p4.119 How Can we improve partner notification following hiv diagnosis? – a qualitative study of men who have sex with men in melbourne

Abstract Background Assisted partner notification services (APNS) may increase HIV testing, early diagnosis, and treatment, but they are not formally implemented in Mexico, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TW). This study aimed to explore the awareness of and need for HIV partner notification, as well as to outline potential strategies for APNS based on identified barriers and facilitators. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore partner notification with MSM, TW, and counselors. Afterwards, brainstorm sessions were carried out to produce strategies for implementing APNS. Results Most participants reported experiences with informal partner notification and serostatus disclosure, but not with APNS. Only one counselor indicated assisting notification systematically. The main barriers for notifying or disclosing mentioned by both MSM and TW included fear of (violent) reactions, discrimination and lacking contact information of casual partners. Participants thought it was easier to inform a formal partner, conditional of being well informed about HIV. Given current stigma and lack of awareness, it was suggested that APNS should be preceded by HIV awareness efforts, and be provided by counselors or peers to mitigate potential rejection or violent reactions. Conclusions While APNS are not formally implemented in Mexico, all participants supported the service, indicating that APNS could potentially enhance early HIV diagnosis in Mexico. Strategies to implement such services need to be flexible addressing the individual needs of participants, guaranteeing the safety of more vulnerable participants.

Download Full-text

Developing HIV Assisted Partner Notification Services Tailored to Mexican Key Populations: A Qualitative Approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-108692/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heleen Vermandere ◽

Santiago Aguilera-Mijares ◽

Liliane Martínez-Vargas ◽

M. Arantxa Colchero ◽

Sergio Bautista-Arredondo

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Partner Notification ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Care Providers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Hiv Awareness ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Individual

Abstract Background. Assisted partner notification services (APNS) may increase HIV testing, early diagnosis, and treatment, but they are not formally implemented in Mexico, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TW).Methods. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore partner notification with MSM, TW and health care providers to identify the essential elements to include in the design and implementation of APNS directed to MSM and TW in Mexico City. Afterwards, brainstorm sessions were carried out to produce strategies for implementing APNS.Results. Most participants reported experiences with informal partner notification, but not with APNS. Only one health care provider indicated assisting notification systematically. The main barriers for notifying mentioned by both MSM and TW included fear of (violent) reactions, discrimination and lacking contact information of casual partners. Participants thought it was easier notifying a formal partner, conditional of being well informed about HIV. Given current stigma and lack of awareness, it was suggested that APNS should be preceded by HIV awareness efforts, and be provided by counsellors or peers to mitigate potential rejection or violent reactions. Conclusions. While APNS are not formally implemented in Mexico, all participants supported the service, indicating that APNS can enhance early HIV diagnosis in Mexico. Strategies to implement such services need to be flexible addressing the individual needs of participants, guaranteeing the safety of more vulnerable participants.

Download Full-text

Developing HIV Assisted Partner Notification Services Tailored to Mexican Key Populations: A Qualitative Approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-68392/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heleen Vermandere ◽

Santiago Aguilera-Mijares ◽

Liliane Martínez-Vargas ◽

M. Arantxa Colchero ◽

Sergio Bautista-Arredondo

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Partner Notification ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Care Providers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Hiv Awareness ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Individual

Abstract Background. Assisted partner notification services (APNS) may increase HIV testing, early diagnosis, and treatment, but they are not formally implemented in Mexico, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TW). We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore partner notification with MSM, TW and health care providers to identify the essential elements to include in the design and implementation of APNS directed to MSM and TW in Mexico City. Afterwards, brainstorm sessions were carried out to produce strategies for implementing APNS. Results. Most participants reported experiences with informal partner notification, but not with APNS. Only one health care provider indicated assisting notification systematically. The main barriers for notifying mentioned by both MSM and TW included fear of (violent) reactions, discrimination and lacking contact information of casual partners. Participants thought it was easier notifying a formal partner, conditional of being well informed about HIV. Given current stigma and lack of awareness, it was suggested that APNS should be preceded by HIV awareness efforts, and be provided by counsellors or peers to mitigate potential rejection or violent reactions. Conclusions. While APNS are not formally implemented in Mexico, all participants supported the service, indicating that APNS can enhance early HIV diagnosis in Mexico. Strategies to implement such services need to be flexible addressing the individual needs of participants, guaranteeing the safety of more vulnerable participants.

Download Full-text

Attitudes About the Use of Geosocial Networking Applications for HIV/STD Partner Notification: A Qualitative Study

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2019.31.3.273 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 273-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marielle Goyette Contesse ◽

Rob J. Fredericksen ◽

Dan Wohlfeiler ◽

Jen Hecht ◽

Rachel Kachur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Partner Notification ◽

Health Department ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Health Departments ◽

Online Focus Groups ◽

Contact Information ◽

Geosocial Networking ◽

Sex With Men

Meeting sex partners through geosocial networking (GSN) apps is common among men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM may choose not to exchange contact information with partners met through GSN apps, limiting their own and health departments' ability to notify partners of HIV/STD exposure through standard notification methods. Using online focus groups (four groups; N = 28), we explored the perspectives of U.S. MSM regarding offer of partner notification features through GSN apps. Most participants were comfortable with HIV/STD partner notification delivered via GSN apps, either by partner services staff using a health department profile or through an in-app anonymous messaging system. While most participants expressed a responsibility to notify partners on their own, app-based partner notification methods may be preferred for casual or hard-to-reach partners. However, participants indicated that health departments will need to build trust with MSM app users to ensure acceptable and effective app-based delivery of partner notification.

Download Full-text

P64 Experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) when engaging in the partner notification process three months following a HIV diagnosis

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2015-052126.107 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 91 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A36.3-A37

Author(s):

Jonathan Roberts ◽

Eileen Nixon ◽

Nicky Perry ◽

Nigel Sheriff ◽

Daniel Richardson

Keyword(s):

Partner Notification ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Sex With Men

Download Full-text

Barriers and Facilitators to Promoting Resilience to HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experiences of HIV-Positive, Racial and Ethnic Minority, Middle-Aged and Older Men Who Have Sex with Men from Ontario, Canada

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18158084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 8084

Author(s):

Renato M. Liboro ◽

Sherry Bell ◽

Brandon Ranuschio ◽

Lianne Barnes ◽

Jenna Despres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Research Approach ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Community Based ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Racial And Ethnic Minority ◽

Hiv Aids

Evidence-based research has highlighted the need for exploring factors that support the mental health of men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS (MSMLWH), and environmental influences that promote their resilience to HIV/AIDS. This exploratory study utilized a community-based participatory research approach to investigate barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, specifically among racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH, a population that continues to be significantly impacted by HIV/AIDS today. This collaborative, qualitative study recruited participants who identified as racial or ethnic minority MSMLWH, were aged 40 or older, and resided in Ontario, Canada. Participants (n = 24) discussed in their interviews barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS, which they recognized from their lived experiences. Utilizing thematic analysis, themes related to barriers and facilitators to promoting resilience to HIV/AIDS were identified. Themes related to identified barriers included: (1) language proficiency, (2) racism, (3) pernicious norms in North American gay culture, and (4) HIV stigma. Themes related to identified facilitators included: (1) compartmentalization, (2) perseverance, and (3) community-based health and social services. This article discusses the implications of the study’s findings, particularly on how they may influence the development of future services for racial and ethnic minority, middle-aged and older MSMLWH.

Download Full-text

Assisted Partner Notification and Uptake of HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial in China

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific ◽

10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 100171

Author(s):

Qing-Hai Hu ◽

Han-Zhu Qian ◽

Jia-Ming Li ◽

Sequoia I. Leuba ◽

Zhen-Xing Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Partner Notification ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Sex With Men

Download Full-text

Impact of immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy among men who have sex with men infected with HIV in Chengdu, southwest China: trends analysis, 2008–2018

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10580-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chenyao Wu ◽

Baiyang Zhang ◽

Zhen Dai ◽

Qianwen Zheng ◽

Zhenhua Duan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southwest China ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Health Information Systems ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Annual Percent Change ◽

Percent Change ◽

Hiv Epidemic ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Treat All

Abstract Background Given the rampant HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chengdu, southwest China, Treat All policy, defined as immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after HIV diagnosis, was implemented since 2014. Real-world research evaluating impacts of immediate ART on HIV epidemics is needed to optimize policy-making as national and international guidelines have been lowering ART eligibility threshold. The purpose of this study is to: assess temporal trends of the HIV epidemic and impacts of Treat All policy among MSM; and lay foundation for HIV-related policy evaluation using longitudinal routine data from health information systems. Methods Data used in this study were HIV sentinel seroprevalence, annual reported HIV cases and ART coverage rate among MSM in Chengdu from 2008 to 2018, derived from national HIV/AIDS information system. Temporal trends of the HIV epidemic were described using Joinpoint Regression Program. Interrupted time-series method was deployed to evaluate Treat All policy. Results HIV sentinel seroprevalence rose from 11.20% in 2008 to 17.67% in 2013 and Annual Percent Change (APC) was 8.25% (95% CI − 2.40%, 20.07%), then decreased to 5.17% in 2018 (APC = − 19.63%, 95% CI − 27.54%, − 10.86%). Newly reported HIV cases increased from 168 cases in 2008 to 1232 cases in 2015 (APC = 26.99%, 95% CI 21.32%, 32.93%), and reduced to 1014 cases in 2018 (APC = − 8.80%, 95% CI − 18.45%, 2.01%). ART coverage rate has been climbing from 11.11% in 2008 to 92.29% in 2018 and Average Annual Percent Change was 16.09% (95% CI 11.76%, 20.59%). Results of interrupted time-series models showed that compared to an annual increase of 0.87% during pre-policy period, there was a decline of 3.08% (95% CI − 0.0366%, − 0.0250%) per year of HIV sentinel seroprevalence since 2014; and compared to an annual increase of 116 cases before 2014, there was an annual drop of 158 newly reported HIV cases (95% CI − 194.87%, − 121.69%) during the post-policy period. Conclusions Immediate ART after HIV diagnosis could potentially curb HIV transmission at population level among MSM, along with other strategies. Future assessment of HIV prevention and control policy can be carried out using routinely collected longitudinal data from health information systems.

Download Full-text

Identifying subgroups within at-risk populations that drive late HIV diagnosis in a Southern U.S. state

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462420947567 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 095646242094756

Author(s):

Sabina O Nduaguba ◽

Kentya H Ford ◽

James P Wilson ◽

Kenneth A Lawson ◽

Robert L Cook

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Interaction Terms ◽

Late Hiv Diagnosis ◽

Increased Risk ◽

At Risk Populations ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Aids Diagnosis ◽

Racial Ethnic

We aimed to identify subgroups within age, racial/ethnic, and transmission categories that drive increased risk for late HIV diagnosis (LHD). A 1996–2013 retrospective study of HIV-diagnosed individuals (N = 77,844) was conducted. The proportion of individuals with LHD (AIDS diagnosis within 365 days of HIV diagnosis) was determined, stratified by age, race/ethnicity, and transmission category. Logistic regression with interaction terms was used to identify groups/subgroups at risk for LHD during 1996–2001, 2002–2007, and 2008–2013. Respectively, 78%, 27%, 38%, and 31% were male, White, Black, and Hispanic. Overall, 39% had LHD with a 6.7% reduction for each year increase (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.93–0.94, p < 0.01). Older age was significantly associated with increased odds of LHD (OR range = 1.90–4.55). Compared to their White counterparts, all Hispanic transmission categories (OR range = 1.31–2.58) and only Black female heterosexuals and men who have sex with men (MSM) (OR range = 1.14–1.33) had significantly higher odds of LHD during 1996–2001 and/or 2002–2007. Significance was limited to Hispanic MSM (all age categories), MSM/IDUs (30–59 years), and heterosexuals (18–29 years) and Black MSM (30–39 years) during 2008–2013. Older individuals and Hispanics (driven by MSM) are at increased risk for LHD. HIV testing interventions directed at seniors and Hispanic MSM can further reduce rates of LHD.

Download Full-text