A Meta-Analysis of Blood Pressure Disparities Among Sexual Minority Men.

Purpose: The aim was to review and summarize reports on three measures of elevated blood pressure (BP) among sexual minority men (encompassing men who have sex with men [MSM] and both men and women [MSMW]), using men who have sex with women (MSW) as the reference population. Methods: Crude prevalence rates were calculated, and a meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the likelihood of elevated BP history, antihypertensive medication use, and elevated BP above a cutoff value, as well as the mean differences (MDs) in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) measurements. We used random effects to generate estimates with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs); alpha was set at 0.05. Results: Studies (n = 20) were published between 2007 and 2018, mostly in the United States. The likelihood of elevated BP history was not statistically significantly higher among sexual minority men, except when the measurement of sexual orientation was multidimensional (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% CI 1.12-1.78). The likelihood of antihypertensive medication use was only statistically significantly higher for men who self-identified as MSMW (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.85). When elevated BP was determined through a set cutoff, MSM were less likely (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.70), whereas MSMW were more likely (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.54-3.28) to have elevated BP. Although there were no statistically significant findings in the MD for SBP, the MD for DBP among sexual minority men was significantly higher (MD 1.46, 95% CI 1.38-1.55 mmHg) than among the MSW comparison group. Conclusions: Sexual minority men classified using a multidimensional approach to sexual orientation had a significantly higher likelihood of elevated BP history. Using BP cutoffs yielded opposite effects in MSM and MSMW. Although SBP was not different compared to MSW, DBP-a marker of hypertension at earlier ages-was elevated among sexual minority men.

Developing Adaptando Dieta Y Acción Para Todos (ADAPT): An Intervention to Improve Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among Latino Parents and Children Living in Rural Communities.

Latino migrant farmworkers are at great risk of obesity and its concomitant negative health impacts. Obesity interventions for this underserved, minority population are limited. We expanded upon our prior intervention work in childhood obesity to develop a multi-family, behavioral intervention, ADAPT. We conducted three phases in the development of the ADAPT program: Phase 1, a needs assessment, Phase 2, in-depth focus groups with Latino parents, their children, and stakeholders, and Phase 3, a feasibility and acceptability trial to inform program optimization. Acceptability and feasibility of ADAPT promoting healthier eating and physical activity behaviors was found. Each phase of the project led to implementation changes to ADAPT, resulting in greater intervention optimization. Participants reported key facilitators and barriers to our intervention, expressing great interest in participation. They particularly liked our mindfulness session. We are currently examining the feasibility of integrating mindfulness to optimize ADAPT efficacy.

Effects of a Decision-Making Intervention to Help Decide Whether to Disclose HIV-Positive Status to Family Members on Well-Being and Sexual Behavior.

An HIV diagnosis is often followed by uncertainty, questions over next steps, and concerns over how to share the diagnosis with others. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effects of an intervention designed to help people living with HIV decide whether or not they want to disclose their status to family members (i.e., decision-making process rather than actual disclosure) and the subsequent decision on their well-being and sexual behavior. Additionally, differences in outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexual men (HSM), and women were examined. A total of 346 women and men living in the Southeastern part of the United States. Participated in the study, which consisted of a baseline assessment, followed by randomization into either the disclosure intervention or attention control case management group. Both treatments consisted of seven sessions over a 12-month period. Results from repeated measures ANOVA indicated that although there was no significant intervention effect, participants in both groups reported some improvements in well-being and decreases in risky sexual behavior. However, no consistent differences in outcomes emerged among MSM, HSM, and women. Assisting with the disclosure decision-making process and reducing HIV transmission risk should continue to be an essential focus in future research endeavors and for frontline professionals dedicated to HIV-related care and prevention.

Latino STYLE: Preliminary Findings From an HIV Prevention RCT Among Latino Youth.

OBJECTIVE: Latino STYLE is a family-centered, HIV-focused intervention (HIV) emphasizing cultural factors and parent-adolescent communication. We hypothesized that, compared with a general health promotion (HP) intervention, the HIV arm would improve caregiver and adolescent HIV knowledge, attitudes, parental monitoring, sexual communication, and family relationships after a 3-month postintervention period. This article reports on the short-term findings of the longer trial. METHODS: A single-site, two-arm, parallel, family-based, randomized, controlled trial was conducted; eligible participants were Latino adolescents aged 14-17 and their primary caregiver. The study was conducted at the University of South Florida with 227 adolescent-caregiver dyads allocated to the HIV (n = 117) or HP (n = 110) intervention after completing a baseline assessment. Interim measures at 3-month follow-up included demographics, HIV knowledge, self-efficacy, parental monitoring, sexual communication, family relationships, and adolescent sexual behavior. RESULTS: Adolescents in the HIV group reported small effects in parental permissiveness and the HP group reported small effects for family support. Caregivers in both groups reported decreases in all outcomes. Incidence of past 90-day sexual intercourse decreased in both treatment arms. Among those who were sexually active over the past 90 days, the number of sex acts decreased from baseline, particularly in the HIV group. The percentage of condom-protected sex acts increased in the HIV group and decreased in the HP group, but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV Latino STYLE intervention was not efficacious in improving hypothesized outcomes over a 3-month period. However, exploratory analyses revealed moderate effects for decreases in adolescent sexual risk behavior, particularly in the HIV group.

Ways of coping and perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV: moderation by sex and sexual orientation.

Perceived HIV-related stigma continues to persist among people living with HIV and coping strategies are crucial to overall health. Coping may be associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. However, research examining differences by sex and sexual orientation is lacking. Therefore, the aims of the study were to assess the association between ways of coping and perceived HIV-related stigma, and to examine the relationship by sex and sexual orientation. Data were obtained from 346 individuals (191 men and 155 women) living with HIV. Multiple linear regression models showed that overall, distancing, and attack/escape avoidance coping were positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma among the overall population, among men who have sex with men (MSM), and among women overall and heterosexual women. Among men overall, distancing and attack/escape avoidance coping were positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. Among women who have sex with women (WSW), attack/escape avoidance coping was positively associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. Effect sizes indicated small effects for overall coping and medium to large effects for distancing and attack/escape avoidance coping. Interventions focused on reducing perceived HIV-related stigma among populations living with HIV should address distancing and attack/escape avoidance strategies especially among women, regardless of sexual orientation, and MSM.

Social Determinants of Potential eHealth Engagement Among People Living with HIV Receiving Ryan White Case Management: Health Equity Implications from Project TECH.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the relationships between social characteristics of Floridian persons living with HIV (PLWH) and both use of digital technologies and willingness to use eHealth for HIV-related information. METHODS: Ryan White case managers (N = 155) from 55 agencies in 47 Florida counties administered a survey to PLWH (N = 1268) from June 2016-April 2017. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify correlates of technology use and willingness. RESULTS: Use of mobile phones with text messaging was high (89%). Older (vs. younger) adults and non-Hispanic blacks (vs. whites) were less likely to use most technologies. These groups, along with Hispanics (vs. whites) were less likely to express willingness to use technologies for HIV-related information in models adjusting for use. CONCLUSIONS: Among PLWH in Florida, eHealth-related inequities exist. Willingness to engage in HIV-related eHealth is affected by social determinants, even when considering technology access. Although eHealth may reduce some healthcare inequities, it may exacerbate others.

The HIP LADIES: A Pilot Health Improvement Project for HIV Prevention in Black College Women.

A disproportionate number of new HIV infections in the United States occur in Black women. We pilot-tested feasibility and acceptability of a manualized HIV prevention intervention developed with and for Black college women. We used a prospective, randomized 2-group design, with 3 data collection times. Participants included 18- to 24-year-old Black women (N = 65), who were enrolled at 2 southern universities; 46 completed pre- and post-assessments. We found that participants in the intervention arm had positive changes in HIV knowledge (p < .0001) and behavioral intentions (p = .039) outcomes. There were, however, no significant differences between intervention and control groups when considering motivational factors and behavioral skills that promoted HIV prevention: social norms, condom use self-efficacy, and assertive sexual communication. We found preliminary evidence of efficacy for an HIV prevention intervention tailored to Black college women. Researchers should partner with Black college women to develop and implement HIV prevention interventions.

Decision Readiness to Disclose Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive Status to Family Members.

BACKGROUND: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) are faced with the often difficult decision of whether, when, and how to disclose their seropositive status. This study draws on the transtheoretical model of change to examine men and women's decision readiness to disclose their HIV-positive status to family members and to assess predictors (decisional balance and decision self-efficacy) of their decision readiness. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from 346 PLWH-191 males and 155 females. Participants self-reported on their disclosure decision readiness, decisional balance, and decision self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using χ tests, general linear models, and multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS: Two thirds of PLWH were in the 3 lower stages of decision readiness, with the majority starting to think about disclosure. One third of PLWH were in the 3 higher stages of decision readiness (close to deciding or have made the decision to disclose). Decisional balance and decision self-efficacy predicted decision readiness. Overall, few gender differences emerged. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can help researchers, clinicians, and health care providers to better understand and support PLWH as they move through the decision making process.

Ways of coping and HIV disclosure among people living with HIV: mediation of decision self-efficacy and moderation by sex.

Individuals living with HIV/AIDS face several stressors and use varying strategies to cope. Disclosure (or nondisclosure) of HIV serostatus is an important consideration among individuals living with HIV. However, studies examining the association between coping and HIV disclosure are lacking, and more research examining potential mediators and moderators is needed. The transactional model of stress and coping and the theory of planned behavior may help in understanding the mediating relationship between coping, decision self-efficacy, and HIV disclosure. Therefore, the aims of this study were to examine the association between coping and HIV disclosure to sexual partners, assess the mediating role of decision self-efficacy, and examine moderation by sex. Baseline data from 262 individuals living with HIV who participated in a disclosure intervention were used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to assess sociodemographic characteristics. Principal component analysis was used to operationalize coping. Path analysis was then used to determine the mediating role of decision self-efficacy in the association between overall, adaptive, distancing, and attack/escape avoidance coping and HIV disclosure to sexual partners. After adjusting for age and time since diagnosis, direct associations between coping and decision self-efficacy, and decision self-efficacy and disclosure behavior varied by sex. Among the overall study population, decision self-efficacy mediated the associations between adaptive coping (ß = 0.064, p = 0.003), attack/escape avoidance coping (ß = -0.052, p = 0.009) and disclosure behavior. Disclosure intervention programs geared towards populations living with HIV should include decision self-efficacy and adaptive coping, and attenuate attack/escape avoidance coping.

Mediating Effects of Depressive Symptoms on Perceived Social Support and HIV Disclosure: Assessing Moderation by Sex.

People living with HIV may decide to disclose their HIV-positive status after considering the benefits and costs. Studies have shown associations between perceived social support, depressive symptoms and HIV disclosure among men and women; however, research assessing the mediating pathway among these variables and the associated disparities by sex are lacking. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the association between perceived social support from family and friends and HIV disclosure to sexual partners; assess the mediating effects of depressive symptoms; and examine the disparities by sex. Participants included 147 men and 115 women living with HIV who took part in a disclosure intervention study. Mediation analyses were conducted to determine the direct and indirect associations between perceived social support from family and friends, depressive symptoms, and disclosure behavior. Depressive symptoms mediated the association between perceived social support (from family: ß = 0.103, p = 0.019; and from friends: ß = 0.111, p = 0.009) and HIV disclosure to sexual partners, specifically among women. However, these pathways were not statistically significant among men. Women living with HIV may benefit from two types of interventions: (1) Disclosure to sexual partners interventions, which aim to accentuate perceived social support from family and friends through attenuating depressive symptoms; and (2) Social support interventions, which may increase disclosure to sexual partners via reducing depressive symptoms.

Exploring Black College Females' Perceptions Regarding HIV Prevention Message Content.

Media messages can facilitate the delivery of accurate information related to HIV and sexually transmitted infection. This study's purpose was to examine preexisting media campaigns from the iMPPACS study to assess age-, gender-, and culturally appropriate components identified by African American females who attend historically Black colleges/universities. In 3 separate focus group sessions, 31 Black female college students (M age = 20) viewed 4 vignettes and heard 3 audio-only clips, then ranked and commented on them based on perceived satisfaction with HIV prevention content and appropriateness of delivery. Conventional qualitative analysis using NVivo software was performed until saturation of content was achieved and themes derived. Six major themes emerged and were designated as (a) social media; (b) mirror image; (c) visually dynamic advertisements; (d) the real world; (e) people, place, things; and (f) HIV knowledge. Visually stimulating content (i.e., graphics) was found to be most appealing in marketing HIV prevention, with brief monologue/dialogue from scenarios that resemble daily life. Socially and culturally relevant HIV prevention messages are important to Black college female students. Participants recommended creating short audiovisual messages that encompass familiar contexts like dorm rooms and appealing graphics for HIV health promotion messages, such as emojis. Future audio-only prevention advertisements for this population should use recognizable voices (e.g., celebrities). Finally, messaging should be promoted on open and closed circuit social media platforms.

Symptoms of PTSD in a sample of female victims of sexual violence in post-earthquake Haiti.

BACKGROUND: Globally, sexual violence (SV) impacts 25-33% of women, is often perpetrated by intimate partners and occurs even post-disasters. The 2010 Haiti earthquake occasioned a SV epidemic in Cité Soleil, where over 50% of females are reportedly victims of SV via non-intimate partners/strangers (NPSV). Little is known about the psychological effects of SV perpetrated by NPSV; even less in known about the biopsychosocial consequences of NPSV on women in Haiti. Yet, the World Health Organization recently called for research on NPSV, particularly in poor and disaster-affected countries. METHODS: As a first step in categorizing the consequences of NPSV on female victims in Haiti, we conducted 2 focus groups of 16 female residents of Cité Soleil who survived the earthquake and its aftershocks, along with ensuing hurricanes and cholera. RESULTS: Participants reported rapes by strangers who intentionally "crush the uterus." All endorsed criteria for PTSD, including enduring physiological, neurological and psychological symptoms: significant intrusive, avoidance, arousal, cognitive, mood changes, as well as significant distress/impairment in various areas of functioning; and all but one became pregnant from the experience. All denied substance use and other illness that is not associated with the sexual violence. LIMITATIONS: Our study was exploratory, targeting a small sample of women in one specific neighborhood and cannot be generalized to all SV victims in Haiti. CONCLUSIONS: Following earthquakes, there should be vigilance by public health officials and rescue teams for prevention of SV against women. Women who survive SV in Haiti should be provided access to trauma-informed care that addresses biological consequences of the SV, as well as biological, neurological and psychological sequelae.

Language of sexual violence in Haiti: perceptions of victims, community-level workers, and health care providers.

Non-partner sexual violence (NPSV), an important risk factor for HIV, is of global public health significance and understudied. The 2010 earthquake interacted syndemically with structural factors to increase sexual violence and HIV risk for women in Cité Soleil, Haiti. We used an exploratory sequential qualitative design and Grounded Theory to investigate language/terminology for NPSV, victims and perpetrators, and health effects of NPSV on victims, in four focus groups: Health care providers (HCPs) (n=3; n=8), community advocates (n=8), and victims (n=8). Crucial differences exist among stakeholders: HCPs prefer French and possess different explanatory models of illness from victims, who provided more extensive and explicit descriptions (e.g., "strangled like a chicken," "tuyo"/"faucet"/"flooding" for gang rapes). Victims also reported purposeful injury to their external and internal genitalia, signaling STI/HIV risk. Reconciling within-culture differences between victims and HCPs can inform screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and delivery of relevant interventions.

Project STYLE: a multisite RCT for HIV prevention among youths in mental health treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the efficacy of family-based and adolescent-only HIV prevention programs in decreasing HIV risk and improving parental monitoring and sexual communication among youths in mental health treatment. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 721 adolescents (ages 13-18 years) and their caregivers from mental health settings in three U.S. cities were randomly assigned to one of three theory-based, structured group interventions: family-based HIV prevention, adolescent-only HIV prevention, and adolescent-only health promotion. Interventions were delivered during an all-day workshop. Assessments were completed at baseline and three months postintervention. RESULTS: Compared with those in the health intervention, adolescents in the HIV prevention interventions reported fewer unsafe sex acts (adjusted rate ratio=.49, p=.01), greater condom use (adjusted relative change=59%, p=.01), and greater likelihood of avoiding sex (adjusted odds ratio=1.44, p=.05). They also showed improved HIV knowledge (p<.01) and self-efficacy (p<.05). The family-based intervention, compared with the other interventions, produced significant improvements in parent-teen sexual communication (p<.01), parental monitoring (p<.01), and parental permissiveness (p=.05). CONCLUSIONS: This RCT found that the HIV prevention interventions reduced sexual risk behavior over three months in a large, diverse sample of youths in mental health treatment and that the family-based intervention improved parental monitoring and communication with teens about sex. These interventions show promise.

Associations Between Psychiatric Impairment and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Teens in Mental Health Treatment.

AIMS: To assess the associations of sexual risk behavior with psychiatric impairment and individual, peer, and partner attitudes among adolescents receiving mental health treatment. METHODS: Adolescents (N=893, 56% female, 67% African American) completed assessments of psychiatric impairment, rejection sensitivity, peer norms, HIV knowledge, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy and condom use intentions. Two structural equation models were used to test the study hypotheses; one for sexually active youth and one for non-active youth. RESULTS: For non-active youth, psychiatric impairment influenced self-efficacy and condom use intentions via peer norms, rejection sensitivity, and perceived vulnerability. Among the sexually active youth, sexual risk was related to impairment and previous condom use. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that individual, peer, and partner factors are related to impairment and to sexual risk attitudes, but depend on previous sexual experience.

Affect regulation and HIV risk among youth in therapeutic schools.

The acquisition of affect regulation skills is often impaired or delayed in youth with mental health problems but the relationship between affect dysregulation and risk behaviors has not been well studied. Baseline data from adolescents (N = 417; ages 13-19) recruited from therapeutic school settings examined the relationship between affect dysregulation, substance use, self-cutting, and sexual risk behavior. Analyses of covariance demonstrated that adolescents who did not use condoms at last sex, ever self-cut, attempted suicide, used alcohol and other drugs and reported less condom use self-efficacy when emotionally aroused were significantly more likely (p < .01) to report greater difficulty with affect regulation than peers who did not exhibit these behaviors. General patterns of difficulty with affect regulation may be linked to HIV risk behavior, including condom use at last sex. HIV prevention strategies for youth in mental health treatment should target affect regulation in relation to multiple risk behaviors.

Safe Thinking and Affect Regulation (STAR): human immunodeficiency virus prevention in alternative/therapeutic schools.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Safe Thinking and Affect Regulation (STAR), a 14-session HIV-prevention program for adolescents at alternative/therapeutic schools. Because these youth frequently have difficulties with emotions and cognitions, it was designed to improve sexuality-specific affect management and cognitive monitoring, as well as HIV-related knowledge and attitudes. It was hypothesized that STAR would lead to a decrease in sexual risk and improved HIV knowledge and attitudes. METHOD: Fourteen schools were randomly assigned by year either to the STAR intervention or a brief educational program. Schools received the alternate intervention the following year. A total of 185 adolescents in 29 cohorts (groups) participated in the interventions. Assessment of sexual behavior, knowledge and attitudes with audio computer-assisted self-interviews occurred at 3, 6, and 9 months post intervention. RESULTS: Hierarchical linear model (HLM) analyses found that adolescents in the STAR intervention reported a significantly greater decrease (p < .05) in the Sexual Risk Index than youth in the control group over the 6 months post intervention and similar improvements in the HIV Knowledge Scale and the Condom Use Self Efficacy Scale. There were no group differences between 6 and 9 months post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This STAR intervention for youth in alternative schools was associated with decreased sexual risk for 6 months after the intervention. These data suggest that intervention strategies that target cognitions and affect within a sexual context might be usefully applied to improving sexual behavior but may need to be reinforced over time. Clinical trial registration information--HIV, Abuse, and Psychiatric Disorders Among Youth; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00603369.

Monitoring challenges: a closer look at parental monitoring, maternal psychopathology, and adolescent sexual risk.

The present study sought to examine associations between maternal psychopathology, parental monitoring, and adolescent sexual activity among adolescents in mental health treatment. Seven hundred ninety mother-adolescent dyads recruited from adolescent mental health treatment settings completed audio computer-assisted structured interview assessments examining parent psychiatric symptoms, parental monitoring, and adolescent sexual risk behavior. Path analysis was used to examine the associations between variables of interest. Maternal caregivers who reported more mental health symptoms were more likely to have adolescents who reported recent sex and this relationship was mediated by less parental monitoring. These findings suggest that maternal caregivers with mental health symptoms may need specific interventions that provide assistance and support in monitoring their teens in order to reduce sexual risk taking among adolescents in mental health treatment.

Psychiatric disorders and sexual risk among adolescents in mental health treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between psychiatric disorders and sexual behaviors among adolescents receiving mental health treatment. Adolescents in mental health treatment have been found to have higher rates of HIV risk behavior than their peers, but data concerning the relationship between psychopathology and risk are inconsistent and limited. METHOD: Eight hundred and forty adolescents (56% female, 58% African American, mean age = 14.9 years) and their parents completed computerized assessments of psychiatric symptoms via the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (Shaffer, 2000a, 2000b). Adolescents also reported on sexual risk behaviors (vaginal/anal sex, condom use at last sex) and completed urine screens for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). RESULTS: Adolescents meeting criteria for mania, externalizing disorders (oppositional defiant, conduct, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders), or comorbid for externalizing and internalizing disorders (major depressive, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders) were significantly more likely to report a lifetime history of vaginal or anal sex than those who did not meet criteria for any psychiatric disorder (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 2.3, and 1.9, respectively). Adolescents meeting criteria for mania were significantly more likely to have 2 or more partners in the past 90 days (OR = 3.2) and to test positive for a STI (OR = 4.3) relative to adolescents who did not meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of internalizing and externalizing disorders, especially mania, suggests the need for careful screening and targeting of adolescent sexual behavior during psychiatric treatment.