scholarly journals Time location sampling in men who have sex with men in the HIV context: the importance of taking into account sampling weights and frequency of venue attendance

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (7) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sommen ◽  
L. Saboni ◽  
C. Sauvage ◽  
A. Alexandre ◽  
F. Lot ◽  
...  

AbstractSex between men is the most frequent mode of HIV transmission in industrialised countries. Monitoring risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM) is crucial, especially to understand the drivers of the epidemic. A cross-sectional survey (PREVAGAY), based on time-location sampling, was conducted in 2015 among MSM attending gay venues in 5 metropolitan cities in France. We applied the generalised weight share method (GWSM) to estimate HIV seroprevalence for the first time in this population, taking into account the frequency of venue attendance (FVA). Our objectives were to describe the implementation of the sampling design and to demonstrate the importance of taking into account sampling weights, including FVA by comparing results obtained by GWSM and by other methods which use sample weights not including FVA or no weight. We found a global prevalence of 14.3% (95% CI (12.0–16.9)) using GWSM and an unweighted prevalence of 16.4% (95% CI (14.9–17.8)). Variance in HIV prevalence estimates in each city was lower when we did not take into account either the sampling weights or the FVA. We also highlighted an association of FVA and serological status in the most of investigated cities.

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Velter ◽  
A Bouyssou-Michel ◽  
A Arnaud ◽  
C Semaille

We examined whether men who have sex with men (MSM) in France have adopted serosorting with their casual partners, serosorting being one strategy to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. We expected to see the same predictors of this practice with casual partners in France as in other similar MSM communities (HIV-seropositive, Internet dating). Data from a cross-sectional survey was used, based on a self-administered questionnaire conducted among readers of the gay press and users of gay websites in 2004. The study population consisted of MSM who reported their HIV status, as well as the practice of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a casual partner at least once during the previous 12 months. Among 881 respondents included in the analysis, 195 (22%) had practiced serosorting: 14% among HIV-seropositive men and 26% among HIV-seronegative men. Serosorting was independently associated with the use of cruising venues (AOR 0.28, p=0.001) and Internet dating (AOR 2.16, p=0.051) among HIV-seropositive men, whereas it was independently associated with the use of cruising venues (AOR 0.59, p=0.013) and the fact of having less partners (AOR 1.50, p=0.046) among HIV-seronegative men. Serosorting requires an up-to-date knowledge of HIV serostatus for MSM and their UAI casual partners, and does not prevent from acquiring other sexually transmitted infections. Prevention campaigns are needed to underline the risks associated with serosorting.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24
Author(s):  
Soumya Sarkar ◽  
Subhasis Bhandari ◽  
Pinaki Sensarma

The factors defining the vulnerability of men who have sex with men (MSM) population are multiple and follow a complex social pattern culminating to their risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Even though the vulnerability of this population has been previously reported, prevention efforts are poor, may be due to the lack of understanding of the nature of sexual behavior in its social context. The main aim of this research was to study the social factors that are correlated with sexual risk behavior among the urban MSM population living in Kolkata. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area using a pre-structured interview guide. Data obtained from 126 beneficiaries of the NGO networks representing the MSMs of the area, were analyzed. Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among the MSMs during a recall period of last six months was used as a marker of sexual risk. Multiple logistic regression analyses were done to estimate and test associations between STI and social variables. The prevalence of STI among the respondents was 60.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 51.2-68.9). Inconsistent condom use (OR:11.98; 95%CI: 4.03-35.59), low self-esteem (Rosenberg scale) (OR:4.18; 95%CI: 1.48-11.82), substance abuse during sexual activity (OR:4.94; 95%CI: 1.30-18.82), and adverse reactions when coming out (OR:4.91; 95%CI: 1.63-14.77) were significantly associated with STI prevalence. For HIV risk reduction among the MSM population, intervention efforts should address the potential social stressors and adverse life events in addition to condom promotion.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v4i1.21834 South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.4(1) 2014: 17-24


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247352
Author(s):  
Ashwin Belludi ◽  
Allison M. McFall ◽  
Sunil Suhas Solomon ◽  
David D. Celentano ◽  
Shruti H. Mehta ◽  
...  

Introduction Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in reducing HIV transmission among key populations. In India, where PrEP is not currently part of the national HIV program, little is known about PrEP awareness, willingness to use PrEP, and barriers to uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods We used respondent-driven sampling to accrue PWID and MSM in 22 sites from August 2016 to May 2017. Participants were asked about awareness of PrEP, willingness to use PrEP (following a brief description) and reasons why they might not be willing to use PrEP. Participants were also queried on preferences for PrEP delivery modality (oral vs. injectable). Multi-level logistic regression models were used to determine participant correlates of willingness to use PrEP. Estimates were weighted for the sampling method. Results A total of 10,538 PWID and 8,621 MSM who self-reported being HIV-negative were included in the analysis. Only 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.9, 6.3) of PWID and 8.0% of MSM (95% CI: 7.7, 8.4) were aware of PrEP. However, willingness to use PrEP was substantially higher in both groups: 52.4% of PWID and 67.6% of MSM. Participants commonly cited a perceived low risk for acquiring HIV infection, being perceived by others as being HIV-positive, and side effects as reasons why they would be unwilling to use PrEP. Among PWID, sharing needles and hazardous alcohol use were associated with increased willingness to use PrEP. Among MSM, having a main male partner and injection drug use were associated with increased willingness to use PrEP. Preference for daily oral or monthly injectable PrEP was similar among MSM (39.6%% vs. 41.7%,), while PWID were more likely to prefer oral to injectable administration routes (56.3% vs. 31.1%). Conclusions As India plans to roll-out of PrEP in the public sector, our multi-city survey of PWID and MSM highlights the need for key population-focused education campaigns about PrEP and self-assessment of risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Chen ◽  
Zhiyong Shen ◽  
Yi Feng ◽  
Yuhua Ruan ◽  
Jianjun Li ◽  
...  

AbstractWith the rapid increase in HIV prevalence of men who have sex with men (MSM) in recent years and common human migration and travelling across different provinces in China, MSM are now finding it easier to meet each other, which might contribute to local HIV epidemics as well as fueling cross-province transmission. We performed a cross-sectional survey in 2018–2019 to investigate the current HIV subtype diversity and inferred HIV strain transmission origin among MSM in Guangxi province, China based on a phylogenetic analysis. Based on 238 samples, we found that the HIV-1 subtype diversity was more complicated than before, except for three major HIV subtypes/circulating recombinant forms (CRFs): CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, CRF55_01B, five other subtypes/CRFs (CRF59_01B, B, CRF08_BC, CRF67_01B, CRF68_01B) and five unique recombinant forms (URFs) were detected. In total, 76.8% (169/220) of samples were infected with HIV from local circulating strains, while others originated from other provinces, predominantly Guangdong and Shanghai. The high diversity of HIV recombinants and complicated HIV transmission sources in Guangxi MSM indicates that there has been an active sexual network between HIV positive MSM both within and outside Guangxi without any effective prevention. Inter-province collaboration must be enforced to provide tailored HIV prevention and control services to MSM in China.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
April M Ballard ◽  
Trey Cardwell ◽  
April M Young

BACKGROUND Internet is becoming an increasingly common tool for survey research, particularly among “hidden” or vulnerable populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). Web-based research has many advantages for participants and researchers, but fraud can present a significant threat to data integrity. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate fraud detection strategies in a Web-based survey of young MSM and describe new protocols to improve fraud detection in Web-based survey research. METHODS This study involved a cross-sectional Web-based survey that examined individual- and network-level risk factors for HIV transmission and substance use among young MSM residing in 15 counties in Central Kentucky. Each survey entry, which was at least 50% complete, was evaluated by the study staff for fraud using an algorithm involving 8 criteria based on a combination of geolocation data, survey data, and personal information. Entries were classified as fraudulent, potentially fraudulent, or valid. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe each fraud detection criterion among entries. RESULTS Of the 414 survey entries, the final categorization resulted in 119 (28.7%) entries identified as fraud, 42 (10.1%) as potential fraud, and 253 (61.1%) as valid. Geolocation outside of the study area (164/414, 39.6%) was the most frequently violated criterion. However, 33.3% (82/246) of the entries that had ineligible geolocations belonged to participants who were in eligible locations (as verified by their request to mail payment to an address within the study area or participation at a local event). The second most frequently violated criterion was an invalid phone number (94/414, 22.7%), followed by mismatching names within an entry (43/414, 10.4%) and unusual email addresses (37/414, 8.9%). Less than 5% (18/414) of the entries had some combination of personal information items matching that of a previous entry. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that researchers conducting Web-based surveys of MSM should be vigilant about the potential for fraud. Researchers should have a fraud detection algorithm in place prior to data collection and should not rely on the Internet Protocol (IP) address or geolocation alone, but should rather use a combination of indicators.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052199745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Tanaka M.D. Chavanduka ◽  
Matthew T. Rosso ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renée A. Pitter ◽  
...  

Stay at home orders–intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by limiting social contact–have forced people to remain in their homes. The additional stressors created by the need to stay home and socially isolate may act as triggers to intimate partner violence (IPV). In this article, we present data from a recent online cross-sectional survey with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States to illustrate changes in IPV risks that have occurred during the U.S. COVID-19 epidemic. The Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 survey was conducted online from April to May 2020. GBMSM were recruited through paid banner advertisements featured on social networking platforms, recruiting a sample size of 696 GBMSM. Analysis considers changes in victimization and perpetration of IPV during the 3 months prior to the survey (March-May 2020) that represents the first 3 months of lockdown during the COVID-19 epidemic. During the period March-May 2020, 12.6% of participants reported experiencing any IPV with higher rates of emotional IPV (10.3%) than sexual (2.2%) or physical (1.8%) IPV. Of those who reported IPV victimization during lockdown, for almost half this was their first time experience: 5.3% reported the IPV they experienced happened for the first time during the past 3 months (0.8% physical, 2.13% sexual, and 3.3% emotional). Reporting of perpetration of IPV during lockdown was lower: only 6% reported perpetrating any IPV, with perpetration rates of 1.5% for physical, 0.5% for sexual, and 5.3% for emotional IPV. Of those who reported perpetration of IPV during lockdown, very small percentages reported that this was the first time they had perpetrated IPV: 0.9% for any IPV (0.2% physical, 0.2% sexual, and 0.6% emotional). The results illustrate an increased need for IPV resources for GBMSM during these times of increased stress and uncertainty, and the need to find models of resource and service delivery that can work inside of social distancing guidelines while protecting the confidentiality and safety of those who are experiencing IPV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (11.1) ◽  
pp. 122S-127S
Author(s):  
Maryana Sluzhynska ◽  
Olga Denisiuk ◽  
Ruzanna Grigoryan ◽  
Yulia Sereda ◽  
Gennadiy Slabkiy ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostyantyn Dumchev ◽  
Marina Kornilova ◽  
Roksolana Kulchynska ◽  
Marianna Azarskova ◽  
Charles Vitek

Abstract Background It is important to understand how HIV infection is transmitted in the population in order to guide prevention activities and properly allocate limited resources. In Ukraine and other countries where injecting drug use and homosexuality are stigmatized, the information about mode of transmission in case registration systems is often biased. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of patients registered at HIV clinics in seven regions of Ukraine in 2013-2015. The survey assessed behavioral risk factors and serological markers of viral hepatitis B and C. We analyzed the discrepancies between the registered mode of transmission and the survey data, and evaluated trends over three years. Results Of 2,285 participants, 1,032 (45.2%) were females. The proportion of new HIV cases likely caused by injecting drug use based on the survey data was 59.7% compared to 33.2% in official reporting, and proportion of cases likely acquired through homosexual transmission was 3.8% compared to 2.8%. We found a significant decrease from 63.2% to 57.5% in the proportion of injecting drug use-related cases and a steep increase from 2.5 to 5.2% in homosexual transmission over three years. Conclusions The study confirmed the significant degree of misclassification of HIV mode of transmission among registered cases. The role of injecting drug use in HIV transmission is gradually decreasing, but remains high. The proportion of cases related to homosexual transmission is relatively modest, but is rapidly increasing, especially in younger men. Improvements in ascertaining the risk factor information are essential to monitor the epidemic and to guide programmatic response.


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