Biomedical subjects

R J MacGowan

Publications and source records attributed to R J MacGowan.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Screening for sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis in 18-29-year-old men recently released from prison: feasibility and acceptability.

Men entering prisons have high rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD), hepatitis, and HIV. This study sought to determine the acceptability and feasibility of screening for STD and hepatitis in young men released from prison. Participants were interviewed six months after release and offered free screening. Of 42 (56%) eligible men who participated in the qualitative interview, 33 (79%) provided at least a blood or urine specimen. Eight of 33 (24%) men tested had chlamydia, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV). Three of 32 (9%) had chlamydia, three of 32 (9%) had trichomoniasis, two of 28 (7%) had prior syphilis, and two of 28 (7%) had HCV. Of 28 tested for HBV, six (21%) were immune, two (7%) had chronic infection, and 20 (71%) were susceptible. Barriers to screening included lack of forewarning, inconvenience, and insufficient incentive. In conclusion, screening for STD and hepatitis among former inmates can be acceptable and feasible. Forewarning, reducing the time burden, and providing monetary incentives may increase screening rates.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

New needle and syringe use, and use of needle exchange programmes by street recruited injection drug users in 1993.

BACKGROUND: Needle exchange programmes (NEP) provide injection drug users (IDU) with sterile injection equipment and receive used needles in exchange. In this paper we describe the use of new syringes and NEP by IDU and characteristics associated with using NEP in 1993. METHODS: Street-recruited IDU were interviewed in five US locations: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles (LA) county. RESULTS: Most (75-95%) reported it was easy to get a new syringe and for their last injection, 45-77% used a new syringe and 2-18% used a syringe previously used by another IDU. Use of NEP ranged from 8% to 16% in Chicago, Philadelphia, and LA County. In LA County not having injected 'speedball' in the last 30 days, last injection with a new syringe, and reporting it was very easy to get a new syringe were associated with NEP use. In Philadelphia, NEP use was associated with 'speedball' injection in the last 30 days, and in Chicago, not injecting with 'speedball' and injecting with cocaine were associated with NEP use. CONCLUSIONS: In 1993, most street-recruited IDU in Chicago, Philadelphia, and LA County had not used NEP. Factors associated with NEP use were not consistent across sites. Dispersion of NEP and removal of legal barriers restricting access to sterile syringes may be more important in increasing the use of sterile syringes and NEP than client characteristics.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Sex, drugs and HIV counseling and testing: a prospective study of behavior-change among methadone-maintenance clients in New England.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether changes in injecting drug use and sexual behavior over a 12-month follow-up are associated with HIV counseling and testing (C and T) of injecting drug users in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTP) in Massachusetts and Connecticut. METHODS: Clients were invited to participate in a longitudinal study involving five interviews. Data were also obtained by ethnographers and from clinical records. Behavioral outcomes of interest were number of drug injections, sharing of unclean 'works' (injecting equipment), number of unprotected sex partners, and number of unprotected sexual episodes. Data analyses included multiple regression, odds ratios, and quantitative analysis of text-based data. RESULTS: Subjects reported reductions in both injecting drug use and sexual behavior Primary associations with reduced injecting drug use were remaining in the MMTP and attending HIV-positive support groups. A reduction in high-risk sexual behavior was associated with an HIV-positive test result and duration of HIV counseling in the MMTP. Increase in drug injecting use was associated with an HIV-positive test result. Inconsistent condom use was associated with enrollment in the MMTP where condoms were available only upon request and abstinence and monogamy between uninfected partners were promoted. CONCLUSIONS: Injecting drug users who self-select to participate in MMTP and HIV C and T, two public health HIV-prevention interventions, reduce their HIV-risk behaviors. Clients should be encouraged to remain in MMTP and HIV-infected clients should attend support groups for HIV-positive persons. MMTP staff should promote a variety of safer sex behaviors and provide condoms without request.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

HIV infection risks, behaviors and methadone treatment: client-reported HIV infection in a follow-up study of injecting drug users in New England.

There is wide variation in reported risk factors for HIV incidence among injecting drug users by community. Available HIV seroprevalence and incidence data indicate that nearly 60% of HIV infection is associated with injecting drug use in Connecticut and 48% in Massachusetts. Using 12-month follow-up data on 354 initially HIV-negative New England (Massachusetts and Connecticut) methadone treatment clients, we assessed the association between baseline drug use practices, sexual behavior, partner behaviors, and client-reported HIV infection during follow-up. Variables that predicted client-reported positive HIV antibody test results were modeled by Cox proportional hazards regression. HIV infection among those tested was 14.2 per 100 person years (PY) [95% Confidence interval (CI) = 9.5 to 21.3]. For each injection the relative risk (RR) was 1.1 (95% CI = 1.1 to 1.2), for males 3.0 (95% CI = 1.2 to 7.3), for blacks 5.0 (95% CI = 1.6 to 15.5), for Hispanics 3.6 (95% CI = 1.2 to 10.5). Men who used more than one unclean needle per day and had an HIV-infected steady partner had an RR of 28.4 (95% CI = 4.4 to 176.4). For women, using speedball (RR = 6.1, 95% CI = 1.2 to 38.8) and being black (RR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.0 to 19.8) predicted self-reported HIV infection; having a steady partner who ever injected increased this risk substantially (RR = 65.3, 95% CI = 4.0 to 1046.5). These findings for IDUs in Massachusetts and Connecticut indicate that risk factors for HIV infection for men are consistent with expected transmission by unclean needles with an HIV-infected partner, but a preference for using speedball predicted HIV infection among women IDUs.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Factors associated with client-reported HIV infection among clients entering methadone treatment.

To determine demographic and behavioral factors associated with client-reported HIV infection among new enrollees in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) in Massachusetts and Connecticut, we examined ethnographic data and interview data from MMTP clients (N = 674). Clients responded to questions about behaviors in the 30 days before drug treatment. ETHNOGRAPH was used to analyze qualitative data, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with client-reported HIV infection. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. The client-reported HIV infection rate was 20% (132/674). Odds ratios for factors associated with client-reported HIV infection were being white (0.53), increase in age (1.07), use of non-injected heroin (0.12), use of injected heroin (6.24), cocaine injection (1.78), sharing of "works" with strangers (2.15), and "safer sex" behavior (4.04). Additionally, 35% of those who did not use illicit drugs reported being seropositive. The qualitative data suggested HIV positive clients were concerned about protecting sex partners, and learning of HIV infection motivated some to stop using drugs. Although some clients engaged in low-risk behaviors, others did not, therefore the potential for HIV transmission among injection drug users (IDUs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts exists. HIV prevention and drug treatment program personnel should reinforce and build on the low-risk behaviors that are acceptable and adopted by some in this population.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The effects of HIV counseling and testing on risk-related practices and help-seeking behavior.

In an earlier review of the behavioral effects of HIV counseling and testing (HIV CT), Higgins and colleagues (1991) found that the evidence regarding the ability of HIV CT to influence HIV-risk related practices was largely inconclusive. This article reviews 35 domestic and international studies published since that time to reassess the scientific data regarding the ability of HIV CT to motivate changes in risk-related practices and to promote help-seeking behavior. The studies identified for this review were grouped into four categories according to subject population: (1) men who have sex with men, (2) injection and other drug users, (3) women and heterosexual couples, and (4) mixed samples recruited from sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and other settings. Findings from the studies reviewed were generally mixed--many provided at least some evidence supporting the ability of HIV CT to motivate risk-reducing and help-seeking behavior, but others did not. The pattern of results varied substantially across, and within, study populations and were often limited by considerable methodological weaknesses.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1995

Prevention of HIV infection in drug abusers: a cost analysis.

BACKGROUND: Counseling and testing for HIV infection is performed at many sites, including drug treatment centers. The actual cost of providing HIV counseling and testing at drug treatment sites, based upon empirical data collection, has not been reported. The average lifetime medical cost for an HIV-infected individual is $56,000. This study provides both a systematic method for estimating HIV counseling and testing costs and actual cost results. These results can be compared with the medical costs associated with HIV infection. METHODS: At three publicly funded methadone treatment centers, we collected cost data on the provision of HIV counseling and testing. We obtained provider service times for HIV counseling and testing components, provider salaries and fringe rates, laboratory costs, and support costs at each center. RESULTS: The average cost of HIV counseling and testing is $215 per client entering HIV counseling and testing and $341 per client made aware of HIV serostatus. The total direct cost of providing HIV counseling and testing is $41 for an HIV-negative client who completes the process and $57 for an HIV-positive client; the support costs add an additional $175 per client. CONCLUSIONS: Existing methadone maintenance treatment clinics planning to add HIV counseling and testing can expect costs in a range of $189 to $242 per person entering HIV counseling and testing (1991 dollars). Using an average lifetime cost of HIV infection ($56,000) and the average cost per person entering HIV counseling and testing ($215), if more than 1 person in 260 changes his or her behavior to prevent one additional HIV infection, the ratio of medical care savings to costs of counseling and testing would be greater than 1.0, a cost-saving prevention strategy.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1991

Breast-feeding among women attending women, infants, and children clinics in Georgia, 1987.

Breast-feeding is an important determinant of the health and nutritional status of children, particularly in lower socioeconomic populations. A major goal of the Georgia Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to increase the practice of breast-feeding among the women it serves. Breast-feeding practices were determined among a random sample of 404 women from a cohort of 2010 who attended WIC prenatal clinics in Georgia in 1986 and were expected to deliver in February 1987. Respondents were interviewed 6 months postpartum. Of these women, 24% initially breast-fed, but only 6% continued for 6 months or longer. The initiation of breast-feeding was associated with greater maternal education and with being married. The adjusted odds of breast-feeding for mothers who were married or living as married were 3.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 5.3) times greater than for mothers who were not married or living as married. Mothers with more than 12 years, 12 years, or 10 to 11 years of education were 5.2 (1.8 to 15.3), 2.7 (1.0 to 6.9), and 2.5 (0.9 to 6.9) times more likely, respectively, to breast-feed than mothers with 9 or fewer years of education. After adjustment was made for marital status and education, the remaining variables (ethnicity, parity, age, and employment status) did not influence the initiation of breast-feeding in this low-income population. The need for vigorous promotion of breast-feeding by the Georgia WIC program is emphasized by the low rate of initiation and short duration of breast-feeding in this low-income population.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Retention in methadone maintenance treatment programs, Connecticut and Massachusetts, 1990-1993.

The goal of this study was to identify factors associated with six- and 12-month retention in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Data was obtained from 674 participants, clinic records, and clinic staff. Ethnographic and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Overall, 69% and 48% of the clients remained in treatment at six months and 12 months, respectively. The MMTPs were categorized as either a 12-Step, case management, or primary care model. Factors independently associated with retention in treatment at six months were each one-year increase in age of client (OR 1.05), injecting at three months (OR 0.47), and enrollment in the primary care model (OR 2.10). The same factors were associated with 12-month retention in treatment. To retain clients in MMTPs-which should, in turn, help reduce drug use and prevent HIV transmission among IDUs-younger IDUs and clients still injecting at three months after entering drug treatment may need additional services from the staff, or alternative treatment regimens. MMTP directors should consider differences between these programs and, if appropriate, make changes to increase retention in treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluating the CDC program for HIV counseling and testing.

The Centers for Disease Control is conducting two investigations of the outcomes of HIV counselling and testing services offered persons at high risk for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One investigation is a trial conducted at sexually transmitted disease clinics where an enhanced version of HIV counseling and testing is compared with a standard version. The other investigation is a longitudinal study of the effects of HIV counseling and testing in drug treatment programs that use methadone therapy. In the evaluation, comparisons are being made of different ways of offering HIV counseling and testing and of the effectiveness of the program among persons who know their HIV serostatus and those who do not. The outcome variables include self-reported sexual and drug-using behaviors, together with corroborating laboratory tests, drug treatment compliance, mental health effects, and services utilization. Methodological, practical, and sociopolitical challenges were encountered in the evaluations. Possible solutions to the problems are described. The authors conclude that the designs of the evaluations were appropriate, but that considerable resources are required to carry them out. In settings with low levels of resources, thorough evaluation of the process and an assessment of the immediate outcomes may be the most appropriate evaluation strategy. As HIV counseling and testing are of fundamental importance to national and international HIV prevention efforts, their evaluation is a critical issue.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗