Carmen H Logie1,2,3, Madelaine Coelho4, Brandon Kohrt5, Alexander C Tsai6,7, Emily Mendenhall8. 1. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 3. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment & Health, Hamilton, Canada. 4. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 6. Center for Global Health and Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 7. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 8. Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to identify themes across articles that aimed to explore HIV-related syndemics in 2020 and 2021 and to discuss their implications for research on syndemics. RECENT FINDINGS: We identified 189 articles on syndemics between 2020 and 2021. Key themes across studies included COVID-19; mental health and psychosocial challenges; substance use; socio-structural factors; protective factors; and methodological approaches. COVID-19's implications for HIV syndemic research were discussed. Mental health and substance use research largely examined linkages with sexual practices or reduced HIV care retention. Researchers examined associations between socio-structural variables (e.g. poverty) and elevated HIV exposure, reduced HIV testing and poorer health. Concepts of water insecurity and 'ecosyndemics' were also raised, as was the importance of attending to noncommunicable diseases and comorbidities. Most studies did not assess interactions between health conditions, signalling the need for methodological grounding in the foundational concepts of syndemic theory. SUMMARY: Most studies recommended that HIV prevention and care research attend to the interplay between poor mental health, substance use and multidimensional violence. Increased attention to structural factors, particularly exacerbated poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic, is required. Research can identify protective factors to harness to advance HIV prevention and care.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to identify themes across articles that aimed to explore HIV-related syndemics in 2020 and 2021 and to discuss their implications for research on syndemics. RECENT FINDINGS: We identified 189 articles on syndemics between 2020 and 2021. Key themes across studies included COVID-19; mental health and psychosocial challenges; substance use; socio-structural factors; protective factors; and methodological approaches. COVID-19's implications for HIV syndemic research were discussed. Mental health and substance use research largely examined linkages with sexual practices or reduced HIV care retention. Researchers examined associations between socio-structural variables (e.g. poverty) and elevated HIV exposure, reduced HIV testing and poorer health. Concepts of water insecurity and 'ecosyndemics' were also raised, as was the importance of attending to noncommunicable diseases and comorbidities. Most studies did not assess interactions between health conditions, signalling the need for methodological grounding in the foundational concepts of syndemic theory. SUMMARY: Most studies recommended that HIV prevention and care research attend to the interplay between poor mental health, substance use and multidimensional violence. Increased attention to structural factors, particularly exacerbated poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic, is required. Research can identify protective factors to harness to advance HIV prevention and care.