Off-label Use of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy: A Single Center Retrospective Review of Youth Living With HIV With Detectable HIV RNA Starting Injectable Therapy.

Nineteen youth living with HIV (YLWH) opted for injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine without oral lead in and without achieving an undetectable HIV viral load (VL) for the 3 months prior to initiation. All achieved undetectable status within 3 months (3 injections) and maintained an undetectable status through 6-12 months of therapy.

Treasure (Hunt for) Your Health! Addressing Pediatric Social Determinants of Health Through Child-Friendly Community Engagement Events.

Social determinants of health (SDoH), including factors such as education level, housing, poverty, racism, and food insecurity and their impact on health outcomes have been well documented. The "Wayne Pediatrics Health and Nutrition Expo" held at Detroit's Eastern Market was an activity-based health and nutrition event addressing pediatric SDoH. Partnering with community organizations, the event had 10 stations addressing SDoH: access to a primary-care pediatrician; HIV-care and prevention; childhood literacy; clothing & winter coats; mental health and childhood development; nutrition; staying active; vaccination; and food insecurity. The free, public event featured a child-themed treasure hunt and map, music, giveaways, and live demonstrations, all in a family-friendly park atmosphere. While SDoH are considered "non-medical" factors that contribute to health and may be difficult to completely address for any individual child, our practice addressed several key SDoH at a single-day, hands-on, child-friendly community event based on the local needs of children.

Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Current Research.

Research confirms that children and adolescents are experiencing significant anxiety and depression during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Adolescents may be at greater risk, particularly females. Social isolation, loneliness, lack of physical exercise, and family stress may contribute to these problems. Children who feel unsafe with regards to coronavirus disease 2019 may be more likely to experience somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Parental stress and mental health problems may put children at an increased risk for maltreatment. Medical and behavioral health professionals should routinely screen for depression and anxiety. Increased access to mental health services will be critical.

A comparison of friendship quality and social functioning among children with perinatally acquired HIV, children with persistent asthma, and healthy children of HIV-positive mothers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the friendships and social expectations of children with perinatally acquired HIV and compare them to children with moderate to severe persistent asthma and healthy children of HIV-positive mothers. METHODS: 70 children (ages 8-14 years) were recruited from pediatric allergy and immunology multidisciplinary clinics and hospital-based HIV-support programming. Children completed measures of friendship quality and interpersonal functioning. Caregivers completed a measure of child psychosocial functioning. RESULTS: Children with asthma, not HIV, demonstrated poorer indicators of friendship and the most negative social expectations of the three groups. Children with HIV maintained best friendships and rated themselves as socially well-adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive multidisciplinary services and ancillary supports may have buffered against stressors and facilitated positive psychosocial outcomes in children with HIV. Children with asthma displayed higher disease activity, possibly contributing to poorer outcomes. Results suggest a need to better understand the protective factors that enhance social functioning in children with HIV.