Nursing Contributions to Ending the Global Adolescent and Young Adult HIV Pandemic

Decolonizing HIV Nursing for Health Equity: Challenges, Strategies, and Paths Forward

ABSTRACT

This commentary explores the imperative of decolonizing HIV nursing within the global context of HIV care. Acknowledging historical colonial influences, it examines persistent disparities and challenges in current HIV nursing practice, emphasizing the need for transformative approaches that center marginalized voices and challenge hegemonic structures. Drawing on frameworks such as critical race theory and postcolonial perspectives, it advocates for culturally responsive care models and community-led initiatives to address health inequities. Case studies from diverse global settings illustrate successful decolonized approaches, highlighting the impact of inclusive policies and partnerships in improving health outcomes. Recommendations include reframing cultural competency training in nursing education, promoting diverse health care leadership, and prioritizing research on intersectional health disparities. By embracing decolonization, nurses can lead efforts toward a more equitable and effective global HIV response, ensuring dignity and empowerment for all affected communities.

Indicators associated with severity and mortality in hospitalized people with HIV: A retrospective cohort

OBJECTIVES

to compare the sociodemographic and clinical severity indicators of hospitalized people with HIV in relation to clinical outcomes and urgent hospital admission.

METHODS

a retrospective cohort study was conducted with 102 medical records of HIV-infected individuals hospitalized in a hospital in southern Brazil. In addition to descriptive analysis, Fisher's exact test, Pearson's Chi-square, and logistic regression were used.

RESULTS

the data showed a significant direct effect on severity indicators in the following variables: male sex (p=0.013), skin color (p=0.023), level of education (p=0.000), urgent admissions (p=0.000), late diagnosis (p=0.001), diabetes mellitus (p=0.001), hypertension (p=0.004), kidney disease (p=0.002), high viral load (p=0.006), CD4+ count below 200 (p=0.005), fever (p=0.016), weight loss (p=0.013), co-infection with hepatitis C (p=0.004), and mortality (p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

three sociodemographic and thirteen clinical markers were identified as being associated with the risk of clinical deterioration in hospitalized people with HIV.

Navigating the Complexities of HIV Prevention for Adolescents and Young Persons: A Science-to-Program and Systems Approach

This opinion paper dives into the crucial but challenging space of HIV prevention for adolescents and young persons (AYPs). While their vulnerabilities may be heightened, so too is their potential for resilience, innovation, and positive change. To safeguard their health and empower them to make informed choices, a comprehensive science-to-program and systems approach to HIV prevention is paramount. Recognizing their unique vulnerabilities and immense potential, these authors advocate for a multifaceted approach that bridges the gap between scientific evidence and program implementation within a robust healthcare system. This opinion unpacks how leadership, governance, health policies, human resources, health information systems, and HIV surveillance can be strengthened to create a supportive ecosystem where AYPs have the knowledge, resources, and services they need to thrive. This collective effort, involving policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and AYPs themselves, is critical to a future where no young person is left behind in the fight against HIV.

HIV Syndemic Factor Associations Among Adolescent Gay and Bisexual Men in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2015-2019: A Secondary Data Analysis

ABSTRACT

This analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey examined HIV syndemic factor associations (substance use, violence, mental health, and HIV risk behaviors) among adolescent gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men-a population with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infections. The representative sample ( n = 644) exhibited low condom use (52%) and HIV testing (21%). Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models showed that Blacks were less likely to report HIV testing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.01-0.44], p < .01), whereas Hispanics were more likely to report four or more lifetime sexual partners (aOR = 3.75, 95% CI [1.49-9.44], p < .01), compared with Whites. A syndemic of substance use and intimate partner violence (sexual, sexual dating, and/or physical dating violence) was associated with early intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and drugs/alcohol before intercourse. Multiple syndemic factor exposures were associated with additive risk, suggesting multilevel approaches for HIV prevention.

Risk factors for HIV infection among adolescents and the youth: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

to identify and analyze HIV infection risk factors among adolescents and the youth.

METHOD

this is a systematic review whose guide question is: what are the risk factors for HIV infection among adolescents and the youth?" In total, five databases and Google Scholar were searched in December 2021 and the found publications between 2012-2022 were filtered without language restriction. Studies were selected by two independent reviewers. The included materials were subjected to methodological quality evaluation and narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

overall, we included seven studies out of the 26,191 retrieved. All studies were conducted in Africa. We found that the female gender, older age, low schooling, Black ethnicity, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent use of condoms, alcohol consumption, and early sexual onset constituted risk factors for HIV infection in adolescents and the youth.

CONCLUSION

understanding risk factors underscores the provision of health policies and intervention strategies to strengthen the responsiveness of health services and nursing teams' care to reduce HIV transmission among adolescents and the youth.

(1) Our knowledge synthesis contributes to the care provided in health services. (2) The main factors for HIV are related to risk behaviors. (3) Our results point to the purpose of health policies to prevent HIV. (4) IWe assessed the importance of different social actors and management bodies to cope with HIV. (5) This study strengthens the role of nursing in preventing HIV transmission.

Factores de riesgo de infección por VIH entre adolescentes y jóvenes: revisión sistemática

Resumen Objetivo: identificar y analizar los factores de riesgo de infección por VIH entre adolescentes y jóvenes. Método: se trata de una revisión sistemática que tuvo como pregunta orientadora: “¿Cuáles son los factores de riesgo a la infección por el VIH entre adolescentes y jóvenes?”. Las búsquedas en cinco bases de datos y en Google Scholar ocurrieron en diciembre de 2021, teniendo como filtro de publicaciones entre 2012-2022 sin limitación de idiomas. Las publicaciones fueron seleccionadas por dos revisores independientes. Los materiales incluidos fueron sometidos a la evaluación de la calidad metodológica y a una síntesis narrativa. Resultados: se recuperaron 26.191 materiales, siendo siete artículos incluidos. Todos los estudios se realizaron en África. Se identificó que el sexo femenino, la mayor edad de los jóvenes, baja escolaridad, personas negras, múltiples parejas sexuales, el uso inconsistente de preservativos, consumo de alcohol y el inicio temprano de las relaciones sexuales eran factores de riesgo de infección por el VIH en adolescentes y jóvenes. Conclusión: la comprensión de los factores de riesgo fundamenta la proposición de políticas de salud y estrategias de intervención con la finalidad de fortalecer la capacidad de respuesta de los servicios de salud y el cuidado del equipo de enfermería para la disminución de la transmisión del VIH entre adolescentes y jóvenes.

Fatores de risco à infecção pelo HIV entre adolescentes e jovens: revisão sistemática

Resumo Objetivo: identificar e analisar os fatores de risco à infecção pelo HIV entre adolescentes e jovens. Método: trata-se de uma revisão sistemática que teve como questão norteadora: quais são os fatores de risco à infecção pelo HIV entre adolescentes e jovens?”. As buscas em cinco bases de dados e no Google Scholar ocorreram em dezembro de 2021, tendo como filtro publicações entre 2012-2022 sem limitação de idiomas. As publicações foram selecionadas por dois revisores independentes. Os materiais incluídos foram submetidos à avaliação da qualidade metodológica e a uma síntese narrativa. Resultados: recuperou-se 26.191 materiais, sendo sete artigos incluídos. Todos os estudos foram conduzidos na África. Identificou-se que o sexo feminino, a maior idade dos jovens, baixa escolaridade, pessoas negras, múltiplas parcerias sexuais, uso inconsistente de preservativos, consumo de álcool e início sexual precoce constituíram fatores de risco para a infecção pelo HIV em adolescentes e jovens. Conclusão: a compreensão dos fatores de risco alicerça a propositura de políticas de saúde e estratégias de intervenção com a finalidade de fortalecer a capacidade de resposta dos serviços de saúde e o cuidado da equipe de enfermagem para a diminuição da transmissão do HIV entre adolescentes e jovens.