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OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of women living with HIV are transitioning through midlife and menopause. Women living with HIV may experience earlier menopause and a higher symptom burden than women without HIV, but more evidence is needed. Data collection on menopause in women living with HIV is scarce and often not standardized. We sought to assess how menopause data are collected in cohorts and studies of women living with HIV. METHODS: This was a literature review conducted within the PubMed database. We included original studies and cohorts assessing menopause and/or menopausal symptoms in women living with HIV. Study characteristics and menopause data collection, including the definition of menopause, symptom assessment tools, and measurement of biomedical parameters, were noted and summarized systematically in data tables. RESULTS: We included 40 articles describing 37 separate studies published between 2000 and 2023; 27 of these were conducted in high-income countries, the majority in the USA (n = 16). Ten studies were from low- and middle-income countries; four of these were conducted in Brazil. In 20 studies, menopause was defined according to the World Health Organization's definition of over 12 months of amenorrhea. Twelve studies used the Menopause Rating Scale to characterize menopausal symptoms, five studies used other specified symptom assessment tools, and 12 studies used a study-specific tool. CONCLUSIONS: Menopause data collection in women living with HIV is heterogeneous. We propose that standardized tools should be used to enable comparisons between studies and countries, thereby improving the quality of research and clinical treatment. Further research into the validity of menopausal symptom scoring tools is warranted.

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Objetiva-se identificar as práticas contraceptivas e quais motivos influenciam na decisão reprodutiva de mulheres vivendo com HIV. Revisão integrativa da literatura com estudos primários publicados na íntegra, sem restrição de tempo e idioma, de dezembro de 2022 a março de 2023 nas bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, via National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Science Direct Journals e Web of Science. Foram incluídos 32 estudos com base nos tipos de contraceptivos usados por mulheres com HIV e seu poder e desejo na decisão sobre ter filhos: "métodos contraceptivos modernos", englobando principalmente contraceptivos hormonais orais e injetáveis, além de preservativos (78,2%); "métodos contraceptivos naturais", incluindo em sua maioria o método rítmico e coito interrompido (21,8%); e "poder e desejo reprodutivo", referindo nestes influência da família, da comunidade, religião e cultura, do parceiro, e de profissionais da saúde. O nível de evidência da maioria dos estudos foi IV. Assim, o uso de contraceptivos por MVHIV mais comuns são os métodos modernos do tipo hormonais orais e injetáveis e métodos comportamentais. Quanto as influências sobre o poder e desejo reprodutivo, estes podem refletir as desigualdades de gênero, controle e submissão feminina que podem ocasionar comportamentos sexuais de risco.

The objective is to identify contraceptive practices and which reasons influence the reproductive decision of women living with HIV. Integrative literature review with primary studies published in full, without time and language restriction, from December 2022 to March 2023 in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online databases, via National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Science Direct Journals and Web of Science. We included 32 studies based on the types of contraceptives used by women with HIV and their power and desire in deciding to have children: "modern contraceptive methods", mainly encompassing oral and injectable hormonal contraceptives, plus condoms (78.2%); "natural contraceptive methods", including mostly rhythmic method and interrupted coitus (21.8%); and "reproductive power and desire", referring in these influences of family, community, religion and culture, partner, and health professionals. The level of evidence from most studies was IV. Thus, the most common use of MVHIV contraceptives are modern oral and injectable hormone- like methods and behavioral methods. As for the influences on reproductive power and desire, these may reflect the inequalities of gender, control, and female submission that can cause risky sexual behavior.

Su objetivo es identificar las prácticas anticonceptivas y las razones por las que las mujeres que viven con el VIH tienen una decisión reproductiva. Una revisión integral de la literatura con estudios primarios publicados en su totalidad, sin restricciones de tiempo e idioma, de diciembre de 2022 a marzo de 2023 en las bases de datos del Sistema de Análisis y Recuperación de Literatura Médica Online, a través de la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Science Direct Journals y Web of Science. Se incluyeron 32 estudios basados en los tipos de anticonceptivos utilizados por las mujeres con VIH y su poder y deseo en la decisión de tener hijos: "métodos anticonceptivos modernos", que abarcan principalmente anticonceptivos hormonales orales e inyectables, así como preservativos (78,2%); "métodos anticonceptivos naturales", principalmente el método rítmico y omnipresente (21,8%); y "anticonceptivos naturales"; poder y deseo", refiriéndose a estas influencias de la familia, la comunidad, la religión y la cultura, el compañero y los profesionales de la salud. El nivel de evidencia para la mayoría de los estudios fue IV. Por lo tanto, el uso de anticonceptivos MVHIV que son más comunes son métodos y métodos de comportamiento orales e inyectables modernos. En cuanto a las influencias sobre el poder y el deseo reproductivos, éstas pueden reflejar las desigualdades de género, control y sumisión que pueden generar conductas sexuales riesgosas.

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Despite the investment in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, there is still little data about the proportion of women that are retained in treatment after pregnancy in Brazil. Research worldwide shows that a significant proportion of women drop out of treatment after pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with treatment dropout of women that received prenatal care at a federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro between 2016 and 2017 and abandoned treatment after pregnancy. This was a retrospective cohort study using data on prescription refills and hospital medical records. Cross-sectional analysis of data from 454 women showed that 18% were not on cART after pregnancy. Illicit drug use during pregnancy, being less than 35 years old, and being aware of HIV diagnosis before conceiving but not taking cART were factors associated with treatment interruption postpartum. The high prevalence of interruption of HIV treatment after pregnancy suggests that there is a need for better post-natal care to increase adherence in this population.

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OBJECTIVES: To estimate birth prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in HIV-exposed uninfected children born in the current era of combination antiretroviral therapy and describe cCMV-related neurodevelopmental and hearing outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: The Surveillance Monitoring for ART Toxicities cohort study follows HIV-exposed uninfected children at 22 sites in the US and Puerto Rico. Birth cCMV prevalence was estimated in a subset of participants who had blood pellets collected within three weeks of birth and underwent ≥1 of 6 assessments evaluating cognitive and language development including an audiologic examination between 1 and 5 years of age. Detection of CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction testing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was used to diagnose cCMV. Proportions of suboptimal assessment scores were compared by cCMV status using Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Mothers of 895 eligible HIV-exposed uninfected children delivered between 2007 and 2015. Most (90%) were on combination antiretroviral therapy, 88% had an HIV viral load of ≤400 copies/mL, and 93% had CD4 cell counts of ≥200 cells/µL. Eight infants were diagnosed with cCMV, yielding an estimated prevalence of 0.89% (95% CI, 0.39%-1.75%). After adjusting for a sensitivity of 70%-75% for the testing method, projected prevalence was 1.2%-1.3%. No differences were observed in cognitive, language and hearing assessments by cCMV status. CONCLUSIONS: Although birth cCMV prevalence in HIV-exposed uninfected children born to women with well-controlled HIV is trending down compared with earlier combination antiretroviral therapy-era estimates, it is above the 0.4% reported for the general US population. HIV-exposed uninfected children remain at increased risk for cCMV.

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O artigo integra uma investigação documental vinculada a uma pesquisa multifocal e interinstitucional, inscrita nos campos dos Estudos de Gênero, dos Estudos Culturais e da Saúde Coletiva, e em diálogo com a teorização foucaultiana. Tem como objetivo problematizar a noção de enfrentamento da feminização do HIV/aids nos textos normativos das principais políticas em resposta ao agravo, que orientam ações programáticas implementadas no Brasil e no Rio Grande do Sul no período de 2007 a 2016. Os documentos foram examinados na perspectiva da análise cultural, através de um intenso exercício de multiplicação de sentidos do termo enfrentamento, pela qual foi possível descrever e discutir tanto processos de significação cultural que articulam múltiplos, variados e, por vezes, contraditórios sentidos ao termo, quanto efeitos dessa significação sobre modos de ser mulher e de viver e enfrentar o HIV/aids.

The article integrates a documentary investigation linked to a multifocal and interinstitutional research, inscribed in the fields of Gender Studies, Cultural Studies and Collective Health, and in dialogue with Foucauldian theorization. It aims to problematize the notion of coping with the feminization of HIV / AIDS in the normative texts of the main policies in response to the grievance, which guide programmatic actions implemented in Brazil and in Rio Grande do Sul from 2007 to 2016. The documents were examined in the perspective of cultural analysis, through an intense exercise of multiplying meanings of the term coping with, over which it was possible to describe and discuss both processes of cultural signification that articulate multiple, varied and sometimes contradictory meanings to the term, as well as effects of this signification on ways of being a woman and living and coping with HIV / AIDS.

El presente artículo forma parte de una investigación documental articulada a una investigación multifocal e interinstitucional. El artículo se inscribe en los campos de Estudios de Género, Estudios Culturales y de Salud Colectiva, en diálogo con la teoría de Michel Foucault. El objetivo es problematizar la noción de enfrentamiento de la feminización del VIH/SIDA en los textos normativos de las principales políticas en respuesta al agravio, que han orientado acciones programáticas implementadas en Brasil y Rio Grande do Sul en el período 2007-2016. El análisis de los documentos se ha realizado desde la perspectiva del análisis cultural, a través de un intenso ejercicio de multiplicación de sentidos al término enfrentamiento, haciendo posible describir y discutir los procesos de significación cultural que articulan múltiplos, variados y a veces contradictorios sentidos al término, cuanto a los efectos de esa significación sobre los modos de ser mujer y de vivir y enfrentar el SIDA.

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An HIV diagnosis may be associated with severe emotional and psychological distress, which can contribute to delays in care or poor self-management. Few studies have explored the emotional, psychological, and psychosocial impacts of an HIV diagnosis on women in low-resource settings. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the biographical disruption framework. Three disruption phases emerged (impacts of a diagnosis, postdiagnosis turning points, and integration). Nearly all respondents described the news as deeply distressful and feelings of depression and loss of self-worth were common. Several reported struggling with the decision to disclose-worrying about stigma. Postdiagnosis turning points consisted of a focus on survival and motherhood; social support (family members, friends, HIV community) promoted integration. The findings suggest a need for psychological resources and social support interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of an HIV diagnosis.

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INTRODUCTION: Systematic reviews show that women living with HIV (WLHIV) have high unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs due to barriers to access sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as of 2016, there were nearly one million WLHIV, but the existing evidence of their SRH needs comes from a few individual studies. This systematic review provides an overview of these women's needs to help define new and/or adapt existing public health strategies to the local context. This review synthesizes the evidence from the literature on the use of and access to SRHS related to family planning, antenatal care, abortion services and violence against WLHIV in LAC. METHODS: Using a systematic review of mixed studies, a search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, INASP, POPLINE, SCOPUS, for studies conducted in LAC, from 2004 to 2017, as well as contact with authors and hand search as needed. Two independent reviewers evaluated the quality of the studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool; inclusion was conducted according to the PRISMA flow diagram. An exploratory narrative synthesis followed by quantitative synthesis data was undertaken. Group analysis or meta-analysis was not considered appropriate given the level of heterogeneity of the studies. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies in 13 LAC countries for a population of 5672 WLHIV were included. Data from individual studies reported unmet family planning needs; higher, but inconsistent use of condom as the sole contraceptive method OR=1.46 [1.26 to 1.69]; lesser use of other non-permanent contraceptive methods OR=0.26 [0.22 to 0.31]; more unplanned pregnancies OR=1.30 [1.02 to 1.66]; more induced abortions OR=1.96 [1.60 to 2.39]; higher risk of immediate postpartum sterilization; and higher exposure to sexual and institutional violence by WLHIV when compared with women without HIV. CONCLUSIONS: This review presents evidence from LAC about the SRH unmet needs of WLHIV that must be addressed by decreasing institutional and structural barriers, facilitating services and reducing stigma, and discrimination among healthcare providers to improve access to SRHS based on human rights, so women independently of their HIV status can make their own reproductive decisions, free of violence and coercion.

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INTRODUCTION: Effective communication skills that foster responsible sexual decisions are known to have the potential to reduce the risky adolescent sexual behavior. It is well understood that maternal communication is a key element in modifying the adolescent sexual behavior. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore if Puerto Rican mothers of adolescent girls have conversations about sexuality with their daughters and the content of such conversations. METHODS: A total of 22 HIV-seropositive mothers and 22 HIV-seronegative mothers were enrolled. Six focus groups were conducted, sessions were transcribed ad-verbum and coded for specific topics. All qualitative analysis was incorporated into Atlas.ti. RESULTS: Participants in both groups had a similar average age (mean=41 years old); but, the HIV-seropositive mothers were more likely single, less educated and unemployed. Regarding having engaged in conversations about sexuality and the topics covered, however, there were no differences revealed among HIV-seropositive mothers and seronegative mothers. In both groups, mothers understood the importance of these conversations, but most said they were difficult and uncomfortable. CONCLUSION: These findings reinforce the importance of communication between mothers and daughters for the prevention of STIs, HIV/AIDS, and teenage pregnancy in minority populations.Interventions are needed for mother and daughter to improve communication skills, communication about sexuality, and addressing prevention.

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O estudo investigou a percepção de mulheres vivendo com HIV/Aids quanto aos efeitos da soropositividade sobre suas escolhas reprodutivas. Optou-se pelo delineamento qualitativo com uso de entrevista individual semi-estruturada com trinta mulheres HIV positivas em idade reprodutiva. A maior parte delas (n=18) afirmou que a soropositividade modificou o desejo de ter filhos. As categorias de motivos mais freqüentes foram o receio do risco de transmissão do HIV para o bebê e soropositividade como sinônimo de morte. Os resultados sinalizam a necessidade de que os serviços atuem em consonância com os programas de atenção integral à saúde da mulher e os princípios do Sistema Único de Saúde, acolhendo e respeitando as decisões reprodutivas de mulheres soropositivas.

AIDS epidemiological profile indicates a feminine trend particularly among those in the reproductive age. The study investigated the HIV positive women perception of the seropositivity effects on their reproductive choices. It was chosen a qualitative research design with the use of semi-structured individual interviews with thirty HIV positive women in their reproductive age. As the most frequent categories of reasons, most women reported they did not wish to have children, showing the fear of HIV transmission to the baby and seropositivity as a synonym of death. The findings indicate the need for the services in HIV/AIDS to act in line with the programs of comprehensive health care of women and the principles of Brazilian Health System, respecting the reproductive decisions of seropositive women.

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