or mode of infection. HIV deaths were similar in patients co-infected with viral hepatitis compared with those with HIV alone. In patients with viral hepatitis co-infection, initial CD4 cell count > 200 x 10(6) cells/l and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were associated with significantly reduced liver mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HIV and viral hepatitis had greater liver mortality than patients with HIV alone, but had comparable HIV mortality. Co-infection with hepatitis B is associated with hepatic outcomes similar to hepatitis C. Control of immunosuppression with HAART and CD4 counts > 200 x 10(6) cells/l are associated with better hepatic outcomes and should be the first priority in patients with HIV and viral hepatitis.

The feasibility of a community-based directly administered antiretroviral therapy program.

Improved treatment-adherence support programs are needed to help human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons comply with complex highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) regimens. In an experimental directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) program, treatment-naive and treatment-experienced persons who experienced failure of no more than 1 prior regimen were recruited from 3 public HIV/AIDS clinics in Los Angeles County. For 6 months, trained community workers observed ingestion of 1 of 2 daily HAART doses, 5 days per week, and questioned the patient about the second dose, which enabled intense adherence monitoring and real-time intervention. From November 2001 through November 2003, there were 67 DAART patients enrolled (69% Latino, 21% African American, and 9% white; 63% with annual income of <10,000 dollars). Preliminary findings show that a DAART program based in 3 public HIV/AIDS clinics was feasible in a low-income urban population. Effective communication between the DAART staff, the medical providers, and the pharmacy is essential for the successful implementation of this program.

Risk of opportunistic infection in the HAART era among HIV-infected Latinos born in the United States compared to Latinos born in Mexico and Central America.

There are few studies that compare opportunistic infection (OI) rates for U.S.-born, Mexican-born, and Central American-born Latinos in the pre- or post-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. Data on 803 Latino persons in treatment for HIV infection in Los Angeles, California, were examined to evaluate differences in risk for specific and total OIs by country of origin. In a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis that controlled for HAART use, CD4 counts, and age, U.S.-born Latino women were more likely than Central American-born Latino women to develop an OI from 1996 to 2000 (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.9, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.3, 6.5). In a Poisson regression analysis, U.S.-born Latino men and women combined were at greater risk for HIV encephalopathy (RR = 3.4, 95% CIs: 1.2, 10.0) and Kaposi's sarcoma (RR = 2.9, 95% CIs: 1.1, 7.6). In addition to underreporting that may result from the use of English-based criteria for diagnosing HIV encephalopathy among Spanish-speaking patients, these HAART era data suggest that variation in OI risk among Latinos may also be explained by acculturation factors, such as loss of social support systems and negative lifestyle changes.

Sexual behaviors of racial/ethnic minority young men who have sex with men.

We assessed changes in sexual behaviors from baseline to 12-month follow-up among a multisite cohort of HIV-positive racial/ethnic minority young men who have sex with men enrolled in an outreach, linkage, and retention study. In the 3 months prior to their baseline interview, more than three-quarters of participants (78.5%) reported sex with at least one man (mean: 2.3 partners). Among sexually active participants, 44.2% had one partner; 50.5% had 2-9 partners; and 5.3% had 10 or more partners. Over three-quarters (77.5%) reported engaging in sex with at least one steady partner, 43.5% with at least one casual partner, and 29.5% with both casual and steady partners. Exchanging sex for money, drugs, or other needs was reported by 13.2%. Use of condoms during oral and anal sex increased significantly from baseline to 12-month follow-up (oral sex: 29.1-42.5%, p=0.02; anal sex: 67.8-76.2%, p=0.05). While unprotected anal sex significantly decreased among individuals who were new to care (34.8-18.3%, p<0.0001), it significantly increased among individuals who were previously in care (26.7-37.5%, p=0.03). Overall, exchange sex decreased from 13.3% at baseline to 5.0% at 12 months (p=0.001). Despite reductions in unprotected sexual encounters and exchange sex through one year of follow-up, many participants continued to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Retention within this study appeared to be associated with decreases in high-risk sexual behaviors, especially among participants who were new to care, although more research is needed. Future studies should investigate sexual network characteristics and the prevalence of behaviors such as serosorting.