Viral Suppression Is Associated with HIV Treatment Self-Efficacy in a Cohort of Women in Washington, DC

Disclosure Events and Psychosocial Well-Being Among Young South African Adults Living with HIV

BACKGROUND

Poor psychological well-being is both prevalent among South Africans living with HIV and has been associated with poor HIV clinical outcomes. However, the relationship between disclosure and psychological well-being remains unclear. This analysis sought to examine the relationship between two disclosure-related variables, disclosure status and reaction received, and psychosocial well-being among a sample of young adults living with HIV (YALWH) in urban South Africa.

METHOD

This was a secondary analysis using observational data from Standing Tall, a randomized controlled trial that recruited 100 participants ages 18-24 who tested positive for HIV after initially presenting to two well-established mobile clinics for HIV testing. Interviews investigating primary and secondary outcomes of interest were done at baseline and 6 months following recruitment.

RESULTS

About half (51%) of participants disclosed their HIV status within 6 months after recruitment. Simple linear regression analyses revealed that disclosure of HIV status within 6 months after study enrollment predicted significantly lower levels of disclosure concerns and internalized stigma (p < 0.05). Reactions to disclosure were not significantly associated with any of the measures of psychosocial well-being considered in this analysis (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the act of disclosure among newly diagnosed YALWH may be associated with reductions in internalized stigma. In addition, the finding that the act of disclosure may be a more important determinant of psychosocial well-being than the reaction to disclosure has important implications for interventions designed to promote disclosure and psychosocial well-being in YALWH.

Using Causal Bayesian Networks to Assess the Role of Patient-Centered Care and Psychosocial Factors on Durable HIV Viral Suppression

We assessed the role of patient-centered care on durable viral suppression (i.e., all viral load test results < 200 copies per ml during 2019) by conducting a retrospective cohort study of clients medically case managed by the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program (RWP). Summary measures of patient-centered care practices of RWP-affiliated providers were obtained from a survey of 1352 clients. Bayesian network models analyzed the complex relationship between psychosocial and patient-centered care factors. Of 5037 clients, 4135 (82.1%) had durable viral suppression. Household income was the factor most strongly associated with durable viral suppression. Further, mean healthcare relationship score and mean "provider knows patient as a person" score were both associated with durable viral suppression. Healthcare relationship score moderated the association between low household income and lack of durable viral suppression. Although patient-centered care supports patient HIV care success, wrap around support is also needed for people with unmet psychosocial needs.

Latent Profile Analysis of Cognitive Performance and Depressive Symptoms Among People with HIV

Depression and cognitive impairment are prevalent conditions among people with HIV (PWH), likely attributable to shared causes and common risk factors. Identifying subtypes of PWH with similar patterns of neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and depressive symptoms may inform development of patient-centered interventions that target-specific profiles. This study aimed to (1) classify PWH based on patterns of domain-specific NCI and depression; and (2) determine the relationship between latent class membership and pertinent clinical characteristics. PWH (N = 580, 86.2% male, 57.1% non-Hispanic White, 69.2% unemployed) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery assessing global and domain-specific cognition. Domain-specific NCI was classified as deficit score >0.5. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and domain-specific BDI-II scores reflecting cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms were computed. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to determine latent subgroups of NCI and depression. The optimal LPA solution consisted of five classes: minimal NCI and minimal depression (Class 1), amnestic and minimal depression (Class 2), severe multi-domain NCI and moderate depression (somatic and affective; Class 3), mild NCI and mild depression (Class 4), and moderate multi-domain NCI and severe depression (Class 5). Despite similar levels of functional impairment, Class 5 had a significant psychiatric profile, whereas Class 3 had a complex medical profile (i.e., higher frailty index, higher medications, greater proportion of AIDS diagnosis). In contrast, Class 1 had the lowest medication use and frailty index, with similar HIV disease characteristics to Classes 3 and 5. Our results suggest there are multiple pathways to cognitive and functional impairment among PWH with co-occurring depression and cognitive impairment, and these groups may respond differently to interventions. Of note, our sample was majority non-Hispanic White and male, which is nonrepresentative of the US population of PWH. Future interventions should consider a more integrated, person-centered approach that addresses cognitive and emotional health to optimize health outcomes in PWH.

Perceived social support and depression among people living with HIV in China: roles of stigma and adherence self-efficacy

INTRODUCTION

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are a high-risk group for depression. In particular, the prevalence and burden of depression is higher and more severe among PLHIV in developing and less-developed countries. There is evidence that perceived social support has a positive impact on reducing the occurrence of depression, and high stigma and low adherence self-efficacy are barriers to the effectiveness of social support for depressed PLHIV. However, how these risks affect the effect of social support on depression still needs further identification.

METHODS

Between 2017 and 2018, a total of 1139 Chinese PLHIV (74.36% male, mean age = 43.91 years) from three provinces (Shanghai, Zhejiang and Henan) in China were enrolled in the study. Data were analyzed by multiple regression, mediation model, and moderation model.

RESULTS

A total of 43.99% of PLHIV had mild to severe depression. There was a significant negative association between perceived social support and depression (B = -0.049, P < 0.05). Stigma and adherence self-efficacy played a chain mediating role (B = -0.058, 95% CI: -0.078 ~ 0.039) and a moderating role in the effect of perceived social support on depression (stigma: B = -0.003, P < 0.05; adherence self-efficacy: B = 0.004, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Stigma and adherence self-efficacy indirectly predicted depression, and perceived social support was more effective in reducing depression among PLHIV with high stigma or low adherence self-efficacy. Enhancing multiple social support resources for PLHIV may reduce their risk of depression. Moreover, the need for social support is greater for those with high stigma or low adherence self-efficacy.

Patient-Provider Relationships and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Durable Viral Suppression Among Women with HIV, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 2021-2022

Women with HIV in the United States are more negatively affected by adverse social determinants such as low education and poverty than men, and thus, especially need a supportive health care system. This cross-sectional study assessed the role of the patient-provider relationship on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and durable viral suppression among women with HIV (WHIV) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Patient-provider relationship was measured, in part, using the Health Care Relationship Trust Scale and Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems. The survey was administered by telephone to women in the Ryan White Program June 2021-March 2022. Adherence was defined as 90% adherent on the average of three self-reported items. Lack of durable viral suppression was defined by at least one viral load ≥200 copies/mL among all tests conducted in a year. Logistic regression models were generated using backward stepwise modeling. Of 560 cis-gender women, 401 (71.6%) were adherent, and 450 (80.4%) had durable viral suppression. In the regression model, adherence was associated with higher patient-provider trust and provider communication as well as excellent perceived health, lack of significant depressive symptoms, no alcohol use within the last 30 days, and lack of transportation problems. In the regression model using provider as a random effect, durable viral suppression was associated with older age, Hispanic ethnicity, and lack of illegal drug use. While the results show that a strong patient-provider relationship facilitates ART adherence in WHIV, there was no association with durable viral suppression.

HIV infection disclosure, treatment self-efficacy and quality of life in HIV-infected MSM receiving antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Research on the relationship between disclosure of HIV status to male sexual partners (HIV disclosure) and quality of life (QOL) revealed complex and even contradictory results. The impact of HIV disclosure on various domains of QOL and the mediation effect between them are unclear. The purposes of this study were to explore the impact of HIV disclosure on QOL among men who have sex with men (MSM), and whether HIV treatment self-efficacy mediated these relationships.

METHODS

The data came from a baseline survey on the design of a randomized control trial conducted in Shandong, China. A total of 579 MSM patients were included. SPSS 24.0 was used to conduct independent samples t test, one-way analysis of variance and nonparametric tests and the PROCESS macro was used to conduct mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Among 579 participants, 16.06% disclosed their HIV infection status to their male sexual partners. The effect of HIV disclosure on QOL was mediated by treatment self-efficacy. Self-efficacy played partial mediating role in social relationships, meaning that HIV disclosure had both direct and indirect effects on this factor. In the overall QOL and domains of physical, psychological, independence, and environment, HIV disclosure had an indirect effect only through self-efficacy and no significant effect on the spirituality domain.

CONCLUSIONS

The results emphasize the importance of HIV disclosure and self-efficacy on the QOL of MSM patients and suggest that health care providers should assist MSM patients in deciding whether to disclose their HIV status during daily medical services.

Black Women Living with HIV: A Latent Profile Analysis of Intersectional Adversities, Resilience, and Mental Health

Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) face adversities, including discrimination (race, HIV, and gender related) and trauma. This study examines which latent profiles of resilience (R) and adversity (A) are most prevalent and their relationships to mental health among 119 BWLWH [age = 44.1 (standard deviation = 10.9)]. Questionnaires measured resilience (post-traumatic growth, trait/coping resilience, religious coping, social support), adversity (discrimination, trauma, microaggressions), and mental health [post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, post-traumatic cognitions (PTC), and depressive symptoms]. Four salient profiles emerged through latent profile analysis and mental health differences were evaluated. Profile 1 (19.8%) reported lowest scores on 4 resilience measures, lowest traumas, and second lowest on discrimination (low resilience/low adversity-LR/LA). Profile 2 (13.8%) had second lowest on 3 resilience measures but second highest social support, highest/second highest on traumas and discrimination and microaggressions (low resilience/high adversity-LR/HA). Profile 3 (59.5%) exhibited higher scores on resilience and lowest scores on 3 of 4 adversity measures (high resilience/low adversity-HR/LA). Profile 4 (6.9%) reported high on 3 resilience measures, but third lowest on social support, and second highest/highest traumas, discrimination, and microaggressions (high resilience/high adversity-HR/HA). For PTC, the HR/LA group had significantly lower scores compared with the LR/LA and LR/HA groups; and LR/HA had higher PTC scores than the HR/HA group. PTSD scores were significantly lower for HR/LA than all profiles. Depression scores were significantly higher for LR/LA and LR/HA groups than HR/LA. Findings indicate that lower adversity alongside higher resilience leads to better mental health. Policies must address intersectional discrimination and prevent trauma impacting BWLWH; interventions are needed to improve social support and healing. Clinical Trial Registration number NCT02764853.