A genetic marker of risk in HIV-infected individuals with a history of hazardous drinking.

Impulsivity and sensation seeking have been linked to hazardous drinking, increased sexual risk behaviors, and lower treatment adherence among persons living with HIV (PLH). The dopamine active transporter1 (DAT1or SLC6A3) gene has been linked to impulsivity and sensation seeking in several populations but has not been investigated among populations of PLH. This study used data from 201 PLH who report a recent history of heavy episodic drinking. Results indicate that DAT1*10R vs DAT1*9R genotype was related to higher propensity for risk taking (standardized difference score (d) = 0.30 [95% CI: 0.02;0.59]), more hazardous drinking (d = 0.35 [0.05;0.64]), and more condomless sex (rate ratio (RR)= 2.35[1.94; 2.85]), but were counter-intuitively associated with fewer sexual partners (RR = 0.65[0.43;0.91]) and possibly better treatment adherence (d = 0.32 [-0.01;0.65]). Results are consistent with the suggested associations between DAT1 and risk-taking behavior. The counter-intuitive finding for partner selection and treatment adherence may be evidence of additional factors that place PLH at risk for engaging in hazardous drinking as well as relationship difficulties and problems with treatment adherence (e.g., depressive symptoms, avoidant coping, trauma history). Caution is required when using a single gene variant as a marker of complex behaviors and these findings need to be replicated using larger samples and additional variants.

Decision-Making about COVID-19 Vaccines among Health Care Workers and Their Adolescent Children.

Health care workers promote COVID-19 vaccination for adolescent patients, and as parents, may influence their own children to get vaccinated. We conducted virtual, semi-structured qualitative interviews with vaccinated health care workers and their adolescent children to explore their decision-making process for COVID-19 vaccination. In total, 21 health care workers (physicians, nurses, and medical staff) and their adolescent children (N = 17) participated in interviews. The following three themes described parent-adolescent decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination: (1) family anticipation and hesitation about COVID-19 vaccine approval; (2) parents' or adolescents' choice: the decision maker for adolescent COVID-19 vaccination; and (3) leveraging one's vaccination status to encourage others to get vaccinated. Nurses encouraged adolescent autonomy in decisions for COVID-19 vaccination while physicians viewed vaccination as the parent's decision. Health care workers and their adolescent children used role-modeling to motivate unvaccinated peers and may model their decision-making process for adolescent COVID-19 vaccination with their own children to support their patients' and parents' vaccine decisions.

Adolescent Self-Consent for COVID-19 Vaccination: Views of Healthcare Workers and Their Adolescent Children on Vaccination Autonomy.

PURPOSE: This study explored the perceptions of healthcare worker parents (physicians, nurses, and staff) and their adolescents (aged 12-17 years) on adolescent self-consent to COVID-19 vaccination by applying the concept of positive deviance of those already vaccinated against COVID-19. METHODS: We used a qualitative descriptive design to conduct individual, semi-structured interviews with COVID-19-vaccinated healthcare workers in Southern California and their vaccinated adolescent children. Separate interviews were conducted with parents and adolescents from November to December 2021 using digital phone conferencing software. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic and constant comparative analysis techniques were used to identify relevant themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Twenty one healthcare workers (9 nurses, one nurse practitioner, one technologist, and 10 physicians) and their adolescents (N = 17) participated. Three overarching themes were identified to describe participants' perspectives about adolescent self-consent for COVID-19 vaccination: (1) Family values and practices around adolescent vaccination; (2) Differences in parent and adolescent support for vaccine self-consent laws; and (3) Parent and adolescent uncertainty on readiness for vaccine self-consent laws. Adolescents largely supported self-consent while parents supported the policy if they would be able to have a discussion with their adolescent prior to the decision. DISCUSSION: Parents and adolescents supported adolescent self-consent for COVID-19 vaccination, with the reservation that adolescents should discuss the decision alongside their parents to exercise their medical autonomy with supportive guidance. Greater adolescent involvement in making decisions and providing self-consent for healthcare, including vaccines, could prepare adolescents to have a greater sense of autonomy over their health and contribute to population health measures.

Influence of Perceived Adolescent Vaccination Desire on Parent Decision for Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccination.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of adolescents' desire for COVID-19 vaccination on their parents' vaccination decision for their adolescent. METHODS: We surveyed an internet-based panel of 1,051 parents of 1,519 adolescents aged 11-18 years from February to March 2021 about their adolescent's desire for COVID-19 vaccination and whether they consider this desire in their vaccination decision for the adolescent. We used multivariable Poisson regression to assess associations with parent-stated likelihood of adolescent vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 58.3% of parents reported that they and their adolescents had the same vaccination desire; similarly, 58.3% considered their adolescent's desire in their vaccination decision. These latter parents were more likely to vaccinate their adolescent than parents who did not consider their adolescent's desire (adjusted risk ratio = 1.25 [95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.50]). DISCUSSION: Most parents considered their adolescent's desire for COVID-19 vaccination. These parents were more likely to state that they will have their adolescent receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Community-Based Trauma-Informed Care Following Immigrant Family Reunification: A Narrative Review.

Many immigrant families made the decision to separate from their children and migrate to the United States (US) hoping to reunite when able. Contrary to what is envisioned, the ultimate reunification can be a challenging transition. Reestablishing the parent-child relationship can be hindered by the anger, distress, vulnerability, and abuse the child may have experienced during the separation leading to behavioral concerns and depressive symptoms. The culmination of trauma and adverse childhood events prior to and following reunification is associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders, and toxic stress. Unaddressed, these issues can lead to poor adult psychiatric health and limit a child's educational success and potential lifetime earnings. Trauma-informed programming has been an effective tool in addressing the mental health needs of refugee and immigrant children and may benefit this particular group of reunified families when held in a community setting alongside peer support. Familias Reunidas and Family Reunification and Resiliency Training (FUERTE) are 2 community-based programs that successfully guided recently reunified families through the process of reconnecting. Review of these programs suggests there is significance in the collaboration of health care providers, education specialists, and community liaisons in program creation, cultivation of a supportive group environment, incorporation of trauma-informed principles, and partnership with a community establishment. These components can lead to a reunification program that provides access to mental health services in order to work toward eliminating the health disparities affecting these families. Brief Summary: Family reunification can be a challenging transition for recently immigrated children whose parent(s) immigrated to the US years before them. Community programming could provide access to trauma-informed care to overcome the emotional distress reunification can cause within families.

Parents' Intentions and Perceptions About COVID-19 Vaccination for Their Children: Results From a National Survey.

OBJECTIVES: Assess the degree to which US parents are likely to have their children get coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and identify parental concerns about the vaccines. METHODS: In February 2021 to March 2021, we surveyed parent members of a nationally representative probability-based Internet panel of ∼9000 adults regarding their intent to have their children receive a COVID-19 vaccination, perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines for children, and trust in sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines for children. We used descriptive and multivariate analyses to evaluate parent-stated likelihood of having their children get a COVID-19 vaccine and to assess the association between likelihood of child COVID-19 vaccination and child age, parent demographics, and parental perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines. RESULTS: Altogether, 1745 parents responded (87% of eligible parents, 3759 children). Likelihood of child COVID-19 vaccination was as follows: very likely (28%), somewhat likely (18%), somewhat unlikely (9%), very unlikely (33%), and unsure (12%). The stated likelihood of child vaccination was greater among parents of older children (P < .001) as well as among parents who had a bachelor's degree or higher education (P < .001), had already received or were likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (P < .001), or had Democratic affiliation (P < .001); variations existed by race and ethnicity (P = .04). Parental concerns centered around vaccine safety and side effects. A key trusted source of information about COVID-19 vaccines for children was the child's doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Less than one-half of US participants report that they are likely to have their child receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Pediatric health care providers have a major role in promoting and giving COVID-19 vaccination for children.

Cervical cancer screening practices, knowledge of screening and risk, and highly active antiretroviral therapy adherence among women living with human immunodeficiency virus in Lima, Peru.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cause of cancer death among Peruvian women. Awareness shown by women living with HIV (WLHIV) of their increased risk and Papanicoloau (Pap) smear frequency is understudied, particularly in Peru. We assessed the uptake of guidelines-based CC screening practices and its associations with two predictors, knowledge of CC screening and risk and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence, among WLHIV. Collected by self-administered questionnaires from 2014 to 2016, we analyzed the data of 71 WLHIV. Most WLHIV (77.5%, n = 55/71) were overdue to CC screening by not having a Pap smear within the prior 12 months. WLHIV who had on-time Pap smears had a higher median composite 'knowledge' score of 3.0 ([interquartile range] 1.5-4) compared to 2.0 (IQR 1-3) for overdue WLHIV. On-time and overdue WLHIV had the same median composite 'HAART adherence' score of 3.0 (IQR 2-4). Bivariate analysis found no association between knowledge nor adherence with on-time Pap smears. Although on-time WLHIV were more knowledgeable about CC screening and risk, overall CC screening uptake was poor. Larger studies of this population are needed to assess the educational, social, and structural barriers contributing to this low prevalence of screening.

Event-level analysis of alcohol consumption and condom use in partnership contexts among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: We explored the association between alcohol use and condomless receptive (CRAI) and insertive (CIAI) anal intercourse within partnership contexts of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Lima, Peru. METHODS: From 2012-2014, we surveyed men and TGW (n=1607) who reported anal intercourse with ≥1 male or TGW. Alcohol use with up to 3 sexual partners during the prior 90days was evaluated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses used generalized estimating equations to assess event-level associations between alcohol use, CRAI, CIAI, and partnership characteristics while adjusting for participant clustering from multiple partners. RESULTS: Of 4774 sexual partnerships reported, 48% were casual, 34% primary, 10% anonymous, and 8% commercial. Alcohol use preceding sex was significantly (p<0.05) associated with CRAI (PR=1.26) and CIAI (PR=1.37). Partnership characteristics significantly associated with alcohol use included commercial sex work (PR=2.21) and trended (p<0.10) towards alcohol use with casual (PR=1.16), transgender (PR=1.48), and moderno ("versatile"; PR=1.17) partners. CRAI and CIAI were more common among participants who reported knowing they (PR=1.52; PR=1.41, respectively) or their partner (PR=1.47; PR=1.44, respectively) was HIV-uninfected. Yet, only CIAI (PR=1.42) was more commonly reported with known HIV-infected partners. Participants who drank alcohol prior to sex were less likely to know their partner's HIV serostatus. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use prior to intercourse was associated with CRAI and CIAI, varied by partnership type, and may impair knowledge of partner HIV serostatus. Detailed knowledge of alcohol use within partner-specific contexts is essential for informing condom-based and alternative HIV prevention strategies for MSM and TGW in Peru.