2025
A Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among People with HIV who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Davis A, Rozental E, Bolger N, Gulyayev V, Gulyayev P, Denebayeva A, Wen H, Cui J, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Samandas J, Altice F, Remien R, Mergenova G. A Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among People with HIV who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS And Behavior 2025, 1-13. PMID: 40773102, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-025-04841-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAntiretroviral therapy adherencePost-interventionIntervention armSelf-reported ART adherenceAntiretroviral therapySocial support interventionsImmediately post-interventionLargest HIV clinicStandard of careFollow-upMultilevel mixed modelsOne-month follow-upInjected drugsSix-month follow-upRandomized Controlled TrialsDyad-level factorsSupport interventionsPre-interventionSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyIntervention sessionsART adherenceSupportive partnersHIV clinicNo significant differenceHIV epidemicEvaluating the Usability of an HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbot in Malaysia: National Observational Study
Ni Z, Oh S, Saifi R, Azwa I, Altice F. Evaluating the Usability of an HIV Prevention Artificial Intelligence Chatbot in Malaysia: National Observational Study. JMIR Human Factors 2025, 12: e70034. PMID: 40663792, PMCID: PMC12283058, DOI: 10.2196/70034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV self-test kitsPromote HIV testingSelf-test kitsHIV testingAI chatbotsObservational studyMSM-friendly clinicsFree HIV self-testing kitArtificial intelligenceDevelopment platformMental health servicesMiddle-income countriesPersonal health informationHuman-chatbot interactionsUpper middle-income countriesNational observational studyMachine learning algorithmsHealth servicesArtificial intelligence chatbotsHealth informationMental healthCommunity outreachSocial networking appsHealthcare systemHIV epidemicExploring barriers and potential solutions before implementing a scale-up strategy to expand methadone coverage among people who inject drugs in Tajikistan
O'Hara G, Madden L, Burkhonov A, Alaei A, Mohsinzoda G, Bromberg D, Abdullozoda J, Yusufi S, Altice F. Exploring barriers and potential solutions before implementing a scale-up strategy to expand methadone coverage among people who inject drugs in Tajikistan. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2025, 172: 209682. PMID: 40139416, DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209682.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNominal group techniquePre-implementationImplementation strategiesSecondary HIV prevention strategyHIV prevention strategiesPre-implementation studyAgonist therapyOpioid agonist therapy scale-upHIV epidemicPre-implementation activitiesMethadoneFocus groupsPrevention strategiesCentral Asian regionOpioidGroup techniquePWIDOrganizational factorsNIATxSocietal factorsRecipientsScale-up strategyDrugExploration of the multi-level barriers to scaling up methadone for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan
Liberman A, Rozental Y, Ivasiy R, Kussainova A, Primbetova S, Madden L, Terlikbayeva A, Altice F. Exploration of the multi-level barriers to scaling up methadone for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan. Journal Of Substance Use And Addiction Treatment 2025, 172: 209640. PMID: 39986387, PMCID: PMC12009200, DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209640.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNominal group techniqueHIV preventionCommunity health workersMulti-level barriersIn-depth interviewsHealth workersPWID clientsSocioecological modelCommunity stakeholdersOpioid use disorderFocus groupsHIV epidemicClinical directorsClinical sitesEducating clientsOpioid agonist therapyImprove implementationGroup techniqueResearch teamCHWsPolicy levelUse disorderCliniciansAlternative medicationsEligibility
2024
Transformation of the HIV treatment cascade for people who inject drugs in Ukraine
Bromberg D, Rhoades D, Madden L, Ivasiy R, Meteliuk A, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Nikitin B, Farnum S, Fomenko T, Dvoriak S, Altice F. Transformation of the HIV treatment cascade for people who inject drugs in Ukraine. AIDS 2024, 39: 306-311. PMID: 39589135, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000004056.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid agonist therapyAntiretroviral therapyImprove HIV treatment outcomesHIV treatment outcomesHIV care cascadeCross-sectional biobehavioral surveyTreatment outcomesCare cascadeUkraine's HIV epidemicPrescription of antiretroviral therapyPrescribed antiretroviral therapyAdherence to antiretroviral therapyHIV treatment cascadeAgonist therapyBiobehavioral surveyOpioid dependenceHIV diagnosisTreatment cascadeHIV epidemicHIVOpioidPWIDTherapyDrugOutcomesA qualitative dyad analysis of barriers and facilitators of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV in Kazakhstan
Neuenschwander P, Altice F, Remien R, Mergenova G, Sarsembayeva L, Rozental E, Gulyayev V, Davis A. A qualitative dyad analysis of barriers and facilitators of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV in Kazakhstan. AIDS Care 2024, 37: 151-160. PMID: 39404196, PMCID: PMC11682916, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2024.2414078.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAntiretroviral therapy adherenceSocial supportART adherenceFacilitators of ART adherenceBarriers to ART adherenceAntiretroviral therapyART adherence interventionsInjection drug useDyad analysisAdherence interventionsAdherence barriersLack of awarenessHIV epidemicAdherencePWIDDrug useHIVInterpersonal levelRelationship contextDyad membersFacilitationIndividual levelPWHDyadsIntimate partnersInfluence of Stigma on Engagement in HIV Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Specialized HIV Clinics Targeting Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru
Oliveros Gómez D, Machavariani E, Altice F, Gálvez de León S, Earnshaw V, Montenegro-Idrogo J, Sánchez J, Seminario A. Influence of Stigma on Engagement in HIV Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Specialized HIV Clinics Targeting Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru. AIDS And Behavior 2024, 28: 2755-2768. PMID: 38878137, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04401-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdherence to antiretroviral therapyART adherenceTransgender womenHIV careSocial determinants of healthDeterminants of healthMultiple health outcomesInfluence of stigmaHIV-related outcomesViral suppression levelsGender minoritiesStigma subscaleAntiretroviral therapyHIV stigmaHealthcare engagementSocial determinantsHealth outcomesHIV clinicHIV epidemicStigmaVulnerable populationsCareOutcome variablesAssess factorsAdherence
2023
Early disruptions to syringe services programs during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Nikitin B, Bromberg D, Pykalo I, Ivasiy R, Islam Z, Altice F. Early disruptions to syringe services programs during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Frontiers In Public Health 2023, 11: 1229057. PMID: 38074770, PMCID: PMC10702598, DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1229057.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSyringe service programsHIV prevention servicesHarm reduction servicesService programsWidespread HIV epidemicsSemi-structured interviewsIllicit drug usePreventive servicesHIV/AIDS preventionOutreach workersHIV epidemicReduction servicesClients transitionClient’s opennessHIV outbreakService provisionUnique clientsDrug useInterviewsPWIDHarmServicesNGO supportClientsInjection paraphernaliaGlobal HIV control: is the glass half empty or half full?
Nachega J, Musoke P, Kilmarx P, Gandhi M, Grinsztejn B, Pozniak A, Rawat A, Wilson L, Mills E, Altice F, Mellors J, Quinn T. Global HIV control: is the glass half empty or half full? The Lancet HIV 2023, 10: e617-e622. PMID: 37506723, PMCID: PMC10733629, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(23)00150-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImproving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches
Brooks R, Wegener M, Freeman B, Fowles C, Madden L, Tetrault J, Nichols L, Altice F, Villanueva M. Improving HIV and HCV Testing in Substance Use Disorder Programs (SUDs) That Provide Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD): Role of Addressing Barriers and Implementing Universal and Site-Specific Approaches. Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 1018-1028. PMID: 37439759, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV/HCV coinfectionSubstance use disorder programsHCV testingOpiate use disorderHCV coinfectionUse disordersNominal group techniqueSubstance use disorder treatment centersCascade of careRates of HIVDisorder treatment centersQuality improvement effortsRate of testingHCV acquisitionHCV cureImproving HIVSUD clinicsHepatitis CHIV testingPrior diagnosisSubsequent referralReferral ratesHIV epidemicHIVTreatment centers
2022
Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial
Shrestha R, Wickersham J, Khati A, Azwa I, Ni Z, Kamarulzaman A, Sullivan P, Jadkarim L, Eger W, Gautam K, Altice F. Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (“JomPrEP” App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial. JMIR Research Protocols 2022, 11: e43318. PMID: 36542425, PMCID: PMC9813821, DOI: 10.2196/43318.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV prevention servicesHIV testingMalaysian MSMPhase IHIV preventionPrevention servicesLarge-scale efficacy trialsHIV prevention resourcesMobile health interventionsHIV prevention effortsCare delivery servicesHealth care delivery servicesMultiphase trialPrEP servicesMiddle-income countriesHIV epidemicEfficacy trialsTrial designPrevention strategiesEntrenched stigmaHealth outcomesReal-world settingHealth interventions
2021
HIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ranjit YS, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Azwa I, Wickersham JA. HIV care continuum among cisgender and transgender women sex workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AIDS Care 2021, 35: 784-790. PMID: 34723714, PMCID: PMC9056582, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1995839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransgender women sex workersHIV care continuumAntiretroviral treatmentSex workersCare continuumWomen sex workersTransgender womenImportant key populationProportion of womenRespondent-driven sampling studyEvidence-based strategiesAntiretroviral therapyHIV careHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicHIVKey populationsWomenKuala LumpurCisgender womenCount testUnique needsSmall proportionTherapyPopulationAn expanding HIV epidemic among older adults in Ukraine: Implications for patient-centered care
Rozanova J, Zeziulin O, Rich KM, Altice FL, Kiriazova T, Zaviryukha I, Sosidko T, Gulati K, Carroll C, Shenoi SV. An expanding HIV epidemic among older adults in Ukraine: Implications for patient-centered care. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0256627. PMID: 34591848, PMCID: PMC8483339, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256627.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStandardized mortality ratioMortality rateCause standardized mortality ratioTime of diagnosisGeneral population ratesLate-stage HIVAge-matched groupHigh mortality ratePatient-centered careIncident HIVHIV diagnosisHIV testingHIV incidenceHIV treatmentHIV epidemicMortality ratioTreatment strategiesGeneral populationHIVMortality trendsAge groupsEECA countriesTreatment programSame calendar yearOlder people
2020
The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine
Farnum SO, Makarenko I, Madden L, Mazhnaya A, Marcus R, Prokhorova T, Bojko MJ, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Islam Z, Altice FL. The real‐world impact of dosing of methadone and buprenorphine in retention on opioid agonist therapies in Ukraine. Addiction 2020, 116: 83-93. PMID: 32428276, PMCID: PMC7674222, DOI: 10.1111/add.15115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyOAT discontinuationAgonist therapyTreatment retentionIndependent predictorsHIV epidemicCost-effective HIV prevention strategyMethadone maintenance treatment patientsObservational longitudinal cohort studySpecialty addictions treatmentBuprenorphine maintenance treatmentHigh dosageHIV prevention strategiesLongitudinal cohort studyOpioid-dependent peopleTreatment discontinuationCohort studyMaintenance treatmentMale sexTreatment patientsPrevention strategiesDiscontinuationYounger ageCenter settingAddiction treatment
2019
Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study
Tan J, Altice FL, Madden LM, Zelenev A. Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study. The Lancet HIV 2019, 7: e121-e128. PMID: 31879250, PMCID: PMC7289179, DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(19)30373-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapyNew HIV infectionsHigh HIV burdenHIV infectionMinistry of HealthOAT coverageAgonist therapyHIV burdenHIV incidenceBuprenorphine maintenance therapyPublic Health CenterMaintenance therapyHIV outcomesHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionMedication procurementHIV epidemicHealth centersHIV preventionTreatment goalsPWIDOAT expansionDisease controlSexual riskInfectionCost‐effectiveness of expanding the capacity of opioid agonist treatment in Ukraine: dynamic modeling analysis
Morozova O, Crawford FW, Cohen T, Paltiel AD, Altice FL. Cost‐effectiveness of expanding the capacity of opioid agonist treatment in Ukraine: dynamic modeling analysis. Addiction 2019, 115: 437-450. PMID: 31478285, PMCID: PMC7015766, DOI: 10.1111/add.14797.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid use disorderOAT coverageAgonist treatmentGross domestic productOpioid use initiationOpioid addiction epidemicOAT accessHIV epidemicUse disordersAddiction epidemicCapita gross domestic productPay thresholdsTreatment demandUse initiationAddiction treatmentIncremental costBaseline capacityTreatmentPotential peer effectsDomestic productTreatment spilloversEpidemicPeer effectsCoverage levelsHIV, Drug Injection, and Harm Reduction Trends in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Implications for International and Domestic Policy
LaMonaca K, Dumchev K, Dvoriak S, Azbel L, Morozova O, Altice FL. HIV, Drug Injection, and Harm Reduction Trends in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Implications for International and Domestic Policy. Current Psychiatry Reports 2019, 21: 47. PMID: 31161306, PMCID: PMC6685549, DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1038-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist therapySyringe services programDrug injectionAntiretroviral therapyHIV epidemicEvidence-based HIV prevention strategiesNew HIV casesHIV prevention strategiesHarm reduction programsAgonist therapyHIV incidenceHIV casesRecent FindingsThoughPrevention strategiesSexual partnersHIVInjectionTherapyReduction programsEpidemicPunitive drug lawsService programsMortalityCliniciansIncidenceEstimated Impact of Targeted Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Strategies for Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States
Elion RA, Kabiri M, Mayer KH, Wohl DA, Cohen J, Beaubrun AC, Altice FL. Estimated Impact of Targeted Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Strategies for Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2019, 16: 1592. PMID: 31067679, PMCID: PMC6539923, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091592.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsYoung Latino MSMYoung Black MSMPre-exposure prophylaxisBlack MSMLatino MSMPrEP useHIV Incidence Risk IndexHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmissionUse of PrEPNon-PrEP usersLowest NNTHIV infectionNNT valuesHIV prevalenceHIV epidemicHIV preventionMSM populationSubsequent infectionInfection reductionMSMPrevalenceIncidenceVirus transmissionPrEPProphylaxis
2018
Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rutledge R, Morozova O, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA. Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. LGBT Health 2018, 5: 484-493. PMID: 30481120, PMCID: PMC6306652, DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2018.0021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care providersRecent HIV testingHIV testingTransgender womenLogistic regressionHIV/AIDS StrategyCorrelates of HIVPrevious depression diagnosisJoint United Nations ProgrammeHIV testing historyBehavioral risk factorsMultivariate logistic regressionYears of ageMental health functioningBivariate logistic regressionUnited Nations ProgrammeHIV statusHIV treatmentRisk factorsHIV epidemicDepression diagnosisAIDS StrategyAmphetamine useCare providersPrevention services
2017
HIV Testing and awareness of HIV status among people who inject drugs in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bazazi AR, Vijay A, Crawford FW, Heimer R, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. HIV Testing and awareness of HIV status among people who inject drugs in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AIDS Care 2017, 30: 59-64. PMID: 28803503, PMCID: PMC5699941, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1363852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV testingCompulsory drug detention centersHIV statusCorrelates of testingHIV-positive PWIDHIV testing servicesHigh-risk populationHIV testing policiesRecent criminal justice involvementRespondent-driven samplingMost PWIDHIV treatmentHIV epidemicVoluntary testingCriminal justice involvementPWIDHIVTesting recommendationsKuala LumpurTesting behaviorMandatory testingPrimary locationGreater Kuala LumpurMain correlatesTesting services
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