scholarly journals Changing the Use of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Melbourne, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P F Chow ◽  
Jane S Hocking ◽  
Jason J Ong ◽  
Tina Schmidt ◽  
Andrew Buchanan ◽  
...  

Abstract We surveyed 204 men who have sex with men (MSM) who were pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. One in 4 daily PrEP users stopped taking PrEP during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 5% switched to on-demand PrEP. Most men reduced PrEP use because they stopped having casual sex and reduced the number of casual partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 155798831982739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Mabire ◽  
Costanza Puppo ◽  
Stéphane Morel ◽  
Marion Mora ◽  
Daniela Rojas Castro ◽  
...  

Pleasure-seeking plays a role in prevention (means choices and use), and in the sexual quality of life of men who have sex with men (MSM). Since HIV is a major threat to MSM health, new means of prevention, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), must meet the needs of MSM to be fully efficient. Using a psychosocial approach, we examined how pleasure-seeking plays a role in participation of MSM in “ANRS-IPERGAY,” a community-based trial on sexual health which included sexual on-demand PrEP. Thirteen semistructured collective interviews were conducted with 45 participants. First, we analyzed participants’ search for new prevention means due to previous failures in condom use. We found that participants perceived condoms as a barrier—both materially and symbolically—to pleasure and desire, causing anxiety and stress considering sexual intercourse. Second, we explored representations and attitudes concerning pleasure within the context of PrEP. We found that PrEP allowed participants to freely choose their desired sexual positions and to better enjoy intimacy. Third, we studied the sexual quality of life for PrEP users in ANRS-IPERGAY and found an improvement. Thanks to the community-based design of the trial, this new prevention tool became a means to develop agency and empowerment for participants, not only in negotiating individual prevention but also in opposing the normative and stigmatizing discourse on sexuality and HIV. In conclusion, pleasure-seeking appears to be an essential element of sexual fulfillment that needs to be integrated as a positive notion in the study of HIV prevention.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuansheng Fu ◽  
Akililu Alemu Ashuro ◽  
Xianxiang Feng ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Sichen Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key component of HIV combination prevention strategies, which has the potential to decrease the incidence of HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to evaluate the levels of PrEP acceptability and explore the factors associated with willingness to use PrEP among MSM in Liuzhou, China.Methods: Between November 2017 and May 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 829 MSM. The study participant were recruited through nonprobability sampling method. Participants’ demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual behaviors, drug use and HIV test history were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with willingness to use PrEP.Results: A total of 829 MSM completed the survey, and 30.28%(95%CI: 27.3-33.4) were willing to use PrEP. In multivariate logistic regression, factors associated with a higher willingness to use PrEP include, being Zhuang or Han ethnic origin, recruited through peer introduction or gay venues, pursing higher education level, previous HIV testing and having oral sex with a man. However, had a casual sex in the past six months were associated with lower willingness to use PrEP.Conclusions: MSM in Liuzhou reported a relatively low level of willingness to use PrEP. The results indicate the need for effective education, targeted intervention, and define implementation strategies to promote PrEP acceptance among MSM.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Joseph Tucker ◽  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Hongyi Wang ◽  
Zhenxing Chu ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Routine HIV testing accompanied with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) requires innovative support in a real-world setting. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the usage of HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits and their secondary distribution to partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, who use PrEP, in an observational study between 2018 and 2019. METHODS In 4 major cities in China, we prospectively followed-up MSM from the China Real-world oral PrEP demonstration study, which provides daily or on-demand PrEP for 12 months, to assess the usage and secondary distribution of HIVST on quarterly follow-ups. Half of the PrEP users were randomized to receive 2 HIVSTs per month in addition to quarterly facility-based HIV testing. We evaluated the feasibility of providing HIVST to PrEP users. RESULTS We recruited 939 MSM and randomized 471 to receive HIVST, among whom 235 (49.9%) were daily and 236 (50.1%) were on-demand PrEP users. At baseline, the median age was 29 years, 390 (82.0%) men had at least college-level education, and 119 (25.3%) had never undergone facility-based HIV testing before. Three months after PrEP initiation, 341 (74.5%) men had used the HIVST provided to them and found it very easy to use. Among them, 180 of 341 (52.8%) men had distributed the HIVST kits it to other MSM, and 132 (51.6%) among the 256 men who returned HIVST results reported that used it with their sexual partners at the onset of intercourse. Participants on daily PrEP were more likely to use HIVST (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) and distribute HIVST kits (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) than those using on-demand PrEP. CONCLUSIONS MSM who used PrEP had a high rate of usage and secondary distribution of HIVST kits, especially among those on daily PrEP, which suggested high feasibility and necessity for HIVST after PrEP initiation. Assuming that fourth-generation HIVST kits are available, HIVST may be able to replace facility-based HIV testing to a certain extent. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800020374; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=32481 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036231


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. e402-e410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Michel Molina ◽  
Isabelle Charreau ◽  
Bruno Spire ◽  
Laurent Cotte ◽  
Julie Chas ◽  
...  

LGBT Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 341-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Beymer ◽  
Jennifer L. Gildner ◽  
Ian W. Holloway ◽  
Raphael J. Landovitz

10.2196/23978 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. e23978
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Joseph Tucker ◽  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Hongyi Wang ◽  
Zhenxing Chu ◽  
...  

Background Routine HIV testing accompanied with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) requires innovative support in a real-world setting. Objective This study aimed to determine the usage of HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits and their secondary distribution to partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, who use PrEP, in an observational study between 2018 and 2019. Methods In 4 major cities in China, we prospectively followed-up MSM from the China Real-world oral PrEP demonstration study, which provides daily or on-demand PrEP for 12 months, to assess the usage and secondary distribution of HIVST on quarterly follow-ups. Half of the PrEP users were randomized to receive 2 HIVSTs per month in addition to quarterly facility-based HIV testing. We evaluated the feasibility of providing HIVST to PrEP users. Results We recruited 939 MSM and randomized 471 to receive HIVST, among whom 235 (49.9%) were daily and 236 (50.1%) were on-demand PrEP users. At baseline, the median age was 29 years, 390 (82.0%) men had at least college-level education, and 119 (25.3%) had never undergone facility-based HIV testing before. Three months after PrEP initiation, 341 (74.5%) men had used the HIVST provided to them and found it very easy to use. Among them, 180 of 341 (52.8%) men had distributed the HIVST kits it to other MSM, and 132 (51.6%) among the 256 men who returned HIVST results reported that used it with their sexual partners at the onset of intercourse. Participants on daily PrEP were more likely to use HIVST (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) and distribute HIVST kits (adjusted hazard ratio=1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) than those using on-demand PrEP. Conclusions MSM who used PrEP had a high rate of usage and secondary distribution of HIVST kits, especially among those on daily PrEP, which suggested high feasibility and necessity for HIVST after PrEP initiation. Assuming that fourth-generation HIVST kits are available, HIVST may be able to replace facility-based HIV testing to a certain extent. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800020374; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=32481 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036231


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Marcus ◽  
Daniel Schmidt ◽  
Susanne B. Schink ◽  
Uwe Koppe

Abstract Aims:We aim to estimate the number of PrEP users among men having sex with men (MSM) in Germany from 2017 through 2020, and analyse if PrEP needs expressed in 2017 might have been met by the expansion of PrEP until 2020.Subject and Methods:We estimated the number of PrEP users by using drug prescription data and information on on-demand/intermittent PrEP use from online surveys to determine the proportion of on-demand/intermittent and daily PrEP use as well as the average number of PrEP pills used.The number of MSM in need of PrEP in 2017 was estimated based on four groups defined among respondents to a large online survey, combining respondents with PrEP use intention and respondents indicating substantial sexual risks. The size of each group was estimated based on self-selection biases. MSM with PrEP need in 2017 were compared with the estimated number of persons taking PrEP by June 2020.Results:We estimated a total of 15,600 to 21,600 PrEP users in Germany by the end of June 2020, corresponding to 40-55% of men with PrEP use intention in 2017. A correlation between the regional distribution of PrEP use intention in 11/2017 and actual PrEP use by 06/2020 suggested an unequal regional distribution of unsatisfied needs. The number of men with unmet PrEP needs ranged between 27,500 and 93,000 in 06/2020.Conclusion:PrEP use in Germany has increased considerably between 10/2017 and 06/2020, but large regional inequalities persist. PrEP is not yet readily accessible and there is a need to expand services and encourage uptake.


Author(s):  
Liping Peng ◽  
Wangnan Cao ◽  
Jing Gu ◽  
Chun Hao ◽  
Jibin Li ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the levels of willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and intention to adhere to PrEP and to further explore factors associated with PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. A total of 524 MSM were recruited from Chengdu, China. Half of the participants had heard of PrEP, and the awareness rate varied from 33.8%, 30.7%, and 7.1% for daily oral PrEP, on-demand PrEP, and long-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP), respectively. The overall willingness to use any type of PrEP in the next six months was 84.9% if PrEP is effective and provided for free. Participants were less likely to say that they would use PrEP if they used a condom consistently with their regular partners. However, participants were more likely to say that they would use PrEP if they had casual partners in the past month and had higher HIV prevention literacy. The majority of participants intended to adhere to PrEP prescription. More than forty percent (43.1%) of the participants reported that they might reduce condom use if they took PrEP. We found that the overall willingness to use PrEP was high among MSM living in China, but willingness varied across the different types of PrEP.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e033852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Disa Hansson ◽  
Susanne Strömdahl ◽  
Ka Yin Leung ◽  
Tom Britton

ObjectivesSince 2017, the Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV should be offered to high-risk individuals, in particular to men who have sex with men (MSM). The objective of this study is to develop a mathematical model investigating the effect of introducing PrEP to MSM in Sweden.DesignA pair formation model, including steady and casual sex partners, is developed to study the impact of introducing PrEP. Two groups are included in the model: sexually high active MSM and sexually low active MSM. Three mixing assumptions between the groups are considered.SettingA gay-friendly MSM HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing clinic in Stockholm, Sweden. This clinic started offering PrEP to MSM in October 2018.ParticipantsThe model is calibrated according to detailed sexual behaviour data gathered in 2015 among 403 MSM.ResultsBy targeting sexually high active MSM, a PrEP coverage of 3.5% of the MSM population (10% of all high actives) would result in the long-term HIV prevalence to drop considerably (close to 0%). While targeting only low actives would require a PrEP coverage of 35% for a similar reduction. The main effect of PrEP is the reduced susceptibility, whereas the increased HIV testing rate (every third month) among PrEP users plays a lesser role.ConclusionsTo create a multifaceted picture of the effects of interventions against HIV, we need models that include the different stages of HIV infection and real-world data on detailed sexual behaviour to calibrate the mathematical models. Our findings conclude that targeting HIV high-risk individuals, within HIV risk populations such as MSM, with PrEP programmes could greatly decrease the long-term HIV prevalence in Sweden. Therefore, risk stratification of individuals is of importance in PrEP implementation programmes, to ensure optimising the effect and cost-effectiveness of such programmes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document