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Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Healthcare Access, Geography Predict HIV in Black Women
Limited healthcare access and sociostructural factors were stronger predictors of HIV than behavioral risk factors among Black women in the southern United States, based on modeling data from more than 300,000 women in or near Atlanta, Georgia. The findings were presented in a late-breaker study at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science. Nonbehavioral factors such as structural and social determinants of health can complicate HIV risk assessment, wrote Meredith Lora, MD, of Emory University, Atlanta, and colleagues. Previous risk prediction models have underperformed in Black women, whose HIV risk is approximately 20 times that of White women, the researchers wrote. To better assess HIV risk in Black women, the researchers used machine learning to create a model that analyzed electronic medical records data from all women treated at a single center in Atlanta between 2012 and 2022. The study population included 333,263 women; 617 (0.19%) had incident HIV diagnoses and 89% of those with HIV identified as Black individuals. The model included features with a prevalence of 5% or higher in the electronic medical records data and included novel structural determinant features and healthcare utilization features. Overall, the top predictors of HIV included younger age, Black race, residing in high HIV incidence zip codes, and at least one change in phone number or address prior to HIV diagnosis. In addition, women who underwent more HIV screening tests were more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, and women with HIV were more likely than those without HIV to seek care in an emergency department (ED) vs primary care or women's healthcare settings. Although more women with HIV tested positive for sexually transmitted infectious compared to those without HIV in the 2 years before diagnosis, 'seeking sexual health was more important to the model than STI positivity,' the researchers wrote. The model achieved a test area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.90 and area under a precision-recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.14. The appearance of frequent HIV testing as a predictor of risk suggests the presence of undisclosed risk factors that may merit further investigation, the researchers noted in their abstract. EHR models designed for racially diverse female populations may identify more candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but that is not enough, the researchers emphasized. 'Evaluating how these models are implemented to support PrEP uptake and behavior change is critical for real-world impact,' they concluded. Assistance in Risk Assessment The current study is important given the traditional and historical difficulty of women in the United States in predicting their own risk of HIV, said Monica Gandhi, MD, director of the University of California San Francisco Bay Area Center for AIDS Research, and a professor of medicine at UCSF, in an interview. Gandhi cited a recent study from the CDC showing that more than 2.2 million individuals in the US need PrEP, but only 336K have received prescriptions. 'Women may not be able to adjudicate their own risk of HIV, as that risk depends on the risk in their male sexual partners,' said Gandhi, who was not involved in the current study or the CDC study. 'Machine learning using electronic medical records [EMR] can make risk prediction more accurate by reporting both health and social factors,' she noted. The current study identified predictors of HIV risk using extracted EMR data, that the healthcare system may be able to mitigate, she said. 'I was surprised by the fact that seeking sexual health was a stronger predictor of HIV than STD positivity, which indicates that women actually are more aware of their risk for HIV in the US than suggested in previous studies that usually involved smaller sample sizes, Gandhi told Medscape Medical News . 'I was also surprised that women with frequent changes in address or phone number had higher risk,' she said. This suggests mobility as a risk factor, which has been identified more commonly in sub-Saharan Africa, she noted. However, Gandhi was not surprised by the preference for ED care or the increased HIV risk among Black women vs other races, both of which have implications for HIV prevention, she said. The preference for sexual health care in the ED setting in the study population suggests that the ED is an important setting in which to perform STD testing and start PrEP or set up an individual with HIV prevention services, said Gandhi. 'Designated PrEP services for women in historically Black neighborhoods are indicated, and women who are mobile and change their address or phone number frequently should be counseled on HIV prevention modalities, specifically PrEP,' she added. Looking ahead, qualitative research is needed to ask a subset of women with HIV who presented to the ED for sexual health services why they chose the ED; this could help inform how to re-engage women in care, Gandhi said. Additional research on women's knowledge of PrEP and whether women with HIV were offered PrEP in the past also would help identify more opportunities for HIV prevention, she said.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Bushbuckridge Film Festival: Giving accessibility and community inclusion through film
The inaugural Bushbuckridge Film Festival is one of the few festivals that encourage home-grown talent to nurture their gifts locally. Festivals, whether for music or other art disciplines, are often hosted in urban areas; hence, most creatives based in rural parts of the country are usually encouraged to leave and move to the big city to be recognised. Held in rural Mpumalanga, the inaugural Bushbuckridge Film Festival is one of the few festivals that encourage home-grown talent to nurture their gifts locally. The Bushbuckridge Film Festival is a flagship programme of the Bushbuckridge Arts Festival, established in 2023. The festival is steadfast in its mission: to champion authentic storytelling and nurture the next generation of filmmakers from Bushbuckridge and beyond. 'The festival is growing, and it's inspiring to see its trajectory reach new heights,' says festival coordinator Dipa Khoza. The festival is free to the public and has been ongoing from Wednesday until this Saturday. ALSO READ: 'Black Women and Sex': South African filmmaker wins at American Black Film Festival Bushbuckridge Film Festival's pillars The Bushbuckridge Film Festival is built on a trio of pillars: film screenings, hands-on workshops and industry talks. 'These components are designed to uplift and educate aspiring writers, filmmakers, actors, and producers, giving them meaningful opportunities to learn from and engage with some of South Africa's most respected voices in film and television,' Khoza said. Celebrated television legend Jerry Phele, whose breakout role was on Emzini Wezinsizwa as Mofokeng, will also be in attendance to share his insights. Former Rhythm City actor Elliot Sabelo Makhubo will also be present to share his industry insight. Born in Orinoco A, in Bushbuckridge, Skeem Saam actor Thabo Mkhabela will have somewhat of a homecoming at the festival. 'I'm honoured to be part of the Bushbuckridge Film Festival,' shared Mkhabela. 'It feels good to return home and contribute to a platform that empowers our local talent.' The festival is committed to accessibility and community inclusion. Screenings and festival events will take place across five key villages in Bushbuckridge — Manyeli Village, Utah Community Hall, Obrigado Hombesed Care in Zoeknog (Pharea Village), Hluvukani Hall, and Mabharule Village in Lillydale — bringing the big screen directly to the people. 'This grassroots approach sparks dialogue, fosters pride in local talent, and redefines what cultural access looks like in rural spaces,' said the festival coordinator, Khoza. NOW READ: It's World Emoji Day😊: From 😂 to why we can't stop using them
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Lupita Nyong'o opens up about health diagnosis: ‘Let's prioritize this chronic condition'
Lupita Nyong'o has spoken out about her experience with uterine fibroids during Fibroid Awareness Month. Nyong'o discovered she had the non-cancerous growths in 2014, the same year she won her Oscar, and underwent surgery to remove 30 fibroids. She highlighted that while some individuals are asymptomatic, others suffer debilitating symptoms such as heavy bleeding and pain, noting the condition's high prevalence, particularly among Black women. Nyong'o criticized the normalization of female pain and called for increased societal discussion, early education, better screening, and comprehensive research into women's reproductive health. She has joined Democratic congresswomen and senators to introduce legislative bills aimed at expanding research funding, improving early detection, and increasing public awareness for uterine fibroids, also partnering on a research grant.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lupita Nyong'o Received An Unexpected Health Diagnosis The Same Year She Won Her First Oscar
July marks Fibroid Awareness Month, and as a way to educate more women about the condition, Lupita Nyong'o shared a little insight into her journey with uterine fibroids. Related: Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths/tumors that grow inside the uterus. Although it's common, many women can go years without realizing they have them, while others may experience symptoms like heavy or painful periods, pelvic pain, longer or more frequent periods, constipation, and strong discomfort or pain during sex, according to the Mayo Clinic. Earlier today, in a vulnerable post published to Instagram, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shared when she first learned about her diagnosis, and why she refuses to suffer in silence anymore. "This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond," Lupita wrote, "I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone." Related: "And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids (80% of Black women and 70% of white women by age 50!). We deserve better. It's time to demand it. Silence serves no one!" Lupita went on to reveal that she had 30 fibroids and she went into surgery to have them all removed. But after speaking with her doctor, she was left shocked after being told there was nothing she could do to prevent the tumors from growing again. Related: She also provided some vital information about the condition in hopes of more women speaking out about it, and to encourage more doctors to view it with more concern. Lupita noted that the size of the fibroids can range from the "size of a pea to as large as a melon." "When we reach puberty, we're taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman," she added. "We're struggling alone with something that affects most of us. No more suffering in silence!" "We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences. We must reject the normalization of female pain." Related: To help provide more research into uterine fibroids, Lupita revealed that she's joined several women in Congress to introduce a package of uterine fibroid bills that will ultimately expand research funding, assist with early detection and intervention of fibroids, study causes of uterine cancer, and, of course, spread more awareness. She also launched a grant that will seek research proposals to "develop minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the 15 million patients suffering from this chronic condition in the U.S. alone." To learn more, be sure to check out Lupita's full post below, along with the resources she's provided. View this photo on Instagram Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lupita Nyong'o Received An Unexpected Health Diagnosis The Same Year She Won Her First Oscar
July marks Fibroid Awareness Month, and as a way to educate more women about the condition, Lupita Nyong'o shared a little insight into her journey with uterine fibroids. Related: Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths/tumors that grow inside the uterus. Although it's common, many women can go years without realizing they have them, while others may experience symptoms like heavy or painful periods, pelvic pain, longer or more frequent periods, constipation, and strong discomfort or pain during sex, according to the Mayo Clinic. Earlier today, in a vulnerable post published to Instagram, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shared when she first learned about her diagnosis, and why she refuses to suffer in silence anymore. "This Fibroid Awareness Month and beyond," Lupita wrote, "I hope my experience will resonate with anyone else who has ever felt dismissed, confused or alone." Related: "And I hope to seek answers for the far too many women dealing with uterine fibroids (80% of Black women and 70% of white women by age 50!). We deserve better. It's time to demand it. Silence serves no one!" Lupita went on to reveal that she had 30 fibroids and she went into surgery to have them all removed. But after speaking with her doctor, she was left shocked after being told there was nothing she could do to prevent the tumors from growing again. Related: She also provided some vital information about the condition in hopes of more women speaking out about it, and to encourage more doctors to view it with more concern. Lupita noted that the size of the fibroids can range from the "size of a pea to as large as a melon." "When we reach puberty, we're taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman," she added. "We're struggling alone with something that affects most of us. No more suffering in silence!" "We need to stop treating this massive issue like a series of unfortunate coincidences. We must reject the normalization of female pain." Related: To help provide more research into uterine fibroids, Lupita revealed that she's joined several women in Congress to introduce a package of uterine fibroid bills that will ultimately expand research funding, assist with early detection and intervention of fibroids, study causes of uterine cancer, and, of course, spread more awareness. She also launched a grant that will seek research proposals to "develop minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments for uterine fibroids to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the 15 million patients suffering from this chronic condition in the U.S. alone." To learn more, be sure to check out Lupita's full post below, along with the resources she's provided. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity:
