Browsing by Author "Brandon Brown"

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    Open Access
    Addressing Ebola-related Stigma
    (Global Health Action, 2014) Mariam Davtyan; Brandon Brown; Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan
    Background HIV/AIDS and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are contemporary epidemics associated with significant social stigma in which communities affected suffer from social rejection, violence, and diminished quality of life. Objective To compare and contrast stigma related to HIV/AIDS and EVD, and strategically think how lessons learned from HIV stigma can be applied to the current EVD epidemic. Methods To identify relevant articles about HIV/AIDS and EVD-related stigma, we conducted an extensive literature review using multiple search engines. PubMed was used to search for relevant peer-reviewed journal articles and Google for online sources. We also consulted the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health to retrieve up-to-date information about EVD and HIV/AIDS. Results Many stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors directed towards those with EVD are strikingly similar to those with HIV/AIDS but there are significant differences worthy of discussion. Both diseases are life-threatening and there is no medical cure. Additionally misinformation about affected groups and modes of transmission runs rampant. Unlike in persons with EVD, historically criminalized and marginalized populations carry a disproportionately higher risk for HIV infection. Moreover, mortality due to EVD occurs within a shorter time span as compared to HIV/AIDS.
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    Addressing the socio-development needs of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria : a call for action
    (African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2014) Morenike O. Folayan; Morolake Odetoyinbo; Brandon Brown; Abigail Harrison Affiliations
    The widespread use of antiretroviral therapy and remarkable success in the treatment of paediatric HIV infection has changed the face of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in children from a fatal disease to that of a chronic illness. Many children living with HIV are surviving into adolescence. This sub-population of people living with HIV is emerging as a public health challenge and burden in terms of healthcare management and service utilization than previously anticipated. This article provides an overview of the socio-developmental challenges facing adolescents living with HIV especially in a resource-limited setting like Nigeria. These include concerns about their healthy sexuality, safer sex and transition to adulthood, disclosure of their status and potential stigma, challenges faced with daily living, access and adherence to treatment, access to care and support, and clinic transition. Other issues include reality of death and implications for fertility intentions, mental health concerns and neurocognitive development. Coping strategies and needed support for adolescents living with HIV are also discussed, and the implications for policy formulation and programme design and implementation in Nigeria are highlighted. L'utilisation généralisée de la thérapie antirétrovirale et des succès remarquables dans le traitement de l'infection du VIH chez les enfants a changé le visage de l'épidémie du virus d'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) chez les enfants d'une maladie mortelle ? celui d'une maladie chronique. Beaucoup d'enfants vivant avec le VIH survivent ? l'adolescence. Cette sous-population de personnes vivant avec le VIH est en train de devenir un problème de santé publique et de la charge en termes de gestion des soins de santé et l'utilisation des services que prévu avant. Cet article donne un aperçu des défis du développement social auxquels sont confrontés les adolescents vivant avec le VIH en particulier dans un contexte de ressources limitées comme le Nigeria. Il s'agit notamment des préoccupations concernant leur santé sexuelle, les rapports sexuels protégés et le passage ? l'âge adulte, la divulgation de leur statut et de la stigmatisation potentielle, les défis rencontrés dans la vie quotidienne, l'accès au traitement et l'observance du traitement, l'accès aux soins et au soutien, et la transition de la clinique. D'autres questions comprennent la réalité de la mort et des implications pour les intentions de la fécondité, des problèmes de santé mentale et le développement neurocognitif. Les stratégies d'adaptation et le soutien nécessaire pour les adolescents vivant avec le VIH sont également discutés, et les implications pour la formulation des politiques et de la conception des programmes et la mise en oeuvre au Nigeria sont mis en évidence.
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    Considerations for stakeholder engagement and COVID-19 related clinical trials’ conduct in sub-Saharan Africa
    (Wiley, 2021) Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan, Brandon BroBridget Haire, Chinedum Peace Babalola, Nicaise Ndemb; Brandon Brown; | Bridget Haire; Chinedum Peace Babalola |; Nicaise Ndembi
    The aim of this study is to determine how stakeholder engagement can be adapted for the conduct of COVID-19-related clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Nine essential stakeholder engagement practices were reviewed: formative research; stakeholder engagement plan; communications and issues management plan; protocol development; informed consent process; standard of prevention for vaccine research and standard of care for treatment research; policies on trial-related physical, psychological, financial, and/or social harms; trial accrual, follow-up, exit trial closure and results dissemination; and post-trial access to trial products or procedures. The norms, values, and practices of collectivist societies in Sub-Saharan Africa and the low research literacy pose challenges to the conduct of clinical trials. Civil-society organizations, members of community advisory boards and ethics committees, young persons, COVID-19 survivors, researchers, government, and the private sector are assets for the implementation and translation of COVID-19 related clinical trials. Adapting ethics guidelines to the socio-cultural context of the region can facilitate achieving the aim of stakeholder engagement
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    COVID-19, economic problems, and family relationships in eight Middle East and North African countries
    (Wiley Online Library, 2022) MahaElTantawi1; MorenikeOluwatoyinFolayan2; NourhanM.Aly; Brandon Brown; Oliver C. Ezechi; Benjamin Uzochukwu; Yousef Khader; Ola B. AL-Batayneh; Nuraldeen Maher AL-Khanati; Dina Y. Attia; Passent Ellakany; Maher Rashwan; AnasShamala; Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga; Annie L. Nguyen
    Objective The aim was to assess the reported family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association between these relationships and individual, interpersonal, and country-level income in eight Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Background COVID-19 causes fear of infection, loss of loved ones, and economic problems that may affect family relationships. Methods Data were collected from eight MENA countries using an online survey (July–August 2020). The dependent variable was change in family relationship during COVID-19, and the independent variables were individual, interpersonal, and country-level factors represented by sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 status, financial impact (whether participants lost or had reduced wages) and country income. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results There were 1854 responses, mean (SD) age of 30.6 (9.9) years, 65.8% were female, 3.4% tested COVID-19 positive, and 20.8% reported lost/reduced wages. Family relationships were more likely to improve or remain unchanged (84.3%) for participants who had a history of COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.25, 10.01]). However, family relationships were more likely to not improve for those who knew someone who died of COVID-19 (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.58, 0.99]) and those with lost/reduced wages (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI [0.52, 0.94]).
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    Rape in Nigeria: a silent epidemic among adolescents with implications for HIV infection
    (Positive Action for Treatment Access, Lagos, Nigeria, 2014-02-23) Morenike O. Folayan; Morolake Odetoyinbo; Abigail Harrison; Brandon Brown
    Adolescents worldwide often face tremendous sexual violence; a growing problem and a leading reproductive health concern. The prevalence of this violence ranges between 15 and 40% in sub-Saharan Africa, with studies showing rates of sexual coercion and abuse among female adolescents in Nigeria between 11 and 55% (Citation1, Citation2). Little is known about the impact of rape on adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV), and how their HIV status affects how they cope with this traumatic experience. A recent survey in Nigeria showed 31.4 and 5.7% of sexually active adolescent females and males, respectively, reported forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation (Citation3). The same study showed significantly more reported cases of rape among female ALHIV compared to their HIV-negative peers (p=0.008). Supporting literature from South Africa highlights rape as a risk factor for HIV in women (Citation4).
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    Sex differences in the experience of COVID-19 post-traumatic stress symptoms by adults in South Africa
    (BMC Psychiatry, 2022) Ntombifuthi P. Nzimande; Maha El Tantawi; Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga; Richmond Opoku-Sarkodie; Brandon Brown; Oliver C. Ezechi; Benjamin S. C. Uzochukwu; Passent Ellakany; Nourhan M. Aly; Annie Lu Nguyen; Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan
    Background The COVID-19 pandemic has created multiple mental health challenges. Many residents in South Africa face pre-existing elevated levels of stress and the pandemic may have had varying impacts on sub-populations. The aims of this study were to determine: 1) the factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and 2) sex differences in the factors associated with PTSS in adults residing in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Study participants aged 18 years and above, were recruited for this cross-sectional study through an online survey implemented from June 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The outcome variable was PTSS; explanatory variables were sex at birth, COVID-19 status, social isolation and access to emotional support. Confounders considered were age, education level completed and current work status. Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between the outcome and explanatory variables Outcomes There were 489 respondents. Among all respondents, those who were older (AOR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95 – 0.99) and had access to emotional support from family and relatives (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.14 – 0.53) had significantly lower odds of PTSS. Respondents who felt socially isolated had higher odds of PTSS (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.08 – 1.27). Females had higher PTSS scores and higher odds of PTSS compared to males (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.41-3.39). Females (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 – 0.95) and males (AOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.59) who had access to emotional support had significantly lower odds of PTSS than those who had no support. Females (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04 -1.27) and males (AOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.59) who felt socially isolated had higher odds of PTSS compared to those who did not feel socially isolated. Interpretation Compared to males, females had higher scores and higher odds of reporting PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to emotional support ameliorated the odds of having PTSS for both sexes, while feeling socially isolated worsened the odds for both sexes.