Specifying cross-system collaboration strategies for implementation: a multi-site qualitative study with child welfare and behavioral health organizations.

BACKGROUND: Cross-system interventions that integrate health, behavioral health, and social services can improve client outcomes and expand community impact. Successful implementation of these interventions depends on the extent to which service partners can align frontline services and organizational operations. However, collaboration strategies linking multiple implementation contexts have received limited empirical attention. This study identifies, describes, and specifies multi-level collaboration strategies used during the implementation of Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma (Ohio START), a cross-system intervention that integrates services across two systems (child welfare and evidence-based behavioral health services) for families that are affected by co-occurring child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders. METHODS: In phase 1, we used a multi-site qualitative design with 17 counties that implemented Ohio START. Qualitative data were gathered from 104 staff from child welfare agencies, behavioral health treatment organizations, and regional behavioral health boards involved in implementation via 48 small group interviews about collaborative approaches to implementation. To examine cross-system collaboration strategies, qualitative data were analyzed using an iterative template approach and content analysis. In phase 2, a 16-member expert panel met to validate and specify the cross-system collaboration strategies identified in the interviews. The panel was comprised of key child welfare and behavioral health partners and scholars. RESULTS: In phase 1, we identified seven cross-system collaboration strategies used for implementation. Three strategies were used to staff the program: (1) contract for expertise, (2) provide joint supervision, and (3) co-locate staff. Two strategies were used to promote service access: (4) referral protocols and (5) expedited access agreements. Two strategies were used to align case plans: (6) shared decision-making meetings, and (7) sharing data. In phase 2, expert panelists specified operational details of the cross-system collaboration strategies, and explained the processes by which strategies were perceived to improve implementation and service system outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a range of cross-system collaboration strategies that show promise for improving staffing, service access, and case planning. Leaders, supervisors, and frontline staff used these strategies during all phases of implementation. These findings lay the foundation for future experimental and quasi-experimental studies that test the effectiveness of cross-system collaboration strategies.

The impact of fentanyl on state- and county-level psychostimulant and cocaine overdose death rates by race in Ohio from 2010 to 2020: a time series and spatiotemporal analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade in the USA, increases in overdose rates of cocaine and psychostimulants with opioids were highest among Black, compared to White, populations. Whether fentanyl has contributed to the rise in cocaine and psychostimulant overdoses in Ohio is unknown. We sought to measure the impact of fentanyl on cocaine and psychostimulant overdose death rates by race in Ohio. METHODS: We conducted time series and spatiotemporal analyses using data from the Ohio Public Health Information Warehouse. Primary outcomes were state- and county-level overdose death rates from 2010 to 2020 for Black and White populations. Measures of interest were overdoses consisting of four drug involvement classes: (1) all cocaine overdoses, (2) cocaine overdoses not involving fentanyl, (3) all psychostimulant overdoses, and (4) psychostimulant overdoses not involving fentanyl. We fit a time series model of log standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) using a Bayesian generalized linear mixed model to estimate posterior median rate ratios (RR). We conducted a spatiotemporal analysis by modeling the SMR for each drug class at the county level to characterize county-level variation over time. RESULTS: In 2020, the greatest overdose rates involved cocaine among Black (24.8 deaths/100,000 people) and psychostimulants among White (10.1 deaths/100,000 people) populations. Annual mortality rate ratios were highest for psychostimulant-involved overdoses among Black (aRR = 1.71; 95% CI (1.43, 2.02)) and White (aRR = 1.60, 95% CI (1.39, 1.80)) populations. For cocaine not involving fentanyl, annual mortality rate ratios were similar among Black (aRR = 1.04; 95% CI (0.96,1.16)) and White (aRR = 1.02; 95% CI (0.87, 1.20)) populations. Within each drug category, change over time was similar for both racial groups. The spatial models highlighted county-level variation for all drug categories. CONCLUSIONS: Without the involvement of fentanyl, cocaine overdoses remained constant while psychostimulant overdoses increased. Tailored harm reduction approaches, such as distribution of fentanyl test strips and the removal of punitive laws that influence decisions to contact emergency services, are the first steps to reduce cocaine overdose rates involving fentanyl among urban populations in Ohio. In parallel, harm reduction policies to address the increase in psychostimulant overdoses are warranted.

Availability of substance use screening and treatment within HIV clinical sites across seven geographic regions within the IeDEA consortium.

BACKGROUND: Overwhelming evidence highlights the negative impact of substance use on HIV care and treatment outcomes. Yet, the extent to which alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) services have been integrated within HIV clinical settings is limited. We describe AUD/SUD screening and treatment availability in HIV clinical sites participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. METHODS: In 2020, 223 IeDEA HIV clinical sites from 41 countries across seven geographic regions completed a survey on capacity and practices related to management of AUD/ SUD. Sites provided information on AUD and other SUD screening and treatment practices. RESULTS: Sites were from low-income countries (23%), lower-middle-income countries (38%), upper-middle income countries (17%) and high-income counties (23%). AUD and SUD screening using validated instruments were reported at 32% (n=71 located in 12 countries) and 12% (n=27 located in 6 countries) of the 223 sites from 41 countries, respectively. The North American region had the highest proportion of clinics that reported AUD screening (76%), followed by East Africa (46%); none of the sites in West or Central Africa reported AUD screening. 31% (n=69) reported both AUD screening and counseling, brief intervention, psychotherapy, or Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment; 8% (n=18) reported AUD screening and detox hospitalization; and 10% (n=24) reported both AUD screening and medication. While the proportion of clinics providing treatment for SUD was lower than those treating AUD, the prevalence estimates of treatment availability were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Availability of screening and treatment for AUD/SUD in HIV care settings is limited, leaving a substantial gap for integration into ongoing HIV care. A critical understanding is needed of the multilevel implementation factors or feasible implementation strategies for integrating screening and treatment of AUD/SUD into HIV care settings, particularly for resource-constrained regions.

Associations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positivity with opioid, stimulant, and polysubstance injection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural U.S. communities.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) in the rural U.S. often inject stimulants, alone or with opioids. The impact of these substance use patterns may influence HCV risk behaviors. This analysis examines the associations of HCV antibody positivity with injecting only opioids, only stimulants (methamphetamine/cocaine), and opioids and stimulants together among rural PWID. METHODS: The Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI) consists of eight research sites that enrolled people who use drugs in rural communities in ten U.S. states from 2018 to 2020. This cross-sectional analysis included adult participants who resided in a study area and injected any drug in the past 30 days. The primary outcome was HCV antibody positivity. The exposure of interest was injection drug use classified as only opioids, only stimulants, separate injections of opioids and stimulants, and same-syringe injection of both in the past 30 days. We used multivariable log-binomial regression with generalized linear mixed models to generate prevalence ratios (P.R.) adjusted for demographics, injection history, health insurance, and substance use treatment. RESULTS: Among 3,084 participants enrolled in the ROI, 1,982 met inclusion criteria. Most participants injected opioids and stimulants in the same syringe (34%) or separately (21%), followed by injecting only stimulants (26%), and injecting only opioids (19%). Half (51%) were HCV antibody positive. Compared to people who injected only stimulants, HCV antibody positivity was more prevalent among people who injected opioids alone (aPR=1.62, 95% CI:(1.29-2.03)), injected both opioids and stimulants separately (aPR=1.61, 95% CI:(1.32-1.95)), and in the same syringe (aPR=1.54, 95% CI:(1.28-1.85)). CONCLUSION: HCV antibody positivity, indicating prior exposure, was highest among those who had recently injected opioids, alone or with stimulants. Additional nucleic acid testing is necessary to confirm active infection. More research is needed to determine the underlying causes of HCV antibody positivity by injection use.

Sexual minorities are not a homogeneous population: health disparity differences based on residence in rural versus urban settings.

INTRODUCTION: Past research has demonstrated that, separately, sexual minorities (SMs) and rural-dwelling populations are each at elevated risk for chronic diseases relative to heterosexuals and urban-dwelling populations, respectively. Little research, however, has assessed whether rural SM populations may experience even further chronic disease risk. METHODS: Data come from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019. Survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between sexual identity and various health-associated outcomes, stratified by rural/urban status and adjusted for demographic and other risk factors. RESULTS: Urban bisexual and rural lesbian females had significantly decreased odds of having any health insurance and increased odds of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis, any heart disease, and STIs relative to their heterosexual counterparts, with disparities affecting bisexual women living in rural areas being largest. Urban gay males had increased odds of having health insurance relative to urban heterosexuals. Both urban gay and bisexual males also experienced increased odds for several chronic diseases, however, among rural residents increased risk was only observed for bisexual males with regards to high blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Rural-dwelling bisexual women experience elevated likelihood for physical health conditions compared to urban-dwelling bisexual women, but few other rural populations experience elevated risk. Urban gay men, meanwhile, are more likely to possess insurance but simultaneously experience worse health outcomes across several domains of diseases, suggesting lower utilization of healthcare services. Future research should strive to avoid pooling all SMs into a single risk group as we have clearly demonstrated that strong differences exist based on both sex and rural/urban status.

Availability of screening and treatment for common mental disorders in HIV clinic settings: data from the global International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Consortium, 2016-2017 and 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are highly prevalent among people with HIV. Integrating mental healthcare into HIV care may improve mental health and HIV treatment outcomes. We describe the reported availability of screening and treatment for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at global HIV treatment centres participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Consortium in 2020 and changes in availability at sites in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) between 2016/2017 and 2020. METHODS: In 2020, 238 sites contributing individual-level data to the IeDEA Consortium and in 2016/2017 a stratified random sample of IeDEA sites in LMICs were eligible to participate in site surveys on the availability of screening and treatment for CMDs. We assessed trends over time for 68 sites across 27 LMICs that participated in both surveys. RESULTS: Among the 238 sites eligible to participate in the 2020 site survey, 227 (95%) participated, and mental health screening and treatment data were available for 223 (98%) sites across 41 countries. A total of 95 sites across 29 LMICs completed the 2016/2017 survey. In 2020, 68% of sites were in urban settings, and 77% were in LMICs. Overall, 50%, 14% and 12% of sites reported screening with a validated instrument for depression, anxiety and PTSD, respectively. Screening plus treatment in the form of counselling was available for depression, anxiety and PTSD at 46%, 13% and 11% of sites, respectively. Screening plus treatment in the form of medication was available for depression, anxiety and PTSD at 36%, 11% and 8% of sites, respectively. Among sites that participated in both surveys, screening for depression was more commonly available in 2020 than 2016/2017 (75% vs. 59%, respectively, p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Reported availability of screening for depression increased among this group of IeDEA sites in LMICs between 2016/2017 and 2020. However, substantial gaps persist in the availability of mental healthcare at HIV treatment sites across global settings, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Implementation of sustainable strategies to integrate mental health services into HIV care is needed.

HIV and urethritis: time required for antiretroviral therapy to suppress HIV in semen.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the time required to suppress HIV in the genital tract with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in men with urethritis. DESIGN: An observational cohort study. METHODS: Men with HIV and urethritis not on ART were enrolled at an STI clinic in Malawi and offered to initiate ART. Blood and semen samples were collected pretreatment and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks posturethritis treatment. Median viral loads (VLs) were calculated by ART initiation groups: 'within 1 week', 'between 1 and 4 weeks' and 'no ART before 4 weeks', based on the men's choice about whether or not to initiate ART. The presence of ART at each visit was confirmed by bioanalytical methods. FINDINGS: Between January 2017 and November 2018, 74 men presented with urethritis and HIV and were confirmed ART naive. The median age was 32 years. Forty-one (55% of men) initiated ART within 1 week; 12 (16%) between 1 and 4 weeks; and 21 (28%) did not initiate ART by week 4. Within the 1 week group, median VL was suppressed within 4 weeks in both semen and blood. Among the 1-4 weeks group, VL was suppressed within 4 weeks in semen and 5 weeks in blood. Among the no ART before 4 weeks group, VL in semen declined within the first 4 weeks but remained unsuppressed through week 24, and there was no significant decline in blood HIV. CONCLUSION: Treatment of urethritis and prompt initiation of ART with counseling for safer sex for at least one month is a critical measure to reduce transmission of HIV.

Characterizing Network-Based HIV Testing Interventions to Guide HIV Testing and Contact Tracing at STI Clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Understanding heterogeneity across patients in effectiveness of network-based HIV testing interventions may optimize testing and contact tracing strategies, expediting linkage to therapy or prevention for contacts of persons with HIV (PWH). SETTING: We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial of a combination intervention comprising acute HIV testing, contract partner notification (cPN), and social contact referral conducted among PWH at 2 STI clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi, between 2015 and 2019. METHODS: We used binomial regression to estimate the effect of the combination intervention vs. passive PN (pPN) on having any (1) contact, (2) newly HIV-diagnosed contact, and (3) HIV-negative contact present to the clinic, overall and by referring participant characteristics. We repeated analyses comparing cPN alone with pPN. RESULTS: The combination intervention effect on having any presenting contact was greater among referring women than men [prevalence difference (PD): 0.17 vs. 0.10] and among previously vs. newly HIV-diagnosed referring persons (PD: 0.20 vs. 0.11). Differences by sex and HIV diagnosis status were similar in cPN vs. pPN analyses. There were no notable differences in the intervention effect on newly HIV-diagnosed referrals by referring participant characteristics. Intervention impact on having HIV-negative presenting contacts was greater among younger vs. older referring persons and among those with >1 vs. ≤1 recent sex partner. Effect differences by age were similar for cPN vs. pPN. CONCLUSION: Our intervention package may be particularly efficacious in eliciting referrals from women and previously diagnosed persons. When the combination intervention is infeasible, cPN alone may be beneficial for these populations.

Validation of the combined Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale among people with HIV in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the combined scale Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) among people with HIV (PWH) in Vietnam. METHODS: Baseline data from an alcohol-reduction intervention trial among ART clients in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam were used for this analysis (n = 1547). A score ≥10 on the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PHQ-ADS scale was considered having clinically meaningful depression, anxiety and distress symptoms. Factor structure of the combined PHQ-ADS scale was validated using confirmatory factor analysis, and three models were tested: a one-factor, a two-factor, and a bi-factor model. Reliability and construct validity were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of clinically meaningful depression and anxiety symptoms was 7% and 2%, respectively, while 19% had distress symptoms. A bi-factor model had the best fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.048; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.98). The Omega index of the bi-factor model was 0.97. The scale showed good construct validity through negative associations between depression, anxiety, distress symptoms and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the use of a combined scale to measure general distress for PWH, which has good validity, reliability and is unidimensional enough to justify the use of a composite depression and anxiety score.

Causes and risk factors of death among people who inject drugs in Indonesia, Ukraine and Vietnam: findings from HPTN 074 randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074 study demonstrated a positive effect of an integrated systems navigation and psychosocial counseling intervention on HIV treatment initiation, viral suppression, medication assisted treatment (MAT) enrollment, and risk of death among people who inject drugs (PWID). In this sub-study, we analyzed the incidence, causes, and predictors of death among HIV-infected and uninfected participants. METHODS: The HPTN 074 randomized clinical trial was conducted in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. HIV-infected PWID with unsuppressed viral load (indexes) were recruited together with at least one of their HIV-negative injection partners. Indexes were randomized in a 1:3 ratio to the intervention or standard of care. RESULTS: The trial enrolled 502 index and 806 partner participants. Overall, 13% (66/502) of indexes and 3% (19/806) of partners died during follow-up (crude mortality rates 10.4 [95% CI 8.1-13.3] and 2.1 [1.3-3.3], respectively). These mortality rates were for indexes nearly 30 times and for partners 6 times higher than expected in a population of the same country, age, and gender (standardized mortality ratios 30.7 [23.7-39.0] and 5.8 [3.5-9.1], respectively). HIV-related causes, including a recent CD4 < 200 cells/µL, accounted for 50% of deaths among indexes. Among partners, medical conditions were the most common cause of death (47%). In the multivariable Cox model, the mortality among indexes was associated with sex (male versus female aHR = 4.2 [1.5-17.9]), CD4 count (≥ 200 versus < 200 cells/µL aHR = 0.3 [0.2-0.5]), depression (moderate-to-severe versus no/mild aHR = 2.6 [1.2-5.0]) and study arm (intervention versus control aHR = 0.4 [0.2-0.9]). Among partners, the study arm of the index remained the only significant predictor (intervention versus control aHR = 0.2 [0.0-0.9]) while controlling for the effect of MAT (never versus ever receiving MAT aHR = 2.4 [0.9-7.4]). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that both HIV-infected and uninfected PWID remain at a starkly elevated risk of death compared to general population. Mortality related to HIV and other causes can be significantly reduced by scaling-up ART and MAT. Access to these life-saving treatments can be effectively improved by flexible integrated interventions, such as the one developed and tested in HPTN 074.

Depression, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Behaviors by HIV Infection Stage and Diagnosis Timing Among STI Clinic Patients in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Understanding depression, alcohol use, and sexual behaviors according to HIV infection stage and diagnosis timing is important for HIV prevention efforts. We enrolled persons with recent infection and diagnosis (i.e., acute HIV infection (AHI) (n = 92) persons newly diagnosed seropositive (n = 360)) and persons previously diagnosed with HIV (n = 190) into a randomized controlled trial in Lilongwe, Malawi (N = 641) and estimated the prevalence of probable depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 5), hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-C: men ≥ 4; women ≥ 3), and sexual behaviors (transactional sex, condomless sex). Compared with previously diagnosed participants, participants newly seropositive and those with AHI reported a higher proportion of probable depression (7%, 27%, 38%; AHI/Previous: Table Probability: 0.02, p < 0.01; AHI/New: Table Probability: <0.01, p < 0.01), hazardous alcohol use (8%, 18%, 29%; AHI/Previous and AHI/New: Table Probability: <0.01, p < 0.01), and transactional sex (5%, 14%, 20%; AHI/Previous: Table Probability: <0.01, p < 0.01; AHI/New: Table Probability: 0.06, p = 0.24), respectively. HIV prevention services addressing mental health and alcohol misuse may be particularly beneficial for persons with recent HIV infection and or diagnosis.

Design and implementation of a global site assessment survey among HIV clinics participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) research consortium.

INTRODUCTION: Timely descriptions of HIV service characteristics and their evolution over time across diverse settings are important for monitoring the scale-up of evidence-based program strategies, understanding the implementation landscape, and examining service delivery factors that influence HIV care outcomes. METHODS: The International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium undertakes periodic cross-sectional surveys on service availability and care at participating HIV treatment sites to characterize trends and inform the scientific agenda for HIV care and implementation science communities. IeDEA's 2020 general site assessment survey was developed through a consultative, 18-month process that engaged diverse researchers in identifying content from previous surveys that should be retained for longitudinal analyses and in developing expanded and new content to address gaps in the literature. An iterative review process was undertaken to standardize the format of new survey questions and align them with best practices in survey design and measurement and lessons learned through prior IeDEA site assessment surveys. RESULTS: The survey questionnaire developed through this process included eight content domains covered in prior surveys (patient population, staffing and community linkages, HIV testing and diagnosis, new patient care, treatment monitoring and retention, routine HIV care and screening, pharmacy, record-keeping and patient tracing), along with expanded content related to antiretroviral therapy (differentiated service delivery and roll-out of dolutegravir-based regimens); mental health and substance use disorders; care for pregnant/postpartum women and HIV-exposed infants; tuberculosis preventive therapy; and pediatric/adolescent tuberculosis care; and new content related to Kaposi's sarcoma diagnostics, the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery, and structural barriers to HIV care. The survey was distributed to 238 HIV treatment sites in late 2020, with a 95% response rate. CONCLUSION: IeDEA's approach for site survey development has broad relevance for HIV research networks and other priority health conditions.

Catch the tweet to fight the flu: Using Twitter to promote flu shots on a college campus.

Objective: Over the 2018-2019 flu season we conducted a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a Twitter campaign on vaccination rates. Concurrently we investigated potential interactions between digital social network structure and vaccination status. Participants: Undergratuates at a large midwestern public university were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 353) or control (n = 349) group. Methods: Vaccination data were collected via monthly surveys. Participant Twitter data were collected through the public-facing Twitter API. Intervention impact was assessed with logistic regression. Standard network science tools examined vaccination coverage over online social networks. Results: The campaign had no effect on vaccination outcome. Receiving a flu shot the prior year had a positive impact on participant vaccination. Evidence of an interaction between digital social network structure and vaccination status was detected. Conclusions: Social media campaigns may not be sufficient for increasing vaccination rates. There may be potential for social media campaigns that leverage network structure.

Contraception and Healthcare Utilization by Reproductive-Age Women Who Use Drugs in Rural Communities: a Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Women who use drugs (WWUD) have low rates of contraceptive use and high rates of unintended pregnancy. Drug use is common among women in rural U.S. communities, with limited data on how they utilize reproductive, substance use disorder (SUD), and healthcare services. OBJECTIVE: We determined contraceptive use prevalence among WWUD in rural communities then compared estimates to women from similar rural areas. We investigated characteristics of those using contraceptives, and associations between contraceptive use and SUD treatment, healthcare utilization, and substance use. DESIGN: Rural Opioids Initiative (ROI) - cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) involving eight rural U.S. regions (January 2018-March 2020); National Survey on Family Growth (NSFG) - nationally-representative U.S. household reproductive health survey (2017-2019). PARTICIPANTS: Women aged 18-49 with prior 30-day non-prescribed opioid and/or non-opioid injection drug use; fecundity determined by self-reported survey responses. MAIN MEASURES: Unweighted and RDS-weighted prevalence estimates of medical/procedural contraceptive use; chi-squared tests and multi-level linear regressions to test associations. KEY RESULTS: Of 855 women in the ROI, 36.8% (95% CI 33.7-40.1, unweighted) and 38.6% (95% CI 30.7-47.2, weighted) reported contraceptive use, compared to 66% of rural women in the NSFG sample. Among the ROI women, 27% had received prior 30-day SUD treatment via outpatient counseling or inpatient program and these women had increased odds of contraceptive use (aOR 1.50 [95% CI 1.08-2.06]). There was a positive association between contraception use and recent medications for opioid use disorder (aOR 1.34 [95% CI 0.95-1.88]) and prior 6-month primary care utilization (aOR 1.32 [95% CI 0.96-1.82]) that did not meet the threshold for statistical significance. CONCLUSION: WWUD in rural areas reported low contraceptive use; those who recently received SUD treatment had greater odds of contraceptive use. Improvements are needed in expanding reproductive and preventive health within SUD treatment and primary care services in rural communities.

Age-varying Associations of Depressive Symptoms and Heavy Episodic Drinking Throughout Adulthood Among People with HIV and Receiving care in Cameroon Within a National "treat all" Policy.

Comorbid depression and heavy episodic drinking (HED) may threaten the success of "treat all" policies in sub-Saharan Africa as the population of people with HIV (PWH) ages. We investigated associations between depressive symptoms and heavy episodic drinking (HED) and the extent the relationship differed across ages among PWH receiving HIV care in Cameroon. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 18-60-year-old PWH on antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon from January 2016 to March 2020. Age-varying effect modelling was conducted to assess associations between depressive symptoms and HED across ages and by gender. Prevalence of depression and HED was highest at ages 20 and 25, respectively. After age 25, the magnitude of the association between depressive symptoms and HED was significant and increased until age 30 (aOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.48, 2.39), with associations remaining significant until age 55 (aOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.29). Women had more variability and higher magnitudes of associations between depressive symptoms and HED than men. The interrelationship between depressive symptoms and HED was significant throughout most of adulthood for PWH receiving HIV care in Cameroon. Understanding age and gender trends in these associations can guide integration efforts in HIV care settings.

Hazardous alcohol use and HIV indicators in six African countries: results from the Population-based HIV Impact Assessments, 2015-2017.

INTRODUCTION: Hazardous alcohol use (HAU), defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the user or others, is associated with an elevated risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and poor health outcomes. We describe the association between people living with HIV (PLHIV) who report HAU and key HIV indicators. Gaps in current literature in estimating HAU on HIV outcomes at the regional level of Eastern and Southern Africa still exist and our analysis aims to address this issue. METHODS: We used weighted pooled data (2015-2017) from the nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessments among adults who provided written consent aged 18-59 years from Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We estimated differences in the prevalence of HIV infection and The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 indicators between PLHIV by HAU status using log-binomial regression, stratified by sex. HAU was determined using the Alcohol Use Identification Test-Consumption. RESULTS: Among the 9755 women and 4444 men who tested HIV positive, 6.6% of women and 21.8% of men engaged in HAU. Women who reported HAU were more likely to be HIV positive (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.18-1.46) compared to those who did not report HAU. For the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, women who engaged in HAU were more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status (aPR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47) and not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (aPR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.26-2.37). Men who engaged in HAU were more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status (aPR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.39-1.76) and not on ART (aPR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.30-2.29). No difference in viral load suppression, defined as <1000 copies/ml of HIV RNA, was seen by sex. CONCLUSIONS: PLHIV who engage in HAU were more likely to have suboptimal outcomes along the HIV care continuum when compared to those who did not engage in HAU. Targeted interventions, such as alcohol screening for HAU in HIV testing and treatment settings and HIV prevention efforts in alcohol-based venues, may help countries reach HIV epidemic control by 2030.

Measuring and Addressing Stigma Within HIV Interventions for People Who Use Drugs: a Scoping Review of Recent Research.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Persistent stigma remains a crucial barrier to HIV prevention and treatment services among people who use drugs (PWUD), particularly for those living with or at-risk for HIV. This scoping review examines the current state of science with regard to approaches for measuring and addressing stigma within HIV interventions among PWUD. RECENT FINDINGS: Sixteen studies fit the inclusion criteria for this review. Half the studies originated within the USA, and the remaining represented four different regions. Within these studies, stigma was measured using various quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The studies primarily focused on HIV stigma, including value-based judgments, anticipated stigma, and perceived stigma domains. Information-based and skills building approaches at the individual level were the most common for the stigma reduction interventions. Adoption of systematic evaluations is needed for measuring stigma, including intersectional stigma, within HIV interventions among PWUD. Future studies should focus on developing multilevel intersectional stigma reduction interventions for PWUD with and at-risk for HIV globally.