2023
Scaling up evidence-based approaches to tuberculosis screening in prisons
Charalambous S, Velen K, Rueda Z, Croda J, Herce M, Shenoi S, Altice F, Muyoyeta M, Telisinghe L, Grandjean L, Keshavjee S, Andrews J. Scaling up evidence-based approaches to tuberculosis screening in prisons. The Lancet Public Health 2023, 8: e305-e310. PMID: 36780916, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(23)00002-6.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsIncidence of tuberculosisCase-finding strategyHigh tuberculosis burdenMinistry of HealthEvidence-based approachTuberculosis burdenTreatment cascadeTuberculosis screeningTuberculosis notificationsTuberculosis diagnosisGeneral populationCare programDiagnostic strategiesTuberculosisEvidence baseSystematic screeningHigh rateIncidenceScreeningSetting
2022
Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia
Bazazi A, Culbert G, Wegman M, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice F. Impact of prerelease methadone on mortality among people with HIV and opioid use disorder after prison release: results from a randomized and participant choice open-label trial in Malaysia. BMC Infectious Diseases 2022, 22: 837. PMID: 36368939, PMCID: PMC9652918, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07804-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist therapyInfectious etiologyMost deathsUse disordersSample of menPrison releaseOpen-label trialT-lymphocyte countsPredictors of mortalityNational death recordsCrude mortality rateProportional hazards modelCovariate-adjusted modelsLow CD4Methadone initiationModified intentionAgonist therapySurvival benefitTreat analysisMethodsThis studyHIVHazards modelMortality rateMethadoneInterest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Litz T, Kurmanalieva A, Galvez S, Rozanova J, Azbel L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Interest without uptake: A mixed-methods analysis of methadone utilization in Kyrgyz prisons. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0276723. PMID: 36282864, PMCID: PMC9595522, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsCriminal justice systemDepth qualitative interviewsMethadone utilizationMethadone treatmentMixed-method analysisBrief interventionJustice systemPrison systemCriminal subcultureQualitative interviewsEastern EuropeEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicQualitative findingsPrison releaseHIV prevention strategiesPrisonInjection drug useMedication-assisted therapyMethadone uptakeInterpersonal relationshipsAttitudesHealth-related concernsHIV, substance use, and mental health care in prisons
Fazel S, Bromberg DJ, Altice FL. HIV, substance use, and mental health care in prisons. The Lancet Psychiatry 2022, 9: 694-695. PMID: 35843228, PMCID: PMC9827418, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(22)00243-7.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Methadone within prison and linkage to and retention in treatment upon community release for people with opioid use disorder in Kyrgyzstan: Evaluation of a national program
Bachireddy C, Shrestha R, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Kurmanalieva A, Wegman M, Shumskaya N, Rozanova J, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Methadone within prison and linkage to and retention in treatment upon community release for people with opioid use disorder in Kyrgyzstan: Evaluation of a national program. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 101: 103558. PMID: 34915426, PMCID: PMC9998103, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV statusMean treatment durationOpioid use disorderPositive HIV statusDuration of treatmentMethadone doseHIV incidenceMethadone servicesMethadone treatmentIndependent correlatesHIV preventionUse disordersTreatment durationMethadoneNational programTreatmentHIVAdministrative dataCommunity releaseMonthsKyrgyz prisonsFirst evaluationIncarcerated peopleDurationReleaseMulti-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study
O'Hara GL, Liberman AR, Polonsky M, Azbel L, Marcus R, Doltu S, Cugut S, Altice FL. Multi-level implementation factors that influence scale-up of methadone maintenance treatment in Moldovan prisons: A qualitative study. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2021, 136: 108660. PMID: 34801282, PMCID: PMC10879837, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108660.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentCentral Asian regionNegative personal attitudesPrison hierarchySocial forcesInformal hierarchyMaintenance treatmentThematic barriersQualitative interviewsPrison populationInterview dataAsian regionPrisonPrison settingQualitative studyQuantitative surveyKey barriersNew HIV infectionsOpioid use disorderContent analysisComplete interview dataQualitative analysisDistrustPersonal attitudesPrisonersDecisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information
Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Rozanova J, Madden L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Decisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2021, 94: 103209. PMID: 33838398, PMCID: PMC8373625, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103209.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKyrgyz prisonsInformal governance systemSecondary thematic analysisMethadone uptakePrison governanceGovernance systemPrison economyPrison administrationQualitative interviewsInterrelated themesSocial risksPrison contextEastern EuropePrisonCentral AsiaKyrgyz RepublicUnderstanding contextThematic analysisDecisional considerationsContent analysisMethadone treatmentRespondents' perceptionsHIV preventionMethadone utilizationInterviewsModelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis
Stone J, Degenhardt L, Grebely J, Larney S, Altice FL, Smyrnov P, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Alavi M, Young AM, Havens JR, Miller WC, Hickman M, Vickerman P. Modelling the intervention effect of opioid agonist treatment on multiple mortality outcomes in people who inject drugs: a three-setting analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry 2021, 8: 301-309. PMID: 33640039, PMCID: PMC8255389, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30538-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentDrug-related deathsOAT coverageDrug-related harmAgonist treatmentHepatitis C virus transmissionC virus transmissionOverall health benefitsUK National InstituteNational InstituteHIV 0OAT retentionHIV mortalityInjury 3Opioid dependenceMortality outcomesUS National InstitutesHCV-2Overdose deathsSignificant additional effectIntervention effectsDrug abuseHealth benefitsMortalityDeath
2020
A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction
Meyer JP, Culbert GJ, Azbel L, Bachireddy C, Kurmanalieva A, Rhodes T, Altice FL. A qualitative study of diphenhydramine injection in Kyrgyz prisons and implications for harm reduction. Harm Reduction Journal 2020, 17: 86. PMID: 33129341, PMCID: PMC7603760, DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00435-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeedle/syringe programsMethadone maintenance therapyHIV prevention effortsMental health consequencesDiphenhydramine injectionMaintenance therapyOpioid dependenceHIV transmissionState of euphoriaSyringe programsIllicit injectionSkin infectionsMethadone utilizationStudy participantsHarmful drugsHealth consequencesMethadonePrevention effortsHarm reductionAntihistaminesInjectionFurther investigationKyrgyz prisonsVisible woundsQualitative study
2019
Prisons: ignore them at our peril.
Kamarulzaman A, Verster A, Altice FL. Prisons: ignore them at our peril. Current Opinion In HIV And AIDS 2019, 14: 415-422. PMID: 31343458, PMCID: PMC7137098, DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000572.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication-assisted therapyDrug useHIV prevention toolPrevalence of HIVMedication-assisted treatmentSyringe services programCriminal justice settingsBasic healthcareMiddle-income settingsHCV preventionOpioid dependenceTreatment strategiesHigh prevalenceOverdose managementRoutine screeningPrevention servicesHIVKey populationsMental healthcareHCVConsolidated guidelinesPrevention toolJustice settingsTreatmentEffective screeningEvaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine
Ranjit YS, Azbel L, Krishnan A, Altice FL, Meyer JP. Evaluation of HIV risk and outcomes in a nationally representative sample of incarcerated women in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. AIDS Care 2019, 31: 793-797. PMID: 30701981, PMCID: PMC6510603, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1573969.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveAzerbaijanCommunicable DiseasesComorbidityContinuity of Patient CareFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHepatitis CHIV InfectionsHumansKyrgyzstanMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedPrevalencePrisonersPrisonsSubstance-Related DisordersSurveys and QuestionnairesSyphilisUkraineConceptsAlcohol use disorderAntiretroviral therapyHIV preventionHIV riskHIV care continuumCells/μLHigh-risk groupComorbid substance useEffective HIV preventionGlobal HIV preventionHigh rateHepatitis CIncarcerated womenHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV prevalencePsychiatric comorbidityDrug injectionRepresentative sampleCare continuumRisk groupsPsychiatric disordersMost womenUse disordersTreatment interventionsRetention in clinical trials after prison release: results from a clinical trial with incarcerated men with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia
Chandra DK, Bazazi AR, Solim M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL, Culbert GJ. Retention in clinical trials after prison release: results from a clinical trial with incarcerated men with HIV and opioid dependence in Malaysia. HIV Research & Clinical Practice 2019, 20: 12-23. PMID: 31303149, PMCID: PMC6698147, DOI: 10.1080/15284336.2019.1603433.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinical trialsStudy visitHIV clinical trialsOpioid dependenceMethadone initiationStudy retentionHolistic Health Recovery ProgramPrison releaseHIV risk reduction interventionsRisk reduction interventionsIncarcerated menStandard careMethadone treatmentReduction interventionsStudy participantsFactorial trialHIVBehavioral interventionsTrialsVisitsMost participantsInterventionMenCommunity reentryRecovery program
2018
Drug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments
Azbel L, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Bachireddy C, Meyer J, Shumskaya N, Kurmanalieva A, Dvoryak S, Altice FL. Drug injection within prison in Kyrgyzstan: elevated HIV risk and implications for scaling up opioid agonist treatments. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2018, 14: 175-187. PMID: 30274558, PMCID: PMC6447033, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-03-2017-0016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMethadone maintenance treatmentNeedle syringe programsDrug injectionDrug injectorsHigh HIV risk behaviorElevated HIV riskPrison drug injectionHepatitis C infectionOpioid agonist treatmentHIV risk behaviorsC infectionHIV incidenceAgonist treatmentMaintenance treatmentIndependent correlatesBiobehavioral surveysHIV riskOnly examinationRisk behaviorsMMT useLow uptakeCurrent incarcerationInjectionLogit linkHigh-risk environmentsPrisoner health status at three rural Haitian prisons
LaMonaca K, Desai M, May JP, Lyon E, Altice FL. Prisoner health status at three rural Haitian prisons. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2018, 14: 197-209. PMID: 30274560, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2017-0010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexHealth statusPhysical functionSociodemographic characteristicsSelf-reported physical functionBetter overall health statusHigher body mass indexPrisoners' health statusOverall health statusCross-sectional studyPhysical health statusMental health statusPoor health outcomesSelf-rated healthLength of detentionAdequate medical careMass indexFood insecurityHealth outcomesAdequate nutritionMedical carePrisoner healthRegional prisonsLow-income countriesMental healthAll-cause mortality among people with HIV released from an integrated system of jails and prisons in Connecticut, USA, 2007–14: a retrospective observational cohort study
Loeliger KB, Altice FL, Ciarleglio MM, Rich KM, Chandra DK, Gallagher C, Desai MM, Meyer JP. All-cause mortality among people with HIV released from an integrated system of jails and prisons in Connecticut, USA, 2007–14: a retrospective observational cohort study. The Lancet HIV 2018, 5: e617-e628. PMID: 30197101, PMCID: PMC6279524, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(18)30175-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIndex releaseCause mortalityMortality rateRetrospective observational cohort studyCox proportional hazards modelLow CD4 countObservational cohort studyHIV surveillance dataCrude mortality rateGeneral US populationProportional hazards modelStandardised mortality ratiosSubstance use disordersSystems of careHIV/AIDSSurvival of peopleVirological failureAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countMedical comorbiditiesCohort studyRetrospective cohortMedian ageLiver diseaseViral loadCreating, reinforcing, and resisting the gender binary: a qualitative study of transgender women’s healthcare experiences in sex-segregated jails and prisons
Hughto J, Clark KA, Altice FL, Reisner SL, Kershaw TS, Pachankis JE. Creating, reinforcing, and resisting the gender binary: a qualitative study of transgender women’s healthcare experiences in sex-segregated jails and prisons. International Journal Of Prisoner Health 2018, 14: 69-88. PMID: 29869582, PMCID: PMC5992494, DOI: 10.1108/ijph-02-2017-0011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGender binaryTransgender womenHealthcare experiencesWomen's healthcare experiencesResearch limitations/implications FindingsCorrectional healthcare providersProviders' limited knowledgeDesign/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviewsWomen ActFirst-hand accountsWomen's accessMethodology/approachOriginality/valueInstitutional cultureMulti-level barriersStructural stigmaFeminine identityInstitutional policiesFindings ParticipantsImplications FindingsQualitative studyHealthcare barriersInsufficient accessPrison
2017
Predictors of linkage to HIV care and viral suppression after release from jails and prisons: a retrospective cohort study
Loeliger KB, Altice FL, Desai MM, Ciarleglio MM, Gallagher C, Meyer JP. Predictors of linkage to HIV care and viral suppression after release from jails and prisons: a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet HIV 2017, 5: e96-e106. PMID: 29191440, PMCID: PMC5807129, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(17)30209-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV treatment outcomesHIV careViral suppressionTreatment outcomesPoor HIV treatment outcomesMore medical comorbiditiesPost-release linkagePredictors of linkageRetrospective cohort studyDetectable viral loadCase management servicesCase management dataTransitional case managementHealth care goalsAntiretroviral therapyMedical comorbiditiesCohort studyRetrospective cohortDays of releaseViral loadPharmacy databasePsychiatric comorbidityUS National InstitutesCase management needsHispanic ethnicityImproving correctional healthcare providers' ability to care for transgender patients: Development and evaluation of a theory-driven cultural and clinical competence intervention
Hughto J, Clark KA, Altice FL, Reisner SL, Kershaw TS, Pachankis JE. Improving correctional healthcare providers' ability to care for transgender patients: Development and evaluation of a theory-driven cultural and clinical competence intervention. Social Science & Medicine 2017, 195: 159-169. PMID: 29096945, PMCID: PMC5712271, DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.10.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCorrectional healthcare providersGender-affirming careTransgender patientsHealthcare providersClinical competenceTransgender careTransgender cultural competenceFuture efficacy testingLinear mixed-effects regression modelsHealthcare providers' abilityQualitative exit interviewsMixed effects regression modelsGroup-based interventionHormone therapyPatientsProviders' willingnessTransgender womenStudy outcomesExit interviewsCareEfficacy testingInterventionProviders' abilityEffects regression modelsConfidential surveyA qualitative assessment of an abstinence-oriented therapeutic community for prisoners with substance use disorders in Kyrgyzstan
Azbel L, Rozanova J, Michels I, Altice FL, Stöver H. A qualitative assessment of an abstinence-oriented therapeutic community for prisoners with substance use disorders in Kyrgyzstan. Harm Reduction Journal 2017, 14: 43. PMID: 28693573, PMCID: PMC5504733, DOI: 10.1186/s12954-017-0168-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUse disordersDrug useMethadone maintenance therapy programInjection drug useOpioid use disorderTherapeutic communitySubstance use disordersAddiction treatment outcomesCommunity staff membersLack of evidenceMethadone patientsTreatment optionsTreatment outcomesFuture treatmentTherapy programEvidence baseConvenience samplePatientsHigh rateLack of servicesPost-release programsPolicy documentsDisordersResultsOur analysisParticipant observationLeveraging the U.S. Criminal Justice System to Access Women for HIV Interventions
Meyer JP, Muthulingam D, El-Bassel N, Altice FL. Leveraging the U.S. Criminal Justice System to Access Women for HIV Interventions. AIDS And Behavior 2017, 21: 3527-3548. PMID: 28534199, PMCID: PMC5699977, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1778-6.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsHIV interventionsCJ systemGender-stratified analysesEffective implementation strategiesHIV treatmentHIV preventionIntervention deliveryPrevention programsTreatment programUnique interventionsWomenInvolved womenFurther studiesInterventionProgram effectivenessImplementation strategiesPrevention