Papers by Center for AIDS Prevention Studies UCSF
Journal of Sex Research, 2005
We distributed free OraQuick In-home HIV Test® kits to men at a gay bathhouse. Men were systemati... more We distributed free OraQuick In-home HIV Test® kits to men at a gay bathhouse. Men were systematically selected to receive a coupon, which could be redeemed that night for an HIV self-testing kit. Those offered the coupon were asked to take an 11-item survey. About 181 men received coupons, of whom 92 (51%) accepted the coupon, and 61 (66%) men redeemed the coupon. Those who redeemed test kits and completed a survey (n = 53) were more ethnically diverse (χ2 = 100.69, p < .01) than those receiving the coupon. More than half had not tested in the past 6 months (50%) or never tested (7%). Importantly, men who had never tested or who last tested more than 6 months ago were among those most likely to take the free test kit. We found bathhouse distribution could reach a population of men who have sex with men most in need of improved access to HIV testing. Future studies should consider means of improved follow-up and linkage to care for those who test positive.
Social scientists have much to contribute to the analysis of the real and potential contribution ... more Social scientists have much to contribute to the analysis of the real and potential contribution of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV prevention around the world. Beyond just a matter of clinical efficacy and getting pills into people’s mouths, PrEP raises a number of important social-psychological questions that must be attended to in order to translate biomedical and clinical findings into uptake of PrEP among enough people at risk of HIV infection to produce population-level effectiveness. PrEP is a dynamic phenomenon with ‘‘dialectical’’ attributes that invite both optimism and cynicism as a desirable and effective HIV prevention strategy. PrEP disrupts traditional notions of ‘‘safe’’ and ‘‘unsafe’’ sex; it confers on its users a level of agency and control not generally achieved with condoms; and it affects sexual practices and sexual cultures in meaningful ways. As these dynamics play out in different contexts, and as new modes of PrEP administration emerge, it will be important for social scientists to be engaged in assessing their impact on PrEP implementation and effectiveness.
In a JAMA commentary, CAPS researcher Stephen Morin discusses how the Ryan White Program (RW), no... more In a JAMA commentary, CAPS researcher Stephen Morin discusses how the Ryan White Program (RW), now 25 years old, will adapt to expanded medical care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although many people living with HIV now have improved access to non-RW coverage because HIV-infection is not considered a pre-existing condition under the ACA, RW is still essential because: 1) case management beyond RW is limited, given the few state plans that actually offer similar support services; 2) ACA coverage remains limited for mental health and substance abuse treatment, and no coverage for dental care or support services like transportation; 3) some plans charge high copays, making it unaffordable for patients; and 4) about 21 states have not expanded Medicaid and continue to heavily rely on RW-funded facilities. Commending the efforts of Congress for establishing RW and responding to the HIV epidemic, Morin argues that the program will continue to adapt to current challenges and will serve as a key component for meeting national goals for both HIV treatment and prevention. More importantly, medical case management and other support services not covered by ACA are greatly needed.
Writing in a linked Comment, Emily Arnold and Wayne Steward from the Center for AIDS Prevention S... more Writing in a linked Comment, Emily Arnold and Wayne Steward from the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, discuss the work that needs to be done in health systems to make PrEP a viable and accessible prevention strategy for MSM. They write, “To maximise success, PrEP implementation needs to include the ability to engage with MSM communities and reach high-risk individuals, and should provide a point of access that is convenient and does not elicit fears of stigma, adherence counselling and monitoring for drug side-effects to ensure that individuals use PrEP effectively, and support for the uptake of complementary behavioural prevention strategies (eg, reduced number of partners and condom use). Additionally, medical providers need guidance about how to manage patients receiving PrEP, and how drug and ancillary care costs should be covered. Finally, gay communities should be mobilised and educated about PrEP use and its use not only in prevention of HIV transmission but also in promotion of sexual health and wellbeing.”
Resources by Center for AIDS Prevention Studies UCSF
CAPS has produced the 2016 "Research & Resources for African American HIV/AIDS Prevention" resour... more CAPS has produced the 2016 "Research & Resources for African American HIV/AIDS Prevention" resource. New topics include: 1) Implementation of evidence-based strategies to address HIV disparities among African Americans; 2) Connecting sexual health resources to urban young MSM of color; 3) Community mobilization to improve engagement in care among young black MSM living with HIV; 4) Development of a couple-based mobile health intervention for improving HIV care engagement; and 5) Network-based home testing to identify undiagnosed HIV infection and increase linkage to care.
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Papers by Center for AIDS Prevention Studies UCSF
Commentary by Center for AIDS Prevention Studies UCSF
Resources by Center for AIDS Prevention Studies UCSF