Landon Myer
Biographic Data
| ID | 6071787 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Landon Myer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Landon |
| FAMILY NAME | Myer |
| SIGNATURE | MYER L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cape Town |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 46 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 112 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 45 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Determinants and Strategies for Implementation of an Adapted Data to Care Vertical HIV Prevention Intervention in a South African Context
Despite progress in preventing new HIV infections in children, retention in vertical transmission prevention (VTP) remains a challenge in low-resource settings. The REMInD intervention used an adapted Data to Care (D2C) approach with tracing to support mother-infant pairs in completing VTP care. This qualitative study aimed to explore the potential implementation determinants and strategies to enhance the successful implementation of the REMInD i…
Interest in long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adults living with HIV newly starting or restarting ART in Cape Town, South Africa
Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI ART) has proven effective in maintaining viral suppression among people living with HIV but recommendations to switch to LAI ART are limited to individuals stable and virologically suppressed on oral ART. Understanding LAI perceptions among diverse populations living with HIV is essential. In a cross-sectional survey at two peri-urban clinics in Cape Town, adults starting or restarting treatment …
Exploration of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women’s Acceptability of Rapid Point-of-Care Urine Testing Within Antenatal and Postnatal Care, and Its Perceived Impact on PrEP Adherence When Paired with Pr…
Psychosocial factors associated with the willingness to initiate and continue PrEP during pregnancy among PrEP-naïve persons in South Africa
In South Africa (SA), women are disproportionately affected by HIV, with increased risk during the peripartum period. Despite the availability, efficacy, and safety of oral PrEP to prevent HIV, uptake and adherence rates remain low. This study assessed the association of intrapersonal, partner-related, and community-referenced psychosocial factors with willingness to use PrEP among pregnant persons in SA. PrEP-naïve pregnant persons receiving ant…
I’ll Continue If I Have a Positive Mind”
Pregnant and postpartum people (PPPs) face heightened risk for HIV acquisition, yet depression and trauma-related symptoms can undermine adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). To inform the development of a brief mental health-focused adherence intervention, we explored the impacts of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on PrEP use among PPPs in Cape Town, South Africa. Twenty-eight PPPs with elevated symptoms of d…
Experiences of alcohol use during pregnancy
In South Africa, alcohol use during pregnancy is prevalent and associated with increased HIV risk. Developing locally sensitive and contextually appropriate evidence-based interventions to address alcohol use among pregnant and breastfeeding women in South Africa requires comprehensive understanding of the context of perinatal alcohol use and how relationships and lived environments may serve as barriers or supports for alcohol reduction. We cond…
So that’s why I found PrEP to be safest way to protect yourself”
Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs at alarmingly high rates towards pregnant women in South Africa. Experiences of emotional, physical, and sexual IPV in pregnancy can adversely impact the health and safety of mother and fetus. Furthermore, IPV is associated with increased risk of HIV, exacerbating the public health impact of violence among pregnant women in this HIV endemic setting. In-depth understanding of cultural and contextual drivers o…
Maternal weight trajectories and associations with infant growth in South African women
Identification of unique longitudinal weight trajectory groupings might inform comprehensive efforts targeted at improving healthy maternal weight and infant outcomes
Youth perinatal HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders
HIV-associated functional impairment may cause cognitive impairment secondary to the viral infection, hence, associations between cognitive impairment and functional impairment in youth living with HIV are important to assess. We sought to determine whether cognitive impairment is associated with functional impairment and if it carries higher risk for also having functional impairment. We collected parent-rated information regarding youth functio…
Stepped care to optimize pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectiveness in pregnant and postpartum women (SCOPE-PP) in South Africa
NCT05322629 : Date of registration: April 12, 2022
Growth patterns of infants with in- utero HIV and ARV exposure in Cape Town, South Africa and Lusaka, Zambia
Infant growth trajectories differed by country, highlighting the importance of studying contextual influences on outcomes of infants who were HEU
Contraceptive trajectories postpartum
Empowerment in pregnancy
Sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of longitudinal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among first-time ART initiators in Cape Town, South Africa
First-time antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiators may be more vulnerable to poor ART adherence because they may be coping with a new HIV diagnosis, facing logistical challenges to accessing and adhering to ART for the first time, and have not yet developed support networks or the skills to support long-term adherence. We recruited 324 participants in two HIV clinics near Cape Town, South Africa. Sociodemographic/psychosocial factors were measure…
Association between food intake and obesity in pregnant women living with and without HIV in Cape Town, South Africa
Diet modification may promote healthy weight in pregnant women living with and without HIV
Mixed-method estimation of population-level HIV viral suppression rate in the Western Cape, South Africa
INTRODUCTION: There are few population-wide data on viral suppression (VS) that can be used to monitor programmatic targets in sub-Saharan Africa. We describe how routinely collected viral load (VL) data from antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes can be extrapolated to estimate population VS and validate this using a combination of empiric and model-based estimates. METHODS: VL test results from were matched using a record linkage algorithm to …
The role of HIV viral load in mathematical models of HIV transmission and treatment
Introduction: HIV viral load (VL) is accepted as a key biomarker in HIV transmission and pathogenesis. This paper presents a review of the role of VL testing in mathematical models for HIV prevention and treatment. Methods: A search for simulation models of HIV was conducted in PubMed, yielding a total of 1210 studies. Publications before the year 2000, studies involving animals and analyses that did not use mathematical simulations were excluded…
“You must leave but I didn’t want to leave”
Postpartum HIV care retention rates are well below retention rates of the general adult population. The Maternal-Child Health Antiretroviral Therapy (MCH-ART) trial tested the benefit of integrating postpartum maternal ART and pediatric care through the end of breastfeeding compared to the standard of care of immediate postpartum referral of mother and infant to separate services. After the trial, twenty-one participants completed in-depth interv…
Healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy can reduce HIV incidence and vertical transmission. Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in delivering PrEP in antenatal care but little is known about HCP knowledge and attitudes about PrEP in pregnancy. We conducted a qualitative study in two healthcare facilities to assess HCPs' PrEP knowledge and perspectives relating to HIV prevention in pregnant women. Between January-March'19, we adm…
Postpartum obesity and weight gain among human immunodeficiency virus‐infected and human immunodeficiency virus‐uninfected women in South Africa
In South Africa, up to 40% of pregnant women are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 30-45% are obese. However, little is known about the dual burden of HIV and obesity in the postpartum period. In a cohort of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected pregnant women initiating antiretroviral therapy in Cape Town, South Africa, we examined maternal anthropometry (weight and body mass index [BMI]) from 6 weeks through 12 months postpartum. Us…
Community acceptability of dolutegravir-based HIV treatment in women
Dolutegravir-based regimens were found to be generally acceptable for use in women except during pregnancy. Interest in a dolutegravir-based regimen was linked with its perceived potential to enhance health, privacy and reduce stigma while concerns about neural tube defects were the main potential barrier to dolutegravir uptake in women. In order to optimise the community acceptability and uptake of acceptability-based regimen among women it is c…
Behavioural health risks during early adolescence among perinatally HIV-infected South African adolescents and same-age, HIV-uninfected peers
Behavioural health risks, including substance use, early sexual debut, bullying and suicidality, are common during adolescence, but may be complicated among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents. However, there are few data exploring these behaviours in sub-Saharan Africa. We compared behavioural health risks (any self-report of substance use, sexual activity, bullying others or suicidality, or a positive urine toxicology screen) among perinatally…
Smartphone usage and preferences among postpartum HIV-positive women in South Africa
In South Africa, HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral therapy often are lost to care postpartum; strategies to support long-term engagement are needed. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are emerging as a possible solution for supporting long-term engagement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV care continuum. In order to explore acceptability and feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this c…
Acceptability of Interventions to Improve Engagement in HIV Care Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women at Two Urban Clinics in South Africa
HIV-associated cognitive disorders in perinatally infected children and adolescents
Accurate assessment of HIV-associated cognitive disorders in perinatally infected children and adolescents is challenging. Assessments of general intellectual functioning, or global cognition, may not provide information regarding domain-specific strengths and weaknesses, and may therefore fail to detect, impaired trajectories of development within particular cognitive domains. We compare the efficacy of global cognitive scores to that of composi…
Life is still going on
Risk for post-traumatic stress disorder associated with different forms of interpersonal violence in South Africa
Social determinants of psychological distress in a nationally-representative sample of South African adults
Microbicide acceptability research
The social epidemiology of tuberculosis in South Africa
Contraceptive trajectories postpartum
We Have Our Protector”
Objectives. We examined perceptions of the effectiveness and acceptability of a candidate microbicide among 94 South African female sex workers who had participated in a phase 3 microbicide trial for HIV prevention. Methods. Sixteen focus groups were conducted in 2001, 12 to 15 months after participants were informed that the candidate microbicide had been determined to be ineffective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (S…
CD4 count at antiretroviral therapy initiation and the risk of loss to follow-up
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is now recommended irrespective of CD4 count. However data on the relationship between CD4 count at ART initiation and loss to follow-up (LTFU) are limited and conflicting. METHODS: We conducted a cohort analysis including all adults initiating ART (2008-2012) at three public sector sites in South Africa. LTFU was defined as no visit in the 6 months before database closure. The Kaplan-Meier esti…
Microbicide acceptability research
We Have Our Protector”
Objectives. We examined perceptions of the effectiveness and acceptability of a candidate microbicide among 94 South African female sex workers who had participated in a phase 3 microbicide trial for HIV prevention. Methods. Sixteen focus groups were conducted in 2001, 12 to 15 months after participants were informed that the candidate microbicide had been determined to be ineffective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (S…
Policy maker and health care provider perspectives on reproductive decision-making amongst HIV-infected individuals in South Africa
The findings highlight the diversity of perspectives among policy makers and providers regarding the reproductive decisions taken by HIV-infected people. There is a clear need for more explicit policies recognizing the reproductive rights and choices of HIV-infected individuals
Life is still going on
Common Mental Disorders among HIV-Infected Individuals in South Africa
Despite the high prevalence of both mental disorders and HIV infection in much of sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about the occurrence of mental health disorders among HIV-infected individuals. We conducted a cross-sectional study among individuals enrolled into HIV care and treatment services near Cape Town, South Africa. Psychiatric diagnoses were measured using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) administered by traine…
‘Even if You're Positive, You Still Have Rights Because You Are a Person’
Global debates in approaches to HIV/AIDS control have recently moved away from a uniformly strong human rights‐based focus. Public health utilitarianism has become increasingly important in shaping national and international policies. However, potentially contradictory imperatives may require reconciliation of individual reproductive and other human rights with public health objectives. Current reproductive health guidelines remain largely nonpre…
Clients’ perspectives on HIV/Aids care and treatment and reproductive health services in South Africa
Qualitative research was conducted with HIV-positive women and men of reproductive age attending HIV/AIDS care and treatment services at a public health clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. Focus group discussions were held with women (n = 4) and men (n = 4), and in-depth interviews were held with four men to explore perceptions and experiences of HIV/AIDS care and treatment and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care. Respondents praised their H…
Social determinants of psychological distress in a nationally-representative sample of South African adults
The social epidemiology of tuberculosis in South Africa
Risk for post-traumatic stress disorder associated with different forms of interpersonal violence in South Africa
Screening for serious mental illness in the general population with the K6 screening scale
Data are reported on the background and performance of the K6 screening scale for serious mental illness (SMI) in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. The K6 is a six‐item scale developed to provide a brief valid screen for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM‐IV) SMI based on the criteria in the US ADAMHA Reorganization Act. Although methodological studies have documented good K…
Social and Structural Factors Associated with HIV Infection among Female Sex Workers Who Inject Drugs in the Mexico-US Border Region
BACKGROUND: FSWs who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs) can acquire HIV through high risk sexual and injection behaviors. We studied correlates of HIV infection among FSW-IDUs in northern Mexico, where sex work is quasi-legal and syringes can be legally obtained without a prescription. METHODS: FSW-IDUs>18 years old who reported injecting drugs and recent unprotected sex with clients in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez underwent surveys and HIV/STI testing. Logist…
Predictors of adherence to antiretroviral treatment and therapeutic success among children in South Africa
The recent years have shown an up-scaling of treatment programs for HIV-infected children in resource-limited settings, with an increased focus on adherence. Little is known, however, about the influence of socioeconomic as well as caregivers' health beliefs on both adherence and virologic outcome of pediatric antiretroviral treatment in these settings. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 57 caregiver-child dyads at a public hospital in Cap…
Pilot programme for the rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa
Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnancy is an important intervention to prevent the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and to promote maternal health. Early initiation of ART is particularly important to achieve viral suppression rapidly before delivery. However, current approaches to start ART in pregnancy may be problematic in many settings, with referrals between antenatal care (ANC) and ART services, and delays for pat…
Retention in care under universal antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women (‘Option B+’) in Malawi
OBJECTIVE: To explore the levels and determinants of loss to follow-up (LTF) under universal lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant and breastfeeding women ('Option B+') in Malawi. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We examined retention in care, from the date of ART initiation up to 6 months, for women in the Option B+ program. We analysed nationwide facility-level data on women who started ART at 540 facilities (n = 21,939), as well…
Acceptability and challenges of rapid ART initiation among pregnant women in a pilot programme, Cape Town, South Africa
Maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a critical intervention in the prevention-of-mother-to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. In South Africa, many HIV-infected pregnant women commence ART late in pregnancy, and as a result, the duration of ART prior to delivery is often insufficient to prevent vertical transmission. To address this, we designed an intervention for the rapid initiation of ART in pregnancy (RAP), where patient's ART preparati…
Pregnant women's experiences of male partner involvement in the context of prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Khayelitsha, South Africa
Male partner involvement (MPI) has been identified as a priority intervention in programmes for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, but rates of MPI remain low worldwide. This study used a quantitative survey (n=170) and two focus group discussions (FGDs) with 16 HIV-positive pregnant women attending a public sector antenatal care service in Khayelitsha, South Africa, to examine the determinants of high levels of involv…
Prospects for HIV control in South Africa
BACKGROUND: The goal of virtual elimination of horizontal and mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa (SA) has been proposed, but there have been few systematic investigations of which interventions are likely to be most critical to reducing HIV incidence. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate SA's potential to achieve virtual elimination targets and to identify which interventions will be most critical to achieving HIV incidence reduct…
Infant feeding practices in a South African birth cohort—A longitudinal study
Childhood malnutrition is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. The choices of complementary foods, which are important in infant nutrition, are poorly described in this setting. We investigated infant feeding practices in a South African birth cohort, the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Longitudinal feeding data were collected from March 2012 to March 2015. Feeding practices at birth, 6-10 and 14 weeks and 6, 9, and 12 months, we…
CD4 count at antiretroviral therapy initiation and the risk of loss to follow-up
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is now recommended irrespective of CD4 count. However data on the relationship between CD4 count at ART initiation and loss to follow-up (LTFU) are limited and conflicting. METHODS: We conducted a cohort analysis including all adults initiating ART (2008-2012) at three public sector sites in South Africa. LTFU was defined as no visit in the 6 months before database closure. The Kaplan-Meier esti…
HIV-associated cognitive disorders in perinatally infected children and adolescents
Accurate assessment of HIV-associated cognitive disorders in perinatally infected children and adolescents is challenging. Assessments of general intellectual functioning, or global cognition, may not provide information regarding domain-specific strengths and weaknesses, and may therefore fail to detect, impaired trajectories of development within particular cognitive domains. We compare the efficacy of global cognitive scores to that of composi…
Determinants of suboptimal adherence and elevated HIV viral load in pregnant women already on antiretroviral therapy when entering antenatal care in Cape Town, South Africa
Across sub-Saharan Africa, prevention of mother-to-child transmission services are encountering increasing numbers of women already established on antiretroviral therapy (ART) when entering antenatal care. However, there are few data examining ART adherence and HIV viral load in this group. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine self-reported suboptimal adherence (defined as missed ART doses on ≥2 days during the preceding 30…
Behavioural health risks during early adolescence among perinatally HIV-infected South African adolescents and same-age, HIV-uninfected peers
Behavioural health risks, including substance use, early sexual debut, bullying and suicidality, are common during adolescence, but may be complicated among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents. However, there are few data exploring these behaviours in sub-Saharan Africa. We compared behavioural health risks (any self-report of substance use, sexual activity, bullying others or suicidality, or a positive urine toxicology screen) among perinatally…
Smartphone usage and preferences among postpartum HIV-positive women in South Africa
In South Africa, HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral therapy often are lost to care postpartum; strategies to support long-term engagement are needed. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are emerging as a possible solution for supporting long-term engagement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV care continuum. In order to explore acceptability and feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this c…
Acceptability of Interventions to Improve Engagement in HIV Care Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women at Two Urban Clinics in South Africa
Medicine (42 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (33 works) · Environmental health (26 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (23 works) · Population (22 works) · Pregnancy (20 works) · Family medicine (18 works) · Nursing (17 works) · Psychology (15 works) · Demography (13 works)