Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Frontiers in STI/HIV Prevention in Marginalized Populations

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (8 June 2022) | Viewed by 6208

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Bradley O. Boekeloo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Public Health, Prevention Research Center, University of Maryland, MD 20742, USA
Interests: STI and HIV prevention; LGBTQ+ mental health; sexual risk in marginalized populations; behavioral intervention trial design and implementation

Dr. Typhanye Vielka Dyer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Interests: opioid/other drugs; aging/alcohol; tobacco/trauma; HIV (OATH)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

One in five persons in the United States has a sexually transmitted infection including HIV (STD/HIV), equating to 68 million infections, and resulting in USD 16 billion in direct medical costs. Most, 98%, of these infections include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and HPV (https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-incidence-cost-2020.htm). Suffering from STI/HIV ranges from social and physical discomfort, through infertility, to death. Fortunately, STI/HIV can usually be prevented. Unfortunately, there are political, systems, cultural, social, educational, and psychological barriers and risk factors that undermine prevention. These barriers and risk factors tend to be greatest among persons who have the least resources, power, and status in American society. Hence, if rates of STI/HIV are to be effectively reduced, interventions are needed to address the barriers and risk factors most affecting marginalized populations. This supplement contains a compendium of manuscripts addressing the needs, targeted risk factors, approaches, and capacity for effective STI/HIV preventive intervention within marginalized populations.

Prof. Bradley O. Boekeloo
Dr. Typhanye Vielka Dyer
Guest EditorS

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

STI
HIV
sexual risk
prevention
marginalized populations
systems-psychosocial-educational and behavioral preventive intervention

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LGBTQ+ Affirming Care May Increase Awareness and Understanding of Undetectable = Untransmittable among Midlife and Older Gay and Bisexual Men in the US South

by Tara McKay, Ellesse-Roselee Akré, Jeffrey Henne, Nitya Kari, Adam Conway and Isabel Gothelf

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10534; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191710534 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1926

Abstract

One of the most significant innovations in HIV prevention is the use of HIV treatment to prevent HIV transmission. This information has been disseminated as the “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U = U) message. Despite evidence of effectiveness, U = U awareness, belief, and understanding remains limited in some communities. In this study, we examine whether having an LGBTQ affirming healthcare provider increases U = U awareness, belief, and understanding among midlife and older gay and bisexual men in the US south, an understudied and underserved population and region where new HIV infections are increasing. We used data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks Aging and Policy Study (VUSNAPS) on sexual minority men aged 50 to 76 from four southern US states collected in 2020–2021. We found that only one in four men reported prior awareness of U = U, but awareness was higher among men who have an LGBTQ affirming provider. Among HIV negative men, those with an affirming provider were more likely to believe and understand U = U, have more accurate risk perception, and have ever tested for HIV. Improving access to LGBTQ affirming healthcare may improve U = U awareness, belief, and understanding, which could help to curb HIV transmission in the US south. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in STI/HIV Prevention in Marginalized Populations)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sexual Risk Behavior and Lifetime HIV Testing: The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences

by Typhanye V. Dyer, Rodman E. Turpin, David J. Hawthorne, Vardhmaan Jain, Sonica Sayam and Mona Mittal

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4372; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19074372 - 05 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1908

Abstract

Despite the success of HIV prevention drugs such as PrEP, HIV incident transmission rates remain a significant problem in the United States. A life-course perspective, including experiences of childhood adversity, may be useful in addressing the HIV epidemic. This paper used 2019 BRFSS data to elucidate the role that childhood adversity plays in the relationship between HIV risk and HIV testing. Participants (n = 58,258) completed self-report measures of HIV risk behaviors, HIV testing, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The median number ACEs in the sample was 1, with verbal abuse (33.9%), and parental separation (31.3%) being the most common ACEs reported. Bivariate findings showed that all ACEs were associated with increased HIV risk and testing. However, increased risk was not correlated with increased HIV testing, with the highest incongruence related to mental health problems of household member (53.48%). While both self-reported HIV risk and ACEs were positively associated with HIV testing, their interaction had a negative association with testing (aPR = 0.51, 95%CI 0.42, 0.62). The results highlight the need for targeted HIV prevention strategies for at-risk individuals with a history of childhood adversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in STI/HIV Prevention in Marginalized Populations)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

11 pages, 435 KiB

Open AccessReview

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Interventions among Black Sexual Minority Men: A Systematic Literature Review

by Rodman E. Turpin, David J. Hawthorne and Andre D. Rosario

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 1934; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19041934 - 09 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1768

Abstract

Background: Interventions to promote HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black sexual minority men (BSMM) are especially important, given the disproportionate HIV incidence and relatively low uptake of PrEP among BSMM. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review to identify the characteristics of interventions between 2016 and 2021 promoting PrEP use among BSMM. We synthesized these studies based on sample size, location, the use of peer-based delivery, and key intervention targets. Results: Of the starting total 198 articles, 10 were included in the final review, with the majority of included studies being randomized controlled trials. We identified providing PrEP access, PrEP counseling, HIV and PrEP education, linkage to general health care, and peer-based support as key successful intervention components. The starkest difference between interventions with and without demonstrated PrEP improvements was the outcome: all interventions focused on PrEP initiation led to large improvements, but those focused on PrEP adherence did not. No other factors demonstrated distinct differences between successful and unsuccessful interventions. Conclusion: We identified notable differences in intervention efficacy between PrEP initiation and PrEP adherence outcomes; PrEP adherence is necessary for optimal HIV prevention. Future interventions promoting and measuring PrEP adherence, with a focus on cultural competence and peer components, are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in STI/HIV Prevention in Marginalized Populations)

► Show Figures