2023
Awareness and Uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Men who have Sex with Men in Nepal
Paudel K, Kanak M, Gautam K, Bhandari P, Dhakal M, Wickersham J, Valente P, Ha T, Shrestha R. Awareness and Uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention Among Men who have Sex with Men in Nepal. Journal Of Community Health 2023, 49: 514-525. PMID: 38127298, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-023-01318-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP awarenessBiomedical prevention strategiesHIV transmission riskUse of PrEPCross-sectional surveyHealth insurance coveragePrEP knowledgePrEP useHIV preventionStudy populationPrevention strategiesHealthcare providersBivariate analysisLogistic regressionTransmission riskPrEPMSMInsurance coverageProphylaxisHIVMenParticipantsInnovative strategiesInfectionBarriers and Facilitators to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by Men Who Have Sex with Men and Community Stakeholders in Malaysia
Rosen A, Wickersham J, Altice F, Khati A, Azwa I, Tee V, Jeri-Wahrhaftig A, Luces J, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Saifi R, Shrestha R. Barriers and Facilitators to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by Men Who Have Sex with Men and Community Stakeholders in Malaysia. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2023, 20: 5669. PMID: 37174187, PMCID: PMC10177799, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095669.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP providersNominal group techniqueMalaysian MSMEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesPatient-centered decision aidAwareness of PrEPHIV prevention strategiesPotential new strategyPrEP deliveryPrEP carePrEP initiationPrEP servicesPrEP uptakeDecision aidPrevention strategiesUnderstanding of barriersComplex clinical protocolsClinical protocolsMSMQualitative focus groupsCommunity stakeholdersPrEPProphylaxisMen
2022
Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial
Shrestha R, Wickersham J, Khati A, Azwa I, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Sullivan P, Jadkarim L, Eger W, Gautam K, Altice F. Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial. JMIR Research Protocols 2022, 11: e43318. PMID: 36542425, PMCID: PMC9813821, DOI: 10.2196/43318.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention servicesHIV testingMalaysian MSMPhase IHIV preventionPrevention servicesLarge-scale efficacy trialsHIV prevention resourcesMobile health interventionsHIV prevention effortsCare delivery servicesHealth care delivery servicesMultiphase trialPrEP servicesMiddle-income countriesHIV epidemicEfficacy trialsTrial designPrevention strategiesEntrenched stigmaHealth outcomesReal-world settingHealth interventionsExploring drivers of pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Malaysia
Eger WH, Adaralegbe A, Khati A, Azwa I, Wickersham JA, Osborne S, Shrestha R. Exploring drivers of pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Malaysia. International Journal Of STD & AIDS 2022, 33: 821-828. PMID: 35772943, PMCID: PMC10069270, DOI: 10.1177/09564624221106535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisPrEP useHIV prevention strategiesMultivariable logistic modelHigh-risk behaviorsMalaysian MSMPrEP uptakeMultivariable analysisHIV epidemicHealthcare engagementPrevention strategiesHealth systemSexual intercourseRM 3000PrEPProphylaxisSexual behaviorHIVMenMonthly incomeMSMMonthsHigh awarenessSexLogistic model
2020
Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention and PrEP Implementation Preferences Among Transgender Women in Malaysia
Galka JM, Wang M, Azwa I, Gibson B, Lim SH, Shrestha R, Wickersham JA. Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention and PrEP Implementation Preferences Among Transgender Women in Malaysia. Transgender Health 2020, 5: 258-266. PMID: 33644315, PMCID: PMC7906238, DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2020.0003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV preventionTransgender womenWorld Health Organization indicationsEffective HIV prevention strategiesDelivery of PrEPHigh HIV burdenInjection drug useHIV prevention strategiesMalaysian adult populationProphylaxis useHIV burdenHormone usePrEP willingnessHigh school educationPrevention strategiesDrug useAdult populationOlder ageSubstance abusePrEPMultivariate modelChinese ethnicityMost participantsPreventionThe Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Care Cascade in People Who Inject Drugs: A Systematic Review
Mistler CB, Copenhaver MM, Shrestha R. The Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Care Cascade in People Who Inject Drugs: A Systematic Review. AIDS And Behavior 2020, 25: 1490-1506. PMID: 32749627, PMCID: PMC7858689, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-02988-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPre-exposure prophylaxisCare cascadeSystematic reviewInjection drug useTransmission of HIVKey risk factorsPrEP eligibilityPrEP carePrEP uptakeHIV incidenceHIV transmissionRisk factorsPRISMA guidelinesPrevention strategiesPWIDDrug useLiterature searchEfficacious strategyProphylaxisPrEPDrugsInterventionHigh awarenessHIVReviewFeasibility and Acceptability of an mHealth-Based Approach as an HIV Prevention Strategy Among People Who Use Drugs on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Shrestha R, Altice FL, DiDomizio E, Sibilio B, Ranjit YS, Copenhaver MM. Feasibility and Acceptability of an mHealth-Based Approach as an HIV Prevention Strategy Among People Who Use Drugs on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Patient Preference And Adherence 2020, 14: 107-118. PMID: 32021122, PMCID: PMC6971384, DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s236794.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV risk reductionHIV preventionText messaging servicePrimary HIV preventionHIV prevention strategiesOpioid-dependent peopleReminder text messagesWeekly text messagesPost-intervention assessmentRisk reductionForty HIVPrEP adherenceText messagesSMS remindersRisk groupsText remindersPrevention strategiesUnderserved populationsMHealth technologiesAcceptability studyHealth carePreventionProphylaxisPreliminary evidence
2019
Rationale and design of an integrated bio-behavioral approach to improve adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV risk reduction among opioid-dependent people who use drugs: The CHRP-BB study
Shrestha R, Altice FL, Sibilio B, Ssenyonjo J, Copenhaver MM. Rationale and design of an integrated bio-behavioral approach to improve adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV risk reduction among opioid-dependent people who use drugs: The CHRP-BB study. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2019, 82: 77-84. PMID: 31229618, PMCID: PMC6639056, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.06.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBio-behavioral interventionHIV risk reductionOpioid-dependent peopleMethadone maintenance programPrEP adherenceHIV transmission risk reductionFirst prospective trialPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention strategiesOngoing drug useRisk reductionBehavioral skills modelProspective trialSecondary outcomesPrimary outcomeRisk reduction outcomesHIV riskWeek 20Prevention strategiesUnmet needDrug useHybrid type IBio-behavioral approachProcess evaluationAdherence
2016
The Impact of Methadone Maintenance Treatment on HIV Risk Behaviors among High-Risk Injection Drug Users: A Systematic Review.
Karki P, Shrestha R, Huedo-Medina TB, Copenhaver M. The Impact of Methadone Maintenance Treatment on HIV Risk Behaviors among High-Risk Injection Drug Users: A Systematic Review. Evidence-based Medicine & Public Health 2016, 2 PMID: 27066590, PMCID: PMC4824190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMethadone maintenance treatmentInjection drug usersSex-related risk behaviorsHIV risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsMaintenance treatmentDrug usersSystematic reviewHigh-risk injection drug usersFuture HIV prevention strategiesRisk Injection Drug UsersSex-related HIV risk behaviorsHigh-risk populationHIV prevention strategiesSignificant decreaseMultiple sex partnersPreventable drugHIV infectionTreatment adherenceHIV riskLower incidenceHigh riskPrevention strategiesSex partnersDrug use
2015
Early Sexual Debut: A Risk Factor for STIs/HIV Acquisition Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults in Nepal
Shrestha R, Karki P, Copenhaver M. Early Sexual Debut: A Risk Factor for STIs/HIV Acquisition Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults in Nepal. Journal Of Community Health 2015, 41: 70-77. PMID: 26184108, PMCID: PMC4715759, DOI: 10.1007/s10900-015-0065-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly sexual debutRisk factorsHIV acquisitionSexual debutRisk behaviorsTeenage pregnancyInfection risk factorsHistory of STIHIV prevention strategiesInconsistent condom useAdverse health outcomesHigh-risk profileSTIs/HIVMultivariate logistic modelMultiple sex partnersNepal Demographic Health SurveySexual risk behaviorsDemographic Health SurveyNationally Representative SampleMean agePotential confoundersHealth SurveyPrevention strategiesHealth outcomesSex partnersSex-Related Differences in Self-Reported Neurocognitive Impairment among High-Risk Cocaine Users in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program
Shrestha R, Huedo-Medina TB, Copenhaver MM. Sex-Related Differences in Self-Reported Neurocognitive Impairment among High-Risk Cocaine Users in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program. Substance Use Research And Treatment 2015, 9: sart.s23332. PMID: 25861219, PMCID: PMC4363005, DOI: 10.4137/sart.s23332.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSelf-reported neurocognitive impairmentSex-related differencesAdverse health outcomesNeurocognitive impairmentNeuropsychological Impairment ScaleCocaine usersHealth outcomesTreatment programMethadone maintenance treatment programPossible sex-related differencesMaintenance treatment programSubstance abuse treatmentDifferential treatment outcomesNeuropsychological symptomsPatient awarenessTreatment outcomesImpairment ScaleClinical careHigher scoresPrevention strategiesCocaine cravingConfounding variablesSignificant associationGreater impairmentNeurocognitive deficits