Laura Bogart

• Harvard University

Introduction The disclosure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among adolescent girls engaged in transactional sex in Uganda is a complex process shaped by stigma, fear of judgment, misconceptions, and the threat of violence. This qualitative study explores the strategies these adolescents use to navigate these challenges, drawing on resil...

Research has recently surged on intersectional HIV stigma, including how intersecting stigmatized identities and socio-structural conditions influence HIV prevention and treatment outcomes. However, most of this work has been concentrated in high-income settings. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of research on intersectional HIV sti...

Background HIV burden remains high in South Africa despite intensive efforts to curtail the epidemic. Public primary care facilities, where most people with HIV (PWH) in South Africa receive treatment, face myriad challenges retaining patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Nevertheless, some facilities manage to consistently retain PWH in care....

Background Social network-based interventions can improve uptake of health interventions. However, limited evidence exists on their feasibility and acceptability in fishing community settings. We assessed the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention among men in Uga...

Introduction Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Uganda women, yet rates of CC screening are very low. Training women who have recently screened to engage in advocacy for screening among women in their social network is a network-based strategy for promoting information dissemination and CC screening uptake. Me...

Introduction In Uganda, fisherfolk have an HIV prevalence between 15% and 40%, significantly higher than the national average of 5.5%. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV but faces challenges in uptake and continuation among fisherfolk. This study explores factors influencing PrEP continuation and discontinuation among fi...

This study investigates the impact of internalized HIV stigma on sleep problems and depression in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Botswana. It also explores whether sleep problems mediate the relationship between internalized HIV stigma and depressive symptoms, given that sleep disturbance is a symptom of depression and often predates a depressive...

South Africa’s Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program provides community-based medication delivery for clinically stable people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). To evaluate CCMDD implementation, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 PWH enrolled in CCMDD for at least 12 months. In a directed co...

Black and Latine Americans face the highest HIV burden among U.S. racial and ethnic groups, exacerbated by intersectional stigma and medical mistrust. We conducted 21 interviews with Black and Latine HIV care consumers between November–December 2021, investigating their views on medical mistrust and experiences of stigma. Key drivers of mistrust in...

Background Despite success in HIV treatment, diagnosis and management of hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains suboptimal among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Botswana, with an overall HTN control of only 19% compared to 98% HIV viral suppressed. These gaps persist despite CVD primary care national guidelines and availabilit...

Background Successful HIV treatment programs have turned HIV into a chronic condition, but noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension jeopardize this progress. Hypertension control rates among people with HIV (PWH) are low owing to gaps in patient awareness, diagnosis, effective treatment, and management of both conditions at separate clinic vis...

Mobile populations such as fisherfolk show high HIV incidence and prevalence. We pilot-tested implementation strategies to enhance pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence in the context of healthcare outreach events in two mainland fisherfolk communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda from September 2021 to February 2022. The implementation...

Objectives Black Americans have been disproportionally affected by the HIV epidemic, and experience significant disparities in sleep health, mental health, and physical health domains. Using longitudinal data from a sample of Black adults with HIV, the current study examined the associations between stigma and mental and physical health outcomes an...

Introduction In 2021, Jamaica's maternal mortality ratio doubled as a result of COVID‐19‐related deaths. Yet, COVID‐19 vaccination among pregnant Jamaican women remained low. In the United States, COVID‐19 vaccination is lower among pregnant women who have had multiple pregnancies (multigravidas) versus women who were pregnant for the first time (p...

Peer advocacy can promote HIV protective behaviors, but little is known about the concordance on prevention advocacy(PA) reports between people living with HIV(PLWH) and their social network members. We examined prevalence and correlates of such concordance, and its association with the targeted HIV protective behavior of the social network member....

Background Botswana serves as a model of success for HIV with 95% of people living with HIV (PLWH) virally suppressed. Yet, only 19% of PLWH and hypertension have controlled blood pressure. To address this gap, InterCARE, a care model that integrates HIV and hypertension care through a) provider training; b) adapted electronic health record; and c)...

We assessed the impact of community- versus clinic-based medication pick-up on rates of virologic suppression in an observational cohort of adults on ART enrolled in a decentralized antiretroviral therapy program (CCMDD) in South Africa. Participants either attended clinics where they were given the choice to pick up ART in community venues or trad...

Background Social network-based interventions can improve uptake of health interventions. However, limited evidence exists on their feasibility and acceptability in fishing community settings. We assessed the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a social network-based, peer-led HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention among men in Uga...

Black sexual minority men (SMM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. Intimate partner violence (IPV), substance use, and depression are associated with HIV risk behavior such as condomless sex. In this study, we assessed cross-sectional associations between multiple types of IPV victimization and condomless sex with serodisc...

Receiving peer advocacy has been shown to result in increased HIV protective behaviors, but little research has gone beyond assessment of the mere presence of advocacy to examine aspects of advocacy driving these effects. With baseline data from a controlled trial of an advocacy training intervention, we studied characteristics of HIV prevention ad...

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: There is a scarcity of research examining the views of Black and Latine HIV care consumers on healthcare experiences that influence medical mistrust. The present qualitative study aims to bridge the existing gaps in the literature pertaining to the experiences of Black and Latine HIV care consumers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We co...

Persons with HIV-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) experience three co-existing stigmatizing health conditions: skin disease, HIV, and cancer, which contribute to a complex experience of stigmatization and to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Despite the importance of stigma among these patients, there are few proven stigma-reduction strategies for...

Background HIV prevention advocacy empowers persons living with HIV (PLWH) to act as advocates and encourage members of their social networks to engage in protective behaviors such as HIV testing, condom use, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. We examined correlates of HIV prevention advocacy among PLWH in Uganda. Method A cross-sectional...

Botswana has an adult HIV prevalence of 20.8% and annual incidence of 0.2%. We aimed to evaluate current practices and advance recommendations for treatment partners (informal adherence supporters) for people with HIV in Botswana. In January-February 2020, we conducted seven focus groups with 36 healthcare providers at seven HIV clinics in Gaborone...

Background Although Botswana has made great progress in expanding HIV testing, men are less likely to get tested for HIV and test at a later stage compared to women. For Botswana to increase HIV testing coverage among men, HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be a promising supplement to standard, healthcare facility-based HIV testing. We conducted a pilot...

Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) can improve HIV testing rates among highly mobile populations including the male-fisherfolk, but this is not well documented. We assessed HIVST uptake and linkage to HIV care among male fisherfolk in rural Uganda. Methods The peer-led HIVST intervention for men (PEST4MEN) was conducted among male fisherfolk in t...

Exposure to discrimination has been linked to lower HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and poor HIV care outcomes among Black Americans. Coping has been shown to mitigate the harmful effects of discrimination on health behaviors, but the use of cultural relevant Africultural coping strategies is understudied as a moderator of the associatio...

In the United States, racial disparities have been observed in complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA), including readmissions and mortality. It is unclear whether such disparities also exist for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The clinical data registry of a large New England hospital system was used to identify patients who u...

Background Low-cost, scalable strategies are necessary to reach the UNAIDS 2030 target of ending HIV as a public health threat. Use of treatment partners, informal caregivers selected by people living with HIV to support antiretroviral therapy adherence, is one such strategy that is included in many countries’ HIV guidelines, including Botswana, a...

Pregnant people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a higher risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes compared with pregnant people without COVID-19. In 2021, large increases in maternal mortality were reported in Jamaica, almost half of which were attributable to COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination has been shown to reduce these risks, but...

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common cancer among women in Uganda, yet lifetime CC screening is as low as 5%. Training women who have screened for CC to engage in peer advocacy could increase uptake of CC screening in social networks. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a peer-facilitated, manualized, 7-session group intervention to tr...

Loneliness, an emerging public health problem, is higher among people living with HIV and is associated with negative health outcomes. Black/African Americans have a high burden of HIV, and little is known about the characteristics of loneliness among Black adults living with HIV; therefore, this study sought to understand the sociodemographic and...

In book 2 of this 3-part series, we are pleased to present an extensive collection of adolescent health articles that address contraception and sexuality education, counseling the pregnant adolescent patient, confidential care when considering abortion, HPV trends, providing care after sexual assault. Types of reproductive health services can vary...

Discrimination is associated with antiretroviral therapy non-adherence and reduced well-being among people with HIV. We examined the potential for coping to mediate the associations between intersectional discrimination and non-adherence and coping self-efficacy (confidence in one’s ability to cope with discrimination) as a moderator that may buffe...

The current study examined the prevalence and typology of unmet needs and the association between unmet needs and HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication adherence among a sample of Black people living with HIV(PLHIV) (N = 304) in Los Angeles, CA. We found a high prevalence of unmet needs, with 32% of participants reporting having two or more u...

Background Despite high rates of COVID-19-related maternal mortality, Jamaica currently has little data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women. Study Design We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey of 192 reproductive-aged women in Jamaica from February 1- 8, 2022. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of patients,...

Characterizing spatial distribution of HIV outcomes is vital for targeting interventions to areas most at risk. We performed spatial analysis to identify geographic clusters and factors associated with mortality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We utilized Sizanani trial (NCT01188941) data, which enrolled participants August 2010-January 2013 and ob...

Structural inequities have led to HIV disparities, including relatively low antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral suppression rates among Black Americans living with HIV. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of Rise, a community-based culturally congruent adherence intervention, from January 2018 to December 2021 with 166 (85 interventio...

Background: HIV is hyperendemic among fisherfolk in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially around Lake Victoria, Uganda. Purpose/Research Design: We conducted cross-sectional semi-structured interviews about oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation with 35 Ugandan fisherfolk (15 women, 20 men) and 10 key stakeholders (healthcare providers, polic...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nationally, 54.2% of youth are fully vaccinated for human papilloma virus (HPV) with persistent gender and racial/ethnic disparities. We used a quality improvement approach to improve completion of the HPV vaccine series by age 13 years. As a secondary aim, we examined racial/ethnic and gender differences in vaccine uptake...

We used the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model to evaluate implementation of South Africa’s Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program, a differentiated service delivery program which allows clinically stable HIV-positive patients to receive antiretroviral therapy refills at clinic- or community-base...

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions could adversely affect long-term HIV care. We evaluated the experiences of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) through a decentralized delivery program in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We telephoned a random subsample of participants enrolled in a prospective cohort study in K...

Introduction: The experience of stigma can be multifaceted for people with HIV and cancer. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), one of the most common HIV-associated cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, often presents with visible skin lesions that may put people at risk for stigmatization. In this way, HIV-associated KS is unique, as people with KS can experience st...

We examined the association of HIV prevention advocacy with social network members (alters) on alter condom use behavior, and factors that may mediate and moderate this relationship, among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Uganda. Ninety PLWH completed all assessments (baseline and 5- and 8-month follow-ups). Internalized HIV stigma, HIV disclosure...

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) may have a poorer prognosis with COVID-19 infection and are an important population for COVID-19 vaccination. We assessed the willingness and reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or hesitancy among PLWH in South Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of telephone interviews w...

This study aims to identify the factors that are associated with homonegativity toward men who have sex with men (MSM) within Black communities since the expansion of LGBTQ rights. A survey was completed in 2016 by a nationally representative sample of 868 Black respondents, 18-50 years old, via e-mail. Demographics, perception of same-gender sexua...

Background COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black Americans have been lower than White Americans and are disproportionate to their population size and COVID-19 impact. This study examined reasons for low vaccination intentions and preferred strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccination. Methods Between November 2020 and March 2021, we conducted semi-...

Perceived discrimination and medical mistrust are contributors to HIV inequities. The current study examined whether medical mistrust mediated the associations between perceived discrimination and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as well as care engagement in a sample of 304 Black adults living with HIV. Perceived discrimination and medica...

Introduction Innovative strategies are needed to disseminate HIV prevention messages across communities efficiently, as well as reduce HIV stigma while promoting HIV prevention. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of a social network-based group intervention, Game Changers, which trains persons living with HIV (PLWH) to enco...

Introduction Innovative strategies are needed to disseminate HIV prevention messages across communities efficiently, as well as reduce HIV stigma while promoting HIV prevention. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of a social network-based group intervention, Game Changers, which trains persons living with HIV (PLWH) to enco...

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a novel HIV treatment option for people with HIV. The first LAI ART regimen for HIV treatment received regulatory approval in the United States in January 2021. In February 2020, we collected qualitative data from 18 consumers and 23 clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to catalog antic...

Introduction: South Africa's government-led Central Chronic Medication Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program offers people living with HIV the option to collect antiretroviral therapy at their choice of community- or clinic-based pick-up points intended to increase convenience and decongest clinics. To understand CCMDD pick-up point use amon...

We evaluated COVID-19 stigma and medical mistrust among people living with HIV in South Africa. We conducted telephone interviews with participants in a prospective study of a decentralized antiretroviral therapy program. Scales assessing medical mistrust, conspiracy beliefs, anticipated and internalized stigma, and stereotypes specific to COVID-19...

Despite improvements in HIV prevention and treatment, Black individuals continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic in the US. Using data from the National Survey on HIV in the Black Community, we examined the differences in demographic characteristics, risk behaviors, and HIV testing between US and non-US born Black adults. 868...

Background Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be useful for increasing testing in persons at elevated risk of acquiring HIV. Methods We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility (defined by uptake) of HIVST among FSW in Gaborone, Botswana. FSW age 18 years and above were recruited through a non-governmental organization serving FSW. FSW w...

In Botswana, HIV prevalence is 20.3% among those between 15 and 49 years old, and in sub-Saharan Africa, higher income has been associated with increased HIV risk. We qualitatively explored barriers to HIV testing and acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among higher socio-economic status (SES) men in Botswana. Twenty higher SES men (10 tested...

Background Social support reciprocity (the extent to which people exchange mutual support) is associated with long-term health.Method We examined whether overall social support and reciprocity of support between people living with HIV and their treatment partners (informal caregivers selected from patients’ social networks to support adherence) are...

Background People living with HIV (PLWH) may have a poorer prognosis with COVID-19 infection and are an important population for COVID-19 vaccination. We assessed the willingness and reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or hesitancy among PLWH in South Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of telephone interviews with a...

Black and Hispanic/Latinx transgender women in the United States (U.S.) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces risk of HIV infection but PrEP uptake remains low among Black and Hispanic/Latinx transgender women. Between July 2018 and August 2019, we conducted individual interviews with 30 Black and Hispanic/...

We developed and pilot-tested an eight-session community-based cognitive behavior therapy group intervention to improve coping with intersectional stigma, address medical mistrust, and improve antiretroviral treatment adherence. Seventy-six HIV-positive Latinx sexual minority men (SMM; 38 intervention, 38 wait-list control) completed surveys at bas...

Background National data indicate low intentions for COVID-19 vaccination among a substantial minority of Black Americans, and disproportionately lower vaccination rates among Black Americans than White Americans. Methods A total of 207 of the 318 Black participants (65%) in the RAND American Life Panel, a nationally representative internet panel,...

We conducted a novel pilot randomized controlled trial of the Treatment Ambassador Program (TAP), an 8-session, peer-based, behavioral intervention for people with HIV (PWH) in South Africa not on antiretroviral therapy (ART). PWH (43 intervention, 41 controls) completed baseline, 3- and 6-month assessments. TAP was highly feasible (90% completion)...

Background Our randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the group-based Game Changers intervention demonstrated effects on the primary goal of increased HIV-protective behaviors among social network members (alters), via the mechanism of increased participant engagement in HIV prevention advocacy with alters. We sought to understand how and in what con...

Discrimination negatively impacts the health of HIV-positive Latino sexual minority men (LSMM+). A growing literature on LSMM+ chronicles associations based on multiple devalued identities and mental health symptoms, HIV medication nonadherence, and sexual behaviors with the potential to transmit HIV. To gain additional insights on identity-based d...

Objective Black individuals in the USA are arrested and incarcerated at a significantly higher rate than White individuals, and incarceration is associated with increased HIV vulnerability. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk for HIV transmission, but little is known about the relationship between HIV risk behavior and willingness to u...

General medical mistrust and HIV-specific medical mistrust (i.e., conspiracy beliefs about HIV’s origin and treatment) stem from historical and ongoing experiences of structural and interpersonal discrimination, and contribute to racial/ethnic HIV disparities in the United States. Medical mistrust is more prevalent among people of color than White...

An estimated one-fourth of people with HIV in the U.S. are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined patient-related correlates of HCV screening and treatment in a convenience sample of 1,853 HIV-positive adults in Connecticut, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Overall, 85.1% reported being screened for HCV, a...

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth may have limited exposure to sexuality education programming that is affirming of their identities and unique experiences. Objective: To develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a theater-based HIV prevention workshop for LGBTQ youth. Methods:...

Background: Medical mistrust, a result of systemic racism, is prevalent among Black Americans and may play a role in COVID-19 inequities. In a convenience sample of HIV-positive Black Americans, we examined associations of COVID-19 related medical mistrust with COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 treatment hesitancy, and negative impacts of COVID-19 on...

Changes in an individual’s contextual factors following HIV diagnosis may influence long-term outcomes. We evaluated how changes to contextual factors between HIV diagnosis and 9-month follow-up predict 5-year mortality among HIV-infected individuals in Durban, South Africa enrolled in the Sizanani Trial (NCT01188941). We used random survival fores...

Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black women living in the US is suboptimal. We sought to determine the association between HIV-related medical mistrust (or belief in HIV conspiracy theories) and willingness to use PrEP among Black women. We analyzed data from the 2016 National Survey on HIV in the Black Community (NSHBC), a national...

Background Predicting long-term care trajectories at the time of HIV diagnosis may allow targeted interventions. Our objective was to uncover distinct CD4-based trajectories and determine baseline demographic, clinical, and contextual factors associated with trajectory membership. Methods We used data from the Sizanani trial (NCT01188941), in whic...

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of Game Changers, a 6-session group intervention that empowers people with HIV to be HIV prevention advocates in their social networks. Ninety-nine people with HIV (51 intervention, 48 wait-list control) and 58 of their social network members (alters) completed baseline and 5- and 8-month post-baseli...

Background Novel interventions are needed to reach young people and adult men with HIV services given the low HIV testing rates in these population sub-groups. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a peer-led oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) intervention in Kasensero, a hyperendemic fishing community (HIV prevalence: 37–41%) in Rakai, Ugand...

Background HIV prevalence among female sex workers (FSW) in sub-Saharan Africa is much higher than in the general population. HIV self-testing (HIVST) may be useful for increasing testing rates in FSW. Methods We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews among FSW, nurses and lay counsellors providing services to FSWs in Botswana. We aimed to...

Substance use disorders (SUDs) among young people have been linked with a range of adverse health consequences that can be successfully mitigated with early SUD treatment. According to the Social Identity Theory of Cessation Maintenance (SITCM), psychosocial processes including self-perceptions and benefit finding evolve with treatment, influencing...

Introduction Housing is a determinant of HIV-related medical outcomes. Care coordination has been successfully used to treat patients with HIV and can be improved through electronic exchange of patient data, including housing data. Methods Primary data were collected from four sites across the U.S., each comprising partnerships between local HIV m...

Discrimination is thought to be a key driver of health disparities that affect people with multiple intersecting devalued identities, such as HIV-positive Latino sexual minority men (SMM). Ineffective coping with the stress of discrimination (e.g., rumination, substance use) may lead to worse long-term mental and physical health. Within the context...

Relational processes (i.e., disclosure, stigma, social support) experienced by youth with substance use disorders (SUDs) and their caregivers may act as barriers to, or facilitators of, recovery but are understudied. Single-session qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 patients and 15 caregivers recruited by clinicians from...

Objective To assess the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and other energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods in two Southern low-income communities targeted by the Balance Calories Initiative, a campaign by the top-three American beverage companies intended to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages by 20 % over 10 years. Design We...

Background: Little is known about contextual factors that predict long-term mortality following HIV testing in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the impact of contextual factors on 5-year mortality among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals in Durban, South Africa. Methods: We used data from the Sizanani trial (NCT01188941) in which...

Black people living with HIV (BPLWH) are less likely to adhere to antiretroviral treatment than are members of other racial/ethnic groups. Data were combined from two studies of BPLWH (n = 239) to estimate adherence trajectories using a semiparametric, group-based modeling strategy over three time-points (spanning 6 months). Analyses identified thr...

Objective: Failure to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve virologic suppression are significant barriers to the United Nations 90-90-90 goals. Identifying resilience resources, or modifiable strength-based factors, among people living with HIV is critical for successful HIV treatment and prevention. Design: Prospective cohort study...

Both African American and LGBT voters can prove pivotal in electoral outcomes, but we know little about civic participation among Black LGBT people. Although decades of research on political participation has made it almost an article of faith that members of dominant groups (such as White people and individuals of higher socioeconomic status) vote...

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) show lower levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV medications than other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Yet, little is known about age differences in factors that predict ART adherence among BMSM. We combined data from two surveys of HIV-positive BMSM, resulting in 209 participants (130...

Black Americans are greatly affected by HIV disparities and exhibit high levels of medical mistrust, including HIV conspiracy beliefs, a form of mistrust around HIV's origin and treatment. A 2002–2003 national survey of Black Americans found that 48% believed that “HIV is a manmade virus." However, the extent to which such beliefs remain widespread...

Objective We aimed to explore the range of stakeholders’ perceptions of the Balance Calories Initiative (BCI), under which the American Beverage Association pledged to decrease per capita US consumption of beverage energy by 20 % by 2025. Design Semi-structured cross-sectional interviews were conducted in 2017. Setting Participants were recruited...

HIV fatalism, or the belief that HIV acquisition and mortality is out of one's control, is thought to contribute to HIV risk in fishing populations in East Africa. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between fatalism and sexual risk behaviours (unprotected sex, engagement in transactional sex), beyond the...

Background: HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is associated with worse health outcomes. We used longitudinal data from a multi-site cohort in South Africa to assess changes over time in stigma after HIV diagnosis and determine whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is associated with stigma reduction. Methods: We a...

Adolescents are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. Optimal effects from antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be achieved through stringent adherence to a daily medication regimen; for adolescents, this may be interrupted due to complex barriers unique to this age group. We previously conducted formative qualitative interviews with...

Background To investigate whether religious service attendance and faith leaders’ messages about HIV and same-sex relationships are associated with acceptance of HIV prevention strategies. Methods Multivariable Poisson regression assessed whether attending religious services, faith leaders’ messages about HIV and same-sex relationships, and suppor...

This study explores willingness to use PrEP among Black individuals in the US. From February to April 2016, an online survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of Black individuals. 855 individuals who were HIV negative by self-report participated [mean age: 33.6 (SD 9.2); 45.5% male]. Among all respondents, 14.5% were aware of,...

BACKGROUND Uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black individuals in the US is low and may be associated with limited availability of clinics where PrEP is prescribed. We investigated the association between spatial access and willingness to use PrEP. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between spatial access to clinics where pre-exp...