Authorship Correction: Promising Approaches for Engaging Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV in HIV Primary Care Using Social Media and Mobile Technology Interventions: Protocol for the SPNS Social Media Initiative.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/10681.].

Promising Approaches for Engaging Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV in HIV Primary Care Using Social Media and Mobile Technology Interventions: Protocol for the SPNS Social Media Initiative.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, disparities in the rates of HIV care among youth and young adults result from the intersections of factors that include stigma, substance use, homelessness or marginal housing, institutional neglect, and mental health issues. Novel interventions are needed that are geared to youth and young adults. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we aim to describe the interventions used by participating sites for Using Social Media initiative, the process for classifying the intervention components, and the methods for conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the interventions. METHODS: In 2015, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) funded the Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (ETAC) at the University of California, Los Angeles and 10 demonstration projects at sites across the United States that incorporated innovative approaches using a variety of social media and mobile technology strategies designed specifically for youth and young adults living with HIV. The ETAC developed a typology, or a classification system, that systematically summarizes the principal components of the interventions into broader groups and developed a multisite, mixed-methods approach to evaluate them based on the Department of Health and Human Services HIV health outcomes along the HIV care continuum. The mixed-methods approach is key to remove potential biases in assessing the effectiveness of demonstration projects. RESULTS: This SPNS project was funded in September 2015, and enrollment was completed on May 31, 2018. A total of 984 participants have been enrolled in the multisite evaluation. Data collection will continue until August 2019. However, data analysis is currently underway, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: This HRSA-funded initiative seeks to increase engagement in HIV medical care, improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, and reduce HIV-related health disparities and health inequities that affect HIV-positive youth and young adults. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/10681.

The role of brothels in reducing HIV risk in Sonagachi, India.

High rates of empowerment, HIV-related knowledge, and condom use among sex workers in Sonagachi, India have been attributed to a community-led intervention called the Sonagachi HIV/AIDS Intervention Program (SHIP). In this research we examined the crucial role of brothels in the success of the intervention. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 55 participants of SHIP. The results indicate that brothels help sex workers reduce HIV risk by (a) serving as targeted sites for SHIP's HIV intervention efforts, (b) being operated by madams (women managers of brothels) who participate in SHIP's intervention efforts and promote healthy regimes, (c) structuring the economic transactions and sexual performances related to sex work, thus standardizing sex-related behavior, and (d) promoting community empowerment among brothel residents. Implications of these results are discussed for future efforts to replicate SHIP's success in other sex work communities.

HIV partner notification: predictors of discussion and agreements from provider reports.

This study examines organizational, provider, client, and test-event level predictors of HIV partner notification (PN) discussion and agreements based on providers' most recent HIV-positive post-test counseling session. Staff (n = 621) were sampled from for-profit, nonprofit, and county government HIV testing organizations (N = 159) in Los Angeles County from 2003 to 2007. Among providers who conducted an HIV-positive post-test counseling session (n = 204), 65% discussed PN but only 10% had confirmed agreement to provider-involved PN (PIPN). In multi-level regression analyses PN discussion was predicted by provider HIV-test training and knowledge, and patients requesting a test while presenting HIV/AIDS symptoms. The strongest predictor of PIPN agreement was public health HIV testing settings followed by counseling by program managers or infectious disease specialists across settings. None of the injecting drug users or patients presenting with AIDS, but not requesting a test, agreed to PIPN. Organizational and provider-level interventions on PN will be needed to realize cost-effective benefits of expanded HIV testing and counseling.

Use of HAART among young people living with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To examine HAART use. METHODS: HIV+ youth, aged 14-29 (n=253; 71% male; 74% ethnic minority), were recruited in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. RESULTS: Almost all youth had been offered HAART (84%); 77% had ever used it, 54% were currently using, and 63% of users adhered to 90% of their medications. Compared to non-users, users were more likely to be female, Latino or African American. Users were also more likely to have the following: AIDS, positive coping styles, social support, and a high quality of life. Users were less likely to: do jail time, perform sexual-risk acts, and use substances. CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ youth self-select to use HAART.