This policy brief provides lessons learned from the longer-standing experiences of delivering Long Acting Injectables (LAIs) for other chronic conditions in the fields of mental health and addiction offering insights into the use of newly available LAIs for HIV prevention and treatment.
Presentation by Dr. Samuel Bunting that examines how patients living with mental illnesses experience disproportionately high HIV incidence and prevalence, while simultaneously experiencing numerous barriers to care. This study was conducted as mixed-methods, pilot study of psychiatrists practicing in the EHE priority jurisdictions about integrating PrEP into psychiatric care given the role as primary points of contact with the healthcare system for people with mental illnesses and HIV risk-factors. Psychiatrists practicing in high-HIV incidence areas were largely interested in prescribing PrEP but need additional training with a specific focus on practical management and integration with existing clinical workflows.
Presentation by Khadesia Howell that aims to better understand intersectional stigma and discrimination and its effects on mental health, as well as to improve intersectional stigma assessment tools. It is a qualitative study executed by doing in-depth semi-structured interviews as a way for Black SMM to ‘think aloud’ and tell their stories and experiences. From this we were able to better understand how this marginalized group responds to stigma and discrimination and how they interact with intersectional stigma assessment tools.
Despite the WHO classifying betel nuts as a carcinogen with a high risk of oral and laryngeal cancer, Myanmar is one of the world’s largest consumers of betel nuts because chewing betel nuts is socially and culturally influenced in Myanmar. The study aimed to examine factors that influence betel nut chewing in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Myanmar. From a secondary analysis of 2020 Myanmar PLWH data, physiological hyperarousal symptoms and loneliness were associated with increased betel nut chewing among PLWH in Myanmar.
Youth enrolled in several linked HIV prevention and treatment continua studies who participated in a telehealth coaching intervention completed a strengths assessment, and qualitative data on mental health strengths was analyzed using thematic analysis and a resilience lens. Youth self-described mental health strengths included intrapersonal resilience assets (protective traits, stress management activities, feeling positive despite current mental health challenges, and no current mental health challenges) and external resilience resources (social/emotional support, therapy/counseling, and use of mental health medication). These results highlight the utility of strengths-based intervention methods and resilience for youth at-risk for and living with HIV.
Oral Presentation at the CHIPTS HIV Next Generation Conference featuring Omar Nieto and Ronald Brooks held on January 2022. The presentation examines the additional benefits of using PrEP specifically among Latino GBM PrEP users. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants to identify feelings and emotions experienced, plus any additional benefits gained from using PrEP.
National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Reflection by Wei-Ti Chen that discusses the importance of providing culturally sensitive family-centered self-management interventions for Asian Pacific Americans living with HIV. The reflection also focuses on how acculturation had an impact on patient-healthcare and was contributing to HIV stigma and stress.
Oral presentation by Elena Rosenberg-Carlson at the CHIPTS Next Generation Conference that describes regional coordination of EHE Phase 1 Counties and examines implementation strategies to increase the impact of efforts to address the HIV epidemic. The presentation discusses the Key Areas of Need for the EHE phase 1 counties which include funding, addressing social determinants of health, community engagement, workforce development, etc.