Reducing perceived barriers to scaling up overdose education and naloxone distribution and medications for opioid use disorder in the United States in the HEALing (helping end addiction long-term®) communities study.

BACKGROUND: Scaling up overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is needed to reduce opioid overdose deaths, but barriers are pervasive. This study examines whether the Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention reduced perceived barriers to expanding OEND and MOUD in healthcare/behavioral health, criminal-legal, and other/non-traditional venues. METHODS: The HEALing (Helping End Addiction Long-Term®) Communities Study is a parallel, wait-list, cluster randomized trial testing the CTH intervention in 67 communities in the United States. Surveys administered to coalition members and key stakeholders measured the magnitude of perceived barriers to scaling up OEND and MOUD in November 2019-January 2020, May-June 2021, and May-June 2022. Multilevel linear mixed models compared Wave 1 (intervention) and Wave 2 (wait-list control) respondents. Interactions by rural/urban status and research site were tested. RESULTS: Wave 1 respondents reported significantly greater reductions in mean scores for three outcomes: perceived barriers to scaling up OEND in Healthcare/Behavioral Health Venues (-0.26, 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.48, -0.05, p = 0.015), OEND in Other/Non-traditional Venues (-0.53, 95% CI: - 0.84, -0.22, p = 0.001) and MOUD in Other/Non-traditional Venues (-0.34, 95% CI: -0.62, -0.05, p = 0.020). There were significant interactions by research site for perceived barriers to scaling up OEND and MOUD in Criminal-Legal Venues. There were no significant interactions by rural/urban status. DISCUSSION: The CTH Intervention reduced perceived barriers to scaling up OEND and MOUD in certain venues, with no difference in effectiveness between rural and urban communities. More research is needed to understand facilitators and barriers in different venues.

The Influence of Housing Status and Food Insecurity on a Behavioral HIV/STI Prevention Intervention for Black Women under Community Supervision in New York City: A Moderation Analysis.

Black women in community supervision programs (CSPs) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A randomized controlled trial of a group intervention titled Empowering African-American Women on the Road to Health (E-WORTH) demonstrated effectiveness in reducing sexual risk behaviors and STI incidence among Black women in CSPs. This secondary analysis aimed to assess the moderating effects of housing status and food security on E-WORTH effectiveness in reducing sexual risk behaviors and cumulative incidence of STIs over a 12-month period which were found significant in the original trial among a sample of 351 Black women in CSPs in New York City who use drugs and/or engage in binge drinking who reported engaging in HIV risk behaviors or testing positive for HIV. We examined the moderating effects of housing stability, housing independence, and food insecurity on reducing cumulative STI incidence and number of unprotected sex acts using mixed-effects negative binomial regression and logistic regression models that controlled for age, high school education, employment status, and marital status. Findings indicate that the intervention effect was moderated by housing stability, but not housing independence or food security. Compared to the control group, E-WORTH participants who were housing insecure had 63% fewer acts of condomless sex. Our findings highlight the importance of interventions designed for women in CSPs that account for upstream determinants of health and include service linkages to basic needs provisions. Further research is needed to unpack the cumulative impacts of multiple experiences of poverty faced by this population.

Associations between different forms of intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress among women who use drugs and alcohol in Kyrgyzstan.

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) have an increased risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress, and the subsequently associated symptoms can vary by form of IPV exposure (i.e., physical, sexual, or psychological IPV). Related research among socially marginalized populations, however, is limited, including among women who use and misuse substances. Drawing on baseline data from a pilot study conducted among 213 women in Kyrgyzstan who reported using drugs or engaging in hazardous alcohol use, we examined the associations between different forms of IPV and severe posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The vast majority of participants reported lifetime (93.9%, n = 200) and past 3-month (65.3%, n = 139) IPV, and two thirds of participants (65.3%, n = 139) reported experiencing PTSS in the prior month. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated statistically significant associations between only some forms of IPV and PTSS, including physical IPV, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.15, 9.14], and injurious IPV, aOR = 2.71, 95% CI [1.10, 6.65]. Additionally, experiencing any form of IPV was associated with 4.95 higher odds of reporting PTSS, 95% CI [1.16, 21.15]; no other results were significant. These results not only underscore the need for future research on the mechanisms that might explain the unique associations between different forms of IPV and posttraumatic stress, but also highlight an urgent need for trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support interventions for women who use drugs and alcohol.

'Yeah, they suck. It's like they don't care about our health.' Medical mistrust among Black women under community supervision in New York city.

Black women in the USA experience some of the poorest health outcomes and this is especially true for those involved in the carceral system who are at elevated risks for HIV/STIs, reproductive health, and chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate Black women's experience accessing healthcare services. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 43 women from Project EWORTH under community supervision in New York City. We analysed responses focusing on barriers to healthcare engagement. All interviews were recorded, and data analysis was conducted using NVivo. Themes influencing Black women's ability to engage with healthcare providers and systems included: 1) disclosed provider mistrust/judgement; 2) feeling disrespected by providers and the medical system; 3) mistrust of medical providers/system/hospital/government; 4) lack of health communication; 5) low health literacy; 6) provider gender preference. Findings highlight the need to improve trust and collaboration between healthcare providers and Black women. This study addresses the critical gap in understanding perceptions of discrimination, stigma, and barriers to attaining health care. Funders and accreditation agencies must hold providers and organisations accountable for acquiring and making available diversity, equity and inclusion training for providers, demonstrating increasingly equitable medical relationships through responsiveness to patient feedback, and increasing the number of Black providers.

Characteristics of drug-involved black women under community supervision; implications for retention in HIV clinical trials and healthcare.

This study examined retention and its relationship to mental health, substance use, and social determinants of health in a randomized clinical trial of a behavioral HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention intervention with drug-involved Black women (N = 348) under community supervision programs in New York City. Using secondary analysis, we used logistic models to test the association between factors related to mental health, substance use, and social determinants of health and follow-up assessment completion (three, six, and 12 months). Participants who were diagnosed with schizophrenia had lower odds of retention. Participants who misused prescription opiates during their lifetime or food insecure in the past 90 days had higher odds of retention throughout the intervention.

Moderation Analysis of a couple-based HIV/STI Intervention Among Heterosexual Couples in the Criminal Legal System Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, intimate partner violence (IPV) rates have increased in the United States. Although accumulating research has documented the effectiveness of couple-based interventions in reducing HIV/STIs, it remains unclear whether they are effective and safe for couples experiencing IPV. We used moderation analysis from a randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether a couples-based HIV/STI intervention may have differential effectiveness in reducing HIV/STI risks among couples where one or both partners reported experiencing IPV compared to couples without such IPV among a sample of 230 men at risk for HIV/STIs who reported using drugs and were mandated to community supervision settings in New York City and their main female sexual partners. The findings of this study suggest that the effectiveness of this evidence-based couple HIV intervention in reducing condomless sex and other HIV/STI risks did not differ between couples with IPV compared to couples without IPV. Intimate partners who use drugs and are involved in the criminal legal system are disproportionately impacted by both HIV/STIs and IPV, underscoring the importance of couple-level interventions that may be scaled up to address the dyadic HIV risks and IPV together in community supervision settings.

Preferences for an HIV Self-Testing Program Among Women who Engage in sex Work and use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia.

Purpose: Women engaged in sex work (WESW) who use drugs face barriers to HIV testing. HIV self-testing (HST) may empower sex workers to learn their HIV status; however, it is not scaled up among WESW in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to traditional HIV testing and HST among this population. Method: We conducted 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and four focus groups (FGs) with Kazakhstani WESW who use drugs. Pragmatic analysis was used to explore key themes from qualitative data. Results: Participants welcomed HST due to its potential to overcome logistical challenges by accessing HIV testing, as well as the stigma that WESW faces in traditional HIV testing. Participants desired emotional and social support for HST, and for linkage to HIV care and other services. Discussion: HST among women who exchange sex and use drugs can be successfully implemented to mitigate stigma and barriers to HIV testing.

Intervening on the Intersecting Issues of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, and HIV: A Review of Social Intervention Group's (SIG) Syndemic-Focused Interventions for Women.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), HIV, and substance use are serious intersecting public health issues. This paper aims to describe the Social Intervention Group (SIG)'s syndemic-focused interventions for women that address the co-occurrence of IPV, HIV, and substance use, referred to as the SAVA syndemic. We reviewed SIG intervention studies from 2000 to 2020 that evaluated the effectiveness of syndemic-focused interventions which addressed two or more outcomes related to reducing IPV, HIV, and substance use among different populations of women who use drugs. This review identified five interventions that co-targeted SAVA outcomes. Of the five interventions, four showed a significant reduction in risks for two or more outcomes related to IPV, substance use, and HIV. The significant effects of SIG's interventions on IPV, substance use, and HIV outcomes among different populations of women demonstrate the potential of using syndemic theory and methods in guiding effective SAVA-focused interventions.

A Dyadic Analysis of Criminal Justice Involvement and Sexual HIV Risk Behaviors Among Drug-Involved Men in Community Corrections and Their Intimate Partners in New York City: Implications for Prevention, Treatment and Policies.

People in community corrections have rates of HIV and sexual risk behaviors that are much higher than the general population. Prior literature suggests that criminal justice involvement is associated with increased sexual risk behaviors, yet these studies focus on incarceration and use one-sided study designs that only collect data from one partner. To address gaps in the literature, this study used the Actor Partner-Interdependence Model with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), to perform a dyadic analysis estimating individual (actor-only) partner-only, and dyadic patterns (actor-partner) of criminal justice involvement and greater sexual risks in a sample of 227 men on probation and their intimate partners in New York City, United States. Standard errors were bootstrapped with 10,000 replications to reduce bias in the significance tests. Goodness of fit indices suggested adequate or better model fit for all the models. Significant actor-only relationships included associations between exposures to arrest, misdemeanor convictions, time spent in jail or prison, felony convictions, lifetime number of incarceration events, prior conviction for disorderly conduct and increased sexual risk behaviors. Partner only effects included significant associations between male partners conviction for a violent crime and their female partners' sexual risk behaviors. Men's encounters with police and number of prior misdemeanors were associated with their own and intimate partners' sexual risk behaviors. Women's prior arrest was associated with their own and intimate partners' sexual risk behaviors. The results from the present study suggest that men on probation and their intimate partners' criminal justice involvement are associated with increased engagement in sexual risk behaviors. It is necessary to conduct greater research into developing dyadic sexual risk reduction and HIV/STI prevention interventions for people who are involved in the criminal justice system.

Assessing the relationship between syringe exchange, pharmacy, and street sources of accessing syringes and injection drug use behavior in a pooled nationally representative sample of people who inject drugs in the United States from 2002 to 2019.

Provision of sterile syringes is an evidence-based strategy of reducing syringe sharing and reusing and yet, access to sterile syringes through pharmacies and syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the United States remains inadequate. This nationally representative study examined associations between obtaining syringes from pharmacies, SEPs, and sterilizing syringes with bleach and risk of syringe borrowing, lending and reusing syringes in a pooled cross-sectional dataset of 1737 PWID from the 2002-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Logistic regression was used to produce odds ratios (OR) of the odds of injection drug behaviors after adjusting for obtaining syringes from SEPs, pharmacies, the street, and other sources and potential confounders of race, ethnicity, sex, education, and insurance coverage. Obtaining syringes through SEPs was associated with lower odds of borrowing (OR = .4, CI95% = .2, .9, p = .022) and reusing syringes (OR = .3, CI95% = .2, .6, < .001) compared to obtaining syringes on the street. Obtaining syringes from pharmacies was associated with lower odds of borrowing (OR = .5, CI95% = .3, .9, p = .037) and lending (OR = .5 CI95% = .3, .9, p = .020) syringes. Using bleach to clean syringes was associated with increased odds of borrowing (OR = 2.0, CI95% = 1.3, 3.0, p = .002), lending (OR = 2.0, CI95% = 1.3, 3.0, p = .002) and reusing syringes (OR = 2.4, CI95% = 1.6, 3.6, p < .001). Our findings support provision of syringes through pharmacies and SEPs as a gold-standard strategy of reducing sharing and reuse of syringes in the US.

Mental Health Consequences of Sexual Misconduct by Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Personnel among Black Drug-Involved Women in Community Corrections.

This study examines the prevalence, correlates, and mental health consequences of sexual misconduct by law enforcement and criminal justice (LECJ) personnel. Baseline data for Project E-WORTH (Empowering African-American Women on the Road to Health) were collected between November 2015 and May 2018 from 351 drug-involved Black women from community corrections in New York City. LECJ sexual misconduct was self-reported and we measured mental health outcomes with the CESD-4 and the PTSD Checklist. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Approximately 14% of our sample had experienced LECJ sexual misconduct. Participants who reported multiple arrests, recent drug use, and having experienced childhood sexual victimization were more likely to have experienced LECJ sexual misconduct. Further, LECJ sexual misconduct was positively associated with depression and PTSD. These findings suggest that LECJ sexual misconduct is a previously unreported risk factor for adverse mental health outcomes among criminal-legal system-involved women. There is a need for recognition of LECJ sexual victimization among criminal-legal system-involved women. As such, prevention, treatment, and community corrections service delivery for this population should be trauma informed.

Men in Community Correction Programs and Their Female Primary Sex Partners: Latent Class Analysis to Identify the Relationship of Clusters of Drug Use and Sexual Behaviors and HIV Risks.

Existing research indicates that justice-involved individuals use a variety of different drugs and polysubstance use is common. Research shows that different typologies of drug users, such as polydrug users versus users of a single drug, have differing types of individual-, structural-, and neighborhood-level risk characteristics. However, little research has been conducted on how different typologies of drug use are associated with HIV risks among individuals in community corrections and their intimate sex partners. This paper examines the different types of drug use typologies among men in community correction programs and their female primary sex partners. We used latent class analysis to identify typologies of drug use among men in community correction programs in New York City and among their female primary sex partners. We also examined the associations between drug use typologies with sexual and drug use behaviors that increase the risk of HIV acquisition. The final analysis included a total of 1167 participants (822 male participants and 345 of their female primary sex partners). Latent class analyses identified three identical typologies of drug use for both men and their female primary sex partners: (1) polydrug use, (2) mild polydrug users with severe alcohol and marijuana use, and (3) alcohol and marijuana users. Men and women who were classified as polydrug users and mild polydrug users, compared to those who were classified as alcohol and marijuana users, tended to be older and non-Hispanic Caucasians. Polydrug users and mild polydrug users were also more likely to have risky sex partners and higher rates of criminal justice involvement. There is a need to provide HIV and drug use treatment and linkage to service and care for men in community correction programs, especially polydrug users. Community correction programs could be the venue to provide better access by reaching out to this high HIV risk key population with increased rates of drug use and multiple sex partners.

Correction to: How Do Risk Environment Factors Influence Perpetration of Partner Violence among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Workers in Central Asia?

The surname of coauthor Lynn Michalopoulos was misspelled (as "Michalopolous") in this originally published. The original article has been corrected.

How Do Risk Environment Factors Influence Perpetration of Partner Violence among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Workers in Central Asia?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has emerged as a serious public health issue in migrant communities in Central Asia and globally. To date, however, research on risk factors associated with male perpetration of IPV among migrants remains scant. This study aims to examine risk environment theory-driven factors associated with male perpetration of IPV in the prior 6 months. We recruited, enrolled, and surveyed a respondent-driven sample of 1342 male market workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan, that included 562 (42%) non-migrants defined as Kazakhstan citizens who reside in Almaty; 502 (37%) external migrants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, or Uzbekistan; and 278 (21%) internal migrants from other areas of Kazakhstan. We conducted multivariate logistic regressions to estimate the effects of physical, economic, and political risk environment factors on IPV perpetration by migration status after controlling for potentially confounding socio-demographic and psychosocial variables. A total of 170 participants (12.7%) reported ever perpetrating physical or sexual IPV and 6.7% perpetrated such IPV in the prior 6 months. Multiple logistic regression results suggest that the risk environment factors of poor living conditions, exposure to political violence, and deportation experiences are associated with IPV perpetration among external and internal migrants, but not among non-migrants. Food insecurity is associated with IPV perpetration among external migrants and non-migrants, but not among internal migrants. Homelessness and arrests by police are associated with IPV perpetration among internal migrants, but not among external migrants or non-migrants. These findings underscore the need to consider the unique combination of risk environment factors that contribute to male IPV perpetration in the design of programs and policies to address IPV perpetration among external and internal migrant and non-migrant men in Central Asia.

Traumatic Events and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Male Market Workers in Central Asia.

We examined potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and the relationship between PTEs and HIV risk behaviors among male market workers in Kazakhstan, comparing Kazakhstani to external migrants. Using respondent-driven sampling, participants were 1342 male marketplace workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Univariate, bivariate, and logistic regressions were conducted. We found high prevalence of PTEs among participants, and significant differences between PTEs and HIV risk by migrant status. Kazakhstanis reporting 1-2 or three-or-more traumatic events were more likely to report engaging in sex trading, compared to Kazakhstanis who reported no PTEs (OR = 3.65, CI 1.20-11.11, p = 0.022; OR = 8.17, 95% CI 2.66-25.09, p = 0.000, respectively). Kazakhstanis who reported three-or-more PTEs were more likely to report unprotected sex (OR = 2.17, CI 2.17-3.89, p = 0.009). Results did not support this relationship among external migrants. Findings underscore the need for attention on services that address trauma and HIV risk among this population and more research to understand differences by migrant status.

Sexual Risks and Policing among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Vendors in Central Asia.

The following study examined associations between sexual risk behaviors and policing among external migrant, internal migrant, and non-migrant male market workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Negative binomial regression and logistic regressions examined associations between sexual risk behaviors and policing (questioning by market officials and migration police, and arrest) for 1342 external, internal, and non-migrant workers recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were stratified by migration status. External migrants were more likely than non-migrants to experience questioning by market officials (IRR = 2.07, p<0.01), migration police (IRR = 3.60, p<0.001), and arrest (OR = 5.32, p<0.001). When stratified by migration status, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (IRR = 3.04, p<0.01) and sex with men (IRR = 2.71, p<0.05) were associated with being questioned or harassed by market police among external migrants. External migrant who reported having more than one sex partner while traveling were also more likely to report being arrested than external migrants (OR = 3.92, p<0.05). Meeting HIV prevention needs of labor migrants demands acknowledging the role of policing and allocating sufficient resources to support the implementation of HIV prevention programs in these settings.

Reproductive Health Concerns among Substance-Using Women in Community Corrections in New York City: Understanding the Role of Environmental Influences.

Women living in urban settings who are engaged in the criminal justice system are disproportionately affected by HIV and also contend with poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH). While studies have examined environmental influences of HIV, few have examined how these influences relate to poor SRH among this population. We used baseline data from an HIV-risk reduction study among substance-using women with a pregnancy history in community corrections in New York City (N = 299). We examined risk environment factors typically associated with HIV, and SRH outcomes of abortion, and miscarriage. We used logistic regression models to examine associations between risk environment factors with SRH outcomes. Most women identified as black and ranged in age from 18 to 62. Approximately half had miscarriages and/or abortions in their lifetime. Few women used birth control despite not wanting children in the future. While most women faced high rates of environmental influences of HIV risk, only intimate partner violence (IPV) was associated with SRH outcomes. Women experiencing IPV were significantly more likely to report both miscarriage and abortion. Community corrections present a unique opportunity for intervention around HIV risk reduction and SRH outcomes, given that effective programming for each often requires multiple and formal contacts with health providers.

HIV testing and access to HIV medical care among people who inject drugs and their intimate partners in Kazakhstan.

BACKGROUND: Growing rates of HIV and high rates of injection drug use in Kazakhstan call for examining access to testing and treatment among people who inject drugs and their intimate partners. OBJECTIVES: We examine how access to health and drug treatment services as well as risk environment factors are associated with ever being tested for HIV and ever receiving any general HIV medical care among 728 male and female intimate partners where at least one partner injects drugs. METHODS: Multivariate random effects logistic regression with random effects for couple were conducted to examine associations between access to health and drug treatment services, risk environment factors, and HIV testing and HIV medical care outcomes. RESULTS: Analyses indicate that accessing needle exchange services and having a regular physician were associated both with access to HIV testing and HIV medical care. Receiving drug treatment was associated with accessing HIV testing but not HIV medical care. Being arrested and charged with a criminal offense was also associated with accessing HIV testing but not HIV medical care. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: Study findings highlight the need for increased scale-up of HIV testing efforts, as well as integrated HIV treatment and care in Kazakhstan.

Efficacy of a Computerized Intervention on HIV and Intimate Partner Violence Among Substance-Using Women in Community Corrections: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of a computerized, group-based HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention on reducing IPV victimization among substance-using women mandated to community corrections. METHODS: Between November 2009 and January 2012, we randomly allocated 306 women from community corrections in New York City to 3 study arms of a computerized HIV and IPV prevention trial: (1) 4 group sessions intervention with computerized self-paced IPV prevention modules (Computerized Women on the Road to Health [WORTH]), (2) traditional HIV and IPV prevention intervention group covering the same HIV and IPV content as Computerized WORTH without computers (Traditional WORTH), and (3) a Wellness Promotion control group. Primary outcomes were physical, injurious, and sexual IPV victimization in the previous 6 months at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Computerized WORTH participants reported significantly lower risk of physical IPV victimization, severe injurious IPV victimization, and severe sexual IPV victimization at 12-month follow-up when compared with control participants. No significant differences were seen between Traditional WORTH and control participants for any IPV outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of Computerized WORTH across multiple IPV outcomes highlights the promise of integrating computerized, self-paced IPV prevention modules in HIV prevention groups.

Types and Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse: How Do They Matter in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Women in Methadone Treatment in New York City?

BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is often considered an important distal factor in HIV sexual risk behaviors; however, there are limited and mixed findings regarding this relationship among women experiencing substance use problems. In addition, research with this population of women has yet to examine differences in observed CSA-HIV sexual risk behaviors relationships by CSA type and characteristics. OBJECTIVES: This study examines relationships between CSA coding, type, and characteristics and HIV sexual risk behaviors with main intimate partners among a random sample of 390 women in methadone treatment in New York City who completed individual interviews with trained female interviewers. RESULTS: Findings from logistic regression analyses indicate that CSA predicts substance use with sexual activity, with variations by CSA coding, type, and characteristics; however, the role of CSA is more limited than expected. Having a main partner with HIV risk mediates some relationships between CSA and drinking four or more drinks prior to sex. Intimate partner violence is the most consistent predictor of sexual risk behaviors. Other salient factors include polysubstance use, depression, social support, recent incarceration, relationship characteristics, and HIV status. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: This study contributes to understanding of relationships between CSA and HIV sexual risk behaviors and key correlates associated with HIV sexual risk behaviors among women in methadone treatment. It also highlights the complexity of measuring CSA and its association with sexual risk behaviors and the importance of comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention that address psychological, relational, situational, and substance use experiences associated with sexual risk behaviors among this population.