scholarly journals The Association between Use of Online Social Networks to Find Sex Partners and Sexually Transmitted Infection Diagnosis among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women Living with HIV

Author(s):  
Parya Saberi ◽  
Torsten B. Neilands ◽  
Michelle A. Lally ◽  
Sybil G. Hosek ◽  
Lisa Hightow-Weidman

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions to examine the association between the use of social media sites to find sex partners and recent diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 13- to 24-year-old men who have sex with men and transgender women living with HIV. We used linear regression to determine the relationship between the number of STIs and the number of social media sites used to find sex partners with each type of sex act included in the analysis. Secondary analyses substituted frequency of social media site use for number of social media sites. Among 741 participants, for every 1 social media account used to find sex partners, there was a 2.53% (95% confidence interval: 0.28-5.54) increase in STIs. This association was mediated through condomless receptive anal intercourse or condomless insertive anal intercourse but not barrierless oral intercourse. Similar but attenuated associations were found when frequency of social media site use was substituted for number of social media sites. Future research should examine innovative interventions on these social media sites with respect for its users.

Author(s):  
Jorge Alonzo ◽  
◽  
Lilli Mann-Jackson ◽  
Jesús García ◽  
Amanda E. Tanner ◽  
...  

Young gay, bisexual, and other MSM (men who have sex with men) and transgender women in the United States (US) who are living with HIV, and particularly those who are Latino, have low rates of viral suppression. The weCare intervention uses social media to increase HIV care engagement. Method: We used community-based participatory research to develop the intervention as well as theory-based social media messages tailored to each participant’s unique context. We analyzed elements and characteristics of weCare, messages sent by the Cyber Health Educator (CHE), and lessons learned to meet the needs of Latino participants living with HIV. Results: We identified 6 core elements, 5 key characteristics, effective social media messages used in implementation, and 8 important lessons regarding relationships between the CHE and HIV clinics, the CHE and participants, and participants and the health system. Conclusions: Social media offers a promising platform to retain young Latino gay bisexual and other MSM and transgender women living with HIV in care and achieve viral suppression.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Frankis ◽  
Lisa Goodall ◽  
Dan Clutterbuck ◽  
Abdul-Razak Abubakari ◽  
Paul Flowers

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect men who have sex with men, with marked increases in most STIs in recent years. These are likely underpinned by coterminous increases in behavioural risks which have coincided with the development of Internet and geospatial sociosexual networking. Current guidelines advocate regular, annual sexually transmitted infection testing amongst sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM), as opposed to symptom-driven testing. This paper explores sexually transmitted infection testing regularity amongst MSM who use social and sociosexual media. Data were collected from 2668 men in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, recruited via social and gay sociosexual media. Only one-third of participants report regular (yearly or more frequent) STI testing, despite relatively high levels of male sex partners, condomless anal intercourse and high-risk unprotected anal intercourse. The following variables were associated with regular STI testing; being more ‘out’ (adjusted odds ratio = 1.79; confidence interval = 1.20–2.68), HIV-positive (adjusted odds ratio = 14.11; confidence interval = 7.03–28.32); reporting ≥10 male sex partners (adjusted odds ratio = 2.15; confidence interval = 1.47–3.14) or regular HIV testing (adjusted odds ratio = 48.44; confidence interval = 28.27–83.01). Men reporting long-term sickness absence from work/carers (adjusted odds ratio = 0.03; confidence interval = 0.00–0.48) and men aged ≤25 years (adjusted odds ratio = 0.36; 95% confidence interval = 0.19–0.69) were less likely to test regularly for STIs. As such, we identify a complex interplay of social, health and behavioural factors that each contribute to men’s STI testing behaviours. In concert, these data suggest that the syndemics placing men at elevated risk may also mitigate against access to testing and prevention services. Moreover, successful reduction of STI transmission amongst MSM will necessitate a comprehensive range of approaches which address these multiple interrelated factors that underpin MSM's STI testing.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 745
Author(s):  
Rob Stephenson ◽  
Stephen P. Sullivan ◽  
Renee A. Pitter ◽  
Alexis S. Hunter ◽  
Tanaka MD Chavanduka

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wang ◽  
Xiaomeng Ma ◽  
Xiaosong Zhang ◽  
Jason J Ong ◽  
Jun Jing ◽  
...  

ObjectiveWomen living with HIV (WLHIV) face disproportionately higher risks of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) compared with HIV negative counterparts. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of HPV in WLHIV in Chinese hospital setting and identify associated factors to the progression of late-stage cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) in this population.MethodThis retrospective study collected data from 183 WLHIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART), based on reproductive health questionnaires. Gynaecological examination results including serum (for HIV viral load, CD4 T-cell count, hepatitis B infections, syphilis) and vaginal swabs for common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Multivariate-logistic regression was applied to analyze the contributing factors to CIN2+.ResultsHIV coinfection with other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) were observed in 99 participants (54.1%, (99/183)). HPV (43.7% (80/183)) was the most prevalent STI. The three most prevalent HPV subtypes were all high-risk HPV (HR-HPV), including HPV52 (33.8% (27/80)), HPV58 (21.3% (17/80)) and HPV33 (13.75% (11/80)). About a third (37.5%, 30/80) of women with HPV had HR-HPV. Multiple HPV coinfections were common in HIV-HPV coinfected women (41.3%, 33/80). Cytological examinations revealed that 77.5% (62/80) HPV+ women had detectable cervical lesions. In comparison, only 4.9% (5/103) HPV negative womenwith Atypia and 1.0% (1/103) with CIN1 were diagnosed. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that HPV16 (OR=19.04, 2.53 to 122.92; p=0.004) and HPV18 (OR=11.54, 1.45 to 91.64; p=0.021) infections were significantly associated with CIN2+ in HIV-HPV coinfected women.ConclusionA high prevalence of HPV was found in women on ART. HPV16/18 infection are strong associated factors to CIN2+ in HIV-HPV coinfected women.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 450-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda E. Tanner ◽  
Eunyoung Y. Song ◽  
Lilli Mann-Jackson ◽  
Jorge Alonzo ◽  
Katherine Schafer ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Thorsteinsson ◽  
Steen Ladelund ◽  
Merete Storgaard ◽  
Frederikke Falkencrone Rønsholt ◽  
Isik Somuncu Johansen ◽  
...  

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