Access to care and impact on HIV treatment interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic among people living with HIV in British Columbia.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed healthcare service delivery. We examined the overall impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, with a special focus on the potential impact of COVID-19 on antiretroviral treatment interruptions (TIs). METHODS: Purposive sampling was used to enrol people living with HIV aged ≥19 years across BC into the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation study between January 2016 and September 2018. Participants completed surveys at baseline enrolment and 18 and 36 months later. Additional COVID-19 questions were added to the survey in October 2020. TIs were defined as >60 days late for antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill using data from the BC HIV Drug Treatment Program. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine trends in TIs over time and associations with reported health service access. RESULTS: Of 581 participants, 6.1%-7.7% experienced a TI during each 6-month period between March 2019 and August 2021. The frequency of TIs did not statistically increase during the COVID-19 epidemic. Among the 188 participants who completed the COVID-19 questionnaire, 32.8% reported difficulty accessing healthcare during COVID-19, 9.7% reported avoiding continuing a healthcare service due to COVID-19-related concerns, and 74.6% reported using virtual healthcare services since March 2020. In multivariable analysis, the odds of a TI in any 6-month period were not significantly different from March to August 2019. None of the reported challenges to healthcare services were associated with TIs. CONCLUSIONS: Although some participants reported challenges to accessing services or avoidance of services due to COVID-19, TIs were not more likely during COVID-19 than before.

Depressive Symptoms, the Impact on ART Continuation, and Factors Associated with Symptom Improvement Among a Cohort of People Living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.

Depressive symptoms among people living with HIV (PLWH) are associated with poorer overall health outcomes. We characterized depressive symptoms and improvements in symptomology among PLWH (≥ 19 years old) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We also examined associations between depressive symptomology and antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment interruptions. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10), within a longitudinal cohort study with three surveys administered 18-months apart. We used multivariable logistic regression to model factors associated with improvements in depressive symptoms (CES-D-10 scores from ≥ 10 to < 10). Of the 566 participants eligible for analysis 273 (48.2%) had CES-D scores indicating significant depressive symptoms (score ≥ 10) at enrollment. Improvements in symptoms at first follow-up were associated with greater HIV self-care on the Continuity of Care Scale (adjusted odds ratio: 1.17; 95% CI 1.03-1.32), and not having a previously reported mental health disorder diagnosis (aOR 2.86; 95% CI 1.01-8.13). Those reporting current cocaine use (aOR 0.33; 95% CI 0.12-0.91) and having a high school education, vs. less than, (aOR 0.25; 95% CI 0.08-0.82) had lower odds of improvement in depressive symptomatology. CES-D scores ≥ 10 were not significantly associated with ART treatment interruptions during follow-up (aOR: 1.08; 95% CI:0.65-1.8). Supporting greater self-care and consideration of mental health management strategies in relation to HIV may be useful in promoting the wellbeing of PLWH who experience depressive symptoms.

Evaluating experiences of HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV diagnosed in different treatment eras in British Columbia, Canada.

There is mixed evidence on whether experiences of HIV-related stigma are mitigated with lived experience. We sought to examine whether people living with HIV (PLWH) with longer living experience reported varying levels of HIV-related stigma. Between January 2016-September 2018, we used purposive sampling to enrol PLWH aged ≥19 across British Columbia, Canada, where participants completed the 10-item Berger HIV Stigma Scale. We conducted bivariate analyzes examining key sociodemographic characteristics and HIV-related stigma scores. Multivariable linear regression modelled the association between year of HIV diagnosis by treatment era and HIV-related stigma scores. We enrolled 644 participants; median age at enrolment was 50 years (Q1-Q3: 42-56), with 37.4% (n = 241) diagnosed before the year 2000. The median HIV-stigma scores of all participants (19.0, Q1-Q3: 13-25, range 0-40) stratified by treatment era were: 17.0 (pre-1996), 20.0 (1996-1999), 20.0 (2000-2009), 19.0 (2010-2018) (p = 0.03). While there was a significant association at the univariate level, year of HIV diagnosis by treatment era was not associated with stigma scores after controlling for age, gender, HIV key populations, ethnicity, relationship status, social support, and ever having a mental health disorder diagnosis. This suggests that PLWH still experience HIV-related stigma today, compared to those diagnosed in earlier time periods.

Dynamics of overdose and non-overdose mortality among people living with HIV amidst the illicit drug toxicity crisis in British Columbia.

We sought to characterize overdose and non-overdose mortality among PLWH amidst the illicit drug toxicity crisis in British Columbia, Canada. A population-based analysis of PLWH (age ≥19) in British Columbia accessing healthcare from April 1996 to March 2017 was conducted using data from the Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) cohort linkage. Underlying causes of deaths were stratified into overdose and non-overdose causes. We compared (bivariate analysis) health-related characteristics and prescription history between PLWH died of overdose and non-overdose causes between April 2009 and March 2017. Among 9,180 PLWH, we observed 962 deaths (142 [14.7%] overdoses; 820 [85.2%] other causes). Compared to those who died from other causes, those who died of overdose were significantly younger (median age [Q, Q3]: 46 years [42, 52] vs. 54 years [48, 63]); had an indication of chronic pain (35.9% vs. 27.1%) and hepatitis C virus (64.8% vs. 50.4%), but fewer experienced hospitalization in the year before death. PLWH who died were most likely to be prescribed with opioids (>50%) and least likely with opioid agonist therapy (<10%) in a year before death. These findings highlight the syndemic of substance use, HCV, and chronic pain, and how the crisis is unqiuely impacting females and younger people.

Expanding access to healthcare for people who use drugs and sex workers: hepatitis C elimination implications from a qualitative study of healthcare experiences in British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health threat in Canada. In British Columbia (BC) province, 1.6% of the population had been exposed to HCV by 2012. Prevalence and incidence of HCV are very high in populations of people who use drugs (PWUD) and sex workers (SW), who may experience unique barriers to healthcare. Consequently, they are less likely to be treated for HCV. Overcoming these barriers is critical for HCV elimination. This research sought to explore the healthcare experiences of PWUD and SW and how these experiences impact their willingness to engage in healthcare in the future, including HCV care. METHODS: Interpretive Description guided this qualitative study of healthcare experiences in BC, underpinned by the Health Stigma and Discrimination framework. The study team included people with living/lived experience of drug use, sex work, and HCV. Twenty-five participants completed in-depth semi-structured interviews on their previous healthcare and HCV-related experiences. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified in our analysis. First, participants reported common experiences of delay and refusal of care by healthcare providers, with many negative healthcare encounters perceived as rooted in institutional culture reflecting societal stigma. Second, participants discussed their choice to engage in or avoid healthcare. Many avoided all but emergency care following negative experiences in any kind of healthcare. Third, participants described the roles of respect, stigma, dignity, fear, and trust in communication in healthcare relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare experiences shared by participants pointed to ways that better understanding and communication by healthcare providers could support positive change in healthcare encounters of PWUD and SW, who are at high risk of HCV infection. More positive healthcare encounters could lead to increased healthcare engagement which is essential for HCV elimination.

It's all about connection: Determinants of social support and the influence on HIV treatment interruptions among people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Social support has previously been found to be associated with improved health outcomes of individuals managing chronic illnesses, including amongst people living with HIV (PLWH). For women and people who use injection drugs who continue to experience treatment disparities in comparison to other PLWH, social support may have potential in facilitating better treatment engagement and retention. In this analysis, we examined determinants of social support as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study - Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) scale, and quantified the relationship between MOS-SSS and HIV treatment interruptions (TIs) among PLWH in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Between January 2016 and September 2018, we used purposive sampling to enroll PLWH, 19 years of age or older living in British Columbia into the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation study. Participants completed a baseline survey at enrolment which included the MOS-SSS scale, where higher MOS-SSS scores indicated greater social support. Multivariable linear regression modeled the association between key explanatory variables and MOS-SSS scores, whereas multivariable logistic regression modeled the association between MOS-SSS scores and experiencing TIs while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Among 644 PLWH, we found that having a history of injection drug use more than 12 months ago but not within the last 12 months, self-identifying as Indigenous, and sexual activity in the last 12 months were positively associated with MOS-SSS, while being single, divorced, or dating (vs. married), experiences of lifetime violence, and diagnosis of a mental health disorder were inversely associated. In a separate multivariable model adjusted for gender, ethnicity, recent homelessness, sexual activity in the last 12 months, and recent injection drug use, we found that higher MOS-SSS scores, indicating more social support, were associated with a lower likelihood of HIV treatment interruptions (adjusted odds ratio: 0.90 per 10-unit increase, 95% confidence interval: 0.83, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Social support may be an important protective factor in ensuring HIV treatment continuity among PLWH. Future research should examine effective means to build social support among communities that have potential to promote increased treatment engagement.

Exploring Primary Healthcare Experiences and Interest in Mobile Technology Engagement Amongst an Urban Population Experiencing Barriers to Care.

Mobile phone-based engagement approaches provide potential platforms for improving access to primary healthcare (PHC) services for underserved populations. We held two focus groups (February 2020) with residents (n = 25) from a low-income urban neighbourhood (downtown Vancouver, Canada), to assess recent healthcare experiences and elicit interest in mobile phone-based healthcare engagement for underserved residents. Note-based analysis, guided by interpretative description, was used to explore emerging themes. Engagement in PHC was complicated by multiple, intersecting personal-level and socio-structural factors, and experiences of stigma and discrimination from care providers. Perceived inadequacy of PHC services and pervasive discrimination reported by participants indicate a significant and ongoing need to improve client-provider relationships to address unmet health needs. Mobile phone-based engagement was endorsed, highlighting phone ownership and client-provider text-messaging, facilitated by non-clinical staff such as peers, as helpful to strengthening retention and facilitating care team connection. Concerns raised included reliability, cost, and technology and language accessibility.

Tobacco smoking and HIV-related immunologic and virologic response among individuals of the Canadian HIV Observational Cohort (CANOC).

We assessed the relationship between tobacco smoking and immunologic and virologic response among people living with HIV (PLWH) initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in the Canadian HIV Observational Cohort (CANOC). Positive immunologic and virologic response, respectively, were defined as ≥50 cells/mm3 CD4 count increase (CD4+) and viral suppression ≤50 copies/mL (VL+) within 6 months of cART initiation. Using multinomial regression, we examined the relationship between smoking, immunologic, and virologic response category. Model A adjusted for birth sex, baseline age, enrolling province, and era of cohort entry; models B and C further adjusted for neighbourhood level material deprivation and history of injection drug use (IDU), respectively. Among 4267 individuals (32.7%) with smoking status data, concordant positive (CD4+/VL+) response was achieved by 64.2% never, 66.9% former, and 59.4% current smokers. In the unadjusted analysis, current smoking was significantly associated with concordant negative response (odds ratio [OR] 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.45). Similarly, models A and B showed an increased odds of concordant negative response in current smokers (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.78, 95% CI 1.32-2.39 and 1.74, 95% CI 1.29-2.34, respectively). The association between current smoking and concordant negative response was no longer significant in model C (aOR 1.18, 95%CI 0.85-1.65).

Healthcare and treatment experiences among people diagnosed with HIV before and after a province-wide treatment as prevention initiative in British Columbia, Canada.

INTRODUCTION: In 2010, the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) initiated the Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) program to improve HIV testing, linkage to care, and treatment uptake, thereby operationalizing the HIV Treatment as Prevention (TasP) framework at the population-level. In this analysis, we evaluated self-reported HIV care experiences and therapeutic outcomes among people diagnosed with HIV prior to and after implementation of this provincial program. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed on the baseline data of a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) (19 years and older) in the province of BC sampled from July 2016 to September 2018. All participants consented to linking their survey data to the provincial HIV treatment registry. Individuals diagnosed with HIV from January 1 2000-December 31 2009 were classified as pre-intervention and those diagnosed January 1 2010-December 31 2018 as post-intervention cohorts. Bivariate analyses were run using Chi-square and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Cox proportional hazards regression model demonstrates time to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (from HIV baseline) and virological suppression (2 consecutive plasma viral load measurements < 200 copies/ml). RESULTS: Of the 325 participants included in this analysis, 198 (61%) were diagnosed with HIV in the pre-intervention era and 127 (39%) in the post-intervention era. A higher proportion of participants in post-intervention era were diagnosed at walk-in clinics (45% vs. 39%) and hospitals (21% vs. 11%) (vs pre-intervention) (p = 0.042). Post-intervention participants had initiated ART with less advanced HIV disease (CD4 count 410 vs. 270 cells/ul; p = 0.001) and were less likely to experience treatment interruptions at any point in the 5 years after HIV diagnosis (17% vs. 48%; p < 0.001). The post-intervention cohort had significantly more timely ART initiation (aHR: 5.97, 95%CI 4.47, 7.97) and virologic suppression (aHR: 2.03, 95%CI 1.58, 2.60) following diagnosis, after controlling for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: We found favourable treatment experiences and more timely ART initiation and virologic suppression after a targeted TasP provincial program. Our results illustrate the importance of accessible low-barrier HIV testing and treatment in tackling the HIV epidemic.

Social Isolation and Mortality Among People Living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.

Social isolation, a risk factor for poor health within the general population, may be exacerbated by unique challenges faced by people living with HIV (PLHIV). This analysis examines the association between social isolation and all-cause mortality among a cohort of PLHIV experiencing multiple social vulnerabilities. The analytical sample included 936 PLHIV ≥ 19 years, living in British Columbia, Canada, and enrolled in the Longitudinal Investigation into Supportive and Ancillary Health Services (LISA) Study (2007-2010). Participants were classified as Socially Connected (SC), Minimally Isolated (MI) or Socially Isolated (SI) via latent class analysis. Cross-sectional survey data was linked to longitudinal clinical data from a provincial HIV treatment database. Mortality was assessed longitudinally up to and including December 31st, 2017. Through multivariable logistic regression, an association between SI and all-cause mortality was found (adjusted OR: 1.48; 95% CI 1.08, 2.01). These findings emphasize the need to mitigate effects of social isolation among PLHIV.

Characteristics of older adults living with HIV accessing home and community care services in British Columbia, Canada.

Over half of people living with HIV (PLHIV) engaged in care in British Columbia (BC) are age ≥50. The public home and community care (HCC) system offers formal support that PLHIV may turn to as they age, but little is known about access specific to PLHIV. Using data from the STOP HIV/AIDS cohort, which includes linked treatment and demographic records for PLHIV accessing care in BC, we compared older PLHIV (defined as those age ≥50) who did and did not access HCC services. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for factors associated with HCC service utilization using logistic regression. This study included 5,603 PLHIV age ≥50, 837 (14.94%) of whom accessed any HCC service between 2005 and 2015. Services most commonly used were community nursing (8.98%, n = 503) and rehabilitation (7.73%, n = 433). Those who received HCC were more likely to be female (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.24, 1.98), have a history of injection drug use (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.57, 2.25), have a higher Charlson comorbidity score (aOR = 1.11, 95% CI:1.07, 1.15) and to have visited a general practitioner in the past year (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.77, 2.67). Approximately 15% of older PLHIV have accessed HCC, but the extent of potential unmet need for these services requires further research.

Correlates of social isolation among people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.

Our study aims to define and identify correlates of social isolation among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The Longitudinal Investigation into Supportive and Ancillary health services (LISA) study provided a cross-sectional analytic sample of 996 PLHIV in British Columbia, Canada (sampled between 2007 and 2010). Individuals marginalized by socio-structural inequities were oversampled; sampling bias was addressed through inverse probability of participation weighting. Through latent class analysis, three groups were identified: Socially Connected (SC) (n = 364, 37%), Minimally Isolated (MI) (n = 540, 54%) and Socially Isolated (SI) (n = 92, 9%). Correlates of the SI and MI classes, determined through multivariable multinomial regression using the SC class as a reference, include: recent violence (aOR 1.61, 95%CI 1.28-2.02 [MI vs. SC]; aOR 2.04, 95%CI 1.41-2.96 [SI vs. SC]) and a mental health diagnosis (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.31-1.72 [MI vs. SC]; aOR 1.43, 95%CI 1.11-1.83 [SI vs. SC]). Women (aOR 0.47; 95%CI 0.32-0.68 [SI vs. SC]), individuals of Indigenous ancestry (aOR 0.59; 95%CI 0.40-0.87 [SI vs. SC]) and people identifying as gay or lesbian (aOR 0.37; 95%CI 0.26-0.52 [SI vs. SC]) were less likely to experience isolation. These findings highlight the importance of supporting communities fostering connectedness and identifies populations susceptible to isolation.

The opioid crisis is driving mortality among under-served people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Universal provision of effective antiretroviral medication has been essential to reduce mortality, increase longevity, and reduce onward transmission of HIV. This study aims to illuminate persistent threats to the health and longevity of under-served PLWH in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2010, 1000 PLWH across BC were enrolled in the Longitudinal Investigation into Supportive and Ancillary health services (LISA) study and completed a cross-sectional survey on their HIV-care experiences and healthcare engagement. The sample generally reflects an under-served population of PLWH. A linkage to the provincial Vital Statistics registry is used in this analysis in order to examine overall mortality and cause-specific mortality trends; probability of death was modeled using logistic regression for participants with ongoing clinical monitoring (n = 910). RESULTS: By June 2017, 208 (20.8%) participants had died. The majority of deaths 57 (27.4%) were attributed to drug-related complications or overdoses, 39 (18.8%) were attributed to HIV-related complications, and 36 (17.3%) to non-AIDS-defining malignancies. We observed elevated odds of death among PLWH who smoked tobacco (aOR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.23), were older (aOR: 1.06 per one-year increase, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.08), indicated heavy alcohol consumption (aOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.22), and reported unstable housing (aOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.80); while higher CD4 cell count was protective (aOR: 0.87 per 100-unit increase, 95% CI: 0.79, 0.94) as was male gender), though non-significant (aOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.49, 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Overdose is - the leading cause of mortality among a cohort of under-served PLWH in BC, Canada. Public health efforts to end the HIV epidemic and support the health and well-being of PLWH are being thwarted by persistent health inequities and the enormous and persistent risks facing people who use drugs. Integrated low-barrier primary care is essential for supporting under-served PLWH, and safe drug supply is needed to support PLWH who use drugs.

The "Sticky Notes" Method: Adapting Interpretive Description Methodology for Team-Based Qualitative Analysis in Community-Based Participatory Research.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has a long history within HIV research, yet little work has focused on facilitating team-based data analysis within CBPR. Our team adapted Thorne's interpretive description (ID) for CBPR analysis, using a color-coded "sticky notes" system to conduct data fragmentation and synthesis. Sticky notes were used to record, visualize, and communicate emerging insights over the course of 11 in-person participatory sessions. Data fragmentation strategies were employed in an iterative four-step process that was reached by consensus. During synthesis, the team created and recreated mind maps of the 969 sticky notes, from which we developed categories and themes through discussion. Flexibility, trust, and discussion were key components that facilitated the evolution of the final process. An interactive, team-based approach was central to data co-creation and capacity building, whereas the "sticky notes" system provided a framework for identifying and sorting data.

Assessing the impact of food insecurity on HIV medication adherence in the context of an integrated care programme for people living with HIV in Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Food insecurity, or self-reports of inadequate food access due to limited financial resources, remains prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We examined the impact of food insecurity on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) adherence within an integrated care programme that provides services to PLHIV, including two meals per day. DESIGN: Adjusted OR (aOR) were estimated by generalized estimating equations, quantifying the relationship between food insecurity (exposure) and cART adherence (outcome) with multivariable logistic regression. SETTING: We drew on survey data collected between February 2014 and March 2016 from the Dr. Peter Centre Study based in Vancouver, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 116 PLHIV at baseline, with ninety-nine participants completing a 12-month follow-up interview. The median (quartile 1-quartile 3) age was 46 (39-52) years at baseline and 87 % (n 101) were biologically male at birth. RESULTS: At baseline, 74 % (n 86) of participants were food insecure (≥2 affirmative responses on Health Canada's Household Food Security Survey Module) and 67 % (n 78) were adherent to cART ≥95 % of the time. In the adjusted regression analysis, food insecurity was associated with suboptimal cART adherence (aOR = 0·47, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·93). CONCLUSIONS: While food provision may reduce some health-related harms, there remains a relationship between this prevalent experience and suboptimal cART adherence in this integrated care programme. Future studies that elucidate strategies to mitigate food insecurity and its effects on cART adherence among PLHIV in this setting and in other similar environments are necessary.

Factors associated with delayed and late ART initiation among people living with HIV in BC: results from the engage study.

We examined correlates of late and delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in British Columbia, Canada. From December 2013 to December 2015 we recruited treatment-naïve people living with HIV who initiated ART within the previous year. 'Late initiation' was defined as CD4 cell count ≤500 cells/µL at ART initiation and 'delayed initiation' as ≥1 year between HIV diagnosis and initiation. Multivariable logistic regression assessed independent correlates of late and delayed initiation. Of 87 participants, 44 (51%) initiated late and 22 (26%) delayed initiation. Delayed initiation was positively associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.06 per year, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.01-1.12) and inversely associated with wanting to start ART at diagnosis (AOR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02-0.21). Variables associated with late initiation were older age (AOR: 1.09 per year, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15) and medical reason(s) for initiation (AOR: 5.00, 95% CI: 1.41-17.86). Late initiation was less likely among those with greater perceived ART efficacy (AOR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98) and history of incarceration (AOR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.56). Disparities in timing of initiation were observed for age, perceived ART efficacy, and history of incarceration. Enhanced health services that address these factors may facilitate earlier treatment initiation.

Love with HIV: A Latent Class Analysis of Sexual and Intimate Relationship Experiences Among Women Living with HIV in Canada.

Love remains hidden in HIV research in favor of a focus on risk. Among 1424 women living with HIV in Canada, we explored (1) whether eight facets of sex and intimacy (marital status, sexual activity, physical intimacy, emotional closeness, power equity, sexual exclusivity, relationship duration, and couple HIV serostatus) may coalesce into distinct relationship types, and (2) how these relationship types may be linked to love as well as various social, psychological, and structural factors. Five latent classes were identified: no relationship (46.5%), relationships without sex (8.6%), and three types of sexual relationships-short term (15.4%), long term/unhappy (6.4%), and long term/happy (23.2%, characterized by equitable power, high levels of physical and emotional closeness, and mainly HIV-negative partners). While women in long-term/happy relationships were most likely to report feeling love for and wanted by someone "all of the time," love was not exclusive to sexual or romantic partners and a sizeable proportion of women reported affection across latent classes. Factors independently associated with latent class membership included age, children living at home, sexism/genderism, income, sex work, violence, trauma, depression, HIV treatment, awareness of treatment's prevention benefits, and HIV-related stigma. Findings reveal the diversity of women's experiences with respect to love, sex, and relationships and draw attention to the sociostructural factors shaping intimate partnering in the context of HIV. A nuanced focus on promoting healthy relationships and supportive social environments may offer a more comprehensive approach to supporting women's overall sexual health and well-being than programs focused solely on sexual risk reduction.

Factors associated with low neighborhood cohesion among women living with HIV impacted by social-structural inequities in British Columbia.

Built and social environments, including one's perception of their environment, are important determinants of health. The intersection of gender and HIV status may complicate the role of neighborhood cohesion in safety, personal well-being, and health outcomes for populations impacted by social and structural inequities. Among women in particular, social cohesion within the neighborhood they reside in may have a greater influence on health outcomes compared to their male counterparts. We sought to examine perception of neighborhood cohesion (validated scale with a range 0-100, with higher scores indicating higher perceived neighborhood cohesion) among women living with HIV, impacted by social-structural inequities, receiving combination antiretroviral therapy, and enrolled in the Longitudinal Investigations into Supportive Ancillary health services (LISA) study in British Columbia, Canada. Cross-sectional data on neighborhood cohesion and socio-demographic data were collected in an interviewer-administered survey. Of the 1,000 LISA participants interviewed, 908 (including 249 women and 659 men) had complete data for the variables of interest. At the bivariate level, women had worse perceived neighborhood cohesion scores compared to men (median: 56 [95% CI: 44-66] vs. 60 [95% CI: 47-71]). Multivariable model results indicated that for women living with HIV in our sample, greater neighborhood cohesion scores were positively associated with stable housing (ß coefficient = 7.85; 95% CI: 3.61, 12.10, p < 0.001), and negatively associated with greater perceived HIV stigma (ß coefficient = -1.19; 95% CI: -2.24 to-0.15; p = 0.025). The results illustrate the gendered nature of experiencing built and social environments, and highlight the need for women-centred interventions to address the social determinants of HIV burden associated with negative perceptions of neighborhood cohesion.

Mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS with non-small-cell lung cancer in the modern HAART Era.

People living with HIV (PLWHA) with adequate access to modern combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are living longer and experiencing reduced AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. However, increases in non-AIDS related conditions, such as certain cancers, have accompanied these therapeutic advances over time. As such, our study objective was to determine the impact of HIV on all-cause and lung cancer-specific mortality amongst PLWHA with diagnoses of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and HIV-negative individuals with NSCLC. This analysis was inclusive of PLWHA on and off cART over the age of 19 years and a 10% comparison sample from the BC population ≥19 years, over a 13-year period (2000-2013). Kaplan-Meier estimates, Cox PH models, and competing risk analysis for all-cause and cause-specific mortality (respectively) compared PLWHA to HIV-negative individuals, controlling for age, gender, cancer stage, co-morbidities; and nadir CD4 count, viral load, and injection drug use for a HIV-positive specific analysis. We identified 71 PLWHA and 2463 HIV-negative individuals diagnosed with NSCLC between 2000 and 2013. PLWHA with NSCLC were diagnosed at a significantly younger age than HIV-negative individuals (median age 57 vs 71 years, p < 0.01). We found no significant difference in lung cancer-specific mortality. However, in multivariate analysis, HIV was associated with greater all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]:1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.90), with median survival of 4 months for PLWHA, and 10 months for HIV-negative. Higher nadir CD4 count was protective against mortality (aHR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.17-0.64) amongst PLWHA in multivariate analysis. Our analysis suggests that PLWHA in the modern cART era experience similar lung cancer survival outcomes compared to the general BC population with NSCLC. However, we also observed significantly higher all-cause mortality among PLWHA with NSCLC, which may warrant further inquiry into the role of HIV in exacerbating mortality among PLWHA with comorbidities and cancer.

Overview of cancer incidence and mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia, Canada: Implications for HAART use and NADM development.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence of non-AIDS defining malignancies (NADMs) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in British Columbia, focusing on clinical correlates, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use, and survival, in order to elucidate mechanisms for NADM development. METHODS: A retrospective population based analysis was carried out for individuals with HIV/AIDS that began their treatment between 1996 and 2008. RESULTS: There were 145 (2.95%) NADMs and 123 (2.50%) AIDS defining malignancies (ADMs) identified in 4918 PLWHA in the study population. NADMs were represented by a range of cancer types including, most commonly, lung cancer, followed by anal, breast, head/neck, prostate, liver, rectal, and renal cancers. PLWHA had a SIR of 2.05 (CI:1.73, 2.41) for the development of NADMs compared to individuals without an HIV/AIDS diagnosis in the general population. Independent factors significantly associated with a NADM were: male gender, older age, lower CD4 cell counts, previous NADM, absence of HAART (non-HAART versus HAART) and treatment during the early-HAART era (before 2000 versus after 2000). CONCLUSIONS: NADMs represent an important source of morbidity for PLWHA. Use of HAART with its associated improvement in immune-restoration, and tailored targeted cancer screening interventions, may be beneficial and improve outcomes in this unique patient population.