Risk factors for loss to follow‐up among at‐risk HIV negative men who have sex with men participating in a research cohort with access to pre‐exposure prophylaxis in coastal Kenya

Background. The use of oral antiretrovirals to prevent HIV infection among HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) has been shown to be safe and efficacious. A large, randomised, placebo-controlled trial showed a 44% reduction in the incidence of HIV infection among MSM receiving a daily oral fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (Truvada) in combination with an HIV prevention package. Improved protection was seen with higher levels of adherence. Aim. The purpose of this guideline is to: (i) explain what pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is; (ii) outline current indications for its use; (iii) outline steps for appropriate client selection; and (iv) provide guidance for monitoring and maintaining clients on PrEP. Method. PrEP is indicated for HIV-negative MSM who are assessed to be at high risk for HIV acquisition and who are willing and motivated to use PrEP as part of a package of HIV prevention services (including condoms, lubrication, sexually transmitted infection (STI) management and risk reduction counselling). Recommendations. HIV testing, estimation of creatinine clearance and STI and hepatitis B screening are recommended as baseline investigations. Daily oral Truvada, along with adherence support, can then be prescribed for eligible MSM. PrEP should not be given to MSM with abnormal renal function, nor to clients who are unmotivated to use PrEP as part of an HIV prevention package; nor should it be commenced during an acute viral illness. Three-monthly follow-up visits to assess tolerance, renal function, adherence and ongoing eligibility is recommended. Six-monthly STI screens and annual creatinine levels to estimate creatinine clearance are recommended. Hepatitis B vaccination should be provided to susceptible clients. Gastro-intestinal symptoms and weight loss are common side-effects, mostly experienced for the first 4 - 8 weeks after initiating PrEP. There is a risk of the development of antiretroviral resistance among those with undiagnosed acute HIV infection during PrEP initiation and among those with sub-optimal adherence who become HIV infected while on PrEP. Risk compensation (increasing sexual behaviours that can result in exposure to HIV) while on PrEP may become a concern, and clinicians should continue to support MSM clients to continue to use condoms, condom-compatible lubrication and practice safer sex. Research is ongoing to assess optimum dosing regimens, potential long-term effects and alternative PrEP medications. Recommendations for the use of PrEP among other at-risk individuals, and the components of these recommendations, will be informed by future evidence. S Afr J HIV Med 2012;13(2):40-55.

Download Full-text

Health Care–Seeking Behaviors and Perceptions of Provider-Initiated Discussion of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among PrEP-Naïve HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta, Georgia

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa165 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Susanna L Trost ◽

Udodirim N Onwubiko ◽

Derick B Wilson ◽

David P Holland ◽

Allison T Chamberlain

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

At Risk ◽

Health Care System ◽

Health Care Seeking ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Health Care Seeking Behaviors ◽

Hiv Negative ◽

Care System

Abstract Background Given high rates of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, there is a need to more effectively leverage the health care system to bolster promotion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to at-risk MSM. Methods Using data collected from a 2018 venue-based cross-sectional survey, we examined factors associated with health care–seeking behaviors, discussing PrEP with a provider, and barriers to PrEP uptake among MSM. Associations between outcomes and respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors were assessed using log binomial regression. Results Of 478 MSM, 247 (51%) were PrEP-naïve and HIV-negative. Although 85% of PrEP-naïve MSM reported visiting a health care provider in the past year, only 31% recalled having any provider discuss PrEP. The most frequently cited reasons for not taking PrEP were low perception of personal risk of acquiring HIV (37%) and not knowing enough about PrEP (35%). Those who saw a provider in the last year were less likely than those who did not to cite lack of knowledge as a barrier to use (prevalence rate, 0.66, 95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.96). Conclusions Despite the majority of PrEP-naïve MSM interfacing with the health care system, recollection of discussing PrEP with providers was limited. Increased efforts to equip providers with the tools to discuss PrEP and address pressing concerns with at-risk individuals may help improve PrEP uptake among priority populations.

Download Full-text

The demographic features and outcome indicators of the Barbados HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Program, 2018-2019

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública ◽

10.26633/rpsp.2021.51 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Anton Best ◽

Nastassia Rambarran

Keyword(s):

Public Awareness ◽

Risk Groups ◽

P Uptake ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

Outcome Indicators ◽

Art Initiation ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Objective. To assess the demographics, risk profiles and outcome indicators of one of the few government-supported programs on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the English-speaking Caribbean. Methods. Chart review of all persons enrolled into the national PrEP Program from its inception on March 1st 2018 to November 30th 2019, with a descriptive summary analysis of the data extracted. Results. Of the 134 persons enrolled into the program most identified as men who have sex with men (67.9%), followed by men who have sex with men and women (14.9%); there were 20 persons, mostly men (85%), in sero-discordant relationships. PrEP uptake was 96%; however, the continuation rate (continuing for three consecutive months after initiation) was 61.5%. Continuation status for many could not be ascertained due to loss-to-follow-up. PrEP-associated toxicity prevalence was 2.3%, although side-effects occurred in 52% (mostly gastrointestinal). HIV positivity during the study period was 1.5%. Conclusions. Uptake of Barbados’ national PrEP Program is excellent but fairly low continuation rates and the HIV positivity rate indicate the need for improved pre-ART initiation education and follow-up processes. Service utilisation is mainly by men who have sex with men, and provision expansion to other civil society partners and private practitioners, as well as increased public awareness could increase access by other high-risk groups.

Download Full-text

Minimal Awareness and Stalled Uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among at Risk, HIV-Negative, Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

AIDS Patient Care and STDs ◽

10.1089/apc.2014.0303 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 423-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 156

Author(s):

Lisa A. Eaton ◽

Daniel D. Driffin ◽

Jose Bauermeister ◽

Harlan Smith ◽

Christopher Conway-Washington

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Black Men ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Hiv Negative

Download Full-text

The Classification of the Persistent Infection Risk for Human Papillomavirus among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men: Trajectory Model Analysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/8174983 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Bingxue Huang ◽

Duolao Wang ◽

Christiana Papamichael ◽

Tian Tian ◽

Xiaoqing Tuo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Condom Use ◽

Anal Intercourse ◽

Infection Risk ◽

Receptive Anal Intercourse ◽

Anal Sex ◽

The Past ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Negative

Objective. To classify the infection risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) among human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) negative men who have sex with men (MSM) using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). Methods. This study collected data on demographic and sexual behavior characteristics by questionnaires at semiannual visits from March 1st, 2016 to December 31th, 2017. Researchers collected anal exfoliated cells to finish HPV testing and blood samples to finish HIV testing at baseline and follow-up visits. Accumulative infection numbers of different types of HPV as the primary outcome and the follow-up visits as the independent predicator to build a GBTM model. Results. There were 500 potentially eligible HIV-negative participants at baseline, 361 (72.2%) of whom were included in this study after screening. Three trajectory groups were identified as the best-fitted GBTM model. Trajectory 1, defined as decreased group (DG) accounted for 44.6% (161/361) of the sample, showed a declining pattern with visits. Trajectory 2, defined as flat group (FG) accounted for 49.6% (179/361) of the sample, showed a flat pattern with visits. Trajectory 3, regarded as the increased group (IG) accounted for 5.8% (21/361) of the sample, showed an uptrend. Compared to the DG, risk factors for the FG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.36-3.71), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.16-3.14), experience of transactional sex with males in the past year (AOR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.12-11.54), and substance use (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.08-3.04). Risk factors for the IG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.04-7.70), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.40-11.01), and history of other STIs (AOR, 5.72; 95% CI, 1.40-23.46). Conclusion. The MSM data in this study showed three distinct developmental trajectories (DG, FG, and IG) of HPV infection among HIV-negative MSM, with receptive anal intercourse and occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months being the risk factors associated with FG and IG.

Download Full-text

Maternal age at birth and daughter’s fecundability

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/deab057 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Olga Basso ◽

Sydney K Willis ◽

Elizabeth E Hatch ◽

Ellen M Mikkelsen ◽

Kenneth J Rothman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Limited Information ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

Older Mothers ◽

Registration Number ◽

The Usa ◽

Competing Interest

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Do daughters of older mothers have lower fecundability? SUMMARY ANSWER In this cohort study of North American pregnancy planners, there was virtually no association between maternal age ≥35 years and daughters’ fecundability. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Despite suggestive evidence that daughters of older mothers may have lower fertility, only three retrospective studies have examined the association between maternal age and daughter’s fecundability. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Prospective cohort study of 6689 pregnancy planners enrolled between March 2016 and January 2020. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) is an ongoing pre-conception cohort study of pregnancy planners (age, 21-45 years) from the USA and Canada. We estimated fecundability ratios (FR) for maternal age at the participant’s birth using multivariable proportional probabilities regression models. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Daughters of mothers ≥30 years were less likely to have previous pregnancies (or pregnancy attempts) or risk factors for infertility, although they were more likely to report that their mother had experienced problems conceiving. The proportion of participants with prior unplanned pregnancies, a birth before age 21, ≥3 cycles of attempt at study entry or no follow-up was greater among daughters of mothers <25 years. Compared with maternal age 25–29 years, FRs (95% CI) for maternal age <20, 20–24, 30–34, and ≥35 were 0.72 (0.61, 0.84), 0.92 (0.85, 1.00), 1.08 (1.00, 1.17), and 1.00 (0.89, 1.12), respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although the examined covariates did not meaningfully affect the associations, we had limited information on the participants’ mother. Differences by maternal age in reproductive history, infertility risk factors and loss to follow-up suggest that selection bias may partly explain our results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our finding that maternal age 35 years or older was not associated with daughter’s fecundability is reassuring, considering the trend towards delayed childbirth. However, having been born to a young mother may be a marker of low fecundability among pregnancy planners. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) PRESTO was funded by NICHD Grants (R21-HD072326 and R01-HD086742) and has received in-kind donations from Swiss Precision Diagnostics, FertilityFriend.com, Kindara.com, and Sandstone Diagnostics. Dr Wise is a fibroid consultant for AbbVie, Inc. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER n/a

Download Full-text

Trends, Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Uzbekistan: 2013–2018

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094663 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4663

Author(s):

Khasan Safaev ◽

Nargiza Parpieva ◽

Irina Liverko ◽

Sharofiddin Yuldashev ◽

Kostyantyn Dumchev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Treatment Success ◽

National Level ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Mdr Tb

Uzbekistan has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). Although conventional treatment for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has been available since 2013, there has been no systematic documentation about its use and effectiveness. We therefore documented at national level the trends, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with drug-resistant TB enrolled for treatment from 2013–2018 and assessed risk factors for unfavorable treatment outcomes (death, failure, loss to follow-up, treatment continuation, change to XDR-TB regimen) in patients treated in Tashkent city from 2016–2017. This was a cohort study using secondary aggregate and individual patient data. Between 2013 and 2018, MDR-TB numbers were stable between 2347 and 2653 per annum, while XDR-TB numbers increased from 33 to 433 per annum. At national level, treatment success (cured and treatment completed) for MDR-TB decreased annually from 63% to 57%, while treatment success for XDR-TB increased annually from 24% to 57%. On multivariable analysis, risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, death, and loss to follow-up in drug-resistant TB patients treated in Tashkent city included XDR-TB, male sex, increasing age, previous TB treatment, alcohol abuse, and associated comorbidities (cardiovascular and liver disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS). Reasons for these findings and programmatic implications are discussed.

Download Full-text

Longitudinal Event-Level Sexual Risk and Substance Use among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3183

Author(s):

Jordan M. Sang ◽

Zishan Cui ◽

Paul Sereda ◽

Heather L. Armstrong ◽

Gbolahan Olarewaju ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Health Study ◽

Anal Sex ◽

Study Objective ◽

Condomless Anal Sex ◽

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Negative

(1) Background: Condomless anal sex and substance use are associated with STI risk among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Our first study objective was to describe event-level sexual risk and substance use trends among gbMSM. Our second study objective was to describe substances associated with event-level sexual risk. (2) Methods: Data come from the Momentum Health Study in Vancouver, British Columbia and participants were recruited from 2012–2015, with follow-up until 2018. Stratified by self-reported HIV status, we used generalized estimating equations to assess trends of sexual event-level substance use and assessed interactions between substance use and time period on event-level higher risk sex defined as condomless anal sex with an HIV serodifferent or unknown status partner. (3) Results: Event-level higher risk anal sex increased across the study period among HIV-negative/unknown (baseline prevalence: 13% vs. study end prevalence: 29%) and HIV-positive gbMSM (baseline prevalence: 16% vs. study end prevalence: 38%). Among HIV-negative/unknown gbMSM, event-level erectile drug use increased, while alcohol use decreased over the study period. Overall, interactions between substance use and time on higher risk anal sex were not statistically significant, regardless of serostatus. However, we found a number of time-specific significant interactions for erectile drugs, poppers, Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy/MDMA use among HIV-negative/unknown gbMSM. (4) Conclusion: Significant differences in substance use trends and associated risks exist and are varied among gbMSM by serostatus. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of event-level substance use on sexual risk through longitudinal follow-up of nearly six years.

Download Full-text