An mHealth Intervention to Improve Young Gay and Bisexual Men’s Sexual, Behavioral, and Mental Health in a Structurally Stigmatizing National Context

Leluţiu-Weinberger, Corina; Manu, Monica; Ionescu, Florentina; Dogaru, Bogdan; Kovacs, Tudor; Dorobănțescu, Cristian; Predescu, Mioara; Surace, Anthony; Pachankis, John E.

doi:10.2196/mhealth.9283

Cited by 45 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Recent literature has shown that stigma, fear of disclosure, and limited access to healthcare has prevented MSM from accessing HIV testing in Tajikistan [38]. As such, to conduct robust research on HIV among Tajik MSM and reduce bias in the future, multi-level anti-stigma interventions [39] should be enacted in the country. The timing of diagnosis following arrival (a left-skewed distribution with a median of 6 months) suggests selective return-migration of migrants experiencing HIV symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between time spent in the Russian Federation and late presentation for HIV among Tajikistani migrants

et al. 2020

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Background Between 700 thousand and 1.2 million citizens of Tajikistan currently live in the Russian Federation, one of the only countries where the HIV epidemic continues to worsen. Given the previously reported barriers to healthcare access for migrants to the Russian Federation, and the rapidly expanding HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, this present study set out to determine whether these barriers impact late presentation with HIV among Tajikistani migrants upon their return to Tajikistan. Method This study uses data from the Tajikistan Ministry of Health surveillance system (2006 – 2019). At time of diagnosis, patients are interviewed by staff of AIDS centers, and doctors complete routine intake forms and complete medical exams. Descriptive characteristics of migrants with HIV who had lived in the Russian Federation (n=503) were calculated and compared with those of non-migrants with HIV (n=9519). Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation (predictive means matching, logistic regression imputation, and polytomous regression imputation). Two logistic models were created to model the probability of late presentation for HIV. The first model shows unadjusted associations between predictor variables and late presentation for HIV. The second model shows multivariable associations between significant study variables identified in the univariate model, and late presentation. Results Compared to non-migrants, migrants with HIV are more likely to be from Gorno-Badakhshan region, are less likely to use illicit drugs, and are more likely to have purchased the services of sex workers. The unadjusted logistic model found that for every year spent in the Russian Federation, the risk of late presentation for a Tajikistani migrant with HIV increases by 4.0% (95% CI: 0.3-7.7). The multivariate model showed that when age, sex, and region of origin are held constant, the risk of late presentation for a Tajikistani migrant with HIV increases by 4.0% (95% CI: 0.1-7.8) for each year spent in the Russian Federation. Conclusion The results of this paper suggest that if the Russian Federation were to loosen its restrictions on HIV care for foreign nationals, it might improve the treatment outcomes of migrant laborers. As this analysis is only correlational in nature, further research is needed to explicate the causal pathways of the associations found in the present analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between time spent in the Russian Federation and late presentation for HIV among Tajikistani migrants

et al. 2020

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“…The range of score was between 17 to 27 with the mean score being 23.36. Studies were divided into three subgroups, low (<18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22) and high (23>) quality. Among the included studies, majority (n=8) 15,17,[20][21][22][23][24] had high quality and the remaining (n=3) 16,18,25 had moderate quality.…”

Section: Methodological Quality Of the Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the 11 studies included in the review, only eight [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Studies were conducted in different countries however most studies (n=9) [15][16][17][18][20][21][22][23][24] were conducted in the United States and one each in New Zeeland 25 and Romania 19 .…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than half of the studies (n=6) 17,20-24 were randomized control trials and the remaining (n=5) 15,16,18,19,25 were non-randomized trials with pre-post evaluation. Majority (n=4) 5,19,21,22 of the studies conducted the follow up after 3 months) and only one 20 study followed up after 12 months.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Majority of the interventions (n=8) 15,17,18,[20][21][22][23][24] were delivered via internet among which Vogel et al, 2019 was exclusively delivered through Facebook, two 16,19 interventions were delivered using mobile app and one 5 using the computer. Reduction in depression, anxiety and stress was also reported by three studies [17][18][19] For example,…”

Section: Summary Of the Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving mental health and wellbeing among sexual and gender minorities using digital interventions: a systematic review

Tasnim¹,

Nf²,

Fan³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background:High burden of mental disorders among sexual minorities including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population is well documented. Digital platforms are increasingly being used by sexual minorities to communicate with each other, but there is no systematic review of digital interventions that can improve mental health among sexual minorities. This systematic review identified and evaluated the digital interventions for mental health among different sexual minorities.Methodology:We searched literature from six major databases and included studies published in the English language, describing interventions that have a component to improve mental health among any of the sexual minorities delivered through any of the digital platforms, and reporting mental health outcomes.Results:Among 1936 citations, only 11 studies fulfilled our criteria. In those studies, most (n=9) interventions were implemented in the U.S. The interventions included varying components including on increasing acceptance and affirmation, increase social support and health education, cognitive behavioral therapy to manage stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Only 6 studies had randomized control design. Most of the studies reported reduction in bi/homonegativity and increased affirmation, decreased smoking and substance abuse, improved coping skills, reduced level of depression, anxiety, and stress among participants in the intervention groups.Conclusion:To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that evaluated digital intervention for mental health among sexual and gender minorities. Despite a low number of studies and heterogeneity across studies, the findings suggest potential improvements in mental health among sexual and gender minorities using digital interventions.

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Digital mental health interventions: A narrative review of what is important from the perspective of LGBTQIA+ people

Fowler,

Buckley,

Muir

et al. 2023

J Clin Psychol

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ObjectivesDigital mental health interventions are a promising therapeutic modality to provide psychological support to LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Queer, intersex, asexual, plus other gender, sexual, and romantic minority identities) people. The aim of this narrative review is to explore how the LGBTQIA+ community has been engaged in the design of digital mental health interventions, how content has been tailored to the LGBTQIA+ community, and features identified as important by LGBTQIA+ participants.MethodsA total of 33 studies were included in this review from a larger yield of 1933 identified from systematic searches of five databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHAL, and Medline). Data were analyzed narratively and using content analysis.ResultsOnly half of the studies reported engaging the LGBTQIA+ community in intervention designs. Interventions have been tailored in a variety of ways to support LGBTQIA+ individuals—such as through affirming imagery, recruitment through LGBTQIA+ networks, and designing content to focus specifically on LGBTQIA+ issues. A range of features were identified as important for participants, namely how content was tailored to LGBTQIA+ experiences, providing connection to community, and links to other relevant LGBTQIA+ resources. While not a primary aim, results also showed that a wide range of digital modalities can significantly improve a range of mental health problems.ConclusionDigital interventions are an acceptable and effective form of therapeutic intervention, but future research needs to focus on meaningful engagement of community members to inform design and implementation.

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An mHealth Intervention to Improve Young Gay and Bisexual Men’s Sexual, Behavioral, and Mental Health in a Structurally Stigmatizing National Context

Abstract: Background: Young gay and bisexual men (YGBM) in Eastern European countries like Romania

Cited by 45 publications

References 73 publications

Association between time spent in the Russian Federation and late presentation for HIV among Tajikistani migrants

Association between time spent in the Russian Federation and late presentation for HIV among Tajikistani migrants

Improving mental health and wellbeing among sexual and gender minorities using digital interventions: a systematic review

Digital mental health interventions: A narrative review of what is important from the perspective of LGBTQIA+ people

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