A Pilot Randomized Control Trial of the Striving Towards EmPowerment and Medication Adherence (STEP-AD) Intervention for Black Women Living with HIV.

Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) face adversities associated with lower HIV medication adherence, viral non-suppression, and mental health symptoms (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) such as trauma/violence, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. We developed the first intervention based in cognitive behavioral therapy and culturally congruent coping for BWLWH to increase medication adherence and decrease PTSD symptoms by enhancing resilience, self-care, engagement in care, and coping for trauma, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. A pilot randomized control trial was conducted with BWLWH and histories of trauma who were at risk for their HIV viral load remaining or becoming detectable (i.e., below 80% medication adherence, detectable viral load in the past year, and/or missed HIV-related appointments). 119 BWLWH were assessed at baseline and 70 met inclusion criteria, completed one session of Life-Steps adherence counseling, and were randomized to either nine sessions of STEP-AD (Striving Towards EmPowerment and Medication Adherence) or ETAU (enhanced treatment as usual consisting of biweekly check-ins). Women completed a post intervention follow up assessment (3 months post baseline) and 3-month post intervention follow-up (6 months post baseline). Via STATA the difference-in-difference methodology with mixed models compared STEP-AD to ETAU on changes in outcomes over time. BWLWH in STEP-AD compared to E-TAU had significantly higher ART adherence (estimate = 9.36 p = 0.045) and lower likelihood of being clinically diagnosed with PTSD (OR = .07, estimate = - 2.66, p = 0.03) as well as borderline significance on higher CD4 count (estimate = 161.26, p = 0.05). Our findings suggest preliminary efficacy of STEP-AD in improving ART adherence, mental health, and immune function.

Neighborhood Characteristics, Intersectional Discrimination, Mental Health, and HIV Outcomes Among Black Women Living With HIV, Southeastern United States, 2019‒2020.

Objectives. To examine the effects of within-neighborhood and neighboring characteristics on discrimination, stigma, mental health, and HIV outcomes among Black women living with HIV (BWLWH). Methods. A total of 151 BWLWH in a southeastern US city provided baseline data (October 2019‒January 2020) on experienced microaggressions and discrimination (race-, gender-, sexual orientation-, or HIV-related), mental health (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress disorder), and HIV outcomes (e.g., viral load, antiretroviral therapy adherence). Neighborhood characteristics by census tract were gathered from the American Community Survey and the National Center for Charitable Statistics. Spatial econometrics guided the identification strategy, and we used the maximum likelihood technique to estimate relationships between a number of predictors and outcomes. Results. Within-neighborhood and neighboring characteristics (employment, education, crime, income, number of religious organizations, and low-income housing) were significantly related to intersectional stigma, discrimination, mental health, HIV viral load, and medication adherence. Conclusions. Policy, research, and interventions for BWLWH need to address the role of neighborhood characteristics to improve quality of life and HIV outcomes. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S4):S433-S443. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306675).

Daily Microaggressions and Related Distress among Black Women Living with HIV during the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Black Lives Matter Protests.

Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) in the U.S. face microaggressions based on race, gender, HIV-status, and sexual orientation. We examined changes in daily microaggressions and related distress among 143 BWLWH in Miami, FL. Microaggression-related distress increased from 52% at baseline/October, peaked at 70% during the holidays (November/December), declined to 55% in March when COVID-19 social distancing began, and peaked to 83% in June/July 2020 during widespread Black Lives Matters protests. Baseline viral suppression was associated with lower microaggressions across the 9-months. Microaggression-related distress may change due to social context and research is needed on microaggressions and viral load overtime.

RESUMEN: Las mujeres de raza negra que viven con el VIH (MNVV) en los EE. UU. enfrentan microagresiones basadas en la raza, el género, el estado serológico del VIH y la orientación sexual. Examinamos los cambios en las microagresiones diarias y el estrés relacionado entre 143 MNVV en Miami, FL. El estrés relacionado con la microagresión aumentó del 52% en la línea de base/octubre, alcanzó un máximo del 70% durante las vacaciones (noviembre/diciembre), disminuyó al 55% en marzo cuando comenzó el distanciamiento social por el COVID-19 y alcanzó un máximo del 83% en junio/julio de 2020 durante las protestas generalizadas de Black Lives Matters. La supresión viral inicial se asoció con menores microagresiones durante los 9 meses. El estrés relacionada con la microagresión puede cambiar debido al contexto social y se necesitan investigaciones sobre las microagresiones y la carga viral con el tiempo.

First report of accumulation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in New South Wales, Australia.

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic monotreme that occupies a high trophic position in the freshwater ecosystems of eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Platypuses are continuously exposed to anthropogenic contaminants including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). This study examined PFOS concentrations in the livers of deceased platypuses (eight wild; one captive) that were opportunistically collected across NSW over a two- and a half-year period. There was a large variation in PFOS concentrations, ranging from < 1 µg/kg to 1200 µg/kg. This study presents the first report of PFOS contamination in platypuses, revealing their PFOS levels are broadly similar to those found in river otters (Lutra canadensis) and lower than those in American mink (Mustela vison), both which occupy similar ecological niches in freshwater systems. This study raises concerns about the impact of PFOS on platypus health.

Structural equation model of intersectional microaggressions, discrimination, resilience, and mental health among black women with hiv.

OBJECTIVE: Compared to non-Black women, Black women in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, living with HIV, and have suboptimal HIV outcomes, disparities largely linked to structural and psychosocial factors that may impact mental health. METHOD: 151 Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study completed baseline assessments between October 2019 and January 2020 in the Southeastern United States. Measures captured microaggressions (gendered-racial, HIV, and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer), "macro" discrimination acts (gender, race, HIV, sexual orientation), resilience factors (self-efficacy, trait resilience, posttraumatic growth, positive religious coping, and social support), and mental health (depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and posttraumatic cognitions). Four structural equation models were estimated with latent discrimination (LD), latent microaggression (LM), and latent resilience (LR) as predictors and depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, and latent mental health (LH) as outcomes. Indirect pathways from LD and LM via LR and LR as a moderator were estimated. RESULTS: Models fit well based on indices. There were significant direct pathways from LM and LR to depressive symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, and LH and a significant direct pathway from LM to PTSD symptoms, but not from LD to any mental health outcome. Indirect pathways were not significant. However, LR moderated the relationships between both LM and LD with PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intersectional microaggressions and resilience factors may play key roles in BWLWH's mental health. Research is needed to examine these pathways overtime and provide opportunities to improve mental health and HIV outcomes among BWLWH. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Geochemical signature of urbanisation in Blue Mountains Upland Swamps.

Urbanisation leaves a geochemical signature on the environment, as weathering of urban materials such as concrete contributes to elevated levels of major ions including calcium, bicarbonate and potassium. However, there is limited research that addresses the ecological consequences of this signature on the biotic community. Blue Mountains Upland Swamps (BMUS), an endangered ecological community with high conservation values, are vulnerable to urban degradation. Chemical properties of water, sediment and foliage from native and exotic species were assessed within two urbanised and two naturally vegetated swamp catchments. Water in urban swamps exhibited elevated pH and electrical conductivity. Non-urban swamps were sodium and chloride dominated, with higher calcium and bicarbonate in urban swamps. Water from urban swamps also exhibited 32 times higher levels of strontium. Calcium concentrations were elevated by 14 times in urban swamp sediment. Foliage from urban catchments exhibited six times greater potassium, and three times higher calcium and bicarbonate compared to foliage in non-urban catchments. Calcium, bicarbonate, potassium and strontium were key parameters that were enriched in the urbanised swamps. However, the ecological implications of these findings for urban wetland communities, including BMUS, remain unclear. Interestingly, the chemical signature of water did not fully represent the signatures of sediment and foliage, highlighting the need to further explore sources and forms of major ions within these ecosystems, particularly in sediment. In an increasingly urban world, enhancing knowledge of drivers of change in endangered ecosystems such as BMUS is crucial to promote conservation and guide the development of sustainable management practices.