Low Self-Perceived Need for PrEP and Behavioral Indications of MSM Who Recently Refused Daily PrEP: A Mixed Methods Study in Three U.S. Cities.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces sexual risk for HIV transmission by 99% when used appropriately, but remains underutilized among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). In this mixed-method study, we describe reasons for PrEP refusal associated with low self-perceived need for PrEP among MSM who recently declined daily oral PrEP when offered by a provider. Data are from a quantitative behavioral survey of MSM (N = 93) living in Atlanta, Chicago, and Raleigh-Durham, who also either responded to an in-depth interview (n = 51) or participated in one of 12 focus groups (n = 42). Themes of low self-perceived need for PrEP were: low self-perceived risk for HIV acquisition (33% of respondents); confidence in remaining HIV-negative (35%); using condoms (81%); limiting number of partners and choosing partners carefully (48%); asking partners about their HIV status before having sex (45%); engaging in safer sexual positions or oral sex (28%); being in a monogamous relationship or exclusivity with one partner (26%); and regular HIV testing (18%). Low self-perceived risk for HIV acquisition and high confidence in other prevention strategies were important factors related to low self-perceived need in MSM refusing daily oral PrEP when offered. Providers should continue to discuss the benefits of PrEP as a safe and highly effective option for HIV prevention.

RESUMEN: La profilaxis pre-exposición (PrEP) reduce el riesgo de transmisión sexual por el VIH en un 99% cuando se utiliza apropiadamente, pero sigue siendo subutilizada entre hombres gais, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH). En este estudio de método mixto, describimos los motivos del rechazo de la PrEP asociados a la baja necesidad autopercibida de la PrEP entre los HSH que recientemente rechazaron la PrEP oral diaria, cuando fue ofrecida por un proveedor de salud. Los datos provienen de una encuesta cuantitativa de comportamiento de los HSH (N = 93) que viven en Atlanta, Chicago y Raleigh-Durham, quienes también respondieron a una entrevista en profundidad (n = 51) o participaron en uno de los 12 grupos focales (n = 42). Los temas de baja necesidad autopercibida del uso de la PrEP fueron: el bajo riesgo auto percibido de contraer el VIH (33% de los encuestados); la confianza en seguir siendo VIH negativo (35%); utilizar condones (81%); limitar el número de parejas sexuales y elegir las parejas cuidadosamente (48%); preguntar a sus parejas sobre su estado de VIH antes de tener relaciones sexuales (45%); participar en posiciones sexuales más seguras o sexo oral (28%); estar en relación monógama o de exclusividad con una sola pareja (26%); y hacerse pruebas del VIH regularmente (18%). El bajo riesgo autopercibido de contraer el VIH y la alta confianza en otras estrategias de prevención fueron factores importantes relacionados con la baja necesidad autopercibida en los HSH que rechazaron la PrEP oral diaria cuando se les ofreció. Los proveedores de salud deben continuar el diálogo sobre los beneficios de la PrEP como una opción segura y altamente eficaz para la prevención del VIH.

Violence Victimization, Homelessness, and Severe Mental Illness Among People Who Use Opioids in Three U.S. Cities.

This study examined the associations between violence victimization, homelessness, and severe mental illness (SMI) among people who use opioids (PWUOs) in three U.S. cities. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey conducted from May 2019 to February 2020 across three study sites: Los Angeles, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Atlanta, GA. We used multivariable regressions to examine how multiple victimizations and housing situation are associated with SMI. Based on K-6 scale, nearly half (44.2%) were screened positive for SMI. Meanwhile, 69.7% of the participants reported experiencing some kind of violence in their lifetime, and more than half (51.9%) reported experiencing recent violence (in the past 6 months). The most common form of lifetime violence was emotional (59.5%), followed by physical and intimate partner violence (IPV) (56.1 and 34.9%, respectively), and 34.9% of all participants reported experiencing multiple forms of victimization in the past 6 months. Participants who reported homelessness were more likely to report having experienced recent violence victimization (p < .001). In multivariable models, experiencing recent victimization was significantly associated with SMI (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.46, 2.38]), as was homelessness (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.15, 2.14]), after adjusting for study covariates. Among those with moderate and SMI (n = 927), only 22% were currently receiving mental health services, and those who reported having experienced any forms of violence in the past 6 months were more likely to utilize mental health services than those who had not experienced any recent violence victimization (25 vs. 17.9%, p < .05). To improve mental health and wellness among this high priority population, mental health facilities and syringe service programs may consider screening for experiences of violence and using trauma-informed mental health approaches. Harm reduction interventions must be responsive to the diverse individual and structural-level needs of PWUOs, especially those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Holistic strategies and services are needed to meet the social and structural needs of this population.

Overcoming Challenges to HIV Medical Care-seeking and Treatment Among Data-to-Care Program Clients in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana.

ABSTRACT: Data to Care (D2C) uses US public health surveillance data to identify persons with diagnosed HIV who are not receiving adequate medical care. These persons are linked to care and ancillary social services through personalized outreach. We conducted semistructured interviews with 36 adults with HIV in Louisiana who were engaged for the first time or reengaged back into HIV care through D2C efforts. Before D2C program staff contact, nearly 40% were not contemplating HIV care. Program clients cited barriers to HIV care, including difficulties with appointment scheduling and transportation, health care service and drug costs, low motivation, and competing non-HIV health needs. Thirty-four of the 36 clients said that D2C staff helped them overcome these barriers. Clients also described psychosocial support from D2C staff. After receiving D2C program assistance, more than 90% of clients reported consistently receiving HIV medical care and taking medications. Our findings suggest that D2C staff successfully identified client needs and provided tailored assistance.

"Take care of their hierarchy of needs first": strategies used by data-to-care staff to address barriers to HIV care engagement.

Data-to-Care (D2C) is a public health strategy designed to engage out-of-care (OOC) persons with HIV (PWH) in HIV care. OOC PWH are identified through review of state and local HIV data and engaged in care through individualized efforts that address barriers to HIV care. Perspectives of D2C program staff can contribute to D2C program development and sustainability. We conducted semi-structured interviews in 2017 with 20 D2C program staff from Louisiana (n = 10) and Virginia (n = 10), states with distinct D2C programs. We used content and thematic analysis to analyze interview transcripts. In both states, common barriers to care for OOC PWH include limited transportation, stigma, substance use, poverty, homelessness, and mental illness. To address these barriers and engage OOC clients in HIV care, staff and programs provided transportation vouchers and housing assistance, integrated substance use and mental health services into care engagement processes, provided empathy and compassion, and assessed and addressed basic unmet needs. Identifying and addressing social and structural barriers to HIV care is a critical and often a necessary first step in engaging OOC clients in HIV care. These findings can be used for D2C program design and implementation, facilitating engagement in HIV care for OOC PWH.

Utilization of HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Services Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Persons of Color in the U.S. South: A Qualitative Analysis.

To better understand utilization of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services by young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender persons (YTG), of Black race or Hispanic/Latino/Latina ethnicity in the U.S. South, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 127 clients at one of four community based organizations (CBOs) in Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans/Baton Rouge, or Columbia, South Carolina. Across sites, the service that most commonly drew respondents into the CBO was HIV and STD testing. Other services commonly used included HIV/STI treatment, counseling services/support groups, and PrEP services. Social/organizational/structural facilitators of service utilization include the welcoming climate/culture of the CBOs, ease of access to the services, and transportation services to reach the CBOs. Suggested service enhancements include broader range of comprehensive, navigational-type services beyond HIV testing and service co-location. Research on how to reduce stigma in the surrounding communities may help reduce health disparities experienced by these populations.

MomsTalkShots, tailored educational app, improves vaccine attitudes: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many pregnant women and parents have concerns about vaccines. This analysis examined the impact of MomsTalkShots, an individually tailored educational application, on vaccine attitudes of pregnant women and mothers. METHODS: MomsTalkShots was the patient-level component of a multi-level intervention to improve maternal and infant vaccine uptake that also included provider- and practice-level interventions. The impact of these interventions was studied using a two-by-two factorial design, randomizing at both the patient- and the practice-level. Study staff recruited pregnant women from a diverse set of prenatal care practices in Colorado and Georgia between June 2017 and July 2018. All participants (n = 2087) received a baseline survey of maternal and infant vaccine intentions and attitudes, and two follow-up surveys at least 1 month and 1 year after their infant's birth, respectively. Half of participants (n = 1041) were randomly assigned to receive educational videos through MomsTalkShots, algorithmically tailored to their vaccine intentions, attitudes, and demographics. Since the practice/provider intervention did not appear impactful, this analysis focused on MomsTalkShots regardless of the practice/provider intervention. RESULTS: By 1 month post-birth, MomsTalkShots increased perceived risk of maternal influenza disease (61% among MomsTalkShots recipients vs 55% among controls; Odds Ratio: 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.23-2.09), confidence in influenza vaccine efficacy (73% vs 63%; OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.47-2.65), and perceived vaccine knowledge (55% vs 48%; OR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.13-1.72). Among those intending not to vaccinate at baseline, MomsTalkShots increased perceived risk of maternal influenza disease (38% vs 32%; OR: 2.07, 95%CI: 1.15-3.71) and confidence in influenza vaccine efficacy (44% vs 28%; OR: 2.62, 95%CI: 1.46-4.69). By 1 year post-birth, MomsTalkShots increased perceived vaccine knowledge (62% vs 50%; OR: 1.74, 95%CI: 1.36-2.24) and trust in vaccine information from obstetricians and pediatricians (64% vs 55%; OR: 1.53, 95%CI: 1.17-2.00). Among those uncertain about vaccinating at baseline, MomsTalkShots increased perceived vaccine knowledge (47% vs 12%; OR: 6.89, 95%CI: 1.52-31.25) and reduced infant vaccine safety concerns (71% vs 91%; OR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.06-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: MomsTalkShots improved pregnant women's and mothers' knowledge and perceptions of maternal and infant vaccines and the diseases they prevent, and offers a scalable tool to address vaccine hesitancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov on 13/09/2016 (registration number: NCT02898688).

Acceptability of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis among people who inject drugs in three urban U.S. settings.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of new HIV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) are a major public health concern. Oral daily PrEP, has been identified as a critical addition to the biomedical toolkit for this population. However, limited research on the acceptability of long-acting injectable PrEP has been conducted with this population. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional multi-site survey with 1127 participants from May 2019-February 2020 to assess the acceptability of novel PrEP regimens. We computed bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions to evaluate correlates of the outcome variable: acceptability of 3-month injectable-PrEP. SAS v.9.4 was used to conduct statistical analysis. RESULTS: Limited knowledge of or use of PrEP, past or present, was evident within the sample. Injection drug use in the past six months was significantly associated with LA injectable PrEP acceptability, with the odds of acceptability being 1.885 (CI: 1.376, 2.582) times greater than those who did not inject drugs. After adjusting for confounders, injection drug use was significantly associated with the outcome, such that the odds of acceptability of LA injectable PrEP were 1.705 (CI: 1.198, 2.427) times greater among PWID compared to those who did not inject drugs (p < 0.03). The results demonstrate acceptability (38.2%) in a durable (3-month) injectable PrEP modality among participants who also identified as PWID. CONCLUSIONS: PrEP promotion efforts among PWID to increase access to long-acting injectable PrEP are necessary. Through efforts to increase acceptance and regular use of long-acting injectable PrEP, public health strategies may be able to effectively lessen chances of future HIV outbreaks among PWID.

Vaccine confidence among people who use drugs: A cross-sectional survey.

Adult immunization coverage remains low in the US, particularly for people who use drugs (PWUD), a population that experiences a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. The extent of and characteristics associated with vaccine confidence (VC) held by PWUD is poorly understood. As VC strongly correlates with vaccine uptake, this cross-sectional study identifies mutable factors associated with VC and quantifies its relationship to immunization status within a highly vulnerable, underimmunized population of PWUD. Using a community-engaged research strategy with select partner organizations hosting syringe exchange programs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, USA, we surveyed participants ages 18-69 years served by these organizations from 2019 to 2020. Survey measures included sociodemographics, health behavior including immunization receipt, and vaccine confidence in adult vaccinations using a modified Emory Vaccine Confidence Index (EVCI). The findings reflect relatively low VC among the 1,127 recruited participants, with 56% expressing low VC (EVCI 0-12), 35% medium (EVCI 13-20) and 10% high (EVCI 21-24). EVCI varied by city, with lowest confidence in Atlanta and highest in Las Vegas. VC was associated with past receipt of specific vaccines, including hepatitis A, MMR, Tdap, and influenza. VC varied by specific sociodemographic correlates such as housing insecurity (reduced confidence) and receipt of public benefits or disability (increased confidence). This study identified correlates associated with VC based on site and sociodemographic characteristics for this priority population, highlighting the need for specific interventions to raise VC among PWUD, especially among those experiencing housing insecurity and without public benefits.

Multi-tiered intervention to increase maternal immunization coverage: A randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a multi-component intervention package of maternal immunization uptake in obstetric care clinics. METHODS: In a multi-level, cluster- and individually-randomized controlled trial we implemented an evidence-based intervention that targeted practice-, provider- and patient-level barriers to vaccine uptake. Obstetric practices were randomized to receive the practice and provider-level interventions or continue their normal standard of care. We enrolled pregnant women at practices in Georgia and Colorado and randomized women into patient-level intervention and control groups, resulting in four study arms. The primary outcomes were receipt of the influenza and tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines during pregnancy. A sample size of 550 women per arm (2200 total) was planned and enrolled to compare the intervention between the four study arms. RESULTS: Between June 2017 and July 2018, 4907 women were screened and 2200 women were randomized, 550 to each of the four study arms. We were unable to follow-up with 108 women, for a final sample size of 2092. Sample characteristics and sample size were similar among study arms. There was no significant increase in Tdap or influenza vaccine uptake overall. Among women who had no intention of or were unsure about receiving the influenza vaccine during pregnancy, those who received just the patient-level intervention were 61% more likely to receive the influenza vaccine than those in the control arm (Relative risk: 1.61; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.18-2.21). There was no significant difference in vaccine uptake for either influenza or tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis between the four arms of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This trial highlights the need for more targeted interventions to improve vaccine uptake. Future work should focus on clinics with low baseline vaccine uptake and the patient-level intervention should be expanded and targeted towards women with low vaccine confidence.

Development of effective messages to promote maternal immunization in Kenya.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated messages and communication approaches for maternal immunization uptake in Kenya. We identified persuasive communication aspects that would inform maternal immunization attitudes, intent, and vaccine uptake. METHODS: We conducted a two-phased mixed methods study with pregnant women and their male partners in three regions of Kenya. Discussions were conducted in English and Swahili languages by trained focus group moderators. Baseline measures included a survey and discussions about potential messages and accompanying visuals. Follow-up focus groups with the same participants included a survey about previously discussed messages, visuals, and communication impressions. The second round of focus groups focused on message preferences developed from the first round, along with rank order discussion for final message selection. Following transcription of focus group discussions, we conducted analyses using NVivo software. Quantitative data analyses included frequencies, factor analyses, reliability assessment, regression modeling, and comparative assessment of rank order. RESULTS: The sample (N = 118) included pregnant women (n = 91) and their partners (n = 27) from diverse Kenyan regions (Bondo/Lwak/Siaya, Mombasa, and Nairobi). A four-factor solution resulted from factor analyses that included subscales "positive ad attitudes" (n = 5 items, α = 0.82), "negative ad attitudes" (n = 4 items, α = 0.75), "ad indifference" (n = 2 items, α = 0.52), and "ad motivation" (n = 4 items, α = 0.71). Overall, the positive ad attitudes factor (ß = 0.61, p = 0.03) was the only significant component in the overall model examining message selections (χ2(6) = 262.87, p = 0.17). Among the tested concepts, we found that source and situational cues had a strong influence on women's attitude formation and intention to obtain recommended maternal vaccinations. With self-acknowledged variations in knowledge, participants were particularly attuned to images of relatable women, providers, and depictions in realistic or actual Kenyan clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that positive attitudes were shaped by incorporating highly relatable factors in messages. Implications for subsequent campaigns and research directions are discussed.

HIV Testing Program Activities and Challenges in Four U.S. Urban Areas.

The national "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" supports expanded testing in jurisdictions and groups with disproportionate HIV burden. Public health planners benefit from learning HIV testing service (HTS) strengths, challenges, and innovations. We conducted semistructured interviews with 120 HTS staff from local health departments, community-based organizations, and community members in Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Washington, DC. We coded interview transcripts using qualitative methods to identify themes. Program strengths include HIV testing integration with other client services; prioritized testing and tailored incentives; multiple advertising methods; and partnerships among HTS providers. Challenges include stigma, fear, and disparities; funding requirements that create competition between providers; and service accessibility, unnecessary repeat testing, and insufficient innovation. The four jurisdictions addressed some, but not all, of these challenges. Cross-jurisdictional collaboration, together with state and federal partners plus program data may help identify additional strategies for strengthening HTS.

Social Determinants of Disease: HIV and COVID-19 Experiences.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The differential impact of the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics on marginalized communities has renewed calls for more robust and deeper investigation into structural and social causes of health inequities contributing to these infections, including underlying factors related to systematic racism. Using the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, we analyzed parallel and divergent factors associated with COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS and the prevalence of disparate disease in diverse communities. We utilized PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant literature (N = 210 articles) that resulted in a review of 125 articles included in our synthesis. RECENT FINDINGS: With racial health inequities as a core contributor to disease vulnerability, we also identified other factors such as economic stability, social and community support, the neighborhood and built environment, healthcare access and quality, and education access and quality as important socioecological considerations toward achieving health equity. Our review identifies structural and systematic factors that drive HIV and COVID-19 transmission. Our review highlights the importance of not solely focusing on biomedical interventions as solutions to ending HIV and COVID-19, but rather call for building a more just public health and social service safety net that meets the needs of people at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities.

Health Behavior Survey Among People Who Use Opioids: Protocol for Implementing Technology-Based Rapid Response Surveillance in Community Settings.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, 2 million Americans met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition diagnostic criteria for an opioid use disorder, and 9.9 million Americans had misused prescription pain relievers the previous year. Despite a rapid increase in opioid misuse, opioid use disorders, and overdoses, data are limited on the behavioral and contextual risks as well as the protective factors fueling the opioid epidemic in some hard hit US cities-Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Opioid use also contributes to the risk of other health problems such as HIV and hepatitis C virus infections or mental health disorders and is linked to behavioral and environmental risks (eg, homelessness, experiences of violence, involvement in the justice system). Knowledge of the relationships between these linked vulnerabilities and how they influence service utilization is critical to effective policy and interventions. OBJECTIVE: This survey explores the relationships between demographic and economic characteristics, behavioral and environmental risk factors, and service utilization of people who use opioids to inform public health practice, policy, and future efforts to mitigate the risks faced by this population experiencing multiple health, social, and economic vulnerabilities. The results of this survey will be used to identify needs and intervention points for people who use drugs currently served by public health organizations. METHODS: We implemented a community-engaged strategy that involved development and execution of a two-stage purposive sampling plan involving selection of partner organizations (syringe exchange programs in urban settings) and recruitment and enrollment of participants aged 18-69 years served by these organizations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas from 2019 to 2020. The recruited participants completed a survey, including a variety of measures to assess health (physical and mental) and health behaviors such as sexual behavior, vaccine receipt, and HIV/ hepatitis C virus infection testing. Additional items assessed drug use and misuse, syringe exchange and health service utilization, sex exchange, histories of interpersonal violence, and vaccine confidence. RESULTS: This protocol was successfully implemented despite challenges such as real-time technology issues and rapidly finding and surveying a difficult-to-reach population. We sampled 1127 unique participants (248 in Atlanta, 465 in Los Angeles, and 414 in Las Vegas). CONCLUSIONS: The establishment and utilization of strong community partnerships enabled the rapid collection of data from a typically difficult-to-reach population. Local efforts such as these are needed to develop policies and practices that promote harm reduction among people who use opioids. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/25575.

Identifying Missed Opportunities for Routine Vaccination among People Who Use Drugs.

In the US, adult immunization coverage remains low, especially among vulnerable populations, as recent hepatitis A outbreaks have demonstrated. We studied the vaccination history variation among the US adults who use drugs by implementing a community-engaged research survey to identify reported immunization coverage, missed opportunities (MO), and places where immunizations might be delivered. Our analysis of a sample of 1127 participants recruited at community syringe exchanges in three cities identified higher overall vaccination receipt in Los Angeles compared to Atlanta or Las Vegas (e.g., HAV receipt 52.2% LA, 42.1% LV, 41.4% Atlanta). Overall, fewer participants reported having received HAV (45.9%), HBV (47.5%), or influenza (47.6%) vaccines than MMR (57.1%) or Td/Tdap (61.1%). Across sites, HAV receipt was higher for participants incarcerated ≥ 5 years (54.2% vs. 43.6% for those incarcerated < 5 years, 49.4% no incarceration history, p = 0.02). HBV receipt was higher among participants who were not intravenous drug users (56.1% vs. 46.0%, p = 0.03). Additionally, income >$20k predicted higher rates of MMR receipt (67.0% vs. 56.5%, p = 0.009), as did stable housing (62.8% vs. 54.3%, p = 0.01). To address the need to expand vaccine coverage among vulnerable adults, delivering vaccine at sites where persons who use drugs access services, or in correctional facilities, may be warranted.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Vaccine Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intentions.

OBJECTIVES: Although disparities in maternal vaccine acceptance among racial/ethnic groups are well documented, the reasons for these disparities are unclear. The objective of this study was to describe differences in pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, intentions, and trust regarding maternal and infant vaccines by race/ethnicity. METHODS: We collected survey data from 1862 pregnant women from diverse prenatal care practices in Georgia and Colorado from June 2017 through July 2018. We performed multiple logistic regressions to determine differences in intentions, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and trust by race/ethnicity and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Compared with White women, Black and Hispanic women were less confident in vaccine safety and efficacy and less likely to perceive risk of acquiring vaccine-preventable diseases, report provaccine social norms, indicate having enough vaccine knowledge, and trust vaccine information from health care providers and public health authorities. Black women were the least confident in the safety of the maternal influenza vaccine (OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.27-0.49); maternal tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.27-0.52); and infant vaccines overall (OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.58), and were least likely to intend to receive both maternal vaccines (OR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.27-0.47) or all infant vaccines on time (OR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.34-0.61) as compared with White women. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding differences in behavioral constructs integral to vaccine decision making among women of different races/ethnicities can lead to tailored interventions to improve vaccine acceptance.

"To Me, Everybody Is infected": Understanding Narratives about HIV Risk among HIV-negative Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Deep South.

For black MSM living in the Deep South, the intersection of sexuality, race, and geography impacts HIV risk substantially. Between July and September 2016, we conducted a qualitative study among HIV-negative black MSM in five southern cities in the US with elevated HIV prevalence. Analysis included assessment of interrater reliability, cluster analysis, and descriptive statistics. We enrolled 99 black MSM (mean age: 33.6; SD = 12.8; range: 17-68 years). Four overarching themes emerged: harboring fear of HIV and the internalization of HIV stigma; scrutinizing potential partners to assess riskiness and HIV status; embracing distance and isolation from those perceived as a threat to HIV status; and exhibiting self-efficacy toward HIV prevention and utilizing risk reduction strategies. Future HIV prevention efforts may benefit by balancing risk and deficit based strategies with those that emphasize resilience, address disenfranchisement via structural interventions, and assess and treat inherent trauma(s).

Strategies for increasing impact, engagement, and accessibility in HIV prevention programs: suggestions from women in urban high HIV burden counties in the Eastern United States (HPTN 064).

BACKGROUND: Merely having the tools to end HIV is insufficient. Effectively ending the epidemic necessitates addressing barriers that impede engagement in biomedical and behavioral prevention and wide scale implementation and utilization of existing interventions. This qualitative study identifies suggestions for increasing access to, engagement in, and impact of HIV prevention among women living in cities in high HIV burden counties in the eastern US. METHODS: Data analyzed for the current study were collected via a qualitative sub-study within the HIV Prevention Trials Network Study 064 (HPTN 064), a multisite observational cohort study designed to estimate HIV incidence among women residing in communities with elevated HIV prevalence who also reported personal or partner characteristics associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition. Focus group and interview participants in the qualitative sub-study (N = 288) were from four cities in the eastern US. RESULTS: Thematic analyses revealed four themes describing women's most frequently stated ideas for improving prevention efforts: 1) Promote Multilevel Empowerment, 2) Create Engaging Program Content, 3) Build "Market Demand", and 4) Ensure Accessibility. We conducted additional analyses to identify contradictory patterns in the data, which revealed an additional three themes: 1) Address Structural Risk Factors, 2) Increase Engagement via Pleasure Promotion, 3) Expand Awareness of and Access to Prevention Resources. CONCLUSIONS: Findings may be useful for enhancing women's engagement in and uptake of behavioral and biomedical HIV prevention resources, improving policy, and addressing multilevel risk factors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00995176 , prospectively registered.

Acceptability of an inactivated influenza vaccine delivered by microneedle patch: Results from a phase I clinical trial of safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the acceptability of inactivated influenza vaccine delivered by microneedle patch (MNP) in comparison to inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) delivered by hypodermic needle. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: From the general population of Atlanta, Georgia, we screened 112 and enrolled 100 healthy adult subjects ages 18 to 49 years. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s). Our participants were randomized to 4 groups of 25 per arm: (1) IIV by MNP administered by healthcare worker (HCW), (2) IIV by MNP self-administered by study participants, (3) IIV by intramuscular (IM) injection administered by HCW or (4) placebo by MNP administered by HCW. We administered four questionnaires: at Day 0 before and after study product delivery, and at Days 8 and 28. RESULTS: At baseline, 98.6% of participants receiving MNP vaccination reported an overall positive experience with MNPs, compared to 86.4% for participants receiving IM vaccination. For future influenza vaccination, study participants (N = 99) preferred MNP (n = 65, 69.9%) to injections or nasal spray (n = 20, 21.5%), and the preference for MNP increased from Day 0 to Day 28. Factor analyses resulted in two scaled measures including MNP Use Perceptions (a = 0.799, n = 5 items) and MNP Perceived Convenience (a = 0.844, n = 4 items) that were included in longitudinal assessments; while findings reflect significant differences across treatment groups on mean scores for ease of use, MNP perceived protection, MNP reliability, and MNP selection knowledge, all groups reported their belief that influenza vaccination by MNP would be reliable and protective, as well as easy-to-use and convenient. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Most participants were accepting of IIV vaccination by MNP and preferred it to injection. Delivery of IIV by MNP may help increase vaccination coverage.

Latent Class Analysis of Maternal Vaccine Attitudes and Beliefs.

Background. Maternal vaccine coverage is suboptimal, and a substantial proportion of parents have concerns about vaccines. Most parents seek out vaccine information during and immediately after their first pregnancy. No study to our knowledge has analyzed survey data to identify homogeneous groups of pregnant women based on their vaccine attitudes and beliefs. Aims. To identify homogeneity among groups of pregnant women based on their vaccine attitudes and beliefs to facilitate audience segmentation and targeting of tailored educational interventions. Method. Between June 2017 and July 2018, we surveyed 2,196 pregnant women recruited from geographically and sociodemographically diverse prenatal care practices in Georgia and Colorado. We then performed a latent class analysis to identify homogeneity among groups of pregnant women. Results. Our latent class analysis produced three groups of pregnant women: vaccine supporters (36% of women), vaccine acceptors (41%), and vaccine skeptics (23%). Discussion. The major difference between the supporters and the acceptors were whether they mostly "strongly agreed" or just "agreed" to Likert-type scale survey items assessing their vaccine attitudes and beliefs. The skeptics most frequently chose "disagree" or "don't know" for items assessing attitudinal constructs such as confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy and disease susceptibility. However, even skeptics often chose "agree" for items assessing constructs such as disease severity and self-efficacy. Conclusions. This article provides useful insight into the homogeneity among groups of pregnant women based on their vaccine attitudes and beliefs. This knowledge should help facilitate audience segmentation and targeting of tailored educational interventions among this population.