Publications

African American adults are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States, underscoring the need for additional research on barriers to condom use. Guided by the theory of gender and power, this experimental study used a series of vignettes to test causal hypotheses regarding the influence of event-level alcohol use (present and absent), partner type (serious and casual), and relationship power (low and equal) on perceived difficulty implementing condom use. A total of 299 (151 women and 148 men) heterosexual African American adults indicated how "difficult" it would be to use a condom after reading 8 hypothetical sexual encounters, presented in a random order. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of covariance with one between subjects factor (gender) and one covariate (condom use self-efficacy) was used to estimate the effects of these variables on an index of perceived difficulty. The women in the study reported significantly higher ratings of difficulty implementing condom use in vignettes characterized by low relationship power (p < .001) and presence of alcohol use (p < .001); the manipulated independent variables did not produce any main effects for men. Both men and women's ratings of perceived difficulty decreased as condom use self-efficacy increased (p < .001). This is the first study to use an experimental methodology to test hypotheses about barriers to condom use among a community-based sample of African American adults. These data can be used to enhance existing HIV prevention interventions.

BACKGROUND

Existing data suggest that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected African Americans carrying 2 copies of the APOL1 risk alleles have greater risk of kidney disease than noncarriers. We sought to determine whether HIV RNA suppression mitigates APOL1-related kidney function decline among African Americans enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

METHODS

We genotyped HIV-infected men for the G1 and G2 risk alleles and ancestry informative markers. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate the annual rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, comparing men carrying 2 (high-risk) vs 0-1 risk allele (low-risk). Effect modification by HIV suppression status (defined as HIV type 1 RNA level <400 copies/mL for >90% of follow-up time) was evaluated using interaction terms and stratified analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 333 African American men included in this study, 54 (16%) carried the APOL1 high-risk genotype. Among HIV-infected men with unsuppressed viral loads, those with the high-risk genotype had a 2.42 mL/minute/1.73 m(2) (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.52 to -1.32) faster annual eGFR decline than men with the low-risk genotype. This association was independent of age, comorbid conditions, baseline eGFR, ancestry, and HIV-related factors. In contrast, the rate of decline was similar by APOL1 genotype among men with sustained viral suppression (-0.16 mL/minute/1.73 m(2)/year; 95% CI, -.59 to .27; P for interaction <.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Unsuppressed HIV-infected African Americans with the APOL1 high-risk genotype experience an accelerated rate of kidney function decline; HIV suppression with antiretroviral therapy may reduce these deleterious renal effects.

Emergency contraceptives (EC) are forms of contraception that women can use after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. EC use is safe for women of all ages, and there are no medical contraindications to its use. There are two types of emergency contraceptive pills currently available: ulipristal acetate (UPA) and levonorgestrel. UPA is the most effective oral option for EC. In the United States, levonorgestrel containing ECPs are available without prescription to women and men without age restrictions. However, the more effective UPA pills require a prescription. ECPs do not cause abortion or harm an established pregnancy. Placement of a copper intrauterine device (IUD) is more effective EC than either UPA or levonorgestrel, and requires a timely visit with a trained clinician. EC pills are less effective for women who are overweight or obese, therefore such women should be offered a copper IUD or ulipristal rather than levonorgestrel pills. Any woman requesting EC after unprotected intercourse should be offered treatment within 120 hours of intercourse, as should all women who are victims of sexual assault. Women requesting EC should be offered information and services for ongoing contraception. Although levonorgestrel EC is now available over-the-counter, ongoing need exists to educate women about emergency contraception to encourage prompt use of EC when it is needed.