RESUMO
Background: HIV disproportionately affects sexual minority men, and developing strategies to reduce transmission risk is a public health priority. Purpose: The goal was to empirically test a newly developed, Information, Motivation, Behavioral skills (IMB) theoretically derived, online HIV sexual risk reduction intervention (called HINTS) among a sample of sexual minority men living with HIV. Methods: Participants were 167 men randomized to either the four-session online HINTS intervention or to a time-matched, online control condition. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up for demographic, medical and psychosocial factors, and sexual risk behavior. Analyses examined group differences in incidence rates of condomless anal sex (CAS) at follow-up with all male sex partners and by partner serostatus, either seroconcordant or serodiscordant for HIV infection. Results: Men assigned to the HINTS intervention reported decreased CAS with serodiscordant partners, a behavior that confers high risk of HIV transmission, compared to the control group. Men assigned to the HINTS intervention also reported increased CAS with seroconcordant partners, a behavior indicative of serosorting. Although the IMB model did not appear to mediate these intervention effects, some IMB components were associated with behavioral outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: A new group-based sexual risk reduction intervention conducted exclusively online was successful in reducing HIV transmission risk behavior in a sample of gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Future work should consider utilizing this intervention with other groups living with HIV, perhaps in combination with biomedical HIV prevention strategies.
Assuntos
Bissexualidade , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Homossexualidade Masculina , Psicoterapia de Grupo/métodos , Comportamento de Redução do Risco , Comportamento Sexual , Parceiros Sexuais , Sexo sem Proteção/prevenção & controle , Adulto , Seguimentos , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de SaúdeRESUMO
HIV infection is now clinically manageable with antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, a significant number of people with HIV do not benefit from ART because of non-adherence. This study examined the use of adherence strategies and barriers to adherence among persons at substantial risk for developing resistant virus (less than 75% adherent). People living with HIV (n = 556) who were less than 95% adherent to ART completed computerized interviews, were screened for active drug use, provided medical records for HIV viral load, and completed unannounced pill counts to monitor ART adherence and an assessment of adherence barriers. Based on pill counts, participants were defined as severely non-adherent (≤75% medications taken) and moderately non-adherent (>75% and <95% adherent). Results showed a broad array of memory devices were used to no avail across non-adherence groups. Individuals who were severely non-adherent were significantly more likely to attribute missing medications due to substance use and structural barriers, including running out of medications, inability to get to pharmacy, and inability to afford medications. Results suggest that interventions focused on memory lapses will be insufficient and should rather concentrate on substance use treatment and providing case management to resolve structural barriers to adherence.
Assuntos
Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Adesão à Medicação , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-HIV/economia , Feminino , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Farmácias , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/complicaçõesRESUMO
In the U.S., there has been a rise in overweight and obesity among persons living with HIV (PLWH). The aim of this study was to examine dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) in PLWH in Atlanta Georgia relative to the U.S. POPULATION: Dietary intake among PLWH was compared with recommended standards as well as estimated dietary intake for adults in the U.S. Over 31% of the study participants were overweight [BMI = 25-29.9â kg/m2], and 33.1% obese [BMI ≥ 30â kg/m2]. Results indicated significant dietary differences between participants in our sample and U.S. daily recommendations for adults as well as estimated intakes of the U.S. POPULATION: Both males and females consumed more percentage of energy from fat and less fiber as well as fruit and vegetables servings than what is recommended. Results suggest that overweight and obesity are an additional health burden to PLWH in our sample and that their daily dietary practices are not meeting the U.S. government-recommended nutritional standards.
Assuntos
Dieta , Alimentos , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Obesidade/complicações , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Adulto , Índice de Massa Corporal , Gorduras na Dieta , Fibras na Dieta , Ingestão de Energia , Feminino , Frutas , Georgia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sobrepeso/complicações , Sobrepeso/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Recomendações Nutricionais , VerdurasRESUMO
For almost two decades, researchers have explored the relationship between online partner seeking (OPS) and HIV/STI transmission risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay- and bisexual-identified men. A dichotomy has emerged with some findings that OPS is associated with greater sexual risk behavior, and a sparser but emerging literature that men may use OPS for sexual risk reduction. This study examined the association between proportion of partners met online and sexual risk behavior in a sample of 170 HIV-positive gay- and bisexual-identified men. Participants completed assessments including psychosocial factors and a comprehensive assessment of sexual behavior, including total number of male partners, and condomless insertive and receptive anal sex with HIV-negative/unknown serostatus partners or HIV-positive male partners. Our findings support taking a dialectical stance and indicate that OPS may impact risk differently given different individual and contextual circumstances.
Assuntos
Bissexualidade/estatística & dados numéricos , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Homossexualidade Masculina/estatística & dados numéricos , Internet , Assunção de Riscos , Parceiros Sexuais , Adulto , Idoso , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Limited access to resources can significantly impact health behaviors. Previous research on food insecurity and HIV has focused on establishing the relationship between lacking access to nutritious food and antiretroviral (ARV) medication non-adherence in a variety of social contexts. PURPOSE: This study aims to determine if several aspects of food insecurity co-occur with missed doses of medication on a daily basis among a sample of people living with HIV who have recently experienced hunger. METHODS: The current study utilized a prospective, observational design to test the daily relationship between food insecurity and medication non-adherence. Participants were followed for 45 days and completed daily assessments of food insecurity and alcohol use via interactive text message surveys and electronic medication adherence monitoring using the Wisepill. RESULTS: Fifty-nine men and women living with HIV contributed a total of 2,655 days of data. Results showed that severe food insecurity (i.e., hunger), but not less severe food insecurity (i.e., worrying about having food), significantly predicted missed doses of medication on a daily level. Daily alcohol use moderated this relationship in an unexpected way; when individuals were hungry and drank alcohol on a given day, they were less likely to miss a dose of medication. CONCLUSIONS: Among people living with HIV with recent experiences of hunger, this study demonstrates that there is a daily relationship between hunger and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Future research is needed to test interventions designed to directly address the daily relationship between food insecurity and medication non-adherence.
Assuntos
Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Fome/fisiologia , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Pobreza , Adulto , Feminino , Abastecimento de Alimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Envio de Mensagens de TextoRESUMO
Alcohol-antiretroviral therapy (ART) interactive toxicity beliefs reflect perceived adverse outcomes of mixing alcohol and ART. Previous research has shown a significant relationship between alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and ART non-adherence, over and above other correlates of non-adherence such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)symptoms and frequency of alcohol use. Most past studies have collected data over extended periods and have not determined if alcohol use and missed medications occur at the day-level among people holding interactive toxicity beliefs. Previous daily analyses, however, have been limited by self-reported adherence and relatively short periods of observation. To address these gaps in the literature, men and women living with HIV in Atlanta, GA, were enrolled in a 45-day observational cohort study. Daily alcohol use was collected using two-way interactive text message surveys and daily adherence was collected via the Wisepill device. Fifty-seven participants completed a measure of alcohol-ART interactive toxicity beliefs and contributed 2565 days of daily data. Participants who endorsed high levels of interactive toxicity beliefs had significantly more days when they missed doses of medication. Alcohol-antiretroviral toxicity beliefs predicted missing doses of medication on days when participants were drinking and on days when they were not drinking. Multilevel multivariate regressions showed that these toxicity beliefs predicted daily missed doses of medication over and above quantity of alcohol consumed, depression and general medication concerns. This study replicates and extends previous literature and indicates the necessity of addressing alcohol-ART toxicity beliefs within adherence interventions.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/psicologia , Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Depressão , Interações Medicamentosas , Feminino , Georgia/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Adesão à Medicação/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos e Questionários , Envio de Mensagens de TextoRESUMO
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the highest risk group for HIV infection. One reason is the increased use of the Internet to meet potential sex partners, which is associated with greater sexual risk behavior. To date, few studies have investigated psychosocial predictors of sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual men seeking sex partners online. The purpose of the current study was to test a conceptual model of the relationships between trauma symptoms indexed on the event of HIV diagnosis, internalized HIV stigma, and social support on sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual MSM who seek sex partners online. A sample of 142 gay and bisexual MSM recruited on- and offline completed a comprehensive online assessment battery assessing the factors noted above. A number of associations emerged; most notably internalized HIV stigma mediated the relationship between trauma-related symptoms indexed on the event of HIV diagnosis and sexual risk behavior with HIV-negative and unknown serostatus sex partners. This suggests that gay and bisexual MSM who are in greater distress over their HIV diagnosis and who are more sensitive to HIV stigma engage in more HIV transmission risk behavior. As sexual risk environments expand with the increasing use of the Internet to connect with others for sex, it is important to understand the predictors of sexual risk behavior so that tailored interventions can promote sexual health for gay and bisexual MSM seeking sex online.
Assuntos
Bissexualidade/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/diagnóstico , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Controle Interno-Externo , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Parceiros Sexuais , Estigma Social , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Soronegatividade para HIV , Soropositividade para HIV/psicologia , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Assunção de Riscos , Comportamento Sexual/estatística & dados numéricos , Parceiros Sexuais/psicologia , Apoio Social , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the health of people living with HIV and can reduce infectiousness, preventing HIV transmission. The potential preventive benefits of ART are undermined by beliefs that it is safe to have condomless sex when viral load is below levels of detection (infectiousness beliefs and risk perceptions). In this study, we hypothesized that infectiousness beliefs and HIV transmission risk perceptions would prospectively predict people living with HIV engaging in more condomless sex with HIV-negative and unknown HIV status sex partners. Sexually active HIV-positive men (n = 538, 76 %) and women (n = 166, 24 %) completed computerized interviews of sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms and diagnoses, unannounced pill counts for medication adherence, medical chart-abstracted HIV viral load, and 28 daily cell-phone-delivered prospective sexual behavior assessments. Results showed that a total of 313 (44 %) participants had engaged in condomless sex with HIV-negative/unknown status sex partners, and these individuals demonstrated higher rates of STI symptoms and diagnoses. Two-thirds of participants who had condomless sex with HIV-negative/unknown status partners had not disclosed their HIV status. Multivariable logistic regression models showed that beliefs regarding viral load and HIV infectiousness and perceptions of lower risk of HIV transmission resulting from HIV viral suppression predicted condomless sex with potentially uninfected partners over and above sex behaviors with HIV-positive partners and STI symptoms/diagnoses. Interventions that address HIV status disclosure and aggressively treat STI in sexually active people living with HIV should routinely accompany the use of HIV treatments as prevention.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis , Sexo sem Proteção , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/transmissão , Humanos , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/psicologia , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/transmissão , Sexo sem Proteção/psicologia , Sexo sem Proteção/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Objectives: We assessed how health care-related stigma, global medical mistrust, and personal trust in one's health care provider relate to engaging in medical care among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: In 2012, we surveyed 544 Black MSM attending a community event. We completed generalized linear modeling and mediation analyses in 2013. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of participants reported experiencing racial and sexual orientation stigma from heath care providers and 48% reported mistrust of medical establishments. We found that, among HIV-negative Black MSM, those who experienced greater stigma and global medical mistrust had longer gaps in time since their last medical exam. Furthermore, global medical mistrust mediated the relationship between stigma and engagement in care. Among HIV-positive Black MSM, experiencing stigma from health care providers was associated with longer gaps in time since last HIV care appointment. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions focusing on health care settings that support the development of greater awareness of stigma and mistrust are urgently needed. Failure to address psychosocial deterrents will stymie progress in biomedical prevention and cripple the ability to implement effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Assuntos
Negro ou Afro-Americano/psicologia , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Estereotipagem , Confiança/psicologia , Adulto , Atenção à Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Georgia/epidemiologia , Soropositividade para HIV/epidemiologia , Soropositividade para HIV/etnologia , Soropositividade para HIV/psicologia , Homofobia/psicologia , Homofobia/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/etnologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Racismo/psicologia , Racismo/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Beliefs about medication necessity and concerns predict treatment adherence in people with a wide-array of medical conditions, including HIV infection. However, medication beliefs have not been examined in people dually treated with psychotropic medications and antiretroviral therapy. In the current study, we used a prospective design to investigate the factors associated with adherence to psychotropic medications and antiretrovirals among 123 dually treated persons living with HIV. We used unannounced phone-based pill counts to monitor adherence to psychiatric and antiretroviral medications over a 6-week period. Hierarchical regression models included demographic, health and psychosocial characteristics as predictors of adherence followed by medication necessity and concerns beliefs. Results showed that medication necessity beliefs predicted both antiretroviral and psychiatric medication adherence over and above established predictors of adherence. Medication concerns also predicted psychotropic adherence, but not antiretroviral adherence. These models accounted for 31 and 22 % of the variance in antiretroviral and psychotropic adherence, respectively. Findings suggest that the necessity-concerns medication beliefs framework has utility in understanding adherence to multiple medications and addressing these beliefs should be integrated into adherence interventions.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Adulto , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/complicações , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Saúde Mental , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Apoio SocialRESUMO
HIV infection is concentrated in populations living in poverty. We examined the overlapping and independent effects of multiple poverty indicators on HIV-related health status. Because substance use can create competing survival needs when resources are limited, we also sought to objectively measure expenditures on food relative to alcohol and tobacco products. To achieve these aims, 459 men and 212 women living with HIV infection in Atlanta, GA completed measures of socio-demographic and heath characteristics as well as multiple indicators of poverty including housing stability, transportation, food insecurity, and substance use. Participants were given a $30 grocery gift card for their participation and we collected receipts which were coded for alcohol (beer, wine, liquors) and tobacco purchases. Results showed that participants with unsuppressed HIV replication were significantly more likely to experience multiple indicators of poverty. In addition, one in four participants purchased alcohol or tobacco products with their gift cards, with as much as one-fourth of money spent on these products. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that food insecurity was independently associated with unsuppressed HIV, and purchasing alcohol or tobacco products did not moderate this association. Results confirm previous research to show the primacy of food insecurity in relation to HIV-related health outcomes. Competing survival needs, including addictive substances, should be addressed in programs that aim to alleviate poverty to enhance the health and well-being of people with HIV infection.
Assuntos
Bebidas Alcoólicas/economia , Abastecimento de Alimentos/economia , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Pobreza/estatística & dados numéricos , Produtos do Tabaco/economia , Adulto , Feminino , Assistência Alimentar , Georgia/epidemiologia , Nível de Saúde , Habitação/economia , Humanos , Masculino , Adesão à Medicação , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/economia , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Meios de Transporte/economia , Carga ViralRESUMO
The availability of rapid home-based HIV testing (RHT) in the USA has provided us with a valuable, new option in our efforts to identify more people living with HIV and to do so sooner. Furthermore, it is possible that RHT will be or is currently being used as a means of learning one's own and one's partner's HIV status prior to engaging in condomless intercourse. Data regarding knowledge and willingness to use RHT, however, is very limited. In particular, no studies have investigated RHT use among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM). Understanding RHT use among BMSM is critical as we have observed alarming rates of HIV prevalence among this group, and RHT may provide an opportunity to slow HIV transmission among BMSM. In order to better understand RHT, we assessed knowledge, willingness to use and actual use of RHT, HIV testing history, substance use, and sexual risk-taking among 387 HIV-negative BMSM and 157 HIV-positive BMSM attending a community event in the southeastern USA. We used generalized linear modeling to assess factors associated with their willingness to use RHT. Although familiarity with the availability of RHT was somewhat limited among these men, a substantial portion of BMSM did report an interest in using RHT, including with their sex partners. Among HIV-negative BMSM, however, we found a negative relationship between willingness to use RHT and sexual risk-taking, i.e., higher numbers of condomless anal sex acts were associated with a reduction in willingness to use RHT. It appears that men who report the greatest risk-taking for HIV are least interested in RHT. Future research should focus on better understanding concerns regarding RHT among at-risk HIV-negative men and should investigate the usefulness of using RHT as a HIV prevention method.
Assuntos
Sorodiagnóstico da AIDS/instrumentação , Negro ou Afro-Americano/psicologia , Homossexualidade Masculina , Assunção de Riscos , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) poses a significant threat to personal and public health. Substance use among co-infected persons leads to increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to examine the continued substance use of people living with HIV-HCV co-infection and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Individuals living with HIV infection in Atlanta, GA and currently receiving ART (N = 678) completed audio-computer-assisted self-interviews for demographic, health, and behavior characteristics; unannounced pill counts to assess ART adherence over one month; finger-stick blood specimens collected for HCV antibody testing and urine specimens for drug use screening; and obtained HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts from their medical provider. We performed cross-sectional analyses for behavioral and biological markers of health, health behaviors, and substance use. RESULTS: Among participants, 131 (19%) were HIV-HCV co-infected; 53% were HIV-mono-infected, and 60% of HIV-HCV co-infected participants tested positive for use of at least one non-alcohol drug: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cocaine were most prevalent. HIV-HCV co-infected individuals were older, with no other significant differences. Within the HIV-HCV co-infected participants, drug users (N = 87) did not differ from non-drug users (N = 53) in terms of ART adherence. However, drug users were significantly more likely to have uncontrolled HIV (17%) compared with those who did not test drug positive (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Substance use is prevalent in persons with HIV-HCV co-infection and may interfere with ART. Research with a larger and more representative sample is needed to replicate and confirm these results.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Hepatite C Crônica/epidemiologia , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Adulto , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Cocaína/urina , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/epidemiologia , Coinfecção/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Dronabinol/urina , Feminino , Georgia/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite/imunologia , Hepatite C Crônica/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Abuso de Maconha/epidemiologia , Adesão à Medicação , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Detecção do Abuso de Substâncias , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/urina , Carga ViralRESUMO
Food insecurity is associated with HIV treatment non-adherence and poor health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS. Given the poor nutritional status common to people who drink alcohol, food insecurity may be particularly problematic for HIV positive individuals who drink alcohol. To examine food insecurity among HIV positive men and women who drink alcohol and its association with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, health outcomes and health service utilization. Adults living with HIV (N = 183) in Atlanta, Georgia who reported alcohol use in the previous week and were receiving ART participated in a 12-month cohort. Participants were recruited from infectious disease clinics and social services to complete computerized interviews, monthly-unannounced pill counts to monitor ART adherence, and daily cell-phone delivered interactive-text assessments for alcohol use. Forty-three percent of participants experienced food insecurity during at least one month of the study period. Food insecurity was independently associated with suboptimal ART adherence and less suppressed HIV viral load over. Individuals who experienced food insecurity also had histories of more medical and psychiatric hospitalizations, and greater mental health problems. Food insecurity is prevalent among alcohol using people receiving ART and food insecurity is associated with treatment non-adherence, poor health outcomes, and increased medical and psychiatric hospitalizations.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/psicologia , Abastecimento de Alimentos , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estresse Psicológico/psicologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Substance use is a known predictor of poor adherence to antiretroviral therapies (ART) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Less studied is the association between substance use and treatment outcomes, namely, suppression of HIV replication. METHODS: Adults living with HIV (N = 183) who reported alcohol use in the previous week and receiving ART were observed over a 12-month period. Participants completed computer interviews, monthly unannounced pill counts to monitor ART adherence, and daily cell-phone delivered interactive-text assessments for alcohol use. HIV viral load was collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up from medical records. Analyses compared participants who had undetectable HIV viral loads at baseline and follow-up (sustained viral suppression) to those with unsustained viral suppression. Analyses also compared participants who were adherent to their medications (>85 % pills taken) over the year of observation to those who were nonadherent. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of participants had unsustained viral suppression; 47 % were ART nonadherent. Overall results failed to demonstrate alcohol use as a correlate of sustained viral suppression or treatment adherence. However, alcohol use was associated with nonadherence among participants who did not have sustained viral suppression; nonadherence in unsustained viral suppression patients was related to drinking on fewer days of assessment, missing medications when drinking, and drinking socially. CONCLUSIONS: Poor HIV treatment outcomes and nonadherence were prevalent among adults treated for HIV infection who drink alcohol. Drinking in relation to missed medications and drinking in social settings are targets for interventions among alcohol drinkers at greatest risk for poor treatment outcomes.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/epidemiologia , Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Adesão à Medicação/estatística & dados numéricos , Carga Viral , Adulto , Alcoolismo/epidemiologia , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Health disparities in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as well as the demands of long-term medication adherence have meant the full benefits of HIV treatment are often not realized. In particular, food insecurity has emerged as a robust predictor of ART non-adherence. However, research is limited in determining whether food insecurity uniquely impedes HIV treatment or if food insecurity is merely a marker for poverty that interferes more broadly with treatment. This study examined indicators of poverty at multiple levels in a sample of 364 men and 157 women living with HIV recruited through an offering of a free holiday food basket. Results showed that 61 % (N = 321) of participants had experienced at least one indicator of food insecurity in the previous month. Multivariate analyses showed that food insecurity was closely tied to lack of transportation. In addition, food insecurity was associated with lacking access to ART and poor ART adherence after adjusting for neighbourhood poverty, living in an area without a supermarket (food desert), education, stable housing, and reliable transportation. Results therefore affirm previous research that has suggested food insecurity is uniquely associated with poor ART adherence and calls for structural interventions that address basic survival needs among people living with HIV, especially food security.
Assuntos
Antirretrovirais/uso terapêutico , Abastecimento de Alimentos , Infecções por HIV/economia , Adesão à Medicação , Pobreza , Adulto , Antirretrovirais/economia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Georgia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is key to successful treatment of HIV infection and alcohol is a known barrier to adherence. Beyond intoxication, ART adherence is impacted by beliefs that mixing alcohol and medications is toxic. PURPOSE: To examine prospective relationships of factors contributing to intentional medication non-adherence when drinking. METHODS: People who both receive ART and drink alcohol (N = 178) were enrolled in a 12-month prospective cohort study that monitored beliefs about the hazards of mixing ART with alcohol (interactive toxicity beliefs), alcohol consumption using electronic daily diaries, ART adherence assessed by both unannounced pill counts and self-report, and chart-abstracted HIV viral load. RESULTS: Participants who reported skipping or stopping their ART when drinking (N = 90, 51 %) demonstrated significantly poorer ART adherence, were less likely to be viral suppressed, and more likely to have CD4 counts under 200/cc(3). Day-level analyses showed that participants who endorsed interactive toxicity beliefs were significantly more likely to miss medications on drinking days. CONCLUSIONS: Confirming earlier cross-sectional studies, the current findings from a prospective cohort show that a substantial number of people intentionally skip or stop their medications when drinking. Interventions are needed to correct alcohol-related interactive toxicity misinformation and promote adherence among alcohol drinkers.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Interações Medicamentosas , Feminino , Georgia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/virologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Relações Médico-Paciente , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Carga Viral , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Psychotropic medications are commonly used for depressive symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS. PURPOSE: We examined the relationships between adherence to psychotropic medications, depressive symptoms, and antiretroviral adherence. METHODS: We assessed depressive symptoms among 324 people living with HIV/AIDS across a 3-month period (70% men; mean age 45 years; 90% African-American). Psychotropic and antiretroviral adherence was assessed using monthly, unannounced telephone pill counts. Multiple-regression and mediation analyses were utilized to examine associations under investigation. RESULTS: Greater depressive symptoms were associated with lower antiretroviral and psychotropic medication adherence. Greater adherence to psychotropic medications regardless of medication class was positively related to higher antiretroviral adherence. Greater adherence to psychotropic medications also significantly mediated the association between depressive symptoms and antiretroviral adherence. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the benefits of adherence to psychotropic medications on both depressive symptoms and antiretroviral adherence. Future work examining psychotropic medication adherence on disease outcomes in people living with HIV/AIDS is warranted.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/psicologia , Antirretrovirais/uso terapêutico , Antidepressivos/uso terapêutico , Depressão/psicologia , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Adesão à Medicação/psicologia , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Use of dietary supplements is common among people living with HIV/AIDS. Because dietary supplements are used in the context of other health behaviors, they may have direct and indirect health benefits. However, supplements may also be associated with vulnerability to medical misinformation and unfounded health claims. We examined use of dietary supplements among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and the association between use of dietary supplements and believing medical misinformation. METHODS: A convenience sample of 268 men and 76 women living with HIV was recruited from AIDS services and clinics in Atlanta, GA. Participants completed measures of demographic and health characteristics, dietary supplement use, beliefs about dietary supplements, internet use, and an internet evaluation task designed to assess vulnerability to medical misinformation. RESULTS: One out of four PLWH currently used at least one dietary supplement product excluding vitamins. Dietary supplement use was associated with higher education and greater use of the internet for health-related information. Dietary supplement users also endorsed greater believability and trust in unfounded claims for HIV cures. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplement use is common among PLWH and is associated with a broad array of health information seeking behaviors. Interventions are needed to reduce the vulnerability of PLWH, particularly dietary supplement users, to medical misinformation propagated on the internet.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: As a result of the impact of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM), multiple strategies for reducing HIV risks have emerged from within the gay community. One common HIV risk reduction strategy limits unprotected sex partners to those who are of the same HIV status (serosorting). We tested a novel, brief, one-on-one intervention, based on informed decision-making and delivered by peer counselors, designed to address the limitations of serosorting (e.g., risk for HIV transmission). METHODS: In 2009, we recruited a group of 149 at-risk men living in Atlanta, Georgia, and randomly assigned them to an intervention condition addressing serosorting or a standard-of-care control condition. RESULTS: Men in the serosorting intervention reported fewer sexual partners (Wald χ(2) = 8.79, P < .01) at the study follow-ups. Behavioral results were also consistent with changes in psychosocial variables, including condom use self-efficacy and perceptions of risk for HIV transmission. CONCLUSIONS: With the current intervention, service providers can offer risk reduction for men arguably at the highest risk for HIV infection in the United States. Addressing risks associated with serosorting in a feasible, low-cost intervention has the potential to significantly affect the HIV epidemic.