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ABSTRACT Background Despite its health benefits, physical inactivity is pervasive, particularly among those living in lower-income urban communities. In such settings, neighborhood safety may impact willingness to be regularly physically [...]

This study investigated sexual identity and behavior and their potential associations with PrEP use and attitudes in cisgender Black gay and bisexual men. A total of N = 173 (mean age 25.2) participants from the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Study in Chicago were included. Of these, 104 were gay-identified and reported sex with men only (GSMO), 26 were gay-identified and reported sex with men and women (GSMW), 8 were bisexual-identified and reported sex with men only (BSMO), and 35 were bisexual-identified and reported sex with men and women (BSMW). Reporting sex with men and women in the past 6 months, RR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.17, 0.89], identifying as bisexual, RR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.29, 0.92], and the combination of the two, RR = 0.24, 95% CI [0.07, 0.76] were significantly associated with lower rates of current oral PrEP use. Black bisexual-identifying men who reported sex with men and women were significantly more likely to have discontinued oral PrEP, RR = 2.50, 95% CI [1.14, 5.50], than Black gay-identified men who reported sex with men only. Participants who had not used oral PrEP before reported lower levels of interest in long-acting injectable PrEP than those who were currently using oral PrEP, RR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.40, 0.79]. No other significant differences were found. Overlooking the combination of sexual identity and behavior may mischaracterize PrEP rates and miss uniquely vulnerable subgroups. Black gay and bisexual men who had not used oral PrEP may be particularly disinterested in long-acting injectable PrEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A variety of strategies have been used to reach men with HIV self-testing services, including social network-based HIV self-test kits distribution. However, few studies have assessed men's comfort to distribute to or receive HIV self-test kits from close male friends within the same social network. In this study, we assessed men's comfort to distribute to and/or receive HIV self-test kits from close male friends and associated factors among men who socialize in networks locally referred to as "camps" in Tanzania.Methods: Data are from the baseline survey of a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in June 2019 with 18 social networks or "camps" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants were 18-year-old or older male camp members who were HIV-negative at the time of enrolment. We used the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to assess factors associated with being comfortable to distribute to and/or receive HIV self-test kits from close male members within one's social network.Results: Of 505 participants, 67.9% (n = 342) reported being comfortable to distribute to while 68.2% (n = 344) were comfortable to receive HIV self-test kits from their close male friends. Ever having heard about HIV self-testing (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (Adj. PR): 1.6; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3, 1.9), willingness to self-test for HIV in front of a sexual partner (Adj. PR: 3.0; 95%CI: 1.5, 6.1) and exposure to peer-led HIV self-testing education and promotion (Adj. PR: 1.4; 95%CI: 1.2, 1.7) were significantly associated with being comfortable to distribute HIV self-test kits to close male members within one's social network. Similar results were observed for being comfortable to receive HIV self-test kits from a close male friend within one's social network.Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that distribution of HIV self-test kits through close male friends could improve the proportion of men reached with HIV self-testing services and improve HIV testing rates in this population where uptake remains low. However, additional promotional strategies such as peer-led HIV self-testing education are needed to raise awareness and increase the proportion of men who are comfortable to receive and/or distribute HIV self-testing kits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is necessary for HIV viral suppression. However, adherence may fluctuate around daily routines and life events, warranting intervention support. We examined reasons for ART adherence interruptions, using in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews, among young (18–34-year-old) Latino men who have sex with men (YLMSM) with HIV. Interviews (n = 24) were guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Theory, and the Socio-Ecological Model. Two coders independently coded transcripts using NVivo 12 software and synthesized codes into themes using Thematic Content Analysis. Results suggested 4 primary influences on ART adherence interruptions: (1) HIV diagnosis denial, (2) breaks in daily routine, (3) substance use, and (4) HIV status disclosure. Participant quotes highlighted routinization of pill-taking and planning ahead for breaks in routine as critically important. The narrative suggested modification of pill-taking routines during alcohol use, and that periods most vulnerable for long-term interruptions in ART adherence were following an HIV diagnosis and during periods of drug use. Support at the time of HIV diagnosis, including a plan for routinization of pill taking, and adaptive interventions incorporating real-time support during breaks in routines and substance use episodes may be one way to help YLMSM adhere to ARTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV biomedical intervention uptake is suboptimal among Black sexually minoritized men (SMM) and transgender women (TW). Venues where people meet and interact shape HIV-related risk and prevention behaviors. We aimed to construct GPS-defined venue-based affiliation networks and identify the unique set of venues that could maximize reach of HIV biomedical interventions among Black SMM and TW. We used baseline survey and GPS data from 272 Black SMM and TW in the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Cohort Study in Chicago, Illinois (2018–2019). We mapped participants' GPS data to the nearest pre-identified SMM- and TW-friendly venue (n = 222) to construct affiliation networks. Network analyses were performed to identify influential venues that can yield high reach to intervention candidates. Participants were affiliated with 75.5 % of all pre-identified venues based on GPS data. Two influential venues were identified in the non-PrEP use network, which when combined, could reach 52.5 % of participants not taking PrEP. Participants that could be reached through these two influential venues reported more non-main sex partners than participants not affiliated with either venue (p = 0.049). We demonstrate a potential for GPS-defined venue-based affiliation networks to identify unique combinations of venues that could maximize the impact of HIV prevention interventions. • GPS-based affiliation networks identify optimal sets of venues for HIV prevention. • A combination of two influential venues can reach more than half of PrEP candidates. • PrEP candidates reached via influential venues reported more casual sex partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity remains a prominent public health problem. Walkable built environments may prevent excess weight gain. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of walkable built environment characteristics with body mass index (BMI) z-score among a large sample of children and adolescents. METHODS: We used geocoded residential address data from electronic health records of 49, 770 children and adolescents 4 to < 19 years of age seen at the 14 pediatric practices of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates from August 2011 through August 2012. We used eight geographic information system (GIS) variables to characterize walkable built environments. Outcomes were BMI z-score at the most recent visit and BMI z-score change from the earliest available (2008-2011) to the most recent (2011-2012) visit. Multivariable models were adjusted for child age, sex, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood median household income. RESULTS: In multivariable cross-sectional models, living in closer proximity to recreational open space was associated with lower BMI z-score. For example, children who lived in closest proximity (quartile 1) to the nearest recreational open space had a lower BMI z-score (β = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.03) compared with those living farthest away (quartile 4; reference). Living in neighborhoods with fewer recreational open spaces and less residential density, traffic density, sidewalk completeness, and intersection density were associated with higher cross-sectional BMI z-score and with an increase in BMI z-score over time. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, built environment characteristics that may increase walkability were associated with lower BMI z-scores in a large sample of children. Modifying existing built environments to make them more walkable may reduce childhood obesity. Environ Health Perspect 122:1359-1365; http: //dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307704, Introduction Childhood obesity is a prominent public health problem affecting millions around the globe, including U.S. children and adolescents (Ogden et al. 2012). A variety of built environment characteristics can [...]

Interactions with the police may result in police brutality, particularly for people of color. Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face disproportionate risk of police contact and may experience elevated violence risk. We measured longitudinal associations between discriminatory police harassment (DPH) and subsequent risk of a range of interpersonal violence experiences, including intimate partner violence (IPV). In this study, we estimated associations between DPH motivated by racism, homophobia, or both, and subsequent violent experiences (being physically harassed, hit, threatened with weapons, and intimate partner violence) among BMSM. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were used to control for demographic and behavioral factors. Among 1160 BMSM included at 12-month follow-up, experiencing DPH motivated by racism and homophobia was associated with over four times the odds of being threatened with violence (AOR 4.85, 95% CI 3.20, 7.33), four times the odds of or experiencing violence defined as being punched, kicked, or beaten, or having an object thrown at them (AOR 4.51, 95% CI 2.82, 7.19), and nearly three times the odds of physical partner abuse (AOR 3.49, 95% CI 1.69, 7.19). Findings suggest that for BMSM, DPH is associated with the threat and experience of violence, with a dose-response relationship between DPH motivated by one or more causes. Given that BMSM are a population particularly vulnerable to both police harassment related to race and sexual orientation and violence coupled with stigma, additional research evaluating mechanisms linking these associations is needed in order to develop additional supportive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Built environment features of neighborhoods may be related to obesity among adolescents and potentially related to obesity-related health disparities. The purpose of this study was to investigate spatial relationships between various built environment features and body mass index (BMI) z-score among adolescents, and to investigate if race/ethnicity modifies these relationships. A secondary objective was to evaluate the sensitivity of findings to the spatial scale of analysis (i.e. 400- and 800-meter street network buffers). Methods Data come from the 2008 Boston Youth Survey, a school-based sample of public high school students in Boston, MA. Analyses include data collected from students who had georeferenced residential information and complete and valid data to compute BMI z-score (n = 1,034). We built a spatial database using GIS with various features related to access to walking destinations and to community design. Spatial autocorrelation in key study variables was calculated with the Global Moran’s I statistic. We fit conventional ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and spatial simultaneous autoregressive error models that control for the spatial autocorrelation in the data as appropriate. Models were conducted using the total sample of adolescents as well as including an interaction term for race/ethnicity, adjusting for several potential individual- and neighborhood-level confounders and clustering of students within schools. Results We found significant positive spatial autocorrelation in the built environment features examined (Global Moran’s I most ≥ 0.60; all p = 0.001) but not in BMI z-score (Global Moran’s I = 0.07, p = 0.28). Because we found significant spatial autocorrelation in our OLS regression residuals, we fit spatial autoregressive models. Most built environment features were not associated with BMI z-score. Density of bus stops was associated with a higher BMI z-score among Whites (Coefficient: 0.029, p p Conclusion Some relationships between the built environment and adolescent BMI z-score were in the unexpected direction. Our findings overall suggest that the built environment does not explain a large proportion of the variation in adolescent BMI z-score or racial disparities in adolescent obesity. However, there are some differences by race/ethnicity that require further research among adolescents.