| If you are having trouble viewing this email, please view the online version. | ||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Human rights violations
are not accidents; they are not random in distribution or effect. [Rather] rights
violations are symptoms of deeper pathologies of power and are linked intimately
to the social conditions that so often determine who will suffer abuse and who
will be shielded from harm. Dr. Paul Farmer Addressing the Complexity of Individuals’ Lives In the July 2008 NASTAD Prevention Bulletin, we focused on the interplay between power and privilege and their contributions to inequity in accessing quality prevention and healthcare services. We discussed how these conditions facilitate a disproportionate impact of health disparity on gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans and Latinos. As we emphatically argue in the NASTAD HIV Prevention Blueprint, the nation’s current prevention, care and treatment efforts cannot keep pace with the needs of these most-impacted communities, particularly in the context of their diverse and complex lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent estimates of national HIV incidence show that African Americans and Latinos accounted for 62 percent of new HIV infections in 2006, a respective rate of 83.7 and 29.3 per 100,000 persons.1 While race and ethnicity are not, in isolation, risk factors for health and social concerns like HIV/AIDS, research clearly demonstrates that members of racial and ethnic minority communities experience higher rates of the factors that contribute to HIV transmission, like sexually transmitted diseases (STD), drug use, poverty and stigmatization.2 When viewed by age and gender, the CDC’s recent incidence estimates reveal alarming differences in the rate of new HIV infections. With 53 percent of all new infections resulting from male-to-male sexual contact, men account for 73 percent of the total estimated new HIV infections.3 At the same time, 34 percent of new infections occurred in young people between ages 13 and 29. Where these data overlap has serious implications for young gay men and other young MSM. The CDC’s findings suggest that members of this group may be engaging in behaviors that contribute to HIV transmission, e.g., unprotected sex and substance use. In addition, Ibanez, et. al. reported that individuals use substances and engage in risky behaviors to cope with negative feelings.4 For example, childhood sexual abuse, partner violence and psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) increase the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior. Symptoms of depression are also associated with unprotected sex, multiple sex partners and increased exposure to STDs. As such, survivors of childhood sexual abuse were found to have higher rates of depression, self-destructive behaviors/attitudes, increased alcohol and/or substance use and to engage in more frequent sexual activity and promiscuity without attention to risks.5 The study also suggests that some gay men and other MSM use drugs, e.g., methamphetamine, to enhance their sexual desire, which also lowers their inhibitions for engaging in riskier sexual activities.6 Studies indicate that young persons who use injection drugs have higher levels of sharing contaminated needles due to their lack of access to youth friendly health services and adequate knowledge about HIV prevention and safe use.7 Our ability to understand the cumulative impact of co-occurring disorders has a significant bearing on our efforts to effectively address these concurrent crises. The harmful effect of multiple social conditions working in chorus with one another magnifies opportunities for exposure to and infection by certain diseases including HIV, viral hepatitis and STDs.8 As was discussed in the July 2007 NASTAD Prevention Bulletin, the term syndemics describes this negative, synergistic interaction of two or more social conditions or diseases that disproportionately burden a segment of the population.9 Because of the interactions of co-occurring conditions, young African American or Latino gay men and other young MSM face increased risk for HIV infection, as well as infection by other diseases. Creating and operationalizing programs and services that address transmission risk while honoring the realities of these young men’s lives can be challenging. Nevertheless, with one-third of all new HIV infections occurring in persons between ages 13 and 29 and nearly half of new STD infections occurring in persons 15 to 24, renewed commitment and efforts are needed to confront these “intersecting epidemics” that profoundly impact the lives our nation’s youth.10 Investment in substance abuse prevention and treatment and mental health services are a necessary means to preventing and/or reducing HIV and other disease transmission. In states where HIV prevention programs targeting youth are not given priority status, health departments and community-based organizations struggle to find the support necessary to adequately meet the needs of young people. Ironically, delaying the implementation of evidenced-based prevention interventions for youth forestalls the use of comprehensive, cost-effective strategies that offer a holistic response to meeting the needs of young people and families infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. To illustrate successful programs that work to address the complex needs of individuals’ lives, this month’s Bulletin profiles two holistic programs that serve young people. References 1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimates of new HIV infections in the 2.Singer, M.C., Erickson, P.I., Badiane, L., Diaz, R., Ortiz, D., Abraham, R., & Nicolaysen, A.M. (2006). Syndemics, sex and the city: Understanding sexually transmitted diseases in social and cultural context. Social Science & Medicine, 63(2006), 2010-2021. 3.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimates of new HIV infections in the 4.Ibanez, G.E., Purcell, D.W., Stall, R., Parsons, J.T., & 5.National 6.Ibanez, G.E., Purcell, D.W., Stall, R., Parsons, J.T., & 7.World AIDS Campaign. Injection drug use, HIV/AIDS, young people: Recognising the linkages. 8.Singer, M.C., Erickson, P.I., Badiane, L., Diaz, R., Ortiz, D., Abraham, R., & Nicolaysen, A.M. (2006). Syndemics, sex and the city: Understanding sexually transmitted diseases in social and cultural context. Social Science & Medicine, 63(2006), 2010-2021. 9.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Introduction to the syndemics prevention network, January 2007. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/syndemics/pdfs/network-intro.pdf. 10.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in reportable sexually transmitted diseases in the back to top > Profile 1: Positive Changes NASTAD spoke with Carol Crump, Behavioral Specialist with NASTAD: Please describe how your program addresses co-occurring factors of HIV prevention and treatment and care, e.g., mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. What is the goal of the program? Crump: Positive Changes is an HIV transmission prevention intervention that takes place in 20 of The intervention’s immediate emphasis is on establishing a working alliance with the client that will support long-term risk reduction work, identifying client strengths and life enhancement goals and identifying harm reduction steps that may be tied to these client-defined goals. Positive Changes counselors collaborate with clients to set goals for change that clients define as both desirable and achievable, then link clients’ life change goals to risk reduction in ways that help them achieve those goals while also reducing their risk of HIV transmission. The intervention is designed to build on incremental steps toward small, achievable goals in order to maximize client success and enhance motivation for further change. NASTAD: How was the program developed? How was the community involved, if at all, in the program’s development? Crump: Positive Changes is an enhancement and expansion of the basic goals of the Early Intervention Program, which are to prevent the further transmission of HIV and to improve health, quality of life and productivity for people living with HIV. EIP includes prevention for HIV-positive persons as part of its standard of care. All EIP clients receive regular risk reduction counseling and transmission prevention support. The EIP model is based on a team-centered approach in which client care is not parceled out into separate categories and referrals. Instead, client needs are addressed from a holistic perspective that directly links primary health care with psychosocial services, case management, health education and HIV risk reduction counseling. This integration of prevention counseling delivered within the care setting helps to ensure that not only do HIV-positive persons receive the services necessary to improve their health and quality of life, but that they are also supported in making the life or behavior changes necessary to prevent further transmission of HIV. Multiple factors led to the development of Positive Changes. First, while EIP’s integration of prevention with care has been successful for many clients, there are some for whom basic risk reduction counseling did not lead to any significant change in risk behavior. Risk behavior patterns are complicated by factors such as substance abuse and other addictions, mental disorders, language or cultural barriers, chaotic or dangerous personal relationships, stigma and marginalized social status. The need to address these compelling factors, most of which can only be clearly identified and defined within the highly individualized context of each client’s life circumstances, pointed to the need for a new approach. Second, clients indicated via discussions with their EIP providers, as well as in client satisfaction surveys, that they wanted more support in dealing with substance abuse, addiction and mental health issues. Finally, while short-term counseling and psychosocial support is often available within HIV care settings, many EIP providers did not have the capacity (via funding or infrastructure) to deliver the longer-term counseling interventions often needed when dealing with complex risk dynamics and clients multiply diagnosed with HIV, addiction and mental disorders. NASTAD: Why is this program important? How does the program provide services that recognize the real life issues facing those being infected with HIV/AIDS? How is this program new or different from other programs/approaches, if at all? Crump: Positive Changes is important because it provides a means of intervening on both a short-term and long-term basis with the factors that contribute to HIV transmission risk behavior and because it is delivered within the overall context of HIV care. The intervention breaks change into small, achievable steps, thus taking providers out of the endless loop of trying to persuade clients to commit to behavior changes or treatment goals before they are ready. It gives providers the tools they need to help clients achieve desired life changes on both a short-term and long-term basis, thus opening the door to more substantial changes. It provides an environment that enables clients to feel, as one client said, “…like I’m a valuable person and not ‘just a case’.” It allows clients to have a place to identify their hopes for the future and to develop and practice the skills they need to make that future a reality. The stepwise approach to change allows clients to quickly experience success and thus strengthen motivation. Positive Changes is different because it goes beyond simply delivering “prevention messages” and helps clients create a foundation of strengths and skills that allows them to reduce their risk of HIV transmission while also improving the quality of their lives. It is based on research in the psychology of behavior change and health behavior, using approaches grounded in the principles of Short-term Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy and Harm Reduction. Its approach is tailored to fit the varied contextual factors influencing each client’s risks. Positive Changes operates within the HIV care setting. This placement recognizes the fact that for many clients, contact with medical providers is the most reliable basis for access to other essential services, including prevention. It decreases the number of referrals and intake processes that clients have to face in an effort to obtain services. It ensures that prevention interventions are delivered within the context of their care; helps keep all members of the care team informed and, therefore, better able to support the client’s prevention needs; and actively includes the client as a decision-maker in defining what changes they, themselves, are interested in making and how quickly or slowly they want to proceed. Once the client has achieved lower HIV transmission risk status, they are transitioned back into standard EIP services. Transition back to EIP case management can be seamless based on the fact that Positive Changes is implemented within the EIP care setting. Another advantage of implementing Positive Changes within the EIP model is that if the client lapses back into a very high risk behavior or faces a temporary setback that increases his or her vulnerability for risk, they can easily be referred back to Positive Changes without compromising continuity of care. Positive Changes recognizes the challenges clients face by framing interventions in such a way that clients will not be labeled as “resistant” or “failures” even if they struggle to achieve change. Lapses and difficulty achieving goals are not defined as “failures” but rather as an indication that client and counselor, together, need to revisit and scale down (not abandon) goals that may have been unrealistic within the client’s current circumstances. Any movement in the direction of positive change is deemed a success, and lessons learned through achieving success are built upon in order to set new goals for change. Once a working alliance has been established between client and Positive Changes counselor, they collaborate to define a risk reduction plan (this may be called a “positive changes plan” or a “life goals plan” or any other label that is acceptable to the client). Together, they produce a plan for improving the client’s health and quality of life, noting any factors that contribute to HIV transmission risk. They then define and agree upon a series of incremental steps toward goals defined by the client as desirable and achievable. The client and counselor meet regularly (the number of meetings is flexible, though at least once a week seems to be optimal), and review successes, identify barriers and decide whether any given step in the plan should move forward or be scaled down. NASTAD: What are the results of the program so far, if any? Crump:Formal evaluation of Positive Changes was concluded in 2006. (For a copy of the full evaluation report, contact Carol Crump at carol.crump@cdph.ca.gov.) Some program results that may be of interest within the context of this article include: Client characteristics at enrollment in Positive Changes:
Crump: The keys to success included:
Crump: Yes.
Crump: Some points to keep in mind:
Crump: The basic principles of Solution-focused Therapy can be translated within primary care settings, can be well suited for brief encounters and can be learned and applied by staff members at almost any level of education and experience. While Positive Changes was structured for use by mental health clinicians with clients at the greatest risk for HIV transmission, core program elements could be utilized by case managers, physicians or health educators in helping clients define and achieve behavior changes that support improved health and quality of life. back to top > Profile 2: Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens NASTAD spoke with Regina Whittington, Director of the Washington University Youth Center in St. Louis, NASTAD: Please describe how your program addresses co-occurring factors of HIV prevention and treatment and care, e.g., mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. Whittington: SPOT is a new NASTAD: What is the goal of the program? Whittington: SPOT goals include the following:
Whittington: The base model for SPOT was the Howard Brown Health Center NASTAD: Why is this program important? How does the program provide services that recognize the real life issues facing those being infected with HIV/AIDS? How is this program new or different from other programs/approaches, if at all? Whittington: This program is important in order to address a neglected population, youth ages 13-24. This age group represents one of the fastest populations affected by STDs and HIV. SPOT will be crucial to linking youth to appropriate services and identifying their areas of need. The program is conscious of youth specific needs relating to HIV/AIDS and other STD. Project NASTAD: Are there any lessons learned or words of wisdom that would help other health departments that want to work on this issue? Whittington: Involving the community partners as well as the youth in all aspects of the program’s development proved extremely helpful in ensuring the development of a comprehensive model. back to top > Conclusion The profiles in this month’s Bulletin offer two examples of innovative programs that address the complexities of HIV prevention in the context of co-occurring health and social issues. The programs intentionally include the ongoing life circumstances that contribute to increased risk. While the programs strive to assist individuals with reducing the risks associated with HIV transmission, the ultimate impact is likely much more significant. By comprehensively addressing other health issues, like substance use and mental health concerns, these programs approach their clients holistically rather than with a focus on a specific disease. While these and many other programs are innovative in their approaches, many programs and services have great opportunity to expand attention into areas of additional health and social concern. Given the similarities in modes of transmission and among specific target populations, health department and community based HIV prevention programs seek to include STD, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), reproductive health issues, homelessness and unstable housing, substance use and mental health concerns as appropriate and where resources are available. With increased focus on program collaboration and service integration (PCSI) at the CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, programs are encouraged to continue to build on existing relationships and creatively plan to enhance their client-level services by integrating additional services and by building collaborative partnerships. Our movement forward must attempt to deconstruct categorical philosophies, funding, guidance and structures to allow our programs to address the complex realities that lead to HIV infection in the populations we serve. Technical assistance and support to health departments about strategies for increasing integration and collaboration is available through NASTAD. Continuing our look into the principles featured in NASTAD’s HIV Prevention Blueprint, the October 2008 Bulletin will examine the use of structural-level interventions to effect change. Meeting and Planning Calendar September 18-21, 2008 September 29-October 1, 2008 National Hepatitis Technical Assistance Meeting, October 3, 2008 2008 October 15, 2008 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. October 20–22, 2008 Management of Hepatitis B: An NIH Consensus Development Conference December 1, 2008 World AIDS Day February 7, 2009 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 10, 2009 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 20, 2009 National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day April 5-7, 2009 4th International Conference on HIV Treatment Adherence, May 18, 2009 HIV Vaccine Awareness Day May 19, 2009 National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day June 8, 2009 Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day June 27, 2009 National HIV Testing Day August 23-26, 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference, Credits, Feedback and Input The NASTAD Prevention Bulletin is edited by NASTAD staff and is written by staff and prevention experts from around the country. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 5U62PS323958-05 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have an idea or program that you would like to include in the Bulletin, please contact Dave Kern or Lynne Greabell (202/434-8090). NASTAD welcomes feedback to issues presented in Bulletin. To submit commentary, please e-mail us at NASTAD@NASTAD.org. |
|
Credits, Feedback
and Input The NASTAD Prevention Bulletin is edited by NASTAD staff and is written by staff and prevention experts from around the country. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 5U62PS323958-05 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have an idea or program that you would like to include in the Bulletin, please contact Dave Kern or Lynne Greabell (202/434-8090). NASTAD welcomes feedback to issues presented in Bulletin. To submit commentary, please e-mail us at NASTAD@NASTAD.org. Electronic versions of the Bulletin are available on our webpage. |
||
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors 444 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 339 Washington D.C. 20001 (202) 434 - 8090 Copyright (C) 2008 National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, All rights reserved. |
||
This email was sent by: %%Member_Busname%% %%Member_Addr%% %%Member_City%%, %%Member_State%%, %%Member_PostalCode%%, %%Member_Country%% Unsubscribe from this publication. |
||