Commentary: Public health counselling following an HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men: Tensions between individual needs and health protection mandates

2020 ◽  
pp. 174498712093302
Author(s):  
Shaun Watson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Individual Needs ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Health Counselling

Public health counselling following an HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men: tensions between individual needs and health protection mandates

2020 ◽  
pp. 174498712093296
Author(s):  
Lauren Orser ◽  
Patrick O'Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Public Health Nurses ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Health Counselling

Background In Ontario, provincial regulations stipulate that public health units must complete post-test counselling with all persons newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus. Public health nurses conduct this follow-up and are responsible for ensuring appropriate surveillance and management of human immunodeficiency virus with the primary objective of reducing ongoing human immunodeficiency virus transmission in their health jurisdiction. To date, little research has explored the effectiveness of this mandatory public health counselling from the perspective of patients – the majority of whom are men who have sex with men. Aims To address gaps in public health nursing practice, a pilot study was conducted with men who have sex with men in Ottawa to explore their attitudes and experiences of receiving mandatory human immunodeficiency virus follow-up after their diagnosis. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results This analysis revealed a contrariety between the needs of individuals and of public health units, with patients' perceiving their personal wishes to be secondary to public health mandates – and led patients to simultaneously want to evade, and be assisted by, public health nurses. Conclusions Public health units and nurses should consider adopting a more patient-centered approach to HIV case management, which incorporates patients’ experiences of receiving an HIV diagnosis.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Optimism and Vaccine Willingness among an Online Sample of US Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renee A. Pitter ◽  
Alexis S. Hunter ◽  
Tanaka MD Chavanduka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Binary Outcomes ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Black African ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Public Health Messages ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Living With Hiv

This paper presents data from an online sample of U.S gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), to explore the factors associated with three dimensions of vaccine beliefs: perception of the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available, perception of when a COVID-19 vaccine would become available, and the likelihood of taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Data are taken from the Love and Sex in the Time of COVID-19 study, collected from November 2020 to January 2021. A sample of 290 GBMSM is analyzed, modeling three binary outcomes: belief that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine, belief that the COVID-19 vaccine will be available in 6 months, and being very likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast to other studies, Black/African Americans and GBMSM living with HIV had higher levels of pandemic optimism and were more likely to be willing to accept a vaccine. Men who perceived a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among their friends and sex partners, and those who had reduced their sex partners, were more likely to be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine. There remained a small percentage of participants (14%) who did not think the pandemic would end, that there would not be a vaccine and were unlikely to take a vaccine. To reach the levels of vaccination necessary to control the pandemic, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of those experiencing vaccine hesitancy and then tailor public health messages to their unique set of barriers and motivations.

scholarly journals 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

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.

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

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.

scholarly journals Developing HIV assisted partner notification services tailored to Mexican key populations: a qualitative approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heleen Vermandere ◽  
Santiago Aguilera-Mijares ◽  
Liliane Martínez-Vargas ◽  
M. Arantxa Colchero ◽  
Sergio Bautista-Arredondo
Keyword(s):  
Partner Notification ◽  
Key Populations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hiv Diagnosis ◽  
Serostatus Disclosure ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Contact Information ◽  
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). 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.

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