Feasibility and acceptability of self-collection of Human Papillomavirus samples for primary cervical cancer screening on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua: A mixed-methods study

BackgroundCervical cancer is the primary cause of cancer death for women in Nicaragua, despite being highly preventable through vaccination against high-risk genotypes of the Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV), screening for hrHPV, and early detection of lesions. Despite technological advances designed to increase access to screening in low resource settings, barriers to increasing population-level screening coverage persist. On the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, only 59% of women have received one lifetime screen, compared to 78.6% of eligible women living on the Pacific and in the Interior. In concordance with the WHO’s call for best practices to eliminate cervical cancer, we explored the feasibility and acceptability of self-collection of samples for hrHPV testing on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua through a multi-year, bi-national, community-based mixed methods study.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2019, focus groups (n=25), key informant interviews (n=12) [phase I] and an environmental scan [phase II] were conducted on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua in partnership and collaboration with long-term research partners at the University of Virginia and community-based organizations. In spring 2020, underscreened women on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua were recruited and screened for hrHPV, with the choice of clinician collection or self-collection of samples.ResultsOver the course of the study, providers and potential patients expressed significant acceptability of self-collection of samples as a strategy to reduce barriers currently contributing to the low rates of screening (phases I and II). Ultimately 99.16% (n=1,767) of women chose to self-collect samples, demonstrating a high level of acceptability of self-collection in this pilot sample (phase III). Similarly, focus groups, key informant interviews, and the environmental scan (phases I and II) of resources indicated critical considerations for feasibility of implementation of both HPV primary screening and subsequently, self-collection of samples. Through phase III, we piloted hrHPV screening (n=1,782), with a 19.25% hrHPV positivity rate.ConclusionSelf-collection of samples for hrHPV testing demonstrated high acceptability and feasibility. Through concerted effort at the local, regional, and national levels, this project supported capacity building in reporting, monitoring, and surveilling cervical cancer screening across the continuum of cervical cancer control

Trends, variation, and clinical characteristics of recipients of antiviral drugs and neutralising monoclonal antibodies for covid-19 in community settings: retrospective, descriptive cohort study of 23.4 million people in OpenSAFELY

Objective: To ascertain patient eligibility status and describe coverage of antiviral drugs and neutralising monoclonal antibodies (nMAB) as treatment for covid-19 in community settings in England. Design: Retrospective, descriptive cohort study, approved by NHS England. Setting: Routine clinical data from 23.4 million people linked to data on covid-19 infection and treatment, within the OpenSAFELY-TPP database. Participants: Outpatients with covid-19 at high risk of severe outcomes. Interventions: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (paxlovid), sotrovimab, molnupiravir, casirivimab/imdevimab, or remdesivir, used in the community by covid-19 medicine delivery units. Results: 93 870 outpatients with covid-19 were identified between 11 December 2021 and 28 April 2022 to be at high risk of severe outcomes and therefore potentially eligible for antiviral or nMAB treatment (or both). Of these patients, 19 040 (20%) received treatment (sotrovimab, 9660 (51%); molnupiravir, 4620 (24%); paxlovid, 4680 (25%); casirivimab/imdevimab, 50 (<1%); and remdesivir, 30 (<1%)). The proportion of patients treated increased from 9% (190/2220) in the first week of treatment availability to 29% (460/1600) in the latest week. The proportion treated varied by high risk group, being lowest in those with liver disease (16%; 95% confidence interval 15% to 17%); by treatment type, with sotrovimab favoured over molnupiravir and paxlovid in all but three high risk groups (Down's syndrome (35%; 30% to 39%), rare neurological conditions (45%; 43% to 47%), and immune deficiencies (48%; 47% to 50%)); by age, ranging from ≥80 years (13%; 12% to 14%) to 50-59 years (23%; 22% to 23%); by ethnic group, ranging from black (11%; 10% to 12%) to white (21%; 21% to 21%); by NHS region, ranging from 13% (12% to 14%) in Yorkshire and the Humber to 25% (24% to 25%) in the East of England); and by deprivation level, ranging from 15% (14% to 15%) in the most deprived areas to 23% (23% to 24%) in the least deprived areas. Groups that also had lower coverage included unvaccinated patients (7%; 6% to 9%), those with dementia (6%; 5% to 7%), and care home residents (6%; 6% to 7%). Conclusions: Using the OpenSAFELY platform, we were able to identify patients with covid-19 at high risk of severe outcomes who were potentially eligible to receive treatment and assess the coverage of these new treatments among these patients. In the context of a rapid deployment of a new service, the NHS analytical code used to determine eligibility could have been over-inclusive and some of the eligibility criteria not fully captured in healthcare data. However targeted activity might be needed to resolve apparent lower treatment coverage observed among certain groups, in particular (at present): different NHS regions, ethnic groups, people aged ≥80 years, those living in socioeconomically deprived areas, and care home residents

Early Life Child Micronutrient Status, Maternal Reasoning, and a Nurturing Household Environment have Persistent Influences on Child Cognitive Development at Age 5 years : Results from MAL-ED

Funding Information: The Etiology, Risk Factors and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development Project (MAL-ED) is carried out as a collaborative project supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation for the NIH, and the National Institutes of Health/Fogarty International Center. This work was also supported by the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (D43-TW009359 to ETR). Author disclosures: BJJM, SAR, LEC, LLP, JCS, BK, RR, RS, ES, LB, ZR, AM, RS, BN, SH, MR, RO, ETR, and LEM-K, no conflicts of interest. Supplemental Tables 1–5 and Supplemental Figures 1–3 are available from the “Supplementary data” link in the online posting of the article and from the same link in the online table of contents at https://academic.oup.com/jn/. Address correspondence to LEM-K (e-mail: [email protected]). Abbreviations used: HOME, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment inventory; MAL-ED, The Etiology, Risk Factors, and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development Project; TfR, transferrin receptor; WPPSI, Wechsler Preschool Primary Scales of Intelligence.Peer reviewe

Early life child micronutrient status, maternal reasoning, and a nurturing household environment have persistent influences on child cognitive development at age 5 years: Results from MAL-ED

Background: Child cognitive development is influenced by early-life insults and protective factors. To what extent these factors have a long-term legacy on child development and hence fulfillment of cognitive potential is unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between early-life factors (birth to 2 y) and cognitive development at 5 y. Methods: Observational follow-up visits were made of children at 5 y, previously enrolled in the community-based MAL-ED longitudinal cohort. The burden of enteropathogens, prevalence of illness, complementary diet intake, micronutrient status, and household and maternal factors from birth to 2 y were extensively measured and their relation with the Wechsler Preschool Primary Scales of Intelligence at 5 y was examined through use of linear regression. Results: Cognitive T-scores from 813 of 1198 (68%) children were examined and 5 variables had significant associations in multivariable models: mean child plasma transferrin receptor concentration (β: −1.81, 95% CI: −2.75, −0.86), number of years of maternal education (β: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.45), maternal cognitive reasoning score (β: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.15), household assets score (β: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.04), and HOME child cleanliness factor (β: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.15). In multivariable models, the mean rate of enteropathogen detections, burden of illness, and complementary food intakes between birth and 2 y were not significantly related to 5-y cognition. Conclusions: A nurturing home context in terms of a healthy/clean environment and household wealth, provision of adequate micronutrients, maternal education, and cognitive reasoning have a strong and persistent influence on child cognitive development. Efforts addressing aspects of poverty around micronutrient status, nurturing caregiving, and enabling home environments are likely to have lasting positive impacts on child cognitive development.publishedVersio

Effects of recent Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program policy changes on diabetes and hyperlipidemia control in people living with HIV

Objectives: To describe the impacts of Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program’s elimination of diabetes and hyperlipidemia medication on disease outcomes in people living with HIV. Methods: Data were collected on two groups of people living with HIV who were prescribed medications for diabetes and/or hyperlipidemia; one group received medications from AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and the other group received medications from another source. Data were collected for 13 months before and after the policy change. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and HIV control were compared using standard laboratory measures. Results: During the pre-policy-change time period, non-ADAP patients had better diabetes control than ADAP patients, but with multivariate analysis, ADAP status was no longer a statistically significant predictor. Otherwise, no significant differences between groups were identified. Discussion: ADAP patients had worse diabetes control compared to the non-ADAP group before the policy change. It is possible that this is due to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program population’s poor access to non-HIV primary care, including care for diabetes. It is reassuring that, even during a time of flux in AIDS Drug Assistance Program resources, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program patients’ co-morbid and HIV outcomes were not negatively impacted

Hospital days attributable to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in persons living with HIV before and after the 2012 DHHS HIV guidelines

Abstract Background Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) can manifest with initiation or reintroduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in persons living with HIV (PLWH). In 2012, updated United States treatment guidelines recommended initiation of ART for all PLWH regardless of CD4 count. The objectives of this study were to quantify hospital usage attributable to IRIS and assess the reasons for hospitalization in PLWH before and after the guideline update. Methods Subjects were PLWH between 18–89 years of age who were hospitalized between November 1, 2009 and July 31, 2014. Equivalent time periods before and after updated treatment guidelines were considered, and designated as Time Period 1 and Time Period 2, respectively. IRIS-attributable hospitalizations were identified by ICD9 codes and electronic medical record searches with subsequent review and confirmation. For hospitalizations that were not confirmed as being IRIS-attributable, primary discharge diagnoses were reviewed. Results A total of 278 PLWH were hospitalized 521 times throughout the study period. Time Period 1 had 9 PLWH with 12 IRIS-attributable hospitalizations while Time Period 2 had 6 PLWH with 9 IRIS-attributable hospitalizations. A larger proportion of IRIS-attributable hospital days was observed in Time Period 1 compared to Time Period 2 (7.5 vs 4.2%; p < 0.001). Median length of stay for IRIS-attributable hospitalizations was longer than for other diagnoses, particularly during Time Period 1 (12.0 vs 4.0; p = 0.05). The most common causes for hospitalizations in PLWH were non AIDS-defining infection, AIDS-defining malignancy, and gastrointestinal. PLWH who had HIV viral suppression (<200 copies/mL) accounted for 34 and 24% of hospitalizations in Time Periods 1 and 2 respectively. Conclusions Hospitalizations for PLWH continue at high rates and IRIS is a significant contributing factor. In our single-center study, there was a lower number of IRIS-attributable hospitalizations and IRIS-attributable hospital days in Time Period 2 compared with Time Period 1. The hospital burden of IRIS may decrease over time as more PLWH are started on ART earlier in the course of infection. This study highlights the continued importance of early diagnosis and linkage to care of those infected with HIV, so that morbidity and costs associated with IRIS continue to decline

Current Challenges to the United States’ AIDS Drug Assistance Program and Possible Implications of the Affordable Care Act

AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, enacted through the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990, are the “payer of last resort” for prescription medications for lower income, uninsured, or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS. ADAPs face declining funding from the federal government. State funding of ADAP is discretionary, but some states increased their contributions to meet the gap in funding. The demand for ADAP support is increasing as people living with HIV are living longer; the antiretroviral therapy (ART) guidelines have been changed to recommend initiation of treatment for all; the United States is increasing HIV testing goals; and the recession continues. In the setting of increased demand and limited funding, ADAPs are employing cost containment measures. Since 2010, emergency federal funds have bailed out ADAP, but these are not sustainable. In the coming years, providers and policy makers associated with HIV care will need to navigate the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Lessons learned from the challenges associated with providing sustainable access to ART for vulnerable populations through ADAP should inform upcoming decisions about how to ensure delivery of ART during and after the implementation of the ACA

Calculating the variance of the finite rate of population change from a matrix model in 'Mathematica'

The finite annual rate of population increase (λ) is a fundamental demographic parameter that characterizes the relative annual change in animal numbers. Uncertainty in the estimation of λ from demographic population viability analyses (PVAs) has been largely limited to sensitivity analysis, calculating a pseudo-distribution 'λ' using Monte Carlo methods, or by use of bootstrap methods. The delta method has been used and suggested by several researchers, but no one has provided the computational means to implement it. In this paper, we present 'Mathematica' code to calculate λ and its variance based on eigenvalue calculations of a Leslie transition matrix. We demonstrate the procedure using data from a Hawaiian hawk ('Buteo solitarius') study