M W Ross
Biographic Data
| ID | 6074224 |
|---|---|
| NAME | M W Ross |
| GIVEN NAMES | M W |
| FAMILY NAME | Ross |
| SIGNATURE | ROSS M W |
| AFFILIATIONS | UNSW Sydney |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 32 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 24 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 32 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1987 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Sociodemographic and sexual behavior characteristics of an online MSM sample in Guangdong, China
Public health research and interventions often assume that men who have sex with men (MSM) who use the Internet in China have similar characteristics to those in Western countries, though with little empirical evidence. This study aimed to describe and examine the sociodemographic and basic sexual behavioral characteristics of an online sample of MSM in Guangdong, China. In 2010, a total of 1100 MSM were recruited from an lesbian, gay, bisexual, …
Effectiveness of a training program to increase the capacity of health care providers to provide HIV/Aids care and treatment in Swaziland
Implementation of HIV care and treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa is a complex undertaking that requires training of health care providers (HCPs). Many sub-Saharan African countries have introduced training programs to build human resources for health. Evaluation of the ongoing trainings is warranted so that programs can be improved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative's (BIPAI) HCP train…
Personal and partner measures in stages of consistent condom use among African–American heterosexual crack cocaine smokers
Participants' personal condom use measures and those of their last sex partner's were examined in five stages of change for consistent condom use among 449 urban sexually active, heterosexual, African-American crack smokers. The measures included participants' personal and their last sex partner's perceived responsibility, personal and perceived negative attitudes, and participants' self-efficacy to use condoms. The relationships between the meas…
Health-seeking behaviour for sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing among female sex workers in Vietnam
This qualitative study was conducted to explore health-seeking behaviour for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV testing among female sex workers (FSWs) in the cities of Hanoi and Da Nang, Vietnam. Data were gathered from in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation. Results suggest that women's decision to seek STI treatment and HIV testing is influenced by the complex interplay of personal risk perceptions, social re…
Responsibility as a dimension of HIV prevention normative beliefs: Measurement in three drug-using samples
The concept of responsibility was derived originally from principles of morality, as part of a network of rights, duties and obligations. HIV risk-related studies have suggested that a sense of responsibility for condom use to protect a partner is a potentially important predictor of condom use in drug-using populations. We created a four-item scale measuring Self responsibility to use condoms and Partner's responsibility to use condoms. Data wer…
The impact of HIV-related interventions on HIV risk behavior in a community sample of African American crack cocaine users
While there are reports of the impact of specific interventions designed to reduce HIV drug and sexual risk behaviors, there are few reports of the impact of HIV interventions in a community-based sample. We report on baseline data from a sample of African American crack smokers who were about to participate in an intervention designed to reduce HIV-related risk behaviors. The majority were male (80%), single (70%) and homeless (52%). Data indica…
Predictors of post-release primary care utilization among HIV-positive prison inmates: A pilot study
The primary aims of this exploratory pilot study were (1) to determine the proportion of a sample of HIV-positive inmates utilizing primary care after recent release, and (2) to identify variables associated with utilization of primary care at the time of a post-release interview. Sixty HIV-positive, male and female state prison inmates were interviewed approximately three months prior to release, and 30 were interviewed again between seven and 2…
Baseline predictors of three types of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence: A 2-year follow-up
The purposes of the study were to measure adherence with antiretroviral therapy to dose, schedule, and dietary instructions in a sample of patients with HIV infection in Stockholm, Sweden, over a 2-year period and identify baseline predictors of the three types of adherence. The study cohort consists of 144 patients who completed at least six out of seven follow-up self-reported adherence questionnaires. Baseline self-administrated questionnaire …
The relationship between expressed HIV/Aids-related stigma and beliefs and knowledge about care and support of people living with Aids in families caring for HIV-infected children in Kenya
At the end of 2001, AIDS-related deaths had left an estimated 900,000 living orphans in Kenya (UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiology fact sheet, Kenya report, 2004). Many of those orphans are also HIV+. In Eastern Kenya, the Lea Toto Kangemi Outreach Program provides support to families caring for HIV+ children, many of whom are orphaned or soon to be orphaned. A major challenge for these families is the stigma attached to the family. In 2003, the Kangemi Prog…
Heroin and HIV risk in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Youth hangouts, mageto and injecting practices
HIV risk through needle sharing is now an emerging phenomenon in Africa. This article describes the practices that heroin users are producing as they establish the rules and organization surrounding their drug use. Their practices and interactions reveal the ways that they become initiated into its use, how they progress to injecting, and the important role of local neighbourhood hangouts in facilitating this process. Their practices, interaction…
The Internet and HIV/STD prevention
As we continue into the third decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we find risk for sexual transmission evolving with the advent of new technologies and the emergence of new social and sexual venues. T
Psychosocial factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral medications in a sample of HIV-positive African American drug users
The purpose of the study was to investigate factors affecting antiretroviral adherence among African American drug users, specifically to identify associations between self-reported adherence levels and psychosocial measures selected with guidance from the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). The study was conducted using data collected from 137 HIV-positive African American drug users who were receiving antiretroviral medications at …
Beliefs about cybersex and Internet-mediated sex of Latino men who have Internet sex with men: Relationships with sexual practices in cybersex and in real life
Cybersex (engaging in sexual self-stimulation while online with another person) and meeting partners for sex are commonly reported among men who have Internet sex with men (MISM). We studied 1,026 Latino MISM in the US and constructed a scale to measure beliefs about cybersex. Respondents were recruited to an online Internet study and compensated for their effort. Factor analysis indicated that there were three dimensions: (1) liking cybersex: pe…
Study of perceived norms, beliefs and intended sexual behaviour among higher secondary school students in India
The objective of this paper is to understand the intended sexual and condom behaviour patterns among teenage higher secondary school students in India. To achieve this, variables including perceived norms, perceived peer group norms, risk behaviour patterns, perceived chances of getting AIDS and relevant sociodemographic variables were regressed on intended sexual behaviour. Regression of actual sexual behaviour was carried out with perceived nor…
Networks and tuberculosis: An Undetected Community Outbreak Involving Public Places
Predictors of dropout and burnout in Aids volunteers: A longitudinal study
Burnout among HIV/AIDS volunteers contributes to the loss of dedicated personnel resulting in strain on the HIV/AIDS care system. Past research has suggested that there were significant stresses and burnout associated with AIDS caregiving. We investigated the predictors of dropout in AIDS volunteers over time, and specifically, which of the variables of the stressors and rewards of being a volunteer (collected at baseline) predicted who would dro…
Concomitants of HIV/STD risk behaviours and intention to engage in risk behaviours in adolescents in India
A total of 1230 year 11 and 12 anglophone college students, modal age 16 and 17, in three colleges in Mumbai (Bombay), India, were studied with regard to sexual behaviours or risk of sexual behaviours, beliefs about sex, HIV/STD knowledge, and perceived norms regarding sexual behaviours. Data indicated that 8% of males and 1% of females had had sexual experience, but over one-third were not sure at all of being able to abstain from sexual activit…
Prediction of grief and HIV/Aids-related burnout in volunteers
Burnout in volunteer workers in the HIV/AIDS area results in the loss of dedicated personnel, consequently straining the HIV/AIDS care delivery system. By assessing the predictors of burnout and grief this study describes the role of grief in HIV/AIDS volunteer burnout. Voluntary and anonymous questionnaires were sent to members of the Foundation for Interfaith Research and Ministry (FIRM), a multi-religious organization formed to provide volunte…
The relationship between recognition, rewards and burnout in Aids caring
The positive psychological and sociological dimensions of AIDS care provision may produce important information to assist burnout prevention. While most studies on stress and burnout in AIDS health care have focused on the negative and difficult aspects of this work, few have considered the notion that the rewards of care-giving may buffer against stress or counterbalance experiences that may otherwise lead to burnout. A study of HIV/AIDS volunte…
Zidovudine adherence among individuals with HIV infection
The objective was to investigate the relationships among health beliefs, attitudes, and zidovudine compliance in individuals with HIV infection. A survey was administered to 52 individuals with HIV infection. The survey items, which reflected concerns expressed about zidovudine, were generated based on barriers to and benefits of zidovudine and the perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of HIV as described by the health belief model (…
Relationship between safe sex and acculturation into the gay subculture
There is some evidence, although conflicting, to suggest that socialization or acculturation into the gay community is associated with lower levels of unsafe sex. We attempted to determine the relationship between acculturation and sexual safety. We examined data from 282 men (from the Dallas AIDS Community Demonstration Project) who had sex with men and were not in a monogamous relationship to determine the associations between safer sex and ind…
Reasons for entry into and understanding of HIV/Aids clinical trials: A preliminary study
Thirty-two men who participated in a trial of Zidovudine (> 500 CD4 cells/10(6) L) were surveyed regarding their reasons for participation in clinical trials. The major source of influence to enter the trial was the clinic doctor, and importance for self in participation was rated as the least important reason. Medical science and medical researchers were seen as the major beneficiaries. Being seen to do something about one's illness was also see…
The mental adjustment to HIV scale: Measurement and dimensions of response to Aids/HIV disease
Attitudes of people with HIV disease towards HIV have seldom been measured. However, a well-established scale to measure attitudes toward cancer in those with the disease, the 38-item Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale was modified to assess adjustment to HIV disease. We administered the scale to 107 Australian men with HIV infection, of whom 36 had an AIDS-defining condition, who were patients at an ambulatory care facility and in a researc…
Sexual dysfunction in advanced HIV disease
Although there is an emerging body of literature on quality of life in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease (Barker et al., 1990; Wu et al., 1990; Wachtel et al., 1992), there is a paucity of published data on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in HIV-infected persons or on the impact of such dysfunction on quality of life. One previous study has reported that 67% of homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AID…
Significant relationships and social supports of injecting drug users and their implications for HIV/Aids services
Strong social support networks have been associated with positive outcomes for health and well-being throughout the life-cycle. This paper investigates the structural and functional nature of social support networks of 100 injecting drug users (IDUs) in Sydney and the implications for HIV/AIDS services. Using a modified ISEL respondents saw support in terms of its tangibility of people and support, in terms of an appraisal of having friends, and …
Networks and tuberculosis: An Undetected Community Outbreak Involving Public Places
Problems associated with condom use in homosexual men
the United States-they are more acutely aware of their environment and its indigenous threats; whether the in- digenous threat is posed by climatic conditions or proximity to an epidemic. Indeed, survival is contingent on great- er familiarity and knowledge of these threats. This is axiomatic
Problems associated with condom use in homosexual men
the United States-they are more acutely aware of their environment and its indigenous threats; whether the in- digenous threat is posed by climatic conditions or proximity to an epidemic. Indeed, survival is contingent on great- er familiarity and knowledge of these threats. This is axiomatic
The effect of a national campaign on attitudes toward Aids
Following a national campaign in Australia which had shown no change in level of knowledge about AIDS (using random samples of the population over 16 years, before and 5 months after the campaign), we assessed the change of attitudes towards, and beliefs about AIDS in the same samples. Results indicated that there were changes in beliefs about how much is known about the transmission of HIV, and that people were less concerned about casual transm…
Dimensions, content and validation of the fear of Aids schedule in health professionals
We examined the structure of the Fear of AIDS Schedule (FAIDSS) in a sample of 134 health care workers. Factor analysis indicated that there were five discrete dimension of fear of AIDS: fears of loss of control, of sex, of HIV infection through blood and illness, of death and medical interventions, and of contact with outsiders. These dimensions had low to moderate intercorrelations. The dimensions of fear of HIV infection through blood or illne…
Factors affecting information and education, and behaviour change
This article reviews papers presented at the 7th International Conference on AIDS in Florence which reflected the theme of the relationship between knowledge and behavior change. Many of the cases presented were descriptive and lacked rigorous hypothesis testing, but were in the direction of smaller scale hypothesis testing. Abstracts MD4041, 4069, and 4045 reported a lack of a relationship between good knowledge and behavior change among South A…
Men who have sex with men
Differences across sexual orientation on HIV risk behaviours in injecting drug users
Injecting drug users (IDUs) play a disproportionate role in the spread of HIV given their injecting and sexual contacts, and thereby act as conduits between these risk groups. We investigated differences in risk behaviour and HIV seroprevalence in a Sydney sample of 1,245 IDUs. Significant differences were observed across sexual orientation in HIV serostatus for males, with homosexual men having the highest HIV seroprevalence rate (35%), bisexual…
Significant relationships and social supports of injecting drug users and their implications for HIV/Aids services
Strong social support networks have been associated with positive outcomes for health and well-being throughout the life-cycle. This paper investigates the structural and functional nature of social support networks of 100 injecting drug users (IDUs) in Sydney and the implications for HIV/AIDS services. Using a modified ISEL respondents saw support in terms of its tangibility of people and support, in terms of an appraisal of having friends, and …
Drug users' self-reported false-positive HIV status
Drug users' self-reported false-positive HIV status. M W Ross, W Loxley, A Wodak, A Buzolic, B Monheit, and A StoweCopyRight https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.83.9.1349-a Published Online: November 15, 2011
Reasons for entry into and understanding of HIV/Aids clinical trials: A preliminary study
Thirty-two men who participated in a trial of Zidovudine (> 500 CD4 cells/10(6) L) were surveyed regarding their reasons for participation in clinical trials. The major source of influence to enter the trial was the clinic doctor, and importance for self in participation was rated as the least important reason. Medical science and medical researchers were seen as the major beneficiaries. Being seen to do something about one's illness was also see…
The mental adjustment to HIV scale: Measurement and dimensions of response to Aids/HIV disease
Attitudes of people with HIV disease towards HIV have seldom been measured. However, a well-established scale to measure attitudes toward cancer in those with the disease, the 38-item Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale was modified to assess adjustment to HIV disease. We administered the scale to 107 Australian men with HIV infection, of whom 36 had an AIDS-defining condition, who were patients at an ambulatory care facility and in a researc…
Sexual dysfunction in advanced HIV disease
Although there is an emerging body of literature on quality of life in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease (Barker et al., 1990; Wu et al., 1990; Wachtel et al., 1992), there is a paucity of published data on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in HIV-infected persons or on the impact of such dysfunction on quality of life. One previous study has reported that 67% of homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AID…
Zidovudine adherence among individuals with HIV infection
The objective was to investigate the relationships among health beliefs, attitudes, and zidovudine compliance in individuals with HIV infection. A survey was administered to 52 individuals with HIV infection. The survey items, which reflected concerns expressed about zidovudine, were generated based on barriers to and benefits of zidovudine and the perceived susceptibility to and perceived severity of HIV as described by the health belief model (…
Relationship between safe sex and acculturation into the gay subculture
There is some evidence, although conflicting, to suggest that socialization or acculturation into the gay community is associated with lower levels of unsafe sex. We attempted to determine the relationship between acculturation and sexual safety. We examined data from 282 men (from the Dallas AIDS Community Demonstration Project) who had sex with men and were not in a monogamous relationship to determine the associations between safer sex and ind…
Prediction of grief and HIV/Aids-related burnout in volunteers
Burnout in volunteer workers in the HIV/AIDS area results in the loss of dedicated personnel, consequently straining the HIV/AIDS care delivery system. By assessing the predictors of burnout and grief this study describes the role of grief in HIV/AIDS volunteer burnout. Voluntary and anonymous questionnaires were sent to members of the Foundation for Interfaith Research and Ministry (FIRM), a multi-religious organization formed to provide volunte…
The relationship between recognition, rewards and burnout in Aids caring
The positive psychological and sociological dimensions of AIDS care provision may produce important information to assist burnout prevention. While most studies on stress and burnout in AIDS health care have focused on the negative and difficult aspects of this work, few have considered the notion that the rewards of care-giving may buffer against stress or counterbalance experiences that may otherwise lead to burnout. A study of HIV/AIDS volunte…
Concomitants of HIV/STD risk behaviours and intention to engage in risk behaviours in adolescents in India
A total of 1230 year 11 and 12 anglophone college students, modal age 16 and 17, in three colleges in Mumbai (Bombay), India, were studied with regard to sexual behaviours or risk of sexual behaviours, beliefs about sex, HIV/STD knowledge, and perceived norms regarding sexual behaviours. Data indicated that 8% of males and 1% of females had had sexual experience, but over one-third were not sure at all of being able to abstain from sexual activit…
Predictors of dropout and burnout in Aids volunteers: A longitudinal study
Burnout among HIV/AIDS volunteers contributes to the loss of dedicated personnel resulting in strain on the HIV/AIDS care system. Past research has suggested that there were significant stresses and burnout associated with AIDS caregiving. We investigated the predictors of dropout in AIDS volunteers over time, and specifically, which of the variables of the stressors and rewards of being a volunteer (collected at baseline) predicted who would dro…
Study of perceived norms, beliefs and intended sexual behaviour among higher secondary school students in India
The objective of this paper is to understand the intended sexual and condom behaviour patterns among teenage higher secondary school students in India. To achieve this, variables including perceived norms, perceived peer group norms, risk behaviour patterns, perceived chances of getting AIDS and relevant sociodemographic variables were regressed on intended sexual behaviour. Regression of actual sexual behaviour was carried out with perceived nor…
Networks and tuberculosis: An Undetected Community Outbreak Involving Public Places
The Internet and HIV/STD prevention
As we continue into the third decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we find risk for sexual transmission evolving with the advent of new technologies and the emergence of new social and sexual venues. T
Psychosocial factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral medications in a sample of HIV-positive African American drug users
The purpose of the study was to investigate factors affecting antiretroviral adherence among African American drug users, specifically to identify associations between self-reported adherence levels and psychosocial measures selected with guidance from the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). The study was conducted using data collected from 137 HIV-positive African American drug users who were receiving antiretroviral medications at …
Beliefs about cybersex and Internet-mediated sex of Latino men who have Internet sex with men: Relationships with sexual practices in cybersex and in real life
Cybersex (engaging in sexual self-stimulation while online with another person) and meeting partners for sex are commonly reported among men who have Internet sex with men (MISM). We studied 1,026 Latino MISM in the US and constructed a scale to measure beliefs about cybersex. Respondents were recruited to an online Internet study and compensated for their effort. Factor analysis indicated that there were three dimensions: (1) liking cybersex: pe…
The relationship between expressed HIV/Aids-related stigma and beliefs and knowledge about care and support of people living with Aids in families caring for HIV-infected children in Kenya
At the end of 2001, AIDS-related deaths had left an estimated 900,000 living orphans in Kenya (UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiology fact sheet, Kenya report, 2004). Many of those orphans are also HIV+. In Eastern Kenya, the Lea Toto Kangemi Outreach Program provides support to families caring for HIV+ children, many of whom are orphaned or soon to be orphaned. A major challenge for these families is the stigma attached to the family. In 2003, the Kangemi Prog…
Heroin and HIV risk in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Youth hangouts, mageto and injecting practices
HIV risk through needle sharing is now an emerging phenomenon in Africa. This article describes the practices that heroin users are producing as they establish the rules and organization surrounding their drug use. Their practices and interactions reveal the ways that they become initiated into its use, how they progress to injecting, and the important role of local neighbourhood hangouts in facilitating this process. Their practices, interaction…
Predictors of post-release primary care utilization among HIV-positive prison inmates: A pilot study
The primary aims of this exploratory pilot study were (1) to determine the proportion of a sample of HIV-positive inmates utilizing primary care after recent release, and (2) to identify variables associated with utilization of primary care at the time of a post-release interview. Sixty HIV-positive, male and female state prison inmates were interviewed approximately three months prior to release, and 30 were interviewed again between seven and 2…
Medicine (28 works) · Psychology (25 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (22 works) · Family medicine (18 works) · Social Psychology (15 works) · Clinical Psychology (12 works) · Demography (12 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (10 works) · Psychiatry (10 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (9 works)