HIV-related Attitudes Research Articles

Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate University Students in Oman With Regard to People Living With HIV.

There is scarce literature from the region pertinent to university students' HIV-related knowledge, perception, attitudes, and behavior toward people living with HIV. Moreover, university students in Oman are remarkably uninformed about HIV, resulting in misconceptions and stigmatization among students. This research aimed to examine HIV-related knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate medical and non-medical university students toward people living with HIV in Oman. This was a qualitative cross-sectional study using convenience sampling to recruit participants from nine colleges at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. An online questionnaire composed of 17 Likert scale statements examining students' knowledge and nine Likert scale statements exploring students' attitudes was used. A knowledge score ≥ the mean was considered good knowledge, whereas a stigma score > the mean was regarded as stigmatization. A sample size of 376 students was computed using a Raosoft calculator (Raosoft, Inc., Seattle, Washington, United States) with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5%. Cronbach's alpha for the 26-item questionnaire was α = 0.716. Responses were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26, (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The questionnaire and the study protocol were approved by the institution's medical research and ethics committee. A total of 678 undergraduate university students responded to the questionnaire including 450 (66.4%) and 228 (33.6%) female and male students, respectively. Medical students represented 20.8% of the responders. The mean knowledge score was 12.3 ± 1 signifying good knowledge in 72% of the students and the mean stigma score was 6.03 ± 3.51 indicating that 43.4% of the responders had a negative and stigmatizing attitude. Medical students had the highest mean knowledge score (14.2 ± 1.8) denoting good knowledge in 83.5% of the students. Additionally, medical students had the lowest mean stigma score (4.64 ± 3.32) implying that 29% of the surveyed medical students had negative attitudes toward people living with HIV. No significant association was found between students' academic performance or students' sex with mean knowledge scores. Contrarily, male sex was found to be significantly associated with lower mean stigma scores. No significant relationship between students' knowledge scores and stigma scores was observed. The findings of this study denote a substantial gap in HIV-related knowledge among university students, leading to undesirable attitudes toward people living with HIV. These findings call for an urgent need to escalate HIV awareness and educational programs tailored to university students in Oman.

An adapted white-coat and warm-heart intervention on nurses' knowledge, general stigmatizing attitudes, and work avoidance behaviors towards HIV: a quasi-experimental study.

To determine the effect of an adapted white-coat and warm-heart intervention (AWWI) among nurses. HIV discrimination among the medical staff hinders the progress in HIV prevention. Seven hundred seventy-nine nurses were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group was provided AWWI training. The control group did not receive AWWI training. HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of participants were assessed. Participants in the intervention group had better HIV-related knowledge and less stigmatizing attitudes and work avoidance behavior levels than participants in the control group after the 1-, 3-, and 6-month interventions (P<0.05). The main effects of group and time factors were highly significant in the intervention group. There were significant interaction effects in group and time factors. AWWI effectively improved the level of HIV-related knowledge and reduced general stigmatizing attitudes and work avoidance behaviors among nurses based on self-reported data in a tertiary hospital of China during a 6-month period.

Poor HIV-related Knowledge, Perceived Risks and Attitudes Among Urban-dwelling Malaysian Older Adults: Key Barriers to Zero HIV Transmission by 2030.

Globally and in Malaysia, there are increasing rates of HIV infection among older adults but a corresponding decline in other younger age groups. We aimed to investigate the HIV-related knowledge, perceived risks, attitudes, and risk behaviours among multi-ethnic urban-dwelling older adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 320 adults aged 50 years and above residing in urban Klang Valley, Malaysia. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling in the community and in the outpatient clinics and pharmacy of University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, from April 2021 to January 2022. The median (IQR) age of participants was 58 (55-64) and 42.5% were males. The median (IQR) knowledge score was 10 (8-12) out of 14. Significant knowledge gaps were noted and ethnic Chinese, higher education levels and better HIV-related attitudes were associated with better scores. The median (IQR) attitude score was 49 (41-55) out of 65. Ethnic Chinese and Indian, knowing people living with HIV (PLHIV), and better HIV-related knowledge were associated with better attitude scores. Many (43.8%) older adults were sexually active however rates of consistent condom use was low (19%) and the majority (89.9%) of participants had low self-perceived risk of HIV. These findings highlight underlying drivers for HIV transmission and delayed treatment among older adults in Malaysia and indicate a need for targeted HIV prevention programs for this population.

A multiplicative effect of Education and Wealth associated with HIV-related knowledge and attitudes among Ghanaian women

BackgroundKnowledge and attitudes regarding HIV play a crucial role in prevention and control efforts. Understanding the factors influencing HIV-related knowledge and attitudes is essential for formulating effective interventions and policies. This study aims to investigate the possibility of an interaction between education and wealth in influencing HIV-related knowledge and attitudes among women in Ghana.MethodsCross-sectional data from the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a nationally representative sample, were analyzed. Statistical summaries were computed using place of residence, marital status, education level, wealth index quintile, use of insurance, functional difficulties, and exposure to modern media. Furthermore, a three-model Logistic regression analysis was conducted; Model 1 with main effects only, Model 2 with the interaction between education and wealth, and Model 3 with additional covariates. To account for the complexity of the survey data, the svyset command was executed in STATA.ResultsAlthough most interaction terms between wealth index quintiles and education levels did not show statistical significance, a few exceptions were observed. Notably, women with primary education in the second, middle, and fourth wealth quintiles, along with those with secondary education in the second wealth quintile, exhibited a negative significant association with HIV-related attitude level. However, no significant associations were found between other factors, including age, place of residence, marital status, and health insurance, and HIV-related attitude. The study also found significant associations between socioeconomic variables and HIV-related knowledge. There was a significant positive association between higher levels of education and HIV-related knowledge level. Women in wealthier quintiles had a significant positive association with HIV-related knowledge level. Factors such as place of residence and media exposure, including radio and television were also observed to be associated with HIV-related knowledge level.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of socioeconomic status and media exposure in shaping HIV-related knowledge and attitudes among women in Ghana. Policy interventions should focus on reducing socioeconomic disparities, ensuring equitable access to education and healthcare services, and utilizing media platforms for effective HIV information dissemination.

Exploring the awareness, perceptions, and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS among healthcare workers in Sindh, Pakistan

Introduction: Pakistan is among the nations reporting the highest growth in HIV infections globally. Particularly in Sindh province, HIV has reached an alarming stage among vulnerable groups of society and dialysis patients. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate female health professionals' HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in rural Pakistan. A general practitioner (GP) started seeing an unusually rise of cases in young children with HIV (AIDS) infection earlier this year. There is a fault in health care system because the women who hired as female health workers have insufficient knowledge, awareness, and handling of HIV. There poor attitudes, and inappropriate practices related to HIV, are the key variables affecting the proper control of HIV/AIDS spread. Methods: This current quantitative cross-sectional study conducted on Female health workers age range between 18 to 60 years after taking proper training and at least three months of field experience to assess their KAPs on HIV/AIDS. Total 316 LHWs were selected who were fit according to the inclusion criteria. Results: It was found half of the LHWs were Matric passed with 50.9% of them were aware of HIV/AIDS as a viral disease.

Short-term Effect of Training in Increasing Midwives’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to HIV and AIDS Prevention

Introduction: The study aims to analyse the effect of the training intervention program on midwives’ HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Central Java. The training focused on HIV epidemiology, transmissions, co-infections, PITC, risk contacts, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). It was designed to improve midwives’ knowledge, positive attitudes, and HIV/AIDS prevention practices, including reducing fear and stigma concerning people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Material and Methods: This study employed a Quasi-experimental pre-post-test design. The respondents are 50 village midwives equally divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire adapted from WHO, and it included questions about participant demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices on HIV and AIDS prevention programs. Furthermore, training consists of lecturing, group discussion, simulation, conversation with PLWHA, and watching a film about HIV including practicum. Results: There was a positive effect on midwife knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the early detection of HIV cases for pregnant women and reproductive age groups and HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and practices occurred significantly in the intervention compared to the control. The adjustment intervention effects were beneficial and statistically significant (p-value &lt;0.05), particularly the magnitude of the treatment effect for the knowledge score, which increased of 7.73% of the baseline mean knowledge. There was a significant association between knowledge and practices with a p-value of 0.002. Conclusion: Training midwives in HIV prevention was a beneficial program and positively impacted knowledge, attitudes, and practices. This study recommended the need for comprehensive training for village midwives, especially those related to their tasks in HIV prevention.

Effectiveness of a mobile-based HIV prevention intervention for the rural and low-income population, with incentive policies for doctors in Liangshan, China: a randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundThe HIV/AIDS epidemic is a concerning problem in many parts of the world, especially in rural and poor areas. Due to health service inequality and public stigma towards the disease, it is difficult to conduct face-to-face interventions. The widespread use of mobile phones and social media applications thus provide a feasible and acceptable approach for HIV prevention and education delivery in this population. The study aims to develop a generalizable, effective, acceptable, and convenient mobile-based information intervention model to improve HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and health outcomes in poverty-stricken areas in China and measure the impact of incentive policies on the work of village doctors in Liangshan, China.MethodsA randomized controlled trial design is used to evaluate the effectiveness of an 18-month mobile-based HIV prevention intervention, collaborating with local village doctors and consisting of group-based knowledge dissemination and individualized communication on WeChat and the Chinese Version of TikTok in Liangshan, China. Each village is defined as a cluster managed by a village doctor with 20 adults possessing mobile phones randomly selected from different families as participants, totaling 200 villages. Clusters are randomized (1:1:1) to the Control without mobile-based knowledge dissemination, Intervention A with standardized compensation to the village doctors, or Intervention B with performance-based compensation to the village doctors. The intervention groups will receive biweekly messages containing HIV-related educational modules. Data will be collected at baseline and 6-, 12-, and 18-month periods for outcome measurements. The primary outcomes of the study are HIV-related knowledge improvement and the effectiveness of village doctor targeted incentive policies. The secondary outcomes include secondary knowledge transmission, behavioral changes, health outcomes, social factors, and study design’s acceptability and reproducibility. These outcomes will be explored via various qualitative and quantitative means.DiscussionThe findings will provide insights into the effectiveness, generalizability, and challenges of the mobile-based HIV prevention intervention for the population living in rural communities with low education levels and will guide the development of similar models in other low-income and culturally isolated regions.Trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov: NCT05015062; Registered on June 6, 2022.

Effects of Model-based Educational Interventions on Promoting AIDS Preventive Behaviors in Iranian Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Background: AIDS is one of the perilous infectious diseases and according to the WHO, the only effective way to prevent AIDS is through health education. Therefore, high-risk and vulnerable groups, including adolescents, should be prioritized in educational programs. Objectives: This systematic review study aims to investigate the effects of model-based educational interventions on promoting AIDS preventive behaviors in Iranian adolescents. Methods: International databases, including Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, ISC, and Google Scholar, along with national databases, including Magiran, SID, IranDoc, and IRCT were consulted for eligible articles. The following keywords were selected based on MeSH and combined with Boolean (AND, OR) operators: “Adolescent, ” “Health model, ” “Education, ” “HIV, ” “Iran, ” and “Knowledge.” A total of 2969 articles published from April 1, 2005, to May 1, 2020, were extracted. Subsequently, two researchers reviewed the articles independently for screening and selection. The main inclusion criteria were Persian and English studies and model-based educational interventions. Data extraction was performed by two researchers via a researcher-made form independently according to the inclusion criteria. Results: Of the 12 final articles with a total sample size of 2013 adolescents, 8 articles were from the national databases and 4 from the international databases. Based on the results, although the health belief model is the most prevalent framework in designing educational interventions related to AIDS-preventive behaviors, it does not seem appropriate for changing long-term behaviors. It was also indicated that educational interventions based on the social cognitive theory did not have much effect on their attitudes, despite increasing adolescents’ awareness. Educational interventions based on the theory of planned behavior also improved attitudes and significantly increased rejection skills while delaying risky AIDS-related suggestions in students. Conclusions: Different types of health belief model, theory of planned behavior, and the social cognitive theory educational interventions can be effective in increasing the knowledge of adolescents and promoting their HIV-related preventive attitudes and cognitive perceptions. Given their effectiveness, the design and implementation of such interventions are recommended in schools.

Frequency of exposure to the media is associated with levels of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatising attitudes among adults in Ghana

Studies show that increased knowledge of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is achieved through exposure to mass media, which then contributes to positive attitudes and behaviours towards people living with HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This study examined the relationship between the frequency of exposure to the media and the level of HIV-related knowledge and stigmatising attitudes towards HIV and AIDS among adults in Ghana. A weighted sample of 13 484 men and women 15 to 59 years old took part in the study. The main outcome variable was the HIV-related knowledge score, calculated based on responses to eight questions about general HIV concepts and HIV transmission modes. The frequency of exposure to the media was the primary explanatory variable. The relationship between the frequency of media exposure and the level of HIV-related knowledge was investigated using Poisson regression methods in Stata 13.0. Of the 13 484 respondents analysed, 25%, 88.2% and 79.7% reported reading print media, listening to the radio and watching TV at least once a week respectively. The average HIV-related knowledge score was 4.9 (SD 1.6), with 22.9% of respondents correctly answering five questions and about 2.0% correctly answering all eight questions. The frequency of exposure to the media, particularly print media and television, was associated with an increase in the level of HIV-related knowledge. When compared to having a low level of HIV-related knowledge, having a moderate and high level of HIV-related knowledge reduced the score of stigmatising attitude by 0.065 and 0.277 points, respectively. The adult population in Ghana has a very low level of HIV or AIDS knowledge, as well as a significant level of stigma associated with HIV or AIDS, which could stymie HIV prevention efforts. The media, on the other hand, provide a platform for these issues to be addressed.

HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Research Among College Students - Six Chinese Cities, 2021.

The number of newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among Chinese youth 15-24 years of age shows an upward trend between 2010 and 2019. This survey is on a larger scale as compared to previous studies. It shows inadequate HIV knowledge - especially on HIV treatment, self-testing, and post-exposure prophylaxis - among college students. A significant gap exists between knowledge and behavior as indicated by the low condom use rate despite a high knowledge level. Findings suggest priorities for future HIV education and awareness creation of existing services. A low condom use rate at sexual debut suggests that HIV prevention education should start early.

Peer- and community-led responses to HIV: A scoping review.

IntroductionIn June 2021, United Nations (UN) Member States committed to ambitious targets for scaling up community-led responses by 2025 toward meeting the goals of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. These targets build on UN Member States 2016 commitments to ensure that 30% of HIV testing and treatment programmes are community-led by 2030. At its current pace, the world is not likely to meet these nor other global HIV targets, as evidenced by current epidemiologic trends. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further slow momentum made to date. The purpose of this paper is to review available evidence on the comparative advantages of community-led HIV responses that can better inform policy making towards getting the world back on track.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review to gather available evidence on peer- and community-led HIV responses. Using UNAIDS’ definition of ‘community-led’ and following PRISMA guidelines, we searched peer-reviewed literature published from January 1982 through September 2020. We limited our search to articles reporting findings from randomized controlled trials as well as from quasi-experimental, prospective, pre/post-test evaluation, and cross-sectional study designs. The overall goals of this scoping review were to gather available evidence on community-led responses and their impact on HIV outcomes, and to identify key concepts that can be used to quickly inform policy, practice, and research.FindingsOur initial search yielded 279 records. After screening for relevance and conducting cross-validation, 48 articles were selected. Most studies took place in the global south (n = 27) and a third (n = 17) involved youth. Sixty-five percent of articles (n = 31) described the comparative advantage of peer- and community-led direct services, e.g., prevention and education (n = 23) testing, care, and treatment programs (n = 8). We identified more than 40 beneficial outcomes linked to a range of peer- and community-led HIV activities. They include improved HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, intentions, self-efficacy, risk behaviours, risk appraisals, health literacy, adherence, and viral suppression. Ten studies reported improvements in HIV service access, quality, linkage, utilization, and retention resulting from peer- or community-led programs or initiatives. Three studies reported structural level changes, including positive influences on clinic wait times, treatment stockouts, service coverage, and exclusionary practices.Conclusions and recommendationsFindings from our scoping review underscore the comparative advantage of peer- and community-led HIV responses. Specifically, the evidence from the published literature leads us to recommend, where possible, that prevention programs, especially those intended for people living with and disproportionately affected by HIV, be peer- and community-led. In addition, treatment services should strive to integrate specific peer- and community-led components informed by differentiated care models. Future research is needed and should focus on generating additional quantitative evidence on cost effectiveness and on the synergistic effects of bundling two or more peer- and community-led interventions.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Among Young Adults in Hong Kong: The Roles of Knowledge, Acceptance and Stigma.

In the past decade, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection risk and the prevalence of infected cases in the younger generation have increased in Hong Kong. To promote HIV prevention and control, it is critical to understand the situation of HIV-related knowledge, stigma, and awareness among the younger adults, especially college students. 810 college students (mean age = 20.63 ± 2.05) have participated in the current survey. In mediation pathway analysis, the results show that participants’ greater knowledge about HIV is associated with higher awareness, and this relationship is partially mediated by the knowledge-related increase in accepting attitudes toward the people with HIV, but not via reducing stigma. Our findings provide an updated profile of HIV-related knowledge, attitude and awareness among college students in Hong Kong. In addition, we have clarified the mediating role of acceptance in the relationship between knowledge and awareness and pinpointed the importance of knowledge education and workshops to promote acceptance of people with HIV. Insights were provided for tailoring health-promotion programs to reduce risky sex and prevent HIV infection on college campuses.

Utilising a WeChat intervention to improve HIV and AIDS education among college students in China

Objective: To evaluate a WeChat-based HIV and AIDS educational intervention to enhance knowledge, improve attitudes and reduce stigma among college students in China. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Public research university in China. Method: A total of 111 college students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received an enhanced HIV and AIDS education course delivered via WeChat for 8 weeks. Independent-samples t-tests were used to analyse changes in HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and stigma. Results: Findings showed that both HIV- and AIDS-related knowledge ( p &lt; .001) and attitudes ( p &lt; .001) significantly changed in the intervention group. The intervention group also demonstrated lower stigma scores on ‘moral judgment’ ( p &lt; .001), ‘personal stigma’ ( p = .01), ‘perceived community stigma’ ( p &lt; .001) and the ‘total stigma scale’ ( p &lt; .001). Conclusion: Results show that college students in China may benefit from a technology-based intervention which could potentially be integrated into routine HIV education for college students.

HIV-Related Stigma Moderates the Relation Between Perceived Susceptibility and HIV Testing Intention Among Heterosexual (but Not Sexual Minority) College Students.

HIV-related stigma remains a considerable barrier to engaging at-risk populations in HIV testing and prevention programs. We assessed the moderating role of HIV-related stigma on the relation between perceived susceptibility to HIV and HIV testing intention among college students. We hypothesized that the moderating role of HIV-related stigma would be differential between heterosexual and sexual minority college students. We administered a survey focused on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in spring 2016 (N = 2,159). We used multigroup path analysis to analyze the hypothesized moderation. HIV-related stigma moderated the relation between perceived susceptibility and testing intention for heterosexual but not sexual minority college students. Specifically, higher HIV-related stigma decreased the association between perceived susceptibility and testing intention. These results demonstrate the importance of priority population segmentation for HIV testing campaigns.

HIV-related stigma in the UK then and now: to what extent are we on track to eliminate stigma? A qualitative investigation

BackgroundThe introduction of effective antiretroviral treatment in the late 1990s led to the perception that HIV was a chronic but manageable condition. Nevertheless, stigma remains one of the major hurdles for people living with HIV (PLWH) to accessing healthcare and biomedical preventions. Thus, Fast Track Cities has set a target of zero HIV discrimination by 2030 as part of its strategy to end HIV transmission.MethodsFifty-three participants from the United Kingdom, including PLWH (n = 21, 40%), health and social care workers (n = 24, 45%), and charity workers and activists (n = 13, 25%), were recruited. Semi-structured interviews investigated stigma and discrimination, focusing on both before and after the widespread use of effective antiretroviral treatment in the late 1990s. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.ResultsBefore effective antiretroviral treatment narratives were shaped by two main themes: 1) the media’s role in influencing public opinion and contributing to misunderstandings of HIV transmission; and 2) personal experiences of HIV-related stigma, which for PLWH included incidents of physical violence and aggression, as well as fears of their HIV status being publicised. Contemporary narratives on stigma experiences were organised around four themes: 1) discrimination in healthcare settings; 2) stigma amongst men who have sex with men (MSM); 3) stigma towards African and Afro-Caribbean PLWH; and 4) the limits of change in public HIV-related knowledge and attitudes. Contemporary narratives indicated a reduction in enacted stigma, but continued anticipation of discrimination and self-reported shame, particularly in MSM and African and Afro-Caribbean PLWH.ConclusionThe nature of stigma against those with HIV has evolved. The intersection of PLWH and minority groups (e.g. MSM and African and Afro-Caribbean persons) may enhance anticipatory and internalised stigma, with some suggestion that this may contribute to reduced engagement in HIV care and prevention services. Our findings indicate the need for further research in this area, as well as proactive interventions with community groups to enhance knowledge of HIV.

HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Experiences of Kenyan Adolescents Living with HIV Revealed in WhatsApp Group Chats.

Introduction:Mobile technologies represent a scalable platform for delivering knowledge and interventions targeting adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) in low and middle income countries. Data from mobile interventions can be used to assess the contextual understanding and experiences of ALWH.Methods:We examined HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and experiences of Kenyan ALWH revealed in the contextual data from enrollment in a WhatsApp® group chat intervention.Results:Thirty ALWH (17 female, mean age 15.4) on ART, engaged in HIV care and aware of their status, were enrolled. Qualitative analysis of WhatsApp® chat discussions identified a gap in HIV knowledge, high medication-taking literacy, need for mental health support and significant barriers to adherence. Participants discussed challenges with HIV stigma and medication-taking in the school setting.Conclusion:These discussions demonstrate a need for education on HIV topics, mental health support for ALWH, and interventions for stigma mitigation in the school setting.

AIDS Online International (AOI): The Impact of an HIV/AIDS Online College-Credit Course on HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and High-risk Behaviors

AIDS Online International (AOI): The Impact of an HIV/AIDS Online College-Credit Course on HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and High-risk Behaviors

Sexually Unexperienced Adolescents Benefit the Most From a Sexual Education Program for Adolescents: A Longitudinal Cluster Randomized Controlled Study.

Using a longitudinal cluster-randomized controlled design, we examined whether the effects of Competencies for Adolescents with a Healthy Sexuality (COMPAS), an evidence-based sexual health promotion intervention, differ by adolescents' sexual experience. Participants were 699 students aged 14-16, 45.9% were sexually experienced, and assessed in the baseline, posttest, and 12- and 24-month follow-ups. All were recruited from 10 schools that were randomly assigned to the COMPAS program and waiting-list groups (WLG). Using an intent-to-treat analyses, longitudinal changes in psychosocial and behavioral outcomes were explored using generalized estimating equations. Compared to the WLG, COMPAS had a positive impact on six of the seven psychological and behavioral outcomes. Non-sexually experienced reported more favorable HIV-related attitudes, higher condom use intention, lower number of sexual partners, and higher condom use than those sexually experienced. Findings support the importance of implementing sex education actions before adolescents get involved in their first intimate relationships in order to achieve greater impact.

Uptake of online HIV-related continuing medical education training among primary care providers in Southeast United States, 2017–2018

ABSTRACT Primary care providers play a vital role for HIV prevention and care in high burden areas of the Southeast United States. Studies reveal that only a third of these providers had previous HIV-related training. We evaluated the effects of targeted online continuing medical education training on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among providers in the Southeast. During April 2017–February 2018, we administered baseline and six-month follow-up surveys to assess changes attributed to online training among a representative sample of providers from six Southeast locations. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). Baseline and follow-up surveys were completed by 349 participants (61.2% female, 64.6% white, 69.6% physicians, and 27.5% aged 40 years or less); 18% (n = 63) of whom visited online training websites sent following the baseline survey. Comparing baseline versus follow-up responses, providers who completed online training were half as likely to identify “patients’ age” (30% vs. 15%) and “patients’ race” (3% vs. 1.4%) as barriers to discussing sex with clients; survey responses by participants who declined training remained unchanged. Based on baseline versus follow-up responses, providers who visited online training websites were more likely to become familiar with preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (38% vs. 58%); participants who declined training remained unchanged at 45%. No impact on clinical practices such as PrEP prescriptions was identified. Targeted online training can enhance HIV readiness and should be explored for providers in the Southeast, particularly for enhancing PrEP service delivery.

HIV-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors among Grade 10 Girls and Boys in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal: Cross-Sectional Results.

Young people in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga South Africa are at high risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Programs are needed to reach these young people and change their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The objective of this study is to use cross-sectional data from grade 10 female and male learners in randomly assigned intervention and control schools to examine knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors. Participants were in grade 10 in the 2018 school year and were attending schools randomly assigned to the intervention and control arms for implementation of the Department of Basic Education's adapted life orientation curriculum that included scripted lesson plans. The study took place in two high HIV prevalence provinces in South Africa. Participants completed self-administered tablet-based surveys and female participants provided a dried blood spot for HIV testing. Results demonstrate that two-fifths to one-half of male learners reported being sexually experienced and a quarter (KwaZulu-Natal) to a third (Mpumalanga) of the female learners reported the same. A greater percentage of learners in Mpumalanga reported consistent condom use than learners in KwaZulu-Natal. HIV prevalence among female grade 10 learners in both provinces was about 6-7%. No notable differences are observed between intervention and control school learners on the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior outcomes. The findings demonstrate the importance of developing HIV prevention programs for young people in high HIV prevalence provinces since these young people remain at high risk for HIV and other negative outcomes. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The trial registration number is: NCT04205721. The trial was retrospectively registered on December 18, 2019.