Male perspectives on intimate partner violence: A qualitative analysis from South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in four women globally and is more commonly enacted by men than women. Rates of IPV in South Africa exceed the global average. Exploring the background and context regarding why men use violence can help future efforts to prevent IPV. METHODS: We explored adult men's perspectives of IPV, livelihoods, alcohol use, gender beliefs, and childhood exposure to abuse through a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews that were conducted in South Africa. The setting was a peri-urban township characterized by high unemployment, immigration from rural areas, and low service provision. We utilized thematic qualitative analysis that was guided by the social ecological framework. RESULTS: Of 30 participants, 20 were residents in the neighborhood, 7 were trained community members, and 3 were program staff. Men reported consumption of alcohol and lack of employment as being triggers for IPV and community violence in general. Multiple participants recounted childhood exposure to abuse. These themes, in addition to culturally prescribed gender norms and constructs of manhood, seemed to influence the use of violence. CONCLUSION: Interventions aimed at reducing IPV should consider the cultural and social impact on men's use of IPV in low-resource, high-IPV prevalence settings, such as peri-urban South Africa. This work highlights the persistent need for the implementation of effective primary prevention strategies that address contextual and economic factors in an effort to reduce IPV that is primarily utilized by men directed at women.

'I am because you are': Community support as a bridge to mental wellbeing for resettled African refugee women living in Rhode Island.

African refugee women resettled in the United States are exposed to multiple risk factors for poor mental health. Currently, no comprehensive framework exists on which to guide mental health interventions specific to this population. Through a community-based participatory research partnership, we interviewed N = 15 resettled African refugees living in Rhode Island. Here we (1) describe how meanings of mental health within the African refugee community vary from US understandings of PTSD, depression, and anxiety and (2) generate a framework revealing how mental health among participants results from interactions between social support, African sociocultural norms, and US norms and systems. Multiple barriers and facilitators of mental wellbeing lie at the intersections of these three primary concepts. We recommend that public health and medicine leverage the strength of existing community networks and organisations to address the heavy burden of poor mental health among resettled African refugee women.

The Association of Racism and Discrimination in Disparities of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the United States: An Analysis of PRAMS Data.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal mortality. Racial disparities in maternal outcomes such as maternal mortality in the United States (US) are well-documented, but the relationship of racism and/or discrimination with one's risk of developing a hypertension during pregnancy (HDP) is not well-studied. METHODS: Data from 17 sites that asked questions regarding experiences with racism and/or discrimination during pregnancy via the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase 8 (2016-2020) was used. Logistic regression models were used compare the potential of stress induced HDP from perceived experiences of racism and/or discrimination versus the effect of systemic racism and/or discrimination (in healthcare settings and generally) on racial disparities in HDP diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 9,907 live births, 18% of participants reported they were diagnosed with hypertension during pregnancy, with non-Hispanic Black individuals having the highest rate (21.8%). Regarding experiences of racism and/or discrimination, 76.4% of participants responded "yes", with all races/ethnicities studied here except non-Hispanic White individuals responding "yes" at rates higher than 89%. Perceived experiences of racism and/or discrimination did not statistically significantly affect one's odds of being diagnosed with HDP (OR = 0.94, CI: 0.74, 1.20). The disparity in odds of having hypertension during pregnancy between Non-Hispanic Black individuals and non-Hispanic White individuals was not statistically significant when perceived experiences of racism and/or discrimination were included in the model. CONCLUSIONS: Experiences of racism and/or discrimination drive racial disparities in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: It is vital to eliminate racist and discriminatory practices and behaviors to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Womandla Health: development and rationale of a behavioral intervention to support HIV treatment adherence among postpartum women in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: While Option B + has made great strides in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and improving access to lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for women, the postpartum period remains a risk period for disengagement from HIV care and non-adherence. METHODS: Longitudinal qualitative data was collected from 30 women living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum to examine key barriers and facilitators to HIV treatment adherence across this transition. Participants were also asked about their preferences for behavioral intervention content, format, and scope. The intervention development process was guided by Fernandez et al.'s Intervention Mapping process and was informed by the qualitative data, the wider literature on ART adherence, and Transition Theory. RESULTS: The Womandla Health Intervention is a multicomponent intervention consisting of four individual sessions with a lay health worker and four peer group sessions, which span late pregnancy and early postpartum. These sessions are guided by Transition Theory and utilize motivational interviewing techniques to empower women to ascertain their own individual barriers to HIV care and identify solutions and strategies to overcome these barriers. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention will be tested in a small scale RCT. If successful, findings will provide an innovative approach to HIV treatment by capitalizing on the transition into motherhood to bolster self-care behaviors, focusing on ART adherence and also women's overall postpartum health and psychosocial needs.

Barriers and facilitators to scaling up access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among key populations: A qualitative study of the incentive-based PrEP Seguro program in Mexico.

Introduction: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly safe and effective for HIV prevention, yet barriers to PrEP access and adherence persist among key populations. In Mexico, incentive-based pilot programs have been effective in improving PrEP adherence among male sex workers. Understanding the experiences of providers and program implementers is critical to integrating PrEP adherence programs as part of standard care in Mexico and similar settings. Methods: We conducted 17 in-depth informational interviews with care providers and staff responsible for administering PrEP to key populations (men who have sex with men, male sex workers, transgender women) in Mexico City. Interviews explored successes and challenges surrounding current PrEP implementation, as well as adaptations that could facilitate national scale-up of PrEP programs in Mexico. Informant transcripts were analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis approach utilizing CFIR constructs for the initial codebook while allowing for inductive findings. Results: Three key themes emerged from informant interviews as important for promoting PrEP programs in Mexico: 1) increasing individual PrEP access, 2) strengthening quality of care, and 3) improving organizational and structural support. Conclusions: PrEP in Mexico is currently only available in a few clinics with high patient populations, and siloed HIV services, stigma, and a lack of inter-organizational collaboration remain persistent barriers to PrEP uptake. Promoting government collaboration and increasing financial support for community-based organizations is needed to expand PrEP access. Tailored, destigmatizing information about PrEP services needs to be diffused among both staff and patients to strengthen care quality.

Using audience segmentation to identify implementation strategies to improve PrEP uptake among at-risk cisgender women: a mixed-methods study protocol.

BACKGROUND: In the USA, 19% of new HIV infections occur among cisgender women (cis women); however, only 10% of eligible cis women have been prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection (an evidence-based intervention). A fundamental challenge for expanding HIV prevention to cis women is ensuring implementation strategies are tailored to the various healthcare settings in which cis women seek care and the heterogeneous providers nested within these settings. This project's specific aims are to (1) explore clinician-level characteristics and organizational climate factors that are related to variability in adoption of PrEP service delivery as an evidence-based intervention for cis women; (2) identify latent audience segments of women's health providers as the related to PrEP acceptability, adoption, and maintenance and analyze demographic correlates of these segments; and (3) identify audience segment-specific implementation strategies to facilitate the adoption of PrEP as an evidence-based intervention among at-risk cis women. METHODS: Using the i-PARIHS framework, this mixed-methods study examines three domains for guiding audience segmentation to facilitate PrEP implementation for cis women: innovation (degree of fit with existing practices, usability), recipient beliefs and knowledge and context factors (organizational culture, readiness for change), needs to determine appropriate facilitation methods. To achieve aim 1, qualitative interviews will be conducted with PrEP-eligible cis women, women's health providers, and other key stakeholders. Aim 2 will consist of a quantitative survey among 340 women's health providers. Latent class analysis will be used to facilitate audience segmentation. To achieve aim 3, a panel of 5-8 providers for each audience segment will meet and engage in iterative discussions guided by Fernandez's implementation mapping to identify (1) implementation outcomes and performance objectives, determinants, and change objectives and (2) determine and refine of implementation strategies for each audience segment. DISCUSSION: This exploratory mixed methods study will provide an empirical foundation to inform the development implementations strategies aimed at increasing PrEP delivery to cis women among heterogenous groups of providers.

Experiences of stigma, psychological distress, and facilitative coping among pregnant people with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been rising in the United States, and it poses significant health risks to pregnant individuals and their infants. Prior research has shown that individuals with GDM also experience prevalent stress and mental health issues, which can further contribute to glucose regulation difficulties. Stigma associated with GDM may contribute to these mental health challenges, yet there is a lack of focused research on GDM-related stigma, its impact on psychological health, and effective coping mechanisms. Thus, this qualitative study aims to understand individuals' experiences related to GDM stigma, mental health, and facilitative coping. METHODS: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals with a current or recent (within the last year) diagnosis of GDM. Thematic analysis was employed to guide data analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from data analysis: (1) experience of distal GDM stigma including stigmatizing provider interactions, stigma from non-medical spaces, and intersecting stigma with weight, (2) internalized GDM stigma, such as shame, guilt, and self-blame, (3) psychological distress, which included experiences of stress and overwhelm, excessive worry and fear, and loneliness and isolation, and (4) facilitative coping mechanisms, which included diagnosis acceptance, internet-based GDM community, active participation in GDM management, social and familial support, and time for oneself. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the relevance of GDM stigma in mental health among people with GDM and the need for addressing GDM stigma and psychological health in this population. Interventions that can reduce GDM stigma, improve psychological wellness, and enhance positive coping may facilitate successful GDM management and healthy birth outcomes. Future quantitative, theory-driven research is needed to understand the prevalence of GDM stigma experiences and mechanisms identified in the current study, as well as among marginalized populations (e.g., individuals of color, sexual and gender minorities).

Why do Integrated Maternal HIV and Infant Healthcare Services work? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial in South Africa.

In a randomised trial, we found that integrated maternal HIV and infant health services through the end of breastfeeding were significantly associated with the primary outcome of engagement in HIV care and viral suppression at 12 months postpartum, compared to the standard of care. Here, we quantitatively explore potential psychosocial modifiers and mediators of this association. Our findings suggest that the intervention was significantly more effective among women experiencing an unintended pregnancy but did not improve outcomes among women reporting risky alcohol use. Although not statistically significant, our results suggest that the intervention may also be more effective among women experiencing higher levels of poverty and HIV-related stigma. We observed no definitive mediator of the intervention effect, but women allocated to integrated services reported better relationships with their healthcare providers through 12 months postpartum. These findings point to high-risk groups that may benefit the most from integrated care, as well as groups for whom these benefits are hampered and that warrant further attention in intervention development and evaluation.

Perinatal alcohol use among young women living with HIV in South Africa: Context, experiences, and implications for interventions.

Perinatal alcohol use is common in South Africa, including among young women living with HIV (WLHIV), but there are few insights into the drivers of alcohol use in this population. Following the completion of a pilot trial of a peer support intervention for WLHIV aged 16-24 years in Cape Town, we purposively selected participants who had reported perinatal alcohol use at ≥1 study visits to complete a qualitative in-depth interview exploring their experiences of substance use. Of 119 women enrolled, 28 reported alcohol use, and 24 were interviewed, with ≥1/3 reporting drinking throughout their pregnancy. Women described living in a community where heavy perinatal alcohol consumption is normalised, including among their peers, leading to social pressure. Despite being aware of the risks of perinatal alcohol use, women described a disconnect between public health messaging and their experiences. Although most acknowledged the negative effects of alcohol in their lives, self-efficacy to reduce consumption was diminished by peer influences and the lack of formal employment and opportunities for recreation. These findings provide insights into the drivers of perinatal alcohol use in this setting, and suggest that without meaningful community-level changes, including employment opportunities and alternatives for socialising, interventions may have limited impact.

Maternal perinatal depression and child brain structure at 2-3 years in a South African birth cohort study.

Maternal perinatal depression is associated with risk of adverse child developmental outcomes and differences in offspring brain structure. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries is lacking as is an investigation of antenatal, postnatal, and persistent depression in the same sample. In a South African birth cohort, we investigated the effect of antenatal and postpartum maternal depressive symptoms on offspring brain structure at 2-3 years of age. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, extracting cortical thickness and surface areas in frontal cortex regions of interest and subcortical volumes using FreeSurfer software. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory II antenatally and at 6-10 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months postpartum and analyzed dichotomously and continuously. Linear regressions were used controlling for child age, sex, intracranial volume, maternal education, age, smoking, alcohol use and HIV. 146 children were included with 38 (37%) exposed to depressive symptoms antenatally and 44 (35%) exposed postnatally. Of these, 16 (13%) were exposed to both. Postpartum, but not antenatal, depressive symptoms were associated with smaller amygdala volumes in children (B = -74.73, p = 0.01). Persistent maternal depressive symptoms across pregnancy and postpartum were also independently associated with smaller amygdala volumes (B = -78.61, p = 0.047). Differences in amygdala volumes among children exposed to postnatal as well as persistent maternal depressive symptomatology underscore the importance of identifying women at-risk for depression during the entire perinatal period.

In-utero HIV exposure and cardiometabolic health among children 5-8 years: findings from a prospective birth cohort in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if in-utero HIV exposure is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes at 5-8 years of age. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: We enrolled a random sample of HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed children from the Drakenstein Child Health study, a longitudinal birth cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa, in a cardiometabolic health pilot study. Outcomes were assessed by trained study staff and included: anthropometry, body composition and size, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipids, and insulin resistance using HOMA-IR. We used multivariable linear and log-binomial regression to estimate associations between HIV-exposure and cardiometabolic outcomes, adjusted for child age, sex, height, body size, and maternal factors as appropriate. RESULTS: We included 260 children (HEU n = 100, HIV-unexposed n = 160). HEU children had older mothers (median age 30 vs. 26 years), with minimal differences in gestational age and size at birth by HIV-exposure status. In multivariable analyses, HEU children had lower weight-for-age (mean difference -0.35, 95% confidence interval -0.66, -0.05), and height-for-age (mean difference -0.29, 95% confidence interval -0.56, -0.03; z-scores). There were no differences in adiposity, impaired glucose metabolism, or lipid levels by HIV-exposure status. Overall, 12% of children had blood pressure more than 90th percentile, with no differences by HIV-exposure status. CONCLUSION: Overall, there were few differences in cardiometabolic outcomes between HEU and HIV-unexposed children in this South African cohort. Although these findings are reassuring, monitoring of cardiometabolic health is important as HEU and HIV-unexposed children enter adolescence and cardiometabolic risk trajectories become established.

HIV-related stigma, disclosure and social support: experiences among young pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in South Africa.

ABSTRACTYoung pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at high risk of poor antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes, which may be driven partly by HIV-related stigma. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 pregnant and postpartum WLHIV aged 19-24 years to understand how different forms of HIV-related stigma manifest in their lives, as well as their experiences of HIV-status disclosure and social support. Participants described profound levels of perceived stigma in their community, including gossip from other young women and judgement from older adults. Consequently, participants disclosed to a limited number of people to avoid being stigmatised, and disclosure to peers was especially uncommon. However, disclosure in certain situations was described as leading to emotional support and support for ART adherence, and disclosure to older WLHIV resulted in participants having a role model. Finally, participants expressed varied ways in which they accept, speak about, and live with their HIV diagnosis. These data provide a rich understanding of the experiences of HIV-related stigma in this population and point to the need for psychosocial interventions focussed on acceptance and coping with an HIV-positive diagnosis despite profound levels of perceived stigma, as well as navigating decisions around the targets and timing of disclosure.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04036851.

"We Should Be Taught Self-Respect, Self-Confidence and Self-Love": Youth Perspectives of Adult Influences on Their Sexuality and Relationships Among South African Adolescents Living With HIV.

Introduction: Of the 1.75 million adolescents aged 10-19 years living with HIV globally, 84% reside in sub-Saharan Africa. This problem is most acute in South Africa, where there are 720,000 adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). ALHIV navigate the same challenges as other adolescents-such as puberty and first relationships-as well as challenges specific to their HIV-status-including stigma, disclosure, and concerns about HIV transmission. This dual burden calls for tailored sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs. Here, we qualitatively explore the reflections of South African ALHIV on SRH education, communication, and discussion provided by adults in schools, clinics, and the home related to their unique SRH needs. Methods: This paper reports on qualitative data from a mixed-methods study to inform interventions that meet the SRH needs of ALHIV. In-depth interviews (N = 20) were conducted with ALHIV recruited from two clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Nine males and 11 females aged 16-19 participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews to discuss their sexual health as ALHIV. The interview guide explored 1) perceived SRH needs; 2) healthy living with HIV; 3) future goals; 4) intimate relationships; 5) psychosocial challenges; and 6) preferred interventions. Data were thematically applied to an iteratively-developed codebook and analyzed by the cross-cultural research team using NVivo 12. Results: These qualitative data reveal the pressing needs among ALHIV for open communication and accurate information about sexuality and HIV, given the risk to themselves and their partners as they enter intimate relationships. Three themes emerged from the data: 1) Intergenerational pressures coming from caregivers, clinicians, and teachers often stigmatize the sexual heath behaviors of ALHIV; 2) When present, open intergenerational communication can provide ALHIV with crucial information, resources, and social support that supports healthy decisions, and 3) ALHIV offer specific ideas about how adults can support their decision-making in the transition to adulthood. Conclusions: Findings highlight adolescents' recommendations for programs involving open communication, stigma-reduction around sexuality, and support from both peer and adult mentors. This study lays the foundation for strategies to improve intergenerational communication about sexual health to promote positive approaches to sexuality for ALHIV.

Subcortical brain volumes in young infants exposed to antenatal maternal depression: Findings from a South African birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported enlarged amygdala and smaller hippocampus volumes in children and adolescents exposed to maternal depression. It is unclear whether similar volumetric differences are detectable in the infants' first weeks of life, following exposure in utero. We investigated subcortical volumes in 2-to-6 week old infants exposed to antenatal maternal depression (AMD) from a South African birth cohort. METHODS: AMD was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition (BDI-II) at 28-32 weeks gestation. T2-weighted structural images were acquired during natural sleep on a 3T Siemens Allegra scanner. Subcortical regions were segmented based on the University of North Carolina neonatal brain atlas. Volumetric estimates were compared between AMD-exposed (BDI-II ⩾ 20) and unexposed (BDI-II < 14) infants, adjusted for age, sex and total intracranial volume using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Larger volumes were observed in AMD-exposed (N = 49) compared to unexposed infants (N = 75) for the right amygdala (1.93% difference, p = 0.039) and bilateral caudate nucleus (left: 5.79% difference, p = 0.001; right: 6.09% difference, p < 0.001). A significant AMD-by-sex interaction was found for the hippocampus (left: F(1,118) = 4.80, p = 0.030; right: F(1,118) = 5.16, p = 0.025), reflecting greater volume in AMD-exposed females (left: 5.09% difference, p = 0.001, right: 3.54% difference, p = 0.010), but not males. CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric differences in subcortical regions can be detected in AMD-exposed infants soon after birth, suggesting structural changes may occur in utero. Female infants might exhibit volumetric changes that are not observed in male infants. The potential mechanisms underlying these early volumetric differences, and their significance for long-term child mental health, require further investigation.

Approaches and outcomes of community health worker's interventions for hypertension management and control in low-income and middle-income countries: systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To critically appraise the scope, content and outcomes of community health worker (CHW) interventions designed to reduce blood pressure (BP) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHOD: We performed a database search (PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, OpenGrey, Cochrane Central Trials Register and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) to identify studies in LMICs from 2000 to 2020. Eligible studies were interventional studies published in English and reporting CHW interventions for management of BP in LMICs. Two independent reviewers screened the titles, abstracts and full texts of publications for eligibility and inclusion. Relevant information was extracted from these studies using a tailored template. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool. Qualitative synthesis of results was done through general summary of the characteristics and findings of each study. We also analysed the patterns of interventions and their outcomes across the studies. Results were presented in form of narrative and tables. RESULTS: Of the 1557 articles identified, 14 met the predefined criteria. Of these, 12 were cluster randomised trials whereas two were pretest/post-test studies. The CHW interventions were mainly community-based and focused on behaviour change for promoting BP control among hypertensive patients as well as healthy individuals. The interventions had positive effects in the BP reduction, linkage to care, treatment adherence and in reducing cardivascular-disease risk level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The current review is limited in that, a meta-analysis to show the overall effect of CHW interventions in the management of hypertension was not possible due to the diversity of the interventions, and outcomes of the studies included in the review. Summarised outcomes of individual studies showed CHW enhanced the control and management of hypertension. Further studies are needed to indicate the impact and cost-effectiveness of CHW-led interventions in the control and management of hypertension in LMICs.

Empowerment in pregnancy: ART adherence among women living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.

RATIONALE: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a global concern among pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (WLHIV). Research focusing on peripartum WLHIV and how they balance adherence, engaging in HIV care, and other forms of self-care is limited. Women's empowerment theories have been applied to myriad health behaviors to understand patterns, establish mechanisms, and develop interventions; yet empowerment theory as applied to ART is under-researched. OBJECTIVE: Seeking deeper insight into peripartum health behaviors, we examine these factors using Naila Kabeer's (1999) women's empowerment theory, which denotes resources, agency, and achievements as three primary and interrelated components of empowerment. METHODS: Data were collected in Gugulethu, South Africa, between March and July 2018. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with WLHIV at 32-35 weeks of pregnancy, with topics including experiences related to ART adherence and meanings of empowerment in motherhood. Analyses had two phases: (1) inductive open-coding for emergent themes; and (2) classifying themes into Kabeer's empowerment theory. RESULTS: Participants expressed that resources play a critical role in adherence, ranging from practical support to motivational support provided by both family and partners. Agency is experienced as a desire to be an independent mother in the often-expected event that partners withdraw support. Participants described achievements as time-oriented goals, ranging from having a baby born without HIV to living a long and productive life. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a promising and innovative approach to improving ART adherence across the peripartum transition would focus on understanding resources as an enabling environment, build on existing feelings of agency, and highlight the lifelong goals achievable with high levels of adherence. A better understanding of how women's empowerment evolves over the course of pregnancy and into the postpartum period will support intervention development aimed at improving ART adherence and potentially additional peripartum health behaviors.

Intimate partner violence and growth outcomes through infancy: A longitudinal investigation of multiple mediators in a South African birth cohort.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been linked to poor fetal and infant growth. However, factors underlying this relationship are not well understood, particularly in the postnatal time period. In a South African cohort, we investigated (1) associations between IPV in pregnancy and growth at birth as well as postnatal IPV and child growth at 12 months and (2) whether maternal depression, tobacco or alcohol use or infant hospitalizations mediated IPV-growth relationships. Mothers were enrolled in pregnancy. Maternal IPV was measured during pregnancy and 10 weeks postpartum; depression, alcohol and tobacco use were measured during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Child weight and length were measured at birth and 12 months and converted to z-scores for analysis. Linear regression and structural equation models investigated interrelationships between IPV and potential mediators of IPV-growth relationships. At birth, among 1,111 mother-infant pairs, maternal emotional and physical IPV were associated with reduced weight-for-age z-scores (WFAZ). Only physical IPV was associated with length-for-age z-scores (LFAZ) at birth. Antenatal maternal alcohol and tobacco use mediated IPV-growth relationships at birth. Postnatally, among 783 mother-infant pairs, emotional and physical IPV were associated with reduced WFAZ at 12 months. Only emotional IPV was associated with LFAZ at 12 months. Maternal tobacco use was a mediator postnatally. Findings highlight the role of physical and emotional IPV as risk factors for compromised fetal and infant growth. Findings underscore the importance of programmes to address interrelated risk factors for compromised infant growth, specifically IPV and substance use, which are prevalent in high-risk settings.

Sexual Prejudice and Comfort to Provide Services to Men Who Have Sex with Men Among HIV Healthcare Workers in Western Kenya: Role of Interpersonal Contact.

Sexual minority men living in Africa, where many countries criminalize same-sex behavior, are vulnerable to HIV and experience significant barriers to HIV care. Sexual prejudice in healthcare settings is a key contributor to these barriers. Building on social psychological models of prejudice and interpersonal contact at the clinic, we examined the associations between healthcare workers' sexual prejudice and their comfort to provide care to MSM, and assessed the moderating role of workers' prior interpersonal contact with MSM. A cross-sectional survey of 147 healthcare workers varying in level of training and expertise working in HIV care organizations was conducted in western Kenya. Sexual prejudice was negatively associated with comfort to provide care to MSM. Prior interpersonal contact with MSM moderated the association between sexual prejudice and comfort to provide care to MSM among nurses/counselors, such that those with low prior contact and high sexual prejudice were the most uncomfortable providing care to MSM. Interventions are needed to address sexual prejudice and encourage positive forms of interpersonal contact with MSM, especially with nurses and counselors who might have more and varied patient interactions, to improve access to the continuum of HIV prevention and care for MSM in Kenya.

Contraceptive trajectories postpartum: A longitudinal qualitative study of women living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Supporting the ability of women living with HIV (WLWH) to avoid unintended pregnancy during the postpartum period decreases the number of new pediatric HIV infections, reduces pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality, and is a cost-effective strategy for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission. However, little is currently known about the contraceptive intentions and experiences of reinitiating family planning use among mothers living with HIV as they transition from pregnancy into postpartum. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To (1) understand the contraceptive trajectories of women living with HIV during pregnancy and postpartum in Cape Town, South Africa, and (2) identify factors shaping differing contraceptive trajectories during the postpartum period. METHODS: Thirty pregnant WLWH were interviewed during their eighth month of pregnancy and completed follow-up interviews at 6-8 weeks and 9-12 months postpartum (n = 81 total interviews). Interview topics included postpartum contraception intentions, contraceptive use, and experiences accessing family planning services. Trajectory analysis of contraceptive intentions was applied after initial thematic coding. RESULTS: While nearly half of women interviewed during pregnancy expressed an intention to utilize a non-injectable contraceptive option after childbirth (e.g. implant, IUD, sterilization, oral contraceptive pills), all women interviewed at one year postpartum had received at least one injection. Three main contraceptive trajectories were identified. (1) realization of contraceptive intentions postpartum; (2) unrealized contraceptive intentions postpartum; and (3) change in contraceptive intention over time. Provider influence, coordination of services, and low contraceptive inventory were identified as potential factors shaping the contraceptive trajectories of participants enrolled in the study. CONCLUSION: Disparities between contraceptive method intentions articulated by WLWH during pregnancy and methods attained postpartum suggest that significant barriers remain for women who are unsatisfied with injectable contraception. Failing to provide postpartum mothers living with HIV their intended family planning method undermines efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy, a key pillar of elimination of mother-to-child transmission.

Cultural adaptation and validation of a measure of prejudice against men who have sex with men among healthcare providers in western Kenya.

Sexual prejudice toward men who have sex with men (MSM) is a pressing concern in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Given the high HIV infection risk among this population, sexual prejudice perpetuated by healthcare providers, affects access to and willingness of MSM to seek HIV care services. However, data on healthcare providers' attitudes towards MSM in SSA are limited, and there are no locally-adapted measures of sexual prejudice. We adapted a scale to measure sexual prejudice with a sample of 147 healthcare providers in western Kenya. Results from exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor structure. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency with Cronbach's α = 0.91. Healthcare providers who had prior interpersonal contact with MSM, had ever been trained on counselling MSM, and had higher knowledge about MSM health needs reported lower sexual prejudice scores, compared with peers who lacked these experiences (p < 0.001). In contrast, healthcare providers who had experienced secondary stigma (negative judgments from peers and community) for providing care to MSM reported higher scores of sexual prejudice scale (p < 0.001) compared with providers who had not experienced secondary stigma. The scale provides a contextualised tool to assess healthcare providers' attitudes toward MSM in Kenya and countries in SSA with similar cultural norms.