Barriers to HIV/STI Services and Service Access Preferences Among Rural Sexual Minority Men and Native American Men in Oklahoma.

HIV and STI incidence are disproportionately elevated among sexual minority men (SMM) and Native American (NA) men in rural Oklahoma. The present study is a formative assessment of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in Rural Oklahoma (e-HERO) project, which is part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. EHE has an overarching goal of reducing incidence rates of HIV and STIs in rural Oklahoma.

HIV and syphilis self-testing to support implementation of patient-delivered partner therapy for bacterial STI partner treatment among sexual minoritized men.

Background: Patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) is a presumptive treatment mechanism for sexual partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea; however, successful implementation to sexual minoritized men (SMM) is impeded by concerns about missed opportunities for HIV and syphilis testing. As such, we explored barriers and facilitators of including a dual HIV and syphilis self-testing device with PDPT among SMM residing in Oklahoma, US.

Methods: In 2023, in-depth interviews were conducted with HIV-negative or unknown status SMM (n = 20; Mage = 33.

Determinants of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in rural areas of the United States: A scoping review framed by the PrEP care continuum.

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective intervention to prevent HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite its effectiveness, PrEP uptake and adherence among MSM in the United States remain suboptimal, particularly in rural areas.

Objective: The present study presents a scoping review of the self-reported barriers and facilitators of PrEP use among MSM living in rural areas of the United States.

Generational Differences in Sexual Health Education Experiences Among LGBTQ+ Adolescents and Adults: Findings from a U.S. National Probability Sample.

Few U.S. states require school-based sex education to be representative or inclusive of LGBTQ+ people.

Comparison of perceptions and concerns of antimicrobial resistance between veterinary and medical health professionals.

Objective: To understand the comparative concerns and perceptions of veterinary and medical health professionals regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its effects on their clinical practices.

Sample: 17 Doctors of medicine and veterinary medicine and 1 nurse practitioner were interviewed to collect qualitative-based data regarding their clinical experience with AMR.

Methods: The interviews from the health professionals were transcribed and thematically coded to reveal 3 overarching themes and 7 corresponding subthemes.

Knowledge, sex, and region associated with primary care providers prescribing adolescents HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively and safely prevents HIV among adolescents, uptake of PrEP is low. Adolescents must have primary care providers (PCPs) prescribe them PrEP, making PCPs critical actors in PrEP delivery. However, research has primarily investigated determinants of PCPs' intention to prescribe adolescents PrEP rather than the determinants of performing the behavior itself.

Association between adverse childhood experiences and fruit and vegetable intake among a national sample of U.S. adults.

Few studies have examined the role adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have on specific diet patterns. This study assessed the association between ACEs and daily fruit and vegetable intake (FVI). Data were derived from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) which surveys 50 states and three U.

Implementation Facilitators and Barriers for Primary Care Providers Prescribing Daily Oral PrEP to Adolescents in the United States.

Primary care providers (PCPs) are critical in prescribing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to adolescents at risk of HIV. More research is needed to identify facilitators and barriers PCPs encounter in prescribing PrEP to eligible adolescents post-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. This online cross-sectional survey examined the PrEP implementation facilitators and barriers among a national sample of PCPs in the United States.

Implementation Factors Associated With Primary Care Providers' Intention to Prescribe HIV PrEP to Adolescents in the United States.

Purpose: In the United States, adolescents (those 13-18 years old) are a key age group of those at risk for and affected by HIV. Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), one promising HIV prevention tool, is approved for eligible adolescents to use, adolescent access to PrEP is limited by primary care providers' (PCPs) willingness to prescribe it. This study examined which Theoretical Domains Framework factors are associated with PCPs' intention to prescribe PrEP to sexually active adolescents.

An Exploratory Study of the PrEP Modality Preferences Among a Convenience Sample of Parents of Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents.

Purpose: Parents' attitudes toward contraceptive delivery methods have been shown to impact their adolescents' use of contraceptive methods. However, little is known about the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery method attitudes of parents of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents assigned male at birth (AMAB). This exploratory, mixed-method formative study examined the PrEP delivery method preferences among a convenience sample of 33 parents of SGM adolescents AMAB who live in Texas.

Intersectionality and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Comparing Subgroups of Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation.

Introduction: This study investigated the intersectionality of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among subgroups of sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Methods: Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey across 34 states (N=116,712) from 2009 to 2018, authors stratified subgroups of sex (male/female), race/ethnicity (White/Hispanic/Black/multiracial/other), and sexual orientation (heterosexual/bisexual/gay) to investigate the number of ACEs across groups. Analyses were conducted in 2022.

An Exploratory Study of the Mpox Media Consumption, Attitudes, and Preferences of Sexual and Gender Minority People Assigned Male at Birth in the United States.

This study examined the consumption of, attitudes toward, and preferences for mpox media among U.S. sexual and gender minority (SGM) people assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Parental Concerns of Their Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Using HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.

Although parents of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents are key stakeholders in SGM adolescents using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), there is limited understanding of parental concerns and attitudes about their SGM adolescents taking PrEP. Fifty-four parents in the West South Central region of the U.S.

Rural-urban differences in monkeypox behaviors and attitudes among men who have sex with men in the United States.

Purpose: An outbreak of the monkeypox virus has been documented in the United States with most cases occurring among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). As monkeypox cases increase among relatively rural states, current public health messaging may not resonate with rural at-risk populations. Given this, there is a need to assess potential rural-urban differences in monkeypox behaviors and attitudes among MSM.

Unpacking determinants and consequences of food insecurity for insulin resistance among people living with HIV: Conceptual framework and protocol for the NOURISH-OK study.

Background: Over the past four decades, advances in HIV treatment have contributed to a longer life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH). With these gains, the prevention and management of chronic co-morbidities, such as diabetes, are now central medical care goals for this population. In the United States, food insecurity disproportionately impacts PLWH and may play a role in the development of insulin resistance through direct and indirect pathways.

US veterinarians' perceptions of discussing COVID-19 vaccination with animal owners during routine visits.

COVID-19 vaccination uptake is disproportionately lower among rural, politically conservative, and underserved individuals in the United States. Engaging this population requires leveraging unique potential human health advocates, like veterinarians. Between September and October 2021, 103 veterinarians responded to open-ended prompts to assess providers' willingness and potential barriers to discussing COVID-19 vaccination within a veterinary visit.

An update on ACEs domain frequencies across race/ethnicity and sex in a nationally representative sample.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) research has yielded important information regarding ACEs prevalence and impacts; however, few studies have included American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations.

Objective: We aimed to update and expand the ACEs literature by using recent data (2009-2018; over 50% from 2015 to 2017); using a large, nationally representative sample (total N = 166,606) and AI/AN sub-sample (N = 3369); and including additional covariates (i.e.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among rural Oklahomans.

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccination is widely recommended as a prevention strategy; however, vaccine uptake is disproportionately lower among rural Americans compared to their urban counterparts. Development of public health activities to address the rural-urban vaccine gap requires an understanding of determinants of vaccine hesitation. The present study explores perceptions of and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among rural Oklahomans.

From crisis to crisis: impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV and HIV/AIDS service organizations in Indiana.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic thrust people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV/AIDS service organizations into an environment ripe with uncertainty. This study examined Indiana HIV/AIDS service provider perceptions of how COVID-19 affected the overall health and access to care of their clients, and how the organizations prepared for, adapted, and responded to the needs of PLWH during the pandemic.

Methods: Guided by the socioecological model, fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten different HIV/AIDS service organizations across the state of Indiana.

Barriers to sexual and reproductive care among cisgender, heterosexual and LGBTQIA + adolescents in the border region: provider and adolescent perspectives.

Introduction: The United States (U.S.) has higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and adolescent pregnancy than most other industrialized countries.

Client perspectives on the accessibility and quality of substance use treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: People who use drugs have been particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their unique social, harm reduction, and treatment needs. These unique needs and challenges have significant influence on the severity of their substance use, mental health symptomatology, willingness to engage in treatment, and adherence to treatment options. This has included immense challenges related to the dissemination of COVID-19 messaging and the need for harm reduction and treatment service entities to adopt new formats to continue operation.