scholarly journals HIV and STI behavioural surveillance among men who have sex with men in Europe

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Elford ◽  
A Jeannin ◽  
B Spencer ◽  
J P Gervasoni ◽  
M J van de Laar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Trade Association ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sampling Frame ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Behavioural Surveillance ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Sex With Men

This paper describes behavioural surveillance for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Europe, focusing on the methods and indicators used. In August 2008, questionnaires were sent to European Union Member States and European Free Trade Association countries seeking information on behavioural surveillance activities among eight population groups including MSM. Thirty-one countries were invited to take part in the survey and 27 returned a questionnaire on MSM. Of these 27 countries, 14 reported that there was a system of behavioural surveillance among MSM in their country while another four countries had conducted behavioural surveys of some kind in this subpopulation. In the absence of a sampling frame, all European countries used convenience samples for behavioural surveillance among MSM. Most European countries used the Internet for recruiting and surveying MSM for behavioural surveillance reflecting increasing use of the Internet by MSM for meeting sexual partners. While there was a general consensus about the main behavioural indicators (unprotected anal intercourse, condom use, number of partners, HIV testing), there was considerable diversity between countries in the specific indicators used. We suggest that European countries reach an agreement on a core set of indicators. In addition we recommend that the process of harmonising HIV and STI behavioural surveillance among MSM in Europe continues.

scholarly journals Do men who have sex with men use serosorting with casual partners in France? Results of a nationwide survey (ANRS-EN17-Presse Gay 2004)

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Velter ◽  
A Bouyssou-Michel ◽  
A Arnaud ◽  
C Semaille
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internet Dating ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv Seropositive

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.

scholarly journals HIV and risk behaviour among men who have sex with men in Denmark – the 2006 Sex Life Survey

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (48) ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Cowan ◽  
J Haff
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Unsafe Sex ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Hiv Surveillance ◽  
Respondent Group ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Behavioural surveys among men who have sex with men (MSM) are important for HIV surveillance. The Danish 2006 Sex Life Survey was carried out as a self administered questionnaire, which was distributed at gay venues and bars and posted on the internet. The questionnaire was completed by 3,141 MSM. We describe the methods, the respondent group and the results of the 2006 Sex Life Survey, and discuss it implications. The main finding of this survey is that 33% of the respondents have practised unsafe sex, defined as unprotected anal intercourse with one or more partners of different or unknown HIV status. In the three previous Sex Life Surveys of 2000, 2001 and 2002, this figure was between 26% and 28%.

scholarly journals HIV/STIs risks between migrant MSM and local MSM: a cross-sectional comparison study in China

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Wu ◽  
Hong Wu ◽  
Pengsheng Li ◽  
Ciyong Lu
Keyword(s):  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Hiv Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Migratory Status ◽  
Sex With Men

Background.Internal migration plays a significant role in China’s HIV epidemic. However, few studies have directly compared migrant men who have sex with men (MSM) with local MSM with regard to HIV/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) risks.Methods.We conducted a study in Guangzhou, China, with the aim of understanding the differences in HIV/STIs risks between migrant MSM and local MSM. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 273 migrant MSM and 249 local MSM in Guangzhou, China. Their behavioral and serologic data on HIV/syphilis were collected and compared between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between HIV/STIs risks and migratory status.Results.Migrant MSM, compared to local MSM, have higher odds of reporting unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) (OR= 1.4; 95% CI [0.9–2.0]) and having multiple homosexual partners (OR= 1.2; 95% CI [0.8–1.8]). A lower rate of condom use at homosexual debut was reported in migrant MSM than in local MSM (OR= 0.7; 95% CI [0.5–0.9]). Migrant MSM have less odds of reporting HIV/STIs testing in the previous 6 months relative to local MSM (OR= 0.5; 95% CI [0.4–0.8]). In addition, migrant MSM demonstrated a lower level of HIV knowledge than local MSM (OR= 0.4; 95% CI [0.2–0.8]).Conclusion.Migrant MSM are more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors, report a lower level of HIV knowledge and have less access to HIV/STIs testing. Further comprehensive interventions targeting migrant MSM are urged.

Prevalence in MSM Is Enhanced by Role Versatility

2018 ◽  
pp. 140-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés J. Cortés
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Hiv 1

In the community of men who have sex with men (MSM) the prevalence of the HIV-1 infection is still high. Promiscuity and condom fatigue are making unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) more common and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) presumably harder to track. Yet, MSM communities are peculiar in the sense that men can adopt fixed (insertive or receptive) or versatile (both practices) roles. Some old theoretical work predicted that the transmission of HIV-1 would be enhanced in MSM populations engaged more in role versatility than in role segregation, in which fixed roles are predominantly adopted. These predictions were based on the assumption that the probability of acquisition from unprotected insertive anal (UIA) sex was neglectable, which is an inappropriate assumption. This chapter shows that the increase of the HIV-1 prevalence among MSM due to role versatility holds under a stronger assumption of bidirectional virus transmission.

scholarly journals Recommendations for Intervention Content to Enhance HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake among Men Who have Sex with Men Receiving Care at Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e47-e59
Author(s):  
Amy Nunn ◽  
Genoviva Sowemimo-Coker ◽  
Jacob Van den Berg ◽  
Cassandra Sutten Coats ◽  
Collette Sosnowy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Disease ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Culturally Tailored ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background and objective Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake has been suboptimal. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics provide important opportunities to scale PrEP uptake. Material and methods To inform the development of a brief intervention to enhance PrEP uptake in STD clinics, we conducted 32 qualitative interviews to explore barriers and facilitators of PrEP uptake among PrEP eligible, PrEP naïve, and men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting for STD screening services. We also solicited input for intervention components to enhance PrEP uptake at STD clinics. Results Most participants’ self-perceived HIV risks were low despite reporting unprotected anal intercourse. Many were reluctant to take any medications, expressed apprehension about perceived side effects of PrEP, and were unaware of how to obtain PrEP. Participants recommended that interventions focusing on enhancing PrEP uptake in STD clinics should include: culturally tailored educational materials about PrEP, informational graphics indicating PrEP’s relative efficacy in reducing HIV transmission risks, and comprehensive PrEP navigation. Most participants did not feel strongly about gender, race or ethnicity of providers; however, nearly all preferred gay affirming providers. Brief interventions to enhance PrEP uptake among MSM in STD clinics should include efforts to raise self-awareness of HIV risk, provide information about PrEP’s efficacy relative to other interventions, underscore PrEP’s relatively few side effects, and provide culturally tailored messaging.  

scholarly journals Health Information Accessed on the Internet: The Development in 5 European Countries

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Egil Kummervold ◽  
Rolf Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Information Access ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Media Source ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Near Future

The aim of this study was to summarize and analyse findings from four prior studies on the use of the Internet as a source of health information in five European countries (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Portugal). A cross-study comparison of data was performed. All the studies included fit with a trend of a sharp and continuous growth in the use of the Internet for health information access in the major part of the last decade. Importantly, the Internet has become an important mass media source of health information in northern Europe. While the use of the Internet for health information is somewhat less common in the south European countries, its use is also clearly increasing there. We discuss the advantages of cross-study comparisons of data and methodological challenges. As the use of the Internet for health information is likely to peak in some countries in the near future, new population surveys on health information access should focus more on the details of information that is accessed and which sites that are most used and trusted.

Regular STI testing amongst men who have sex with men and use social media is suboptimal – a cross-sectional study

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Frankis ◽  
Lisa Goodall ◽  
Dan Clutterbuck ◽  
Abdul-Razak Abubakari ◽  
Paul Flowers
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Sex With Men

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.

Correlates of Unprotected Anal Intercourse: The Influence of Anal Sex Position Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Beijing, China

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Zhang ◽  
Hongyan Lu ◽  
Stephen W. Pan ◽  
Dongyan Xia ◽  
Yuejuan Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Beijing China

scholarly journals Lymphogranuloma venereum emerging in men who have sex with men in Germany

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 5-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bremer ◽  
T Meyer ◽  
U Marcus ◽  
O Hamouda
Keyword(s):  
Lymphogranuloma Venereum ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Probable Case ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Lymph Node Swelling ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Omp1 Gene ◽  
Great Public Health

A resurgence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) has been observed in several European countries. LGV is not a mandatorily notifiable disease in Germany. Reports of LGV cases have actively been collected by the Robert Koch-Institut since 2004 to describe the outbreak and estimate the extent of the LGV problem in Germany. Updates on the LGV outbreak were published in the German national epidemiological bulletin. Physicians were asked to send their samples to a laboratory for genotyping. A possible case was defined as a person with symptoms of proctitis and/or inguinal lymph node swelling and a positive chlamydia serology. A probable case had in addition a positive chlamydia rectal or urinary PCR test. A case was confirmed if the genotype L1-L3 was identified based on sequence analysis of omp1 gene sequences. Since 2003, LGV has been reported in 78 male patients in Germany. Of these, 61 patients were confirmed as genotype L2. Fifty eight out of 78 patients (74%) are known to be men who have sex with men (MSM). Fifty five patients (71%) had rectal symptoms and 49 (63%) knew they were HIV positive. Sixty two (79%) of the patients were residents of Berlin or Hamburg. LGV has emerged in MSM in Germany at the same time as in other European countries. It is thought that LGV may become endemic in the MSM community in German metropolitan areas, because the number of reported patients with LGV continues to increase. The increase in the number of LGV cases and the high HIV prevalence in LGV patients are of great public health concern. Clinicians and MSM may not be sufficiently aware of the disease, and existing efforts to promote awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV need to be strengthened.

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