Preferred Methods of HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infection Screening Delivery Among a Rural Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia and overseas are disproportionately affected by sexually transmissible infections (STIs), including HIV. Many STIs are asymptomatic, so regular testing and management of asymptomatic MSM remains an important component of effective control. We reviewed articles from January 2009–May 2013 to inform the 2014 update of the 2010 Australian testing guidelines for asymptomatic MSM. Key changes include: a recommendation for pharyngeal chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) testing, use of nucleic acid amplification tests alone for gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) testing (without gonococcal culture), more frequent (up to four times a year) gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing in sexually active HIV-positive MSM, time required since last void for chlamydia first-void urine collection specified at 20 min, urethral meatal swab as an alternative to first-void urine for urethral chlamydia testing, and the use of electronic reminders to increase STI and HIV retesting rates among MSM.

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Early diagnosis of HIV among men who have sex with men in Western Australia: impact of a peer-led sexually transmissible infection testing service

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh14214 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 360 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Byron C. Minas ◽

Carolien M. Giele ◽

Sue C. Laing ◽

Lisa Bastian ◽

Andrew W. Burry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Diagnosis ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Testing Service ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Time Periods ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Impact ◽

Western Australian ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background In July 2010, the Western Australian AIDS Council established the ‘M Clinic’, a peer-led STI testing service for MSM. This study describes trends in HIV notifications among MSM in WA from 2004 to 2013, particularly the impact of the M Clinic on newly acquired HIV diagnoses. Methods: The number and proportion of MSM HIV cases with newly acquired infection were compared for the 2004–2006, 2007–2009 and 2011–2013 time periods. Data from 2010 were excluded as the M Clinic opened in July 2010. Results: Between the 2004–2006 and 2007–2009 periods, the number of MSM with newly acquired HIV increased by 50% (23 to 33 cases) and the number of newly acquired cases as a proportion of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM increased from 27% to 35% (30% increase) (P = 0.25). In the 2011–2013 period, the number of newly acquired HIV cases among MSM more than doubled to 70 cases and comprised 53% of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM (P < 0.05). Of the 70 newly acquired HIV cases in the 2011–2013 period, 30% (n = 21) were diagnosed at the M Clinic. Conclusions: The proportion of MSM HIV notifications that were newly acquired increased between 2004 and 2013 in WA, with the greatest increase seen after the M Clinic commenced operation. A peer-led approach to HIV testing should be considered in order to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of HIV among MSM.

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Seasonal variations in kissing and sexual activities among men who have sex with men in Melbourne, Australia: implications for seasonal sexually transmissible infection preventions and interventions

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh19046 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 149

Author(s):

Eric P. F. Chow ◽

Lenka A. Vodstrcil ◽

Christopher K. Fairley

Keyword(s):

Negative Binomial ◽

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Health Centre ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Male Partners ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexual Activities ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background Previous studies have shown that there is a peak in sexually transmissible infection (STI) cases and sexual activities around summer, but there has been no study examining whether kissing also follows a similar seasonal pattern. The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal patterns of kissing and sex partners among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: A short cross-sectional study was conducted among MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between March 2016 and February 2017. Participants were asked to report the number of kissing-only, sex-only and kissing-with-sex male partners in the last 3 months. The mean number of male partners was calculated and stratified by Australia’s seasons. The seasonal trend in the number of partners was assessed by negative binomial regression models. Results: In total, 4391 MSM were included in the analysis. The number of kissing-only and sex-only partners increased significantly from autumn to summer among MSM in Melbourne (Ptrend <0.001). MSM reported the highest number of male partners for kissing-only (mean: 4.91; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.78–5.04) and sex-only (mean: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.83–1.99) around summer compared with other seasons. However, the number of kissing-with-sex partners remained stable across seasons. Conclusions: The study data suggest that there is a peak in kissing-only and sex-only partners among MSM around summer and holiday seasons.

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Sexually transmissible infection testing guidelines for men who have sex with men

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh07092 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 189 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Chris Bourne ◽

Barry Edwards ◽

Miranda Shaw ◽

Andrew Gowers ◽

Craig Rodgers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infection ◽

Transmitted Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection ◽

Sydney Australia

Since 2002, biennial production of sexually transmissible infection testing guidelines for men who have sex with men has supported sexually transmitted infection control efforts in inner Sydney, Australia.

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Rectal self-sampling in non-clinical venues for detection of sexually transmissible infections among behaviourally bisexual men

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh11068 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 190 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Brian Dodge ◽

Barbara Van Der Pol ◽

Michael Reece ◽

David Malebranche ◽

Omar Martinez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Sample ◽

Health Concern ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽

Overall Acceptability ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Rectal sexually transmissible infections are a common health concern for men who have sex with men but little is known about these infections among men who have sex with both men and women. Self-obtained rectal specimens were collected from a diverse sample of behaviourally bisexual men. From a total sample of 75 bisexual men, 58 collected specimens. A relatively high prevalence of rectal Chlamydia trachomatis infection was found. Participants who collected specimens reported overall acceptability and comfort with self-sampling. Future efforts are needed focusing on increasing awareness of and options for rectal sexually transmissible infection testing among bisexual men.

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No increase in HIV or sexually transmissible infection testing following a social marketing campaign among men who have sex with men

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.2008.077099 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 63 (5) ◽

pp. 391-396 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

R. Guy ◽

J. Goller ◽

D. Leslie ◽

R. Thorpe ◽

J. Grierson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Marketing ◽

Marketing Campaign ◽

Social Marketing Campaign ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

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Differences in access to healthcare and utilisation of HIV and sexually transmissible infection services between men who have sex with men and men who have sex only with women: results of the 2006–10 National Survey of Family Growth in the United States

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh13017 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 363 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Guoyu Tao ◽

Karen W. Hoover

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Access To Healthcare ◽

Sexually Active ◽

The Past ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Family Growth ◽

Sex With Men ◽

To Receive ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disparities in access to healthcare and have specific healthcare needs. Methods: We analysed data from the 2006–10 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to examine differences in access to healthcare and HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) related health services by MSM and non-MSM among men in the United States aged 15–44 years who have ever had sex. MSM and sexually active MSM were identified in the NSFG as men who had ever had oral or anal sex with another man, or who had sex in the past 12 months with another man, respectively. Access was measured by the type of health insurance, having a usual place for receiving healthcare and type of usual place. Results: Of men aged 15–44 years who have ever had sex, there were no significant differences between MSM and non-MSM in the three access measures. MSM were more likely than non-MSM to receive HIV counselling (22.5% v. 8.3%) and STI testing (26.2% v. 15.6%) in the past 12 months, or to ever have had HIV testing (67.8% v. 44.6%). STI testing in the past 12 months was reported by 38.7% of sexually active MSM. Conclusion: Our findings show no significant differences in access to healthcare between MSM and non-MSM. MSM were more likely to receive HIV- and STI-related preventive services than non-MSM. However, the low STI testing rate among MSM highlights the need for interventions to increase STI testing, and HIV and STI counselling for MSM.

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Sexually transmissible infection control programs for men who have sex with men – what will they look like in 2020?

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh16038 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 126 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Oliver N. Refugio ◽

Chelsea Roberts ◽

Richard West ◽

Jeffrey D. Klausner

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Infection Control ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Control Programs ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽

Novel Approaches ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Prevention Methods ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

The resurgence of sexually transmissible infections among men who have sex with men is a concern for sexual health. Traditional strategies have relied on the promotion of condom use, regular testing, treatment, and partner management. Future sexually transmissible infection control programs must combine current prevention methods with novel approaches that target the providers, patients, and mechanisms of health care delivery.

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Factors associated with sexually transmissible infection testing practices among men who have sex with men in Jamaica: results from a cross-sectional, tablet-based survey

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh17186 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 325 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Carmen H. Logie ◽

Kathleen S. Kenny ◽

Ashley Lacombe-Duncan ◽

Ying Wang ◽

Kandasi Levermore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexual Stigma ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Testing Practices ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at elevated risk for sexually transmissible infection (STI) acquisition globally. Yet, limited research has explored STI testing practices among MSM in contexts where same-sex practices are criminalised, such as in Jamaica. Methods: A cross-sectional, tablet-based survey with MSM in Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Jamaica, was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the adjusted risk ratio for lifetime STI testing and lifetime STI diagnosis. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the relative odds of having had an STI test 3–5 months ago and 6–12 months ago in comparison with <3 months ago. Results: Three-quarters (74.8%) of the 556 participants reported receiving an STI test (44% <3 months ago; 32% 3–5 months ago; 13% 6–12 months ago; 10% >12 months ago); 12.1% reported ever receiving an STI diagnosis. In adjusted multivariable analyses, STI testing was associated with sociodemographic (education, location), individual (depression, perceived risk), social (relationship status, sexual stigma) and structural (healthcare provider access) factors. In multinomial analysis, reporting a less recent STI test (>3 months ago) versus <3 months ago was associated with increased likelihood of sexual stigma and food insecurity. Lifetime STI diagnosis was associated with sociodemographic (location), individual (HIV infection) and social (lower social support) factors. Conclusions: Findings document associations between structural factors and delayed timing of STI testing. Further research is necessary to explore how to address social ecological factors in sexual health interventions with MSM in Jamaica.

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