The Role of the Primary Romantic Relationship in HIV Care Engagement Outcomes Among Young HIV-Positive Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT. This study aimed to calculate the proportion of misclassified MoT among HIV-positive MSM registered in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, during 2014-2018. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 127 HIV-positive MSM patients from Lviv region for the period of 2014-2018. Results: Out of 127 HIV-positive MSM included in the study, 110 (86.6%) were from urban areas. In addition, 52 patients (40.9%) were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV, 16 (12.6%) – stage 2, 19 (15%) – stage 3, and 36 (28.3%) – stage 4. CD4 count < 200 cells/μL was found in 35 (27.6%) patients. Mean time from registration to antiretroviral therapy initiation was 80 days. During the first visit to medical doctor out of those 48 patients who had previously reported “other modes” of HIV transmission, 33 patients (68.7%) disclosed homosexual MoT of HIV. The remaining 15 (31.3%) patients disclosed their homosexual MoT of HIV later – during their regular follow-up visits to the doctor. Conclusion: Special measures are needed to improve the reporting of homosexual MoT which can potentially strengthen the HIV care among MSM.

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Injection drug use, unknown HIV positive status, and self-reported current PrEP use among Black men who have sex with men attending U.S. Black pride events, 2014–2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107808 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 207 ◽

pp. 107808 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica L. Maksut ◽

Rachel E. Gicquelais ◽

Kevon-Mark Jackman ◽

Lisa A. Eaton ◽

M. Revel Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Black Men ◽

Injection Drug Use ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Black Pride

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The Role of Social Support in HIV Testing and PrEP Awareness among Young Black Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex with Men or Transgender Women

Journal of Urban Health ◽

10.1007/s11524-019-00396-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 97 (5) ◽

pp. 715-727 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Corina Lelutiu-Weinberger ◽

Leo Wilton ◽

Beryl A. Koblin ◽

Donald R. Hoover ◽

Sabina Hirshfield ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Black Men ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prep Awareness

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Pilot implementation of a home-care programme with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and syphilis self-sampling in HIV-positive men who have sex with men

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-020-05658-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

J. Leenen ◽

C. J. P. A. Hoebe ◽

R. P. Ackens ◽

D. Posthouwer ◽

I. H. M. van Loo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Home Care ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Care Providers ◽

Care Programme ◽

Home Setting ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract Background Not all men who have sex with men (MSM) at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection currently receive sexual healthcare. To increase the coverage of high-quality HIV/STI care for MSM, we developed a home-care programme, as extended STI clinic care. This programme included home sampling for testing, combined with treatment and sexual health counselling. Here, we pilot implemented the programme in a hospital setting (HIV-positive MSM) to determine the factors for the successful implementation of STI home sampling strategies. Methods Healthcare providers from the HIV hospital treatment centre (Maastricht) were invited to offer free STI sampling kits (syphilis, hepatitis B, [extra]genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea laboratory testing) to their HIV-positive MSM patients (March to May 2018). To evaluate implementation of the program, quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess adoption (HIV care providers offered sampling kits to MSM), participation (MSM accepted the sampling kits) and sampling-kit return, STI diagnoses, and implementation experiences. Results Adoption was 85.3% (110/129), participation was 58.2% (64/110), and sampling-kit return was 43.8% (28/64). Of the tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) did not recently (< 3 months) undergo a STI test; during the programme, 17.9% (5/28) were diagnosed with an STI. Of tested MSM, 64.3% (18/28) was vaccinated against hepatitis B. MSM reported that the sampling kits were easily and conveniently used. Care providers (hospital and STI clinic) considered the programme acceptable and feasible, with some logistical challenges. All (100%) self-taken chlamydia and gonorrhoea samples were adequate for testing, and 82.1% (23/28) of MSM provided sufficient self-taken blood samples for syphilis screening. However, full syphilis diagnostic work-up required for MSM with a history of syphilis (18/28) was not possible in 44.4% (8/18) of MSM because of insufficient blood sampled. Conclusion The home sampling programme increased STI test uptake and was acceptable and feasible for MSM and their care providers. Return of sampling kits should be further improved. The home-care programme is a promising extension of regular STI care to deliver comprehensive STI care to the home setting for MSM. Yet, in an HIV-positive population, syphilis diagnosis may be challenging when using self-taken blood samples.

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