2024
Characterizing a syndemic: STI symptoms, substance use & violence among incarcerated Peruvian women
Hashemi E, Cyrus E, Turpin R, Bazo A, Morgan-Lopez A, Scheidell J, Leon S, Altice F, Sciaudone M, Dyer T. Characterizing a syndemic: STI symptoms, substance use & violence among incarcerated Peruvian women. European Journal Of Public Health 2024, 34: ckae144.1502. PMCID: PMC11517018, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.1502.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIncarcerated womenSubstance useInterpersonal violenceSexually transmitted infection symptomsIncreased rates of incarcerationSexually transmitted infectionsExperiences of interpersonal violenceRates of incarcerationSTI symptomsLatent profile analysisViolenceLatent classesAt-risk populationsIncarcerationPrisonPeruvian womenEpidemiological dataSexual behaviorSymptomsLogistic regressionWomenBivariate analysisLatent profile analysis modelSubstancesIncreased rate
2022
Formative Evaluation of the Acceptance of HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbots By Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Focus Group Study
Peng ML, Wickersham JA, Altice FL, Shrestha R, Azwa I, Zhou X, Halim MAA, Ikhtiaruddin WM, Tee V, Kamarulzaman A, Ni Z. Formative Evaluation of the Acceptance of HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbots By Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Focus Group Study. JMIR Formative Research 2022, 6: e42055. PMID: 36201390, PMCID: PMC9585446, DOI: 10.2196/42055.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV testingMobile health interventionsMobile health strategiesHealth care professionalsStigmatized health conditionsElevated riskHealth strategiesCare professionalsKey populationsHealth interventionsDigital health toolsFocus group studyHealth awarenessHIVHealth toolsHealth conditionsPervasive stigmaGroup studyPreventionImplementation strategiesPotential implementation strategiesSexual behaviorMenPublic healthTechnical errors
2021
Assessing mobile technology use and mHealth acceptance among HIV-positive men who have sex with men and transgender women in Malaysia
Krishnan A, Weikum D, Cravero C, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Assessing mobile technology use and mHealth acceptance among HIV-positive men who have sex with men and transgender women in Malaysia. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0248705. PMID: 33755693, PMCID: PMC7987189, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuboptimal ART adherenceTransgender womenAntiretroviral therapyART adherenceHIV-positive MSMHIV-positive populationInjection drug useHIV-positive menAcceptability of mHealthRisky sexual behaviorHIV preventionTreatment strategiesUnsafe sexDrug useMHealth acceptanceExcellent accessMHealth platformSexual behaviorMenMobile healthSocietal stigmaSexMSMMHealth researchWomen
2018
“You Have to Keep Yourself Hidden”: Perspectives From Malaysian Malay-Muslim Men Who Have Sex With Men on Policy, Network, Community, and Individual Influences on HIV Risk
Lim SH, Brown SE, Shaw SA, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL, Beyrer C. “You Have to Keep Yourself Hidden”: Perspectives From Malaysian Malay-Muslim Men Who Have Sex With Men on Policy, Network, Community, and Individual Influences on HIV Risk. Journal Of Homosexuality 2018, 67: 104-126. PMID: 30307803, DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2018.1525946.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV riskConcerns of participantsFear of discriminationFocus group discussionsHomophobic commentsMuslim countriesDepth interviewsReligious leadersSoutheast AsiaHIV/AIDSGroup discussionsPolicyCommunityLow risk perceptionRisk perceptionHealth servicesKuala LumpurSexual behaviorIndividual factorsMost participantsGovernmentHomosexualityLeadersInterviewsReligion
2017
A Qualitative Assessment of Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Peru
Vagenas P, Brown SE, Clark JL, Konda KA, Lama JR, Sánchez J, Duerr AC, Altice FL. A Qualitative Assessment of Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Peru. Substance Use & Misuse 2017, 52: 831-839. PMID: 28426357, PMCID: PMC5595368, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1264968.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderMSM/transgender womenTransgender womenAlcohol consumptionRisk behaviorsRisky sexual behaviorConcentrated HIV epidemicMultiple sexual partnersSexual behaviorSexual risk behaviorsAntiretroviral therapyHIV infectionHIV incidenceHIV transmissionMedication adherenceProblematic drinkingSemi-structured focus groupsHIV epidemicHigh prevalencePharmacological interventionsUse disordersFocus groupsUnprotected sexAlcohol dependencePeruvian men
2015
Validation of the ‘drinking expectancy questionnaire for men who have sex with men’ in Peru
Vagenas P, Wickersham JA, Calabrese SK, Lama JR, Benites CM, Pun M, Sanchez J, Altice FL. Validation of the ‘drinking expectancy questionnaire for men who have sex with men’ in Peru. Drug And Alcohol Review 2015, 34: 559-566. PMID: 26120824, PMCID: PMC4795987, DOI: 10.1111/dar.12282.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransgender womenRisky sexual behaviorIntervention targetsHigh-risk MSMSexual behaviorAlcohol use disorderHigh-risk behaviorsSpanish versionPotential intervention targetsPeruvian MSMHIV epidemicGeneral populationUse disordersClinical practiceMSMShort instrumentTwo-factor structureFurther screeningProblematic drinkingExpectancyMenExploratory factor analysisExpectancy QuestionnairePopulationLarge populationMen Who Have Sex With Men in Peru: Acceptability of Medication-Assisted Therapy for Treating Alcohol Use Disorders
Brown SE, Vagenas P, Konda KA, Clark JL, Lama JR, Gonzales P, Sanchez J, Duerr AC, Altice FL. Men Who Have Sex With Men in Peru: Acceptability of Medication-Assisted Therapy for Treating Alcohol Use Disorders. American Journal Of Men's Health 2015, 11: 1269-1278. PMID: 25787988, PMCID: PMC4573823, DOI: 10.1177/1557988315576775.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMSM/transgender womenAlcohol use disorderMedication-assisted therapyTransgender womenUse disordersManagement of AUDAntiretroviral therapy adherenceAlcohol problemsRisky sexual behaviorPeruvian MSMTherapy adherenceClinical trialsHIV epidemicTreatment programTotal abstinenceLess alcoholTherapyThematic content analysisMultiple studiesMedicationsSexual behaviorHIVDrinking behaviorMenFamily support
2013
Being Unaware of Being HIV-Infected is Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Peru
Vagenas P, Ludford KT, Gonzales P, Peinado J, Cabezas C, Gonzales F, Lama JR, Sanchez J, Altice FL, for the Peruvian HIV Sentinel Surveillance Working Group. Being Unaware of Being HIV-Infected is Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Peru. AIDS And Behavior 2013, 18: 120-127. PMID: 23670711, PMCID: PMC3796203, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-013-0504-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderHigh-risk sexual behaviorHIV infectionUse disordersMultivariate logistic regressionUnprotected anal intercourseSexual behaviorHIV-InfectedHIV statusSyphilis testingHIV riskAnal intercourseTherapy interventionHIVLogistic regressionMenLast encounterSexInfectionDisordersParticipantsRisk assessmentMSMPeruvian citiesMonths