scholarly journals Global travel and HIV/STI epidemics among MSM: what does the future hold?

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica C. Lee ◽  
Patrick S. Sullivan ◽  
Stefan D. Baral
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Disease Epidemics ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Global Travel ◽  
Sexual Risk Behaviours

Infectious disease epidemics occur within dynamic systems and environments that shape risk and, ultimately, the spread of infectious diseases. Gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV everywhere in the world. Several emerging trends present risks for sustained or increased HIV acquisition and transmission, and the growth of global travel in the context of emerging online platforms for social/sexual networking is discussed here. Four factors associated with travel that could potentiate HIV transmission are highlighted: different patterns of sexual risk behaviours during travel; the growth of online tools to meet sex partners more efficiently; the global heterogeneity of HIV strains; and the potential for diassortative mixing of men from high- and low-HIV prevalence areas. Prevention tools and services must rise to these challenges, and innovative mobile applications and programs have played, and will continue to play, an important role in supporting MSM at risk for or living with HIV during their periods of travel.

High levels of undiagnosed rectal STIs suggest that screening remains inadequate among Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

2021 ◽  
pp. sextrans-2020-054563
Author(s):  
Ryan J Watson ◽  
Charlene Collibee ◽  
Jessica L Maksut ◽  
Valerie A Earnshaw ◽  
Katherine Rucinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Key Population ◽  
Condomless Anal Intercourse ◽  
Rapid Tests ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Hiv Negative

ObjectiveTo better understand rectal STI screening practices for Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (BGBMSM).FindingsAlthough 15% of BGBMSM lab tested positive for a rectal STI, the majority of these (94%) were asymptomatic. Though all participants reported their status as HIV negative/unknown, 31 of 331 (9.4%) tested positive on HIV rapid tests. Neither condomless anal intercourse nor the number of male sex partners was associated with rectal STI or HIV diagnosis, although rectal STI diagnosis was positively related to testing HIV positive.ConclusionsFindings suggest that substantial numbers of BGBMSM have asymptomatic STIs but are not tested—an outcome that is likely a strong driver of onward HIV acquisition. Therefore, we must address the asymptomatic STI epidemic among GBMSM in order to reduce HIV transmission, as well as temper STI transmission, among this key population.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Optimism and Vaccine Willingness among an Online Sample of US Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renee A. Pitter ◽  
Alexis S. Hunter ◽  
Tanaka MD Chavanduka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Binary Outcomes ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Black African ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

This paper presents data from an online sample of U.S gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), to explore the factors associated with three dimensions of vaccine beliefs: perception of the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, perception of when a COVID-19 vaccine would become available, and the likelihood of taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Data are taken from the Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 study, collected from November 2020 to January 2021. A sample of 290 GBMSM is analyzed, modeling three binary outcomes: belief that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine, belief that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 6 months, and being very likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast to other studies, Black/African Americans and GBMSM living with HIV had higher levels of pandemic optimism and were more likely to be willing to accept a vaccine. Men who perceived a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among their friends and sex partners, and those who had reduced their sex partners, were more likely to be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine. There remained a small percentage of participants (14%) who did not think the pandemic would end, that there would not be a vaccine and were unlikely to take a vaccine. To reach the levels of vaccination necessary to control the pandemic, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of those experiencing vaccine hesitancy and then tailor public health messages to their unique set of barriers and motivations.

scholarly journals 1281. Awareness of U=U Among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex with Men

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S461-S461
Author(s):  
Meredith E Clement ◽  
Rick Zimmerman ◽  
Josh Grimm ◽  
Joseph Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Negative ◽  
Strong Agreement

Abstract Background The “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (“U=U”) campaign is gaining traction, but prior studies from 2012–2017 have shown that the proportion of gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who are aware of or have perceived accuracy of U=U is low. We report findings from a survey administered to GBMSM in 2018 to understand whether the landscape is changing with respect to U=U message dissemination. Methods GBMSM were recruited on gay dating apps to complete a 96 question survey. Survey data were collected in April-August of 2018. Collected data elements included demographic information, HIV status, ART and PrEP use, and beliefs and opinions regarding HIV transmission. Results 969 GBMSM completed the survey; of whom, 678 had analyzable data (241 had never had anal sex with a man and 54 were missing ≥1 of the variables used in the analysis). Average age was 43 years, 65% were white, 15% black, 15% white, and 15% were HIV-infected (of whom 92% were on anti-retrovirals). Of the 85% who were HIV-uninfected, 39% were on PrEP. In response to the statement that a person with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to an HIV-uninfected person, 24% strongly agreed. Among HIV-negative GBMSM, 33% of those on PrEP agreed and 12% of those not on PrEP agreed. Among those living with HIV, 42% agreed. A multivariable logistic regression was run to explain correlates of strong agreement with U=U, using the following variables: age, education, being Black, being Hispanic, relationship status, number of lifetime male sexual partners, condom use with most recent anal sex, HIV status, PrEP use, and attitudes about living with HIV. Variables associated with strong agreement with U=U were living with HIV (AOR = 1.63, P < 0.001), taking PrEP (AOR = 2.85, P < 0.001), most recent encounter’s condom use (AOR = 2.22, P = 0.003), and having positive attitudes about living with HIV (AOR= 1.93, P < 0.001). Table 1 shows percentages for each of these variables (bivariate relationships) strongly agreeing with U=U. Conclusion Now that U=U has been scientifically proven, the challenge is public awareness. U=U awareness seems to be improving among GBMSM, with HIV-negative GBMSM making the greatest strides. Education around U=U and PrEP efficacy may help reduce guilt around HIV transmission and alleviate HIV stigma. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

A multi-state Markov model using notification data to estimate HIV incidence, number of undiagnosed individuals living with HIV, and delay between infection and diagnosis: Illustration in France, 2008–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 096228022110326
Author(s):  
Charlotte Castel ◽  
Cecile Sommen ◽  
Yann Le Strat ◽  
Ahmadou Alioum
Keyword(s):  
Markov Model ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Hiv Surveillance ◽  
Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽  
Penalized Likelihood Approach ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Notification Data

Thirty-five years since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the epidemic is still ongoing in France. To guide HIV prevention strategies and monitor their impact, it is essential to understand the dynamics of the HIV epidemic. The indicator for reporting the progress of new infections is the HIV incidence. Given that HIV is mainly transmitted by undiagnosed individuals and that earlier treatment leads to less HIV transmission, it is essential to know the number of infected people unaware of their HIV-positive status as well as the time between infection and diagnosis. Our approach is based on a non-homogeneous multi-state Markov model describing the progression of the HIV disease. We propose a penalized likelihood approach to estimate the HIV incidence curve as well as the diagnosis rates. The HIV incidence curve was approximated using cubic M-splines, while an approximation of the cross-validation criterion was used to estimate the smoothing parameter. In a simulation study, we evaluate the performance of the model for reconstructing the HIV incidence curve and diagnosis rates. The method is illustrated in the population of men who have sex with men using HIV surveillance data collected by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance since 2004.

scholarly journals Estimating the HIV undiagnosed population in Catalonia, Spain: descriptive and comparative data analysis to identify differences in MSM stratified by migrant and Spanish-born population

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Maria Reyes-Urueña ◽  
Colin N J Campbell ◽  
Núria Vives ◽  
Anna Esteve ◽  
Juan Ambrosioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Retention In Care ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Care Cascade ◽  
Care Cascade ◽  
Undiagnosed Hiv ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

ObjectiveUndiagnosed HIV continues to be a hindrance to efforts aimed at reducing incidence of HIV. The objective of this study was to provide an estimate of the HIV undiagnosed population in Catalonia and compare the HIV care cascade with this step included between high-risk populations.MethodsTo estimate HIV incidence, time between infection and diagnosis and the undiagnosed population stratified by CD4 count, we used the ECDC HIV Modelling Tool V.1.2.2. This model uses data on new HIV and AIDS diagnoses from the Catalan HIV/AIDS surveillance system from 2001 to 2013. Data used to estimate the proportion of people enrolled, on ART and virally suppressed in the HIV care cascade were derived from the PISCIS cohort.ResultsThe total number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Catalonia in 2013 was 34 729 (32 740 to 36 827), with 12.3% (11.8 to 18.1) of whom were undiagnosed. By 2013, there were 8458 (8101 to 9079) Spanish-born men who have sex with men (MSM) and 2538 (2334 to 2918) migrant MSM living with HIV in Catalonia. A greater proportion of migrant MSM than local MSM was undiagnosed (32% vs 22%). In the subsequent steps of the HIV care cascade, migrants MSM experience greater losses than the Spanish-born MSM: in retention in care (74% vs 55%), in the proportion on combination antiretroviral treatment (70% vs 50%) and virally suppressed (65% vs 46%).ConclusionsBy the end of 2013, there were an estimated 34 729 PLHIV in Catalonia, of whom 4271 were still undiagnosed. This study shows that the Catalan epidemic of HIV has continued to expand with the key group sustaining HIV transmission being MSM living with undiagnosed HIV.

scholarly journals HIV incidence among gay men and other men who have sex with men in 2020: where is the epidemic heading?

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shauna Stahlman ◽  
Carrie Lyons ◽  
Patrick S. Sullivan ◽  
Kenneth H. Mayer ◽  
Sean Hosein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Retention In Care ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Hiv Risks ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition

The goal to effectively prevent new HIV infections among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) is more challenging now than ever before. Despite declines in the late 1990s and early 2000s, HIV incidence among MSM is now increasing in many low- and high-income settings including the US, with young, adolescent, and racial/ethnic minority MSM being among those at highest risk. Potentiating HIV risks across all settings are individual-, network-, and structural-level factors such as stigma and lack of access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral treatment as prevention. To make a sustained impact on the epidemic, a concerted effort must integrate all evidence-based interventions that will most proximally decrease HIV acquisition and transmission risks, together with structural interventions that will support improved coverage and retention in care. Universal HIV treatment, increased access to HIV testing, and daily oral PrEP have emerged as integral to the prevention of HIV transmission, and such efforts should be immediately expanded for MSM and other populations disproportionately affected by HIV. Respect for human rights and efforts to combat stigma and improve access to prevention services are needed to change the trajectory of the HIV pandemic among MSM.

scholarly journals How to RESPOND to Modern Challenges for People Living with HIV: A Profile for a New Cohort Consortium

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Specific Data ◽  
Clinical Endpoints ◽  
Shared Data ◽  
Clinical Events ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Living With Hiv

Background: the International Cohort Consortium of Infectious Disease (RESPOND) is a collaboration dedicated to research on HIV and other infectious diseases. Methods: RESPOND is a flexible organization, with several independent substudies operating under one shared governance. HIV-related variables, including full antiretroviral therapy (ART) history, are collected annually for all participants and merged with substudy specific data into a shared data pool. Incident clinical events are reported using standardized forms. Prospective follow-up started 1/10/17 (enrolment) with retrospective data collected back to 01/01/12. Results: Overall, 17 cohorts from Europe and Australia provided data on 26,258 people living with HIV (PLWH). The majority (43.3%) of the population were white, with men-sex-with-men accounting for 43.3% of the risk for HIV acquisition. The median age was 48 years (IQR 40–56) and 5.2% and 25.5% were known to be co-infected with hepatitis B or C. While 5.3% were ART-naïve, the median duration on ART was 10.1 years (4.8–17.6), with 89.5% having a VL &lt;200 copies/mL and the median CD4 count being 621 cells/µL (438–830). Malignancies (n = 361) and cardiovascular disease (n = 168) were the predominant reported clinical events. Conclusion: RESPOND’s large, diverse study population and standardized clinical endpoints puts the consortium in a unique position to respond to the diverse modern challenges for PLWH.

scholarly journals Men Who Have Sex With Men and Recruit Bareback Sex Partners on the Internet: Implications for STI and HIV Prevention and Client Education

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Client Education ◽  
Bareback Sex ◽  
Sex With Men

Men who have sex with men (MSM) frequently use Internet-based Web sites to recruit sex partners. Although many MSM users of such sites advocate for safe sex practices in their personal profiles, some users actively recruit sexual partners who wish to participate in anal sexual intercourse without the use of condoms, also known as “bareback” sex. Participating in this sexual practice places both sexual partners at higher risk of HIV transmission. In addition, data indicate this behavior is associated with other high-risk activities such as drug use and communication of other sexually transmitted infections. This article summarizes the literature assessing this phenomenon on the Internet. Specific recommendations are provided for clinicians, health educators, and researchers.

Relationship between serostatus disclosure and categories of HIV transmission risk in men who have sex with men living with HIV

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 744-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianne M Serovich ◽  
Sandra J Reed ◽  
Ann A O’Connell ◽  
Tanja C Laschober
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Serostatus Disclosure ◽  
Insertive Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sexual Encounters ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Transmission Risk ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
The Relationship

In prior studies, the relationship between serostatus disclosure and reduced HIV transmission risk has been mixed. The demonstration of a clear connection may be restricted by three main methodological limitations. This study evaluates the relationship between (1) more refined measures of serostatus disclosure and (2) eight categories of HIV transmission risk (lowest to highest risk) among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV, while (3) considering a number of control variables. Results demonstrate that disclosure is more likely in sexual encounters involving no intercourse or involving protected and unprotected anal intercourse with HIV-positive partners than unprotected insertive anal intercourse with HIV-negative/unknown status partners. Additionally, substance use prior to sexual encounters is less likely in lower risk categories than the highest risk category. Results of this study are important to the design of future studies, prevention, and intervention programs for MSM and to the methods used to evaluate their effectiveness.

scholarly journals The Association between Use of Online Social Networks to Find Sex Partners and Sexually Transmitted Infection Diagnosis among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women Living with HIV

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 232595821986732
Author(s):  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Torsten B. Neilands ◽  
Michelle A. Lally ◽  
Sybil G. Hosek ◽  
Lisa Hightow-Weidman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Women Living With Hiv ◽  
Social Media Site ◽  
Site Use ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions to examine the association between the use of social media sites to find sex partners and recent diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 13- to 24-year-old men who have sex with men and transgender women living with HIV. We used linear regression to determine the relationship between the number of STIs and the number of social media sites used to find sex partners with each type of sex act included in the analysis. Secondary analyses substituted frequency of social media site use for number of social media sites. Among 741 participants, for every 1 social media account used to find sex partners, there was a 2.53% (95% confidence interval: 0.28-5.54) increase in STIs. This association was mediated through condomless receptive anal intercourse or condomless insertive anal intercourse but not barrierless oral intercourse. Similar but attenuated associations were found when frequency of social media site use was substituted for number of social media sites. Future research should examine innovative interventions on these social media sites with respect for its users.

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