Mental Health Screening Practices Among Primary Care Providers in High HIV Burden Areas of the South: Does Having Patients with HIV Matter?

Mental health (MH) disorders are associated with HIV-related risk and health outcomes. Primary care providers (PCPs) conducting MH screenings can link persons living with HIV (PWH) to appropriate services, particularly in HIV burden areas of Southeastern States (the South). Little data exist on PCPs' MH screening practices. Depression, MH history, and substance use screenings among PCPs were examined in the South. Rao-Scott chi-square (χ2[df]) statistics (p ≤ 0.05) analyzed MH screening between PCPs with and without PWH patients. Compared with PCPs without PWH patients, PCPs with PWH patients routinely screened for substance use more frequently (50.6% vs. 43.2%; χ2[1] = 20.3; p < 0.0001). Compared with PCPs without PWH patients, PCPs with PWH patients routinely screened for depression less frequently (36.2% vs. 50.9%; χ2[1] = 32.0; p < 0.0001). Providers increasing MH screenings will improve HIV-related outcomes in the South.

Roles for Pharmacists in the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" Initiative.

In 2019, President Trump announced a new initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE). EHE will use 3 key strategies-diagnose, treat, and prevent-to reduce new HIV infections at least 90% by 2030, as well as new laboratory methods and epidemiological techniques to respond quickly to potential outbreaks. Partnerships are an important component in the initiative's success. Pharmacists and pharmacies can play important roles in EHE, including dispensing antiretroviral therapy and providing HIV screening, adherence counseling, medication therapy management, preexposure prophylaxis, and nonprescription syringe sales. The objective of this report is to discuss potential roles that pharmacists and pharmacies can play under the key strategies of EHE.

Comparison of Selected Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Risk Behaviors of Black/African American Men Who Have Sex with Men Only and Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women, Southeastern United States, 2013-2016.

PURPOSE: Compare selected sociodemographic and sexual risk characteristics of black/African American (black) men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) in the southeastern United States (the South). METHODS: We conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses to explore the sociodemographic characteristics and sexual risk behaviors of 584 MSMW and MSMO in the South. RESULTS: MSMW had lesser odds of having a college or graduate degree (aOR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.54) and having > 2 male oral sex partners (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.48) compared to MSMO. MSMW had greater odds of being homeless (aOR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.80, 5.38) and selecting "top" sexual position (aOR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.07, 2.72) compared to MSMO. CONCLUSION: MSMW in the South experience social and structural factors that may affect their risk for HIV infection. Strategies to address these factors should be considered in prevention and care efforts for this population.