The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) announced results from its HPTN 064 Women's HIV Seroincidence Study (ISIS) which found an HIV incidence of 0.24% in the study cohort of 2,099 women (88% black), a rate that is five fold higher than that estimated for black women overall by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The incidence rate observed in HPTN 064 is based on findings from women enrolled from six geographical areas in the US where HIV and poverty are known to be more common: Atlanta, GA, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Washington D.C., Baltimore, MD, Newark, NJ, New York City, NY.
Press release
Fact sheet

The annual HIV Surveillance Report provides an overview on the current epidemiology of HIV disease in the United States and dependent areas. CDC funds state and territorial health departments to collect surveillance data on persons diagnosed with HIV infection; all personal identifiers are removed from these data before being transmitted to CDC via a secure data network. Data are analyzed by CDC and then displayed by age, race, sex, transmission category, and jurisdiction (where appropriate).
Current issue

These guidelines focus on interventions to improve entry into and retention in care and ART adherence for people living with HIV, as well as methods to monitor these critical processes. The target audience includes care providers, patients, policymakers, and organizations and health systems involved with implementing HIV care and treatment.

As part of SAMHSA's Treatment Imrovement Protocol series, two new manuals are available: Addressing Viral Hepatitis in People With Substance Use Disorders and Managing Chronic Pain in Adults With or in Recovery From Substance Use Disorders. The manuals are designed to assist behavioral health professionals and clinicans who treat people with substance abuse problems. The former discusses screening, diagnosis, and referrals and explains how to evaluate a program's hepatitis practices, while the latter discusses chronic pain management, including treatment with opioids, and offers information about substance abuse assessments and referrals.

	Addressing Viral Hepatitis in People With Substance Use Disorders
	Managing Chronic Pain in Adults With or in Recovery From Substance Use Disorders

Take Charge. Take the Test is a part of Act Against AIDS, CDC's five-year, multi-faceted national communication campaign to fight the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States. It is a social marketing campaign developed to encourage African American women to get tested for HIV. Through compelling messages and imagery, the campaign aims to help African American women recognize their risk of getting HIV and empowers them with the information they need to take charge of their health. Campaign materials are available online for local health departments and community organizations to download and use.

To learn more about Act Against AIDS, visit http://www.actagainstaids.org .

CDC's most recent fact sheet on HIV among African Amercians is now available in Spanish.
Spanish version PDF
English version PDF

In honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we are promoting the Women and HIV topic page on the AETC NRC website. Here you will find a comprehensive list of resources and trainings dedicated to the treatment of women with HIV and HIV related illnesses.

AIDSinfo has updated its fact sheet series on HIV and pregnancy. These fact sheets are intended for women infected with HIV who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant and are based on latest version of the Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States.
Download the pdf

To monitor HIV-associated behaviors and HIV prevalence among Injection Drug Users (IDUs), the CDC National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) conducts interviews and HIV testing in selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Data are collected in annual cycles from one risk group per year so that each group is surveyed once every 3 years. This report summarizes data from 10,073 IDUs interviewed and tested in 20 MSAs in 2009 as part of NHBS.
View or download the full report

This webinar series aims to address the issues that migrant women face in regard to HIV infection. The target audience is advanced - expert level clinicians, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other health care professionals caring for people with HIV. CE, CME and CNE credits are available.
Pre-registration is required; registration deadline is April 18th .
Register
View the agenda

This Summit is a one-day course for clinical providers of color and clinical providers serving HIV-positive people of color in New England. Sessions are designed for all services and care team members and also developed to address the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Registration is free. If you're interested in setting up a display table, please email Durrell Fox at dfoxnenehec@aol.com .

ACTHIV is a state-of-the-science conference for frontline health care professionals, in scientific collaboration with multiple federal and independent agencies. The conference is designed for all frontline clinicians providing HIV care for various population groups. CE/CME credit activities will be available. For more information email ACTHIV@meetingmasters.biz
Registration and program information

This is an invitation for authors to submit original research articles as well as review articles that deal with preconception risk factors and/or care. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

	Epidemiological aspect of preconception risk factors among adolescents and women and men of reproductive age
	Motivating couples and professionals to give attention to preconception health and health care services
	The role of public policy and government in supporting preconception care
	Assessment of changes in health parameters through preconception care
	Ethical, legal, social, and psychological aspects of preconception care
	Emerging approaches to integrate preconception care into primary health care settings and clinical practice

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

	Manuscript Due: Friday, 20 July 2012
	First Round of Reviews: Friday, 12 October 2012
	Publication Date: Friday, 7 December 2012

Author Guidelines

This FOA solicits applications from health professionals associations to develop dissemination programs that integrate patient-centered outcomes research into clinical practice using innovative methods. These methods could include mechanisms such as education, credentialing, scientific programs, or social media platforms. Applicants may wish to consider both educational theory (what learning methods work most effectively) and the relevance of new media. Through this FOA, AHRQ anticipates funding between 25-50 awards that together total up to $2.5 million annually for 3 years. Applicants may receive no more than $100,000 annually in total costs for projects up to 3 years long. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research may vary from application to application, AHRQ anticipates that the size and duration of each award may also vary. Applications are due April 25, 2012.
To download the application or apply electronically
For an overview of the grant application process

The University of Virginia, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences seeks 250 healthcare providers to participate in a research survey on attitudes and behaviors towards specific HIV/AIDS patient populations. The survey is anticipated to take approximately 15 minutes and respondents will receive a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card for their participation. We are seeking physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide direct patient care and who have prescribed HIV antiretroviral medications in the last month. The goals of the project are to:

	Determine whether patient substance use impacts the prescribing behavior of HIV physicians.
	Identify factors that may predict variance in prescribing behavior among HIV physicians.
	Describe the substance use attitudes and self-reported substance use treatment behaviors of HIV physicians.
	Identify targets of education / training for physicians around substance abuse treatment and the care of HIV+ substance users.

To complete the survey

Contact Dr. Jennifer Hettema with any questions at jhettema@virginia.edu or call (415) 407-3416