Social/Sexual Networks of People Newly Diagnosed with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Nigeria are ten times more likely to be living with HIV-1 than other young men. Due to stigma and criminalization of same-sex sexual behavior, YMSM sexual networks are likely to overlap with those of the general population, leading to a generalized HIV-1 epidemic. Due to limited research on social/sexual network dynamics related to HIV-1 in Nigeria, our study focused on YMSM and sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of collecting social and sexual network data in Network Canvas from individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 in Ibadan, Nigeria. The Network Canvas software was piloted at three sites in Ibadan, Nigeria to collect social/sexual network data from 151 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1. Our study sample included 37.7% YMSM; participants reported a mean of 2.6 social alters and 2.6 sexual alters. From the 151 egos and 634 alters, 85 potential unique individuals (194 total) were identified; 65 egos/alters were collapsed into 25 unique individuals. Our success collecting network data from individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 in Ibadan demonstrates clear feasibility and acceptability of the approach and the use of Network Canvas to capture and manage these data.

Two or more significant life-events in 6-months are associated with lower rates of HIV treatment and virologic suppression among youth with HIV in Uganda and Kenya.

Youth living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa have poor HIV care outcomes. We determined the association of recent significant life-events with HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation and HIV viral suppression in youth aged 15-24 years living with HIV in rural Kenya and Uganda. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 995 youth enrolled in the SEARCH Youth study. At baseline, providers assessed recent (within 6 months) life-events, defined as changes in schooling/employment, residence, partnerships, sickness, incarceration status, family strife or death, and birth/pregnancy, self-reported alcohol use, being a parent, and HIV-status disclosure. We examined the frequencies of events and their association with ART status and HIV viral suppression (<400 copies/ul). Recent significant life-events were prevalent (57.7%). Having >2 significant life-events (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI:0.45-0.85) and consuming alcohol (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI:0.43-0.87) were associated with a lower odds of HIV viral suppression, while disclosure of HIV-status to partner (aOR = 2.39, 95% CI:1.6-3.5) or to family (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI:1.3-2.7), being a parent (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI:1.2-2.5), and being single (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI:1.3-2.1) had a higher odds. This suggest that two or more recent life-events and alcohol use are key barriers to ART initiation and achievement of viral suppression among youth living with HIV in rural East Africa.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03848728..

Mental health and ART adherence among adolescents living with HIV in Mozambique.

Little is known about the mental health needs of adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in Mozambique, including the potential relationship between mental health challenges and poor antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence. We examined mental health problems (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms and impairment) and their association with self-reported ART adherence among ALWH ages 15-19 in Nampula, Mozambique. The associations between each mental health problem area and sub-optimal adherence were estimated using logistic regression, controlling for age, education, and social support, with interaction by gender. Males had significantly higher anxiety (5.6 vs 4.3, p = 0.01), depression (5.8 vs 4.1, p = 0.005), and PTSD (13.3 vs 9.8, p = 0.02) symptoms and impairment (1.8 vs 0.56, p<0.0001) scores than females. Proportion reporting sub-optimal adherence (65%) did not differ by gender. Higher anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptom and impairment scores were significantly associated with higher odds of sub-optimal ART adherence in males but not females. Among Mozambican ALWH, mental health problems were prevalent and two-thirds had ART adherence less than 90%. Worse mental health was associated with increased odds of sub-optimal ART adherence in males but not females. Interventions are needed to address mental health problems and improve ART adherence in Mozambican ALWH, particularly among males.

Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infection Diagnoses Among US Youth With Perinatally and Nonperinatally Acquired HIV.

BACKGROUND: Of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, 50% occur among youth aged 15 to 24 years. Previous studies among youth with HIV (YHIV) do not distinguish STI trends among individuals with perinatally (YPHIV) and nonperinatally (YNPHIV) acquired HIV. METHODS: Among 3 Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) studies conducted between 2009 and 2015, we estimated incident diagnoses of trichomonal, bacterial, viral, and overall STIs stratified by sex assigned at birth, mode of HIV acquisition (perinatal [YPHIV] and nonperinatal [YNPHIV]), age (13-17 and 18-24 years), CD4 count (<200, 200-499, and ≥500/µL), and HIV viral load (VL) (<400 and ≥400 copies/mL). RESULTS: Among 3131 YHIV, across the 3 studies, mean (SD) age was 20.6 (2.6) years, 888 (28%) were female, 2498 (80%) had nonperinatal HIV acquisition recorded, and 2298 (73%) were African American/Black. Mean follow-up was 0.9 (0.3) years. Compared with YPHIV, YNPHIV spent less person-time with VL <400 copies/mL (47% vs. 53%) and more time off antiretroviral therapy (49% vs. 15%), and had higher overall STI rates (males, 65.9 vs. 8.5/100 person-years [PY]; females, 54.7 vs. 17.2/100 PY). Among YPHIV, bacterial STIs were higher during person-time spent with VL ≥400 vs. <400 copies/mL (male YPHIV, 10.9 vs. 0.6/100 PY; female YPHIV, 11.2 vs. 2.9/100 PY); no difference was observed among YNPHIV, which may be due to concurrent acquisition of HIV and other STIs and limited follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with YPHIV, YNPHIV spent less time on antiretroviral therapy and virologically suppressed; YNPHIV also had higher STI diagnosis rates. Very high STI diagnosis rates among YHIV, including among those without virologic suppression, highlight the importance of youth-focused efforts to support durable virologic suppression and identify and treat STIs.

Preexposure Prophylaxis for Prevention of HIV Acquisition Among Adolescents: Clinical Considerations, 2020.

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral medication has been proven effective in reducing the risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The fixed-dose combination tablet of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as PrEP for adults in 2012. Since then, recognition has been increasing that adolescents at risk for acquiring HIV can benefit from PrEP. In 2018, FDA approved revised labeling for TDF/FTC that expanded the indication for PrEP to include adolescents weighing at least 77 lb (35 kg) who are at risk for acquiring HIV. In 2019, FDA approved the combination product tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/FTC as PrEP for adolescents and adults weighing at least 77 lb (35 kg), excluding those at risk for acquiring HIV through receptive vaginal sex. This exclusion is due to the lack of clinical data regarding the efficacy of TAF/FTC in cisgender women.Clinical providers who evaluate adolescents for PrEP use must consider certain topics that are unique to the adolescent population. Important considerations related to adolescents include PrEP safety data, legal issues about consent for clinical care and confidentiality, the therapeutic partnership with adolescents and their parents or guardians, the approach to the adolescent patient's clinical visit, and medication initiation, adherence, and persistence during adolescence. Overall, data support the safety of PrEP for adolescents. PrEP providers should be familiar with the statutes and regulations about the provision of health care to minors in their states. Providers should partner with the adolescent patient for PrEP decisions, recognizing the adolescent's autonomy to the extent allowable by law and including parents in the conversation about PrEP when it is safe and reasonable to do so. A comprehensive approach to adolescent health is recommended, including considering PrEP as one possible component of providing medical care to adolescents who inject drugs or engage in sexual behaviors that place them at risk for acquiring HIV. PrEP adherence declined over time in the studies evaluating PrEP among adolescents, a trend that also has been observed among adult patients. Clinicians should implement strategies to address medication adherence as a routine part of prescribing PrEP; more frequent clinical follow-up is one possible approach.PrEP is an effective HIV prevention tool for protecting adolescents at risk for HIV acquisition. For providers, unique considerations that are part of providing PrEP to adolescents include the possible need for more frequent, supportive interactions to promote medication adherence. Recommendations for PrEP medical management and additional resources for providers are available in the U.S. Public Health Service clinical practice guideline Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States - 2017 Update and the clinical providers' supplement Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States - 2017 Update: Clinical Providers' Supplement (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/prevention/prep.html).

The secret life of young adolescents living with HIV in northern Mozambique - a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: In Mozambique, HIV infection remains a leading cause of adolescent mortality. With advances in antiretroviral treatment (ART), the population of adolescents living with vertically-acquired HIV is growing. Most studies of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) focus on older youth with horizontal infection. As part of a larger study, we examined the characteristics and health care needs of younger ALHIV, including those with vertically-acquired infection to inform preventive interventions. METHODS: We used a convergent mixed-methods design and recruited ALHIV aged 12-14 years who were enrolled in HIV care in three health clinics in Nampula, Mozambique. From 11/2019-3/2020, we conducted 61 quantitative surveys and 14 in-depth interviews with a purposively selected subset of ALHIV who were aware of their HIV status. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for quantitative data. Qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The median age of ALHIV was 13 years, 50% were female, 67% lived with ≥1 parent, 70% had lost a parent, 100% were in school; 10% were in a relationship, and 3% had initiated sexual activity. Among 31 ALHIV aware of their serostatus, the median age of antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation was 8 years (IQR: 6-11); 55% received caregiver support for ART management; 35% reported missing ≥1 ART dose in the last 30 days; 6% had disclosed their HIV-status to friends and 48% reported no one to talk to about HIV-specific issues. Four main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews with ALHIV: a) learning one's HIV-positive status as the beginning of a secret life; b) importance of caregivers' support for ART management; c) high value of ALHIV peer support to overcome isolation, increase HIV literacy, and support adherence; and d) unmet needs for sexual and reproductive health education. CONCLUSION: HIV-related secrecy prevails among ALHIV, a situation exacerbated by caregivers and healthcare providers. Caregivers play a major role in supporting adherence among young ALHIV, yet ALHIV could also benefit from adolescent-friendly services, including peer support, sexual and reproductive health services and preparation for independent health management. Integrating such programs into ART services in Mozambique may be critical to promoting ALHIV health.

Changes in Bone Mass After Discontinuation of Preexposure Prophylaxis With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine in Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Extension Phase Results of Adolescent Trials Network Protocols 110 and 113.

Human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative men aged 15-22 years who lost bone mineral density (BMD) during tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) showed BMD recovery 48 weeks following PrEP discontinuation. Lumbar spine and whole body BMD z-scores remained below baseline 48 weeks off PrEP in participants aged 15-19 years. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01772823 (ATN 110) and NCT01769456 (ATN 113).

Vitamin D3 Supplementation Increases Spine Bone Mineral Density in Adolescents and Young Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Being Treated With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) decreases bone mineral density (BMD). We hypothesized that vitamin D3 (VITD3) would increase BMD in youth receiving TDF. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of directly observed VITD3 vs placebo every 4 weeks for 48 weeks in youth aged 16-24 years with HIV, RNA load <200 copies/mL, taking TDF-containing combination antiretroviral therapy (TDF-cART) for ≥180 days. Participants (N = 214) received a daily multivitamin containing VITD3 400 IU and calcium 162 mg, plus monthly randomized VITD3 50000 IU (n = 109) or placebo (n = 105). Outcome was change from baseline to week 48 in lumbar spine BMD (LSBMD). Data presented are median (Q1, Q3). Results: Participants were aged 22.0 (21.0, 23.0) years, 84% were male, and 74% were black/African American. At baseline, 62% had 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) <20 ng/mL. Multivitamin adherence was 49% (29%, 69%), and VITD3/placebo adherence 100% (100%, 100%). Vitamin D intake was 2020 (1914, 2168) and 284 (179, 394) IU/day, and serum 25-OHD concentration was 36.9 (30.5, 42.4) and 20.6 (14.4, 25.8) ng/mL at 48 weeks in VITD3 and placebo groups, respectively (P < .001). From baseline to week 48, LSBMD increased by 1.15% (-0.75% to 2.74%) in the VITD3 group (n = 99; P < .001) and 0.09% (-1.49% to 2.61%) in the placebo group (n = 89; P = .25), without between-group difference (P = .12). VITD3 group changes occurred with baseline 25-OHD <20 ng/mL (1.17% [-.82% to 2.90%]; P = .004) and ≥20 ng/mL (0.93% [-.26% to 2.15%]; P = .033). Conclusions: For youth taking TDF-cART, LSBMD increased through 48 weeks with VITD3 plus multivitamin, but not with placebo plus multivitamin, independent of baseline vitamin D status. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01751646.

Decline in Bone Mass With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine Is Associated With Hormonal Changes in the Absence of Renal Impairment When Used by HIV-Uninfected Adolescent Boys and Young Men for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to define the relative importance of renal and endocrine changes in tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-related bone toxicity. METHODS: In a study of daily TDF/emtricitabine (FTC) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected young men who have sex with men, we measured changes from baseline in blood and urine markers of the parathyroid hormone (PTH)-vitamin D-fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) axis, creatinine, and renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TRP). We explored the relationship of those variables to changes in bone mineral density (BMD). Tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) in red blood cells was used to categorize participants into high and low drug exposure groups. RESULTS: There were 101 participants, median age 20 years (range 15 to 22). Compared with low drug exposure, high-exposure participants showed increase from baseline in PTH and decline in FGF23 by study week 4, with no differences in creatinine, phosphate, or TRP. At 48 weeks, the median (interquartile range) percent decline in total hip BMD was greater in those with high- compared to low- exposure (-1.59 [2.77] vs +1.54 [3.34] %, respectively; P = .001); in high-exposure participants, this correlated with week 4 TFV-DP (inversely; r = -0.60, P = .002) and FGF23 (directly; r = 0.42; P = .039) but not other variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the short-term renal safety of TDF/FTC PrEP in HIV-seronegative young men and suggest that endocrine disruption (PTH-FGF23) is a primary contributor to TDF-associated BMD decline in this age group. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01769469.

Prevalence and risk factors for oral DNA tumor viruses in HIV-infected youth.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) may promote oral cancers, especially among immunosuppressed individuals. The aims of this study were to examine whether demographic characteristics, medical history, sexual behaviors, substance use, CD4+ T-cell count, HIV viral load, and HPV vaccination were associated with HPV, EBV, and KSHV infection and viral load. Multivariable modeling using logistic or linear regression examined associations between independent variables and infection or viral load, respectively. Among 272 HIV-infected 12-24-year-old youth, 19.5% were positive for oral HPV, 88.2% for EBV, and 11.8% for KSHV. In multivariable models, recent marijuana use (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.02-3.82) and lower CD4+ T-cell count (<350 vs. ≥350 cells/mm(3) : OR 1.92, 95%CI 1.003-3.69) were associated with HPV infection; lifetime tobacco use (estimated coefficient [EC] 1.55, standard error [SE] 0.53, P = 0.0052) with HPV viral load; recent tobacco use (OR 2.90, 95%CI 1.06-7.97), and higher HIV viral load (>400 vs. <400 copies/ml: OR 3.98, 95%CI 1.84-8.74) with EBV infection; Black versus White race (EC 1.18, SE 0.37, P = 0.0023), and lower CD4+ T-cell count (EC 0.70, SE 0.28, P = 0.017) with EBV viral load, male versus female gender (OR 10, 95%CI 1.32-100) with KSHV infection, and younger age at HIV diagnosis (1-14 vs. 18-20 years: EC 0.33, SE 0.16, P = 0.049; 15-17 vs. 18-20 years: EC 0.35, SE 0.13, P = 0.0099) with KSHV viral load. In conclusion, substance use and immunosuppression are associated with oral DNA tumor viruses in HIV-infected youth. J. Med. Virol. 88:1944-1952, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antiretroviral treatment initiation does not differentially alter neurocognitive functioning over time in youth with behaviorally acquired HIV.

Although youth living with behaviorally acquired HIV (YLWH) are at risk for cognitive impairments, the relationship of impairments to HIV and potential to improve with antiretroviral therapy (ART) are unclear. This prospective observational study was designed to examine the impact of initiation and timing of ART on neurocognitive functioning in YLWH in the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions. Treatment naïve YLWH age 18-24 completed baseline and four additional assessments of attention/working memory, complex executive, and motor functioning over 3 years. Group 1 co-enrolled in an early ART initiation study and initiated ART at enrollment CD4 >350 (n = 56); group 2 had CD4 >350 and were not initiating ART (n = 66); group 3 initiated ART with CD4 <350 (n = 59) per standard of care treatment guidelines at the time. Treatment was de-intensified to boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy at 48 weeks for those in group 1 with suppressed viral load. Covariates included demographic, behavioral, and medical history variables. Analyses used hierarchical linear modeling. All groups showed improved performance with peak at 96 weeks in all three functional domains. Trajectories of change were not significantly associated with treatment, timing of treatment initiation, or ART de-intensification. Demographic variables and comorbidities were associated with baseline functioning but did not directly interact with change over time. In conclusion, YLWH showed improvement in neurocognitive functioning over time that may be related to practice effects and nonspecific impact of study participation. Neither improvement nor decline in functioning was associated with timing of ART initiation or therapy de-intensification.

Transitioning HIV-Positive Adolescents to Adult Care: Lessons Learned From Twelve Adolescent Medicine Clinics.

UNLABELLED: To maximize positive health outcomes for youth with HIV as they transition from youth to adult care, clinical staff need strategies and protocols to help youth maintain clinic engagement and medication adherence. Accordingly, this paper describe transition processes across twelve clinics within the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) to provide lessons learned and inform the development of transition protocols to improve health outcomes as youth shift from adolescent to adult HIV care. DESIGN AND METHODS: During a large multi-method Care Initiative program evaluation, three annual visits were completed at each site from 2010-2012 and conducted 174 semi-structured interviews with clinical and program staff (baseline n=64, year 1 n=56, year 2=54). RESULTS: The results underscore the value of adhering to recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) transition recommendations, including: developing formal transition protocols, preparing youth for transition, facilitating youth's connection to the adult clinic, and identifying necessary strategies for transition evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Transitioning youth with HIV involves targeting individual-, provider-, and system-level factors. Acknowledging and addressing key barriers is essential for developing streamlined, comprehensive, and context-specific transition protocols. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Adolescent and adult clinic involvement in transition is essential to reduce service fragmentation, provide coordinated and continuous care, and support individual and community level health.

Behavioral, immunologic, and virologic correlates of oral human papillomavirus infection in HIV-infected youth.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the epidemiology or risk factors for oral human papillomavirus (HPV) in HIV-infected youth. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and correlates of oral HPV infection and to explore the association between HPV vaccination and oral infection in HIV-infected youth. METHODS: Youth 12 to 24 years of age with behaviorally acquired HIV were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Procedures involved medical chart review, survey, and collection of an oral rinse sample. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine whether demographic, behavioral, immunologic, and virologic factors and history of vaccination were significantly associated with oral HPV infection. RESULTS: Mean age of the 272 participants was 21.5 years; 64% were non-Hispanic black and 20.2% were Hispanic; and 10.8% of men compared with 20.3% of women were fully vaccinated. Human papillomavirus prevalence was 19.7% in men and 18.6% in women (P = 1.0). Only men were positive for vaccine-type HPV: 5.6% were positive for HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and/or HPV-18, and 4.2% were positive for HPV-16 and/or HPV-18. Among men who were fully vaccinated, none were positive for HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and/or HPV-18, compared with 12 (6.3%) of men who were not fully vaccinated (P = 0.37). Two variables were marginally associated with oral HPV (P < 0.10): marijuana use in the previous 3 months and lower CD4+ T-cell count. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence rates of oral HPV were relatively high in this population of HIV-infected youth and were similar in male and female youth. No fully vaccinated men were infected with vaccine-type HPV.

Profiles of Risk Among HIV-Infected Youth in Clinic Settings.

Despite the rising number of new HIV infections among youth, few tailored interventions for youth living with HIV (YLH) have been developed and rigorously tested. Developing tailored interventions necessitates identifying different profiles of YLH and understanding how risk and protective factors cluster together. Obtaining this critical information requires accessing a sufficiently large sample of YLH from diverse geographic settings such as those available through the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV Interventions (ATN). We recruited a cross-sectional sample of 1,712 YLH from ATN clinics; participants completed a survey on psychosocial and health factors. Using latent class analysis on nine composite variables representing risk factors, we identified five classes distinguished by substance use, sexual behavior, and pregnancy history and differing on health outcomes. Findings suggest a need for tailored interventions addressing multiple risky behaviors of HIV-infected youth and research to clarify how intervention effectiveness may differ by risk profile.

Factors affecting linkage to care and engagement in care for newly diagnosed HIV-positive adolescents within fifteen adolescent medicine clinics in the United States.

Early linkage to care and engagement in care are critical for initiation of medical interventions. However, over 50 % of newly diagnosed persons do not receive HIV-related care within 6 months of diagnosis. We evaluated a linkage to care and engagement in care initiative for HIV-positive adolescents in 15 U.S.-based clinics. Structural and client-level factors (e.g. demographic and behavioral characteristics, clinic staff and location) were evaluated as predictors of successful linkage and engagement. Within 32 months, 1,172/1,679 (69.8 %) of adolescents were linked to care of which 1,043/1,172 (89 %) were engaged in care. Only 62.1 % (1,043/1,679) of adolescents were linked and engaged in care. Linkage to care failure was attributed to adolescent, provider, and clinic-specific factors. Many adolescents provided incomplete data during the linkage process or failed to attend appointments, both associated with failure to linkage to care. Additional improvements in HIV care will require creative approaches to coordinated data sharing, as well as continued outreach services to support newly diagnosed adolescents.

Linking HIV-positive adolescents to care in 15 different clinics across the United States: creating solutions to address structural barriers for linkage to care.

Linkage to care is a critical corollary to expanded HIV testing, but many adolescents are not successfully linked to care, in part due to fragmented care systems. Through a collaboration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Adolescent Trials Network (ATN), a linkage to care outreach worker was provided to ATN clinics. Factors related to linkage were explored to better understand how to improve retention rates and health outcomes for HIV-positive adolescents. We conducted 124 interviews with staff at 15 Adolescent Trials Network clinics to better understand linkage to care processes, barriers, and facilitators. Content analysis was conducted focusing on structural barriers to care and potential solutions, specifically at the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels. Macro-level barriers included navigating health insurance policies, transportation to appointments, and ease of collecting and sharing client-level contact information between testing agencies, local health departments and clinics; meso-level barriers included lack of youth friendliness within clinic space and staff, and duplication of linkage services; micro-level barriers included adolescents' readiness for care and adolescent developmental capacity. Staff initiated solutions included providing transportation for appointments and funding clinic visits and tests with a range of grants and clinic funds while waiting for insurance approval. However, such solutions were often ad hoc and partial, using micro-level solutions to address macro-level barriers. Comprehensive initiatives to improve linkage to care are needed to address barriers to HIV-care for adolescents, whose unique developmental needs make accessing care particularly challenging. Matching the level of structural solution to the level of structural barriers (i.e., macro-level with macro-level), such as creating policy to address needed youth healthcare entitlements versus covering uninsured patients with clinic funds is imperative to achieving the goal of increasing linkage to care rates for newly diagnosed adolescents.

"Youth friendly" clinics: considerations for linking and engaging HIV-infected adolescents into care.

Linkage and engagement in care are critical corollaries to the health of HIV-infected adolescents. The adolescent HIV epidemic and adolescents' unique barriers to care necessitates innovation in the provision of care, including the consideration of the clinical experience. Little research has addressed how "youth friendly" clinics may influence care retention for HIV-infected youth. We conducted 124 interviews with providers, outreach workers, and case managers, at 15 Adolescent Medicine Trials Network clinics. Photographs of each clinic documented the characteristics of the physical space. Constant comparison and content and visual narrative methods were utilized for data analysis. Three elements of youth friendliness were identified for clinics serving HIV-infected youth, including: (1) role of target population (e.g., pediatric, adolescent, HIV); (2) clinics' physical environment; and (3) clinics' social environment. Working to create 'youth friendly' clinics through changes in physical (e.g., space, entertainment, and educational materials) and social (e.g., staff training related to development, gender, sexual orientation) environments may help reduce HIV-infected adolescents' unique barriers to care engagement. The integration of clinic design and staff training within the organization of a clinical program is helpful in meeting the specialized needs of HIV-infected youth.

Preexposure prophylaxis for adolescents and young adults at risk for HIV infection: is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure?

An alarming proportion of incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections worldwide occur in youth. In the United States, 69% of all new infections among youth occurred in young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Recent studies show the promise of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for preventing HIV infection, but research efforts suffer from disproportionately low representation of the youth who are most at risk. Youth-focused research is critical and should include behavioral, community, and biomedical interventions to create a comprehensive HIV prevention package. The many ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations in conducting HIV research among, and in providing care services to, youth must be addressed so that those at high risk and most likely to benefit can have unfettered access to safe and effective health-promoting interventions. YMSM and minority youth are at substantial HIV risk and urgently need effective HIV prevention tools for which the short and long-term benefits and risks have been carefully considered.

Immunogenicity and safety of the human papillomavirus 6, 11, 16, 18 vaccine in HIV-infected young women.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether the 3-dose quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series (HPV-6, -11, -16, -18) is immunogenic and safe in young women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: We enrolled 99 women aged 16-23 years in a phase 2, open-label, multicenter trial, conducted from 2008 to 2011 by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions. Outcome measures were immunogenicity 4 weeks after dose 3, measured by (1) geometric mean titers (GMTs) and (2) seroconversion rates for HPV-6, -11, -16, and -18, among those seronegative and HPV DNA negative for each type. Immune responses were compared to those of a historical comparison group of HIV-negative women (n = 267) using univariate methods. Clinical and laboratory adverse events were assessed after each dose. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 21.4 years; 80% were non-Hispanic black, 69 were not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 30 were taking ART. No differences in GMTs were noted among participants taking ART vs the comparison group, but GMTs were lower in participants not taking ART vs the comparison group for HPV-16 (2393 vs 3892 milli-Merck units per milliliter [mMU/mL], P = .012) and HPV-18 (463 vs 801 mMU/mL, P = .003). Seroconversion rates were 100% for HPV-6, -11, -16, and -18 among participants taking ART. Rates ranged from 92.3% (for HPV-18) to 100.0% (for HPV-6) among participants not taking ART. One severe adverse event (fatigue) was noted. CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of HIV-infected women who were HPV DNA and HPV seronegative, immune responses to HPV vaccination were generally robust and the vaccine was well tolerated.