2024
National age-specific mortality trends for cervical and breast cancers in urban–rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021: a population-based analysis
Li M, Qi J, Ma Y, Shu W, Xiao H, Wang L, Yin P, Guo H, Vermund S, Zhou M, Hu Y. National age-specific mortality trends for cervical and breast cancers in urban–rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021: a population-based analysis. Military Medical Research 2024, 11: 55. PMID: 39138529, PMCID: PMC11323448, DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00561-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAverage annual percent changeUrban-rural differencesMortality trendsRural areasNational Disease Surveillance Point SystemAge-specific mortality trendsBreast cancerDisease Surveillance Points systemAge groupsCancer control programsPromote health equityMortality rate ratiosAnnual percent changeRural-urban disparitiesRural-urban differencesRural areas of ChinaNegative binomial regression modelsUrban-rural areasTemporal trendsAge-specific mortalityPopulation-based analysisMortality rateBinomial regression modelsHealth equityJoinpoint models
2022
“If it weren’t for my traditional healer, I would be dead”: Engaging traditional healers to support people living with HIV in rural Mozambique
Audet CM, Pettapiece-Phillips M, Tian Y, Shepherd BE, Vermund SH, Salato J. “If it weren’t for my traditional healer, I would be dead”: Engaging traditional healers to support people living with HIV in rural Mozambique. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0270565. PMID: 35763519, PMCID: PMC9239464, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270565.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHealth FacilitiesHIV InfectionsHumansMedicine, African TraditionalMozambiqueRural PopulationConceptsTraditional healersPsychosocial supportCommunity health worker interventionPre-post intervention study designWorker interventionHealth worker interventionMedication possession ratioMedication side effectsIntervention study designPositive test resultsHome-based supportObserved therapyPossession ratioClinical outcomesHIV treatmentPoor adherencePost-intervention participantsHealth facilitiesPatient's desireSide effectsZambézia ProvinceCare servicesStudy designHIVTherapy
2021
Understanding HIV outbreak among children in a rural community of Sindh province of Pakistan.
Altaf A, Shah SA, Khanani R, Vermund SH. Understanding HIV outbreak among children in a rural community of Sindh province of Pakistan. Journal Of The Pakistan Medical Association 2021, 71(Suppl 4): s1-s4. PMID: 34469421, PMCID: PMC10768810.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPoor retention and care-related sex disparities among youth living with HIV in rural Mozambique
Ahonkhai AA, Aliyu MH, Audet CM, Bravo M, Simmons M, Claquin G, Memiah P, Fernando AN, Carlucci JG, Shepherd BE, Van Rompaey S, Yu Z, Gong W, Vermund SH, Wester CW. Poor retention and care-related sex disparities among youth living with HIV in rural Mozambique. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0250921. PMID: 34019582, PMCID: PMC8139489, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250921.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigher oddsCombination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiationCox proportional hazards modelCare continuum outcomesComprehensive HIV programsPost-ART initiationYoung adults 15Antiretroviral therapy initiationRetrospective cohort studySex-related disparitiesMultivariable logistic regressionOne-year followProportional hazards modelYears of agePL femalesSex-related differencesART initiationAYA cohortTherapy initiationCohort studyContinuum outcomesHIV outcomesClinical visitsAdults 15HIV programs
2020
An unrecognized key population? Traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa.
Audet CM, Ngobeni S, Mkansi M, Wafawanaka F, Aliyu MH, Vermund SH, Wagner RG. An unrecognized key population? Traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa. AIDS 2020, 34: 2313-2317. PMID: 33048882, PMCID: PMC7674239, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002710.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMedicine, African TraditionalMiddle AgedRural PopulationSouth AfricaConceptsSkin incisionPatient's bloodHIV testTraditional healersHIV prevalenceKey populationsRapid HIV testsRisk of acquisitionHigh HIV prevalenceBlood-borne pathogensTraditional treatment practicesSouth African traditional healersPositive test resultsCross-sectional surveyPersonal protective equipmentHIV acquisitionHIV infectionPosttest counselingPretest counselingHIV riskOccupational exposureMAIN OUTCOMERural South AfricaHIVAfrican traditional healersMonitoring Pharmacy and Test Kit Stocks in Rural Mozambique: U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Surveillance to Help Prevent Ministry of Health Shortages
Bravo M, Peratikos MB, Muicha AS, Mahagaja E, Alvim MFS, Green AF, Wester CW, Vermund SH. Monitoring Pharmacy and Test Kit Stocks in Rural Mozambique: U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Surveillance to Help Prevent Ministry of Health Shortages. AIDS Research And Human Retroviruses 2020, 36: 415-426. PMID: 31914787, PMCID: PMC7232670, DOI: 10.1089/aid.2019.0057.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRural Zambézia ProvinceHuman immunodeficiency virusPresident's Emergency PlanMedication supplyU.S. President's Emergency PlanTimes higher oddsMedication classesViral suppressionDiagnostic test kitsImmunodeficiency virusPharmacy dataStudy midpointOrdinal logistic regressionHigher oddsCare providersLower oddsZambézia ProvinceTuberculosis testingMonitoring of drugsLogistic regressionAIDS ReliefHealth shortagesARVEmergency plansCalendar time
2018
Partners-based HIV treatment for seroconcordant couples attending antenatal and postnatal care in rural Mozambique: A cluster randomized trial protocol
Audet CM, Graves E, Barreto E, De Schacht C, Gong W, Shepherd BE, Aboobacar A, Gonzalez-Calvo L, Alvim MF, Aliyu MH, Kipp AM, Jordan H, Amico KR, Diemer M, Ciaranello A, Dugdale C, Vermund SH, Van Rompaey S. Partners-based HIV treatment for seroconcordant couples attending antenatal and postnatal care in rural Mozambique: A cluster randomized trial protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2018, 71: 63-69. PMID: 29879469, PMCID: PMC6067957, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.05.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChild transmissionSeroconcordant couplesMale partnersResource-limited rural settingsElimination of motherRoutine clinical dataUptake of servicesClinical trial designMale partner approvalAntiretroviral therapyHIV careAntenatal careRural MozambiqueHIV servicesPostnatal carePregnant womenHIV treatmentTrial protocolClinical dataHealth facilitiesTrial designHIVNewborn childrenPartner approvalEngagement interventionsSubjective Well-being and Family Functioning among Adolescents Left Behind by Migrating Parents in Jiangxi Province, China
Zhou J, Hu F, Wu J, Zou ZY, Wang YX, Peng HC, Vermund SH, Hu YF, Ma YH. Subjective Well-being and Family Functioning among Adolescents Left Behind by Migrating Parents in Jiangxi Province, China. Biomedical And Environmental Sciences 2018, 31: 382-388. PMID: 29866220, PMCID: PMC9316390, DOI: 10.3967/bes2018.049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow academic performanceMental health challengesStructural equation modelMiddle school studentsAdolescent viewpointLife satisfactionAcademic performanceAdolescentsParental migrationSchool studentsParentsMigrant parentsEquation modelParticipantsSatisfactionBeingHealth challengesFamilyStudents
2017
The introduction of new policies and strategies to reduce inequities and improve child health in Kenya: A country case study on progress in child survival, 2000-2013
Brault MA, Ngure K, Haley CA, Kabaka S, Sergon K, Desta T, Mwinga K, Vermund SH, Kipp AM. The introduction of new policies and strategies to reduce inequities and improve child health in Kenya: A country case study on progress in child survival, 2000-2013. PLOS ONE 2017, 12: e0181777. PMID: 28763454, PMCID: PMC5538680, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultChild HealthChild Health ServicesChild MortalityChild, PreschoolFemaleFocus GroupsHealth PolicyHealth Status DisparitiesHealthcare DisparitiesHIV InfectionsHumansInfantInfant MortalityInfant, NewbornInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalKenyaMaleMaternal Health ServicesNeonatologyObstetricsPregnancyRural PopulationUrban PopulationYoung AdultConceptsCommunity health strategyNew policiesAFRO regionQualitative dataCountry case studiesUser feesChild survivalDepth case studyMillennium Development GoalsInsufficient progressEssential packageFour-country studyCase studyPolicies/strategiesKenya's effortsPolicy reviewDevelopment GoalsHealth strategiesNational documentsNeonatal careGeographic inequitiesInequitiesKey barriersProvision of immunizationsAfrican regionHIV status disclosure, facility-based delivery and postpartum retention of mothers in a prevention clinical trial in rural Nigeria
Sarko KA, Blevins M, Ahonkhai AA, Audet CM, Moon TD, Gebi UI, Gana AM, Wester CW, Vermund SH, Aliyu MH. HIV status disclosure, facility-based delivery and postpartum retention of mothers in a prevention clinical trial in rural Nigeria. International Health 2017, 9: 243-251. PMID: 28810669, PMCID: PMC5881261, DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihx023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV status disclosureFacility-based deliveryPostpartum retentionStatus disclosureHIV statusIntervention armWeeks postpartumChild HIV transmission (PMTCT) trialTrial intervention armPrevention of motherUnknown HIV statusPrevention clinical trialsMixed-effects logistic regressionEffects logistic regressionPMTCT continuumHIV careTreatment-naïveAntenatal carePregnant womenFacility deliveryMaternal ageObstetric servicesCare measuresClinical trialsHealth facilitiesAdapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique
Audet CM, Salato J, Vermund SH, Amico KR. Adapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique. Implementation Science 2017, 12: 50. PMID: 28407813, PMCID: PMC5390357, DOI: 10.1186/s13012-017-0582-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity health workersAntiretroviral therapyWorker interventionTraditional healersHealth workersHealth systemAllopathic health systemEvidence-informed interventionsLow-literacy populationsHIV careHIV diagnosisRural MozambiquePatient adherenceHIV epidemicHealth facilitiesClinical careHealthcare providersHealth workforceHIVTraditional treatmentCommunity-based activitiesInterventionTraditional medicineCareSuccessful program implementation
2016
Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission
Audet CM, Salato J, Blevins M, Silva W, González‐Calvo L, Vermund SH, Gaspar F. Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission. Tropical Medicine And International Health 2016, 21: 1476-1480. PMID: 27580349, PMCID: PMC5093076, DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12775.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBlood exposureOccupational hazardsBlood-borne agentsTraditional healersWilcoxon rank sum testRank sum testHepatitis BC virusChronic illnessInfectious disease transmissionHigh prevalenceZambézia ProvincePast monthHealers' practicesChi-squareTraditional practitionersMedianPatientsDisease transmissionInjectionRandom sampleRural MozambiqueExposureHealersSimple random sampleSpousal migration and human papillomavirus infection among women in rural western Nepal
Johnson DC, Lhaki P, Bhatta MP, Kempf MC, Smith JS, Bhattarai P, Aryal S, Chamot E, Regmi K, Vermund SH, Shrestha S. Spousal migration and human papillomavirus infection among women in rural western Nepal. International Health 2016, 8: 261-268. PMID: 27048288, PMCID: PMC4967846, DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihw015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHR-HPV infectionCytology statusHR-HPVHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection statusAbnormal cervical cytologyHuman papillomavirus infectionAtypical glandular cellsAssociation of migrationPapillomavirus infectionCervical cytologyUndetermined significanceCare centerHigh prevalenceOlder womenBethesda SystemHealth campsStudy participantsOlder ageInfection statusYoung womenGlandular cellsInfectionMigration statusWomenPrevalenceIntegrated prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services, antiretroviral therapy initiation, and maternal and infant retention in care in rural north-central Nigeria: a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Aliyu MH, Blevins M, Audet CM, Kalish M, Gebi UI, Onwujekwe O, Lindegren ML, Shepherd BE, Wester CW, Vermund SH. Integrated prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services, antiretroviral therapy initiation, and maternal and infant retention in care in rural north-central Nigeria: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Lancet HIV 2016, 3: e202-e211. PMID: 27126487, PMCID: PMC4852280, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(16)00018-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAdolescentAdultAnti-HIV AgentsCD4 Lymphocyte CountDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedEarly Intervention, EducationalFamilyFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansInfantInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalMaleMothersNevirapineNigeriaPregnancyPregnancy Complications, InfectiousPrenatal CareRural PopulationYoung AdultConceptsChild HIV transmissionAntiretroviral therapyStandard of careRural North-Central NigeriaWeeks post partumIntervention groupAntiretroviral prophylaxisEligible womenHIV statusHIV transmissionSecondary level health care facilitiesChild HIV transmission servicesClinical stage 1 diseasePost partumEunice Kennedy Shriver National InstituteMedian CD4 countPMTCT service deliveryAntiretroviral therapy initiationCD4 cell countPrevention of motherStage 1 diseaseUnknown HIV statusElimination of motherNorth Central NigeriaEarly infant diagnosis
2015
Practical Management of HIV-Associated Anemia in Resource-Limited Settings: Prospective Observational Evaluation of a New Mozambican Guideline
Brentlinger PE, Silva WP, Vermund SH, Valverde E, Buene M, Moon TD. Practical Management of HIV-Associated Anemia in Resource-Limited Settings: Prospective Observational Evaluation of a New Mozambican Guideline. AIDS Research And Human Retroviruses 2015, 32: 12-25. PMID: 26178574, PMCID: PMC4692124, DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnemiaAnthelminticsAnti-HIV AgentsAntimalarialsAntitubercular AgentsCD4 Lymphocyte CountCoinfectionDeveloping CountriesDisease ManagementFemaleHelminthiasisHemoglobinsHIV InfectionsHumansLost to Follow-UpMalaria, FalciparumMaleMozambiquePractice Guidelines as TopicProspective StudiesRural PopulationTuberculosis, PulmonaryConceptsHIV-associated anemiaAdverse drug reactionsDrug reactionsHemoglobin responseGuideline revisionsIron deficiencyLower body mass indexCo-trimoxazole prophylaxisDiscontinuation of zidovudineLaboratory-confirmed malariaProspective observational evaluationRural Zambézia ProvinceT-cell countsT-lymphocyte countsSmear-positive tuberculosisBody mass indexResource limited settingsResource-limited settingsLogistic regression modelsAnaemic HIVStudy cliniciansAntiretroviral therapyEsophageal candidiasisPresumptive treatmentAnemia managementPregnant women with HIV in rural Nigeria have higher rates of antiretroviral treatment initiation, but similar loss to follow-up as non-pregnant women and men
Aliyu MH, Blevins M, Megazzini KM, Parrish DD, Audet CM, Chan N, Odoh C, Gebi UI, Muhammad MY, Shepherd BE, Wester CW, Vermund SH. Pregnant women with HIV in rural Nigeria have higher rates of antiretroviral treatment initiation, but similar loss to follow-up as non-pregnant women and men. International Health 2015, 7: 405-411. PMID: 26012740, PMCID: PMC4654753, DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihv032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-pregnant womenPregnant womenPregnancy statusCumulative incidenceART-naïve patientsEarly ART initiationPost-ART initiationAntiretroviral therapy initiationDays of enrollmentART-naïve HIVAntiretroviral treatment initiationRural NigeriaART initiationHigher CD4Therapy initiationTreatment initiationClinical stageCox regressionPatient groupPregnant clientsHIVLTFUWomenHigh rateSexEnrolment trends in a comprehensive HIV programme in rural north-central Nigeria: improved care indices, but declining quality of clinical data over time
Aliyu MH, Blevins M, Arinze F, Megazzini KM, Bussell S, Dunlap J, Odoh C, Gebi UI, Muhammad MY, Shepherd BE, Audet CM, Vermund SH, Wester CW. Enrolment trends in a comprehensive HIV programme in rural north-central Nigeria: improved care indices, but declining quality of clinical data over time. Pathogens And Global Health 2015, 109: 75-83. PMID: 25822098, PMCID: PMC4571821, DOI: 10.1179/2047773215y.0000000007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComprehensive HIV programsHIV programsComprehensive HIV/AIDS servicesCell countAdvanced clinical diseaseClinical stage INorth Central NigeriaHIV/AIDS servicesRural North-Central NigeriaQuality improvement effortsMedian CD4Clinical stagingMedian ageHIV servicesCare indexClinical dataClinical diseaseStage IAIDS servicesPatientsWindow periodHemoglobin dataClinical servicesEnrollment yearCells/HIV testing service awareness and service uptake among female heads of household in rural Mozambique: results from a province-wide survey
Paulin HN, Blevins M, Koethe JR, Hinton N, Vaz L, Vergara AE, Mukolo A, Ndatimana E, Moon TD, Vermund SH, Wester CW. HIV testing service awareness and service uptake among female heads of household in rural Mozambique: results from a province-wide survey. BMC Public Health 2015, 15: 132. PMID: 25881182, PMCID: PMC4339241, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1388-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth service accessService uptakeVCT servicesRural Zambézia ProvinceHigh HIV prevalencePopulation-based surveyRemote rural settingsConclusionsMost womenRural MozambiqueHigh HIVVoluntary counselingTwo-stage cluster sampleHIV prevalenceProvince-wide surveyService accessHIV stigmaHealth facilitiesZambézia ProvinceStigma scoresTesting utilizationStigma reductionLogistic regressionBaseline measuresSurvey domainsVCT
2014
Two-Year Death and Loss to Follow-Up Outcomes by Source of Referral to HIV Care for HIV-Infected Patients Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Rural Mozambique
Blevins M, José E, Bilhete FR, Vaz LM, Shepherd BE, Audet CM, Vermund SH, Moon TD. Two-Year Death and Loss to Follow-Up Outcomes by Source of Referral to HIV Care for HIV-Infected Patients Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Rural Mozambique. AIDS Research And Human Retroviruses 2014, 31: 198-207. PMID: 25381732, PMCID: PMC4532902, DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSource of referralCombination antiretroviral therapyRural Zambézia ProvinceReferral sitesAntiretroviral therapyAntenatal careGeneral outpatient clinicCumulative incidence estimatesAdditional unmeasured factorsCART initiationHIV careHazard ratioPatient characteristicsHIV testingMedian ageVoluntary counselingCox regressionOutpatient clinicKaplan-MeierPatient populationMedication pickupPatient outcomesInpatient careLTFUIncidence estimatesAssessing spatial patterns of HIV knowledge in rural Mozambique using geographic information systems
Buehler CP, Blevins M, Ossemane EB, González‐Calvo L, Ndatimana E, Vermund SH, Sidat M, Olupona O, Moon TD. Assessing spatial patterns of HIV knowledge in rural Mozambique using geographic information systems. Tropical Medicine And International Health 2014, 20: 353-364. PMID: 25430042, DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12437.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV knowledgeAntiretroviral therapyEnumeration areasMedian scorePopulation-based cluster surveyMore HIV knowledgeHIV knowledge scoresMultivariable linear regression modelsLow HIV knowledgePoor HIV knowledgeHIV knowledge levelsDistrict of residenceHealth facilitiesZambézia ProvinceNumber of childrenKnowledge scoreProgram plannersTherapyMore educationLinear regression modelsScoresAssessment toolRural MozambiqueRegression modelsRespondent age