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A survey of vitamin A deficiency was conducted in January and February 1991 on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Demographic, serum retinol, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC), anthropometric, and dietary data were collected from 248 preschool children in five randomly selected rural communities on the outskirts of Davao City. Twenty-nine per cent [95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 23-35 per cent] of preschool children had serum retinol levels below 20 micrograms/dl. Nearly 6 per cent (95 per cent CI 3-9 per cent) had serum retinol levels below 10 micrograms/dl. Thirty-two per cent (95 per cent CI 25-38 per cent) had abnormal CIC findings. The correlation between serum retinol and CIC results was poor. Recent history of diarrheal disease, reported night blindness, maternal education less than 9 years, and infrequent consumption of eggs, mangoes, and liver were associated with increased risk of vitamin A deficiency.

Adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) are among the highest risk groups for suicide in the United States, with substance use as a significant risk factor. We tested for an association between substance use and suicidality among ASMM from the 2015 and 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 849). We compared several approaches to synthesizing measures of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamines, synthetic marijuana, and prescription drug abuse, including several categorized and continuous indices, latent class analysis based on any use of each substance, and latent profile analysis based on use frequency. Using all approaches, substance use was positively associated with suicide attempts independent of covariates. A continuous cumulative index was the best fit to our data (quasi-information criterion = 853.9969) and detected the largest association, with the highest prevalence of suicide attempts among ASMM who used all substances compared with those who used none (adjusted prevalence ratio = 3.35, 95% confidence interval: 2.41, 4.66). A 3-latent-class model had the second best fit to the data (quasi-information criterion = 878.4464), with the highest prevalence of suicide attempts (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.80, 3.57) among the high-substance-use class compared with the low-use class. Substance use is an especially important focal point for targeted interventions reducing suicidality among ASMM.

Background: Interventions to promote HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black sexual minority men (BSMM) are especially important, given the disproportionate HIV incidence and relatively low uptake of PrEP among BSMM. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review to identify the characteristics of interventions between 2016 and 2021 promoting PrEP use among BSMM. We synthesized these studies based on sample size, location, the use of peer-based delivery, and key intervention targets. Results: Of the starting total 198 articles, 10 were included in the final review, with the majority of included studies being randomized controlled trials. We identified providing PrEP access, PrEP counseling, HIV and PrEP education, linkage to general health care, and peer-based support as key successful intervention components. The starkest difference between interventions with and without demonstrated PrEP improvements was the outcome: all interventions focused on PrEP initiation led to large improvements, but those focused on PrEP adherence did not. No other factors demonstrated distinct differences between successful and unsuccessful interventions. Conclusion: We identified notable differences in intervention efficacy between PrEP initiation and PrEP adherence outcomes; PrEP adherence is necessary for optimal HIV prevention. Future interventions promoting and measuring PrEP adherence, with a focus on cultural competence and peer components, are recommended.