Integrating the person-centered approach with the study of vaccine hesitancy: Applying latent profile analysis to identify vaccine hesitancy subpopulations and assess their relations with correlates and vaccination outcomes

In scholarly and popular discussions of vaccine hesitancy, authors have repeatedly referred to different “types” of vaccine hesitant individuals; however, almost all modern research on vaccine hesitancy utilizes variable-centered approaches to identify the relation of variables rather than a person-centered approach to identify subpopulations, which suggests that a discrepancy exists between conceptual discussions and empirical research on vaccine hesitancy. For this reason, the current article conducts a latent profile analysis (LPA) on the dimensions of a well-supported vaccine hesitancy measure, which assess hesitancy towards vaccines in general. We also assess the relations of the resultant profiles (e.g., subpopulations) with relevant self-reported outcomes and correlates, wherein most of our outcomes are associated with COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Our LPA results support the existence of eight vaccine hesitancy profiles. The profile with the most unfavorable vaccination outcomes (e.g., willingness, receipt, and word-of-mouth) was associated with greater perceptions that vaccines cause health risks and unneeded when healthy; the profile with the most favorable vaccination outcomes was associated with low levels of all vaccine hesitancy dimensions. The other profiles produced a clear gradient between these two extremes. The profiles also differed regarding their standing on correlates, but the clearest difference was their relation with political orientation. Profiles with more unfavorable vaccination outcomes were associated with conservatism, whereas profiles with more favorable vaccinations outcomes were associated with liberalism. These results provide a new perspective for current understandings of vaccine hesitancy and open several avenues for future research.     

The infection rates of HBV and HCV decreased significantly in Zhejiang Province,China: A comparative study based on the data of two sero-epidemiological surveys in 1992 and 2020

In 2020, China conducted a nationwide, sero-epidemiological, cross-sectional survey of viral hepatitis. The stratified multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to select the permanent population aged 1–69 years, followed by questionnaire survey and sample collection and detection of the serological markers of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV). A total of 4747 individuals aged 1–69 years were investigated in Zhejiang Province. The positive rates of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV were 4.3% and 0%, respectively. Compared to a similar sero-epidemiological survey in 1992, the 2020 survey showed that the HBV infection rate in Zhejiang Province decreased by 56.5%. In both surveys, HBV infection rate increased with age (in 1992, χ² = 185.866, p = .000; in 2020, χ² = 1383.836, p = .000). Compared with 1992, the positive anti-HCV rate in those aged 1–69 years in 2020 decreased by 100.0%. This result showed that the HBV vaccine and blood screening to prevent HBV and HCV infection significantly decreased the infection rate of HBV and HCV in the younger generation of Zhejiang province. However, the rate of HBV carriers aged 30–69 years was still high, which underscores the need to strengthen the management and treatment of chronic HBV infection. Hence, Zhejiang province can eliminate the public health threat of viral hepatitis.     

Specific mRNA lipid nanoparticles and acquired resistance to ticks

Acquired resistance to ticks can develop when animals are repeatedly exposed to ticks. Recently, acquired resistance to Ixodes scapularis was induced in guinea pigs immunized with an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine (19ISP) encoding 19 I. scapularis proteins. Here, we evaluated specific mRNAs present in 19ISP to identify critical components associated with resistance to ticks. A lipid nanoparticle containing 12 mRNAs which included all the targets within 19ISP that elicited strong humoral responses in guinea pigs, was sufficient to induce robust resistance to ticks. Lipid nanoparticles containing fewer mRNAs or a single mRNA were not able to generate strong resistance to ticks. All lipid nanoparticles containing salp14 mRNA, however, were associated with increased redness at the tick bite site – which is the first manifestation of acquired resistance to ticks. This study demonstrates that more than one I. scapularis target within 19ISP is required for resistance to ticks, and that additional targets may also play a role in this process.     

“What Do You Consider Use?” Perspectives of Black Youth on Cannabis Use

PurposeAdolescent health surveillance systems are critical for understanding patterns of cannabis use; however, their limitations underscore the need for studies that generate new insights, particularly from individuals who are most impacted by negative outcomes. Our objectives were to learn about youths' cannabis use and their perceptions of their peers' cannabis use; their perspectives about trajectories of cannabis use over time and factors that influence trajectories; and perceived risks and benefits associated with cannabis use.MethodsA group model building approach was used to gather data about cannabis use from a sample of urban, Black youth. Information about participants' cannabis use was assessed on eligibility screener, enrollment survey, and through structured activities over the course of four group model building workshops.ResultsParticipants [(n = 20) mean age 18; 35% male and 95% Black] exclusively used the terms weed and blunts for cannabis. Youth who consume peers' blunts would not characterize themselves as cannabis users. Collectively, youth estimated the majority of Baltimore youth used cannabis by age 16 and that most used daily. Youth described cannabis as more beneficial than harmful. There were no gender differences in prevalence of use, but there were gender dynamics to shared use.DiscussionParticipatory research with urban, Black youth suggests youths' perceptions are misaligned with the ways that researchers conceptualize cannabis use. To better understand the scope of youth cannabis use and its harms, it is critical to leverage input from youth with lived experience to ensure survey tools adequately capture the way youth see themselves using cannabis.     

Associations of Momentary Mindfulness With Affect and Cannabis Desire in a Trial of Cannabis Use Interventions With and Without Momentary Assessment

PurposeMindfulness, awareness resulting from attending to the present without judgment, has been associated with improved health. When considered as a time-varying momentary state, mindfulness is associated with other momentary states such as affect. We examined whether momentary mindfulness, specifically mindful attention and awareness (MAA), changed after counseling interventions to reduce cannabis use that included ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and explored associations with negative affect, positive affect, and cannabis desire.MethodsOutpatients 15–24 years using cannabis ≥3x/week were randomized to one of the three interventions, each including two motivational enhancement therapy (MET) sessions. For two interventions, MET was followed by 2 weeks of EMA (with/without messaging). Momentary MAA, negative affect, positive affect, and cannabis desire were assessed over 1 week of EMA at baseline and 3-month follow-up (N = 1,971 reports, 68 participants). We examined changes in momentary MAA from baseline to follow-up overall and by group (MET + EMA, MET-only) using generalized linear mixed effects models. We tested associations of momentary MAA with momentary affect and cannabis desire using generalized estimating equations.ResultsMomentary MAA increased from baseline to follow-up after MET counseling plus EMA (β = 0.237), but did not change with MET counseling alone. Higher momentary MAA was associated with lower negative affect (β = ?0.526) and cannabis desire (β = ?0.521), but not with positive affect.DiscussionAmong youth using cannabis frequently, momentary MAA was increased 3 months after interventions with EMA after counseling and was inversely associated with momentary negative affect and momentary cannabis desire. Mindfulness may be a useful target for momentary intervention.     

山东省男男性行为人群HIV暴露前后预防用药情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解山东省MSM的HIV暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药情况并分析相关因素，为PrEP/PEP工作的推广提供参考依据。方法 2022年4-7月在山东省7个城市监测哨点招募MSM进行问卷调查，每个城市样本量为400人。收集MSM社会人口学、性行为、PrEP/PEP用药等信息，并采集血标本做HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果 研究对象MSM共2 815人，以≤30岁（55.7%，1 569/2 815）、未婚（68.6%，1 931/2 815）、大专及以上文化程度（56.5%，1 590/2 815）为主。PrEP用药者占9.2%（258/2 815）；PEP用药者占10.8%（305/2 815）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄≤30岁（aOR=4.04，95%CI：1.25~13.01）、自我认知HIV感染风险较低（aOR=1.76，95%CI：1.16~2.68）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.51，95%CI：1.10~2.09）、最近6个月发生同性商业性行为（aOR=1.69，95%CI：1.16~2.47）、使用新型毒品（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.11~2.11）、接受同伴教育（aOR=1.56，95%CI：1.03~2.37）、知晓别人PrEP用药（aOR=3.29，95%CI：2.48~4.36）、HIV抗体阴性（aOR=8.40，95%CI：1.12~63.12）；MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较低的相关因素为主要性伴为临时性伴（aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.49~0.90）。MSM中PEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄<50岁（≤30岁：aOR=2.41，95%CI：1.02~5.69；31~49岁：aOR=3.33，95%CI：1.42~7.85）、自我认知无HIV感染风险（aOR=1.87，95%CI：1.12~3.11）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.68，95%CI：1.23~2.29）、使用新型毒品（aOR=3.86，95%CI：2.94~5.07）以及未接受同伴教育（aOR=1.54，95%CI：1.12~2.12）。结论 山东省MSM的PrEP/PEP用药比例较高。应加强同伴教育和自我认知HIV风险教育，提高MSM中PrEP/PEP用药的使用率。     

Essential drugs policy in three rural counties in China: What does a complexity lens add?

In 2009 the government of China identified an essential drugs policy as one of five priority areas for health system reform. Since then, a national essential drugs policy has been defined, along with plans to implement it. As a large scale social intervention, the policy will have a significant impact on various local health actors. This paper uses the lens of complex adaptive systems to examine how the policy has been implemented in three rural Chinese counties. Using material gathered from interviews with key actors in county health bureaus and township health centers, we illustrate how a single policy can lead to multiple unanticipated outcomes. The complexity lens applied to the material gathered in interviews helps to identify relevant actors, their different relationships and policy responses and a new framework to better understand heterogeneous pathways and outcomes. Decision-makers and policy implementers are advised to embrace the complex and dynamic realities of policy implementation. This involves developing mechanisms to monitor different behaviors of key actors as well as the intended outcomes and unintended consequences of the policy.     

青岛市男男性行为人群HIV暴露后预防药物使用及相关因素分析

目的 了解青岛市MSM对HIV暴露后预防（PEP）药物使用率及相关因素，为MSM艾滋病防控工作提供参考。方法 采用横断面调查设计，于2022年4月至2023年2月，依托青岛市MSM社会组织，采用滚雪球抽样方法招募MSM研究对象，纳入标准为年龄≥18岁男性、最近6个月发生同性肛交或口交、HIV阴性或感染状态未知，估计样本量为566人。通过现场问卷调查收集研究对象的人口学特征、性行为特征和PEP药物使用情况等信息。采用logistic回归模型分析使用PEP药物的相关因素。结果 MSM研究对象共811人，以25~34岁（53.6%，435/811）、未婚（74.7%，606/811）、月均收入≥5 000元（52.2%，423/811）和在青岛市居住时间≥10年（75.6%，613/811）为主，最近6个月知晓性伴HIV感染状态者占67.1%（544/811）、有HIV阳性性伴者占3.6%（29/811），最近6个月发生群交、发生无保护肛交和使用新型毒品者分别占86.4%（701/811）、98.2%（796/811）、80.3%（651/811）。PEP药物使用率为28.4%（230/811）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，研究对象使用PEP药物的相关因素包括离异/丧偶（aOR=5.46，95%CI：1.96~15.17）、月均收入≥5 000元（aOR=2.04，95%CI：1.44~2.89）、性取向为同性恋（aOR=0.40，95%CI：0.22~0.71）、最近6个月有HIV阳性性伴（aOR=2.54，95%CI：1.13~5.71）、最近6个月HIV检测≥3次（aOR=1.46，95%CI：1.04~2.06）。结论 青岛市MSM的危险行为发生率较高，PEP药物使用率较低，应加大对该人群的艾滋病防治知识宣教，倡导知情交友，降低危险行为发生率；探索PEP药物的医保报销方案，降低使用成本，促进MSM在发生HIV暴露后尽早使用PEP药物。