A full-factorial randomized controlled trial of adjunct couples HIV testing and counseling components addressing drug use and communication skills among sexual minority male couples

Background The past decade has seen increasing attention directed to the development of HIV prevention interventions for male couples, driven by epidemiological data indicating that main or primary – rather than causal – partnerships account for a substantial number of HIV infections in this population. Couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) has emerged as a standard of care in the US. This protocol describes a study that aims to evaluate the efficacy of two adjunct components to CHTC – communication training (CT) videos and a substance use module (SUM) – to reduce drug use and sexual HIV transmission risk behavior. Methods Eligible couples must include one participant who is aged 17-29, HIV-negative, and reports recent drug use. Both partners must be aged 17 or older, identify as cismale (assigned male sex at birth and currently identify as male gender), and communicate in English. Couples are randomized post-baseline to one of four conditions (CHTC as usual, CHTC plus CT video; CHTC + SUM and CHTC + CT video + SUM) in a full-factorial design. Follow up assessments are completed at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months post baseline. Discussion Results of this trial will enhance the application of CHTC. If found effective, adjunct components would comprise a brief and scalable drug use intervention that could be readily integrated into existing HIV testing settings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration; NCT05000866; completed August 3, 2021; https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/ Protocol version 1.0; September 1, 2021.

Relationship Between Smoker Male Partner and Intrauterine Insemination Success in Kasih Ibu General Hospital Denpasar

Background : Assisted reproductive technology, one of which is intrauterine insemination (IUI) allows infertile couples to get pregnant. The pregnancy success of IUI procedure varies among individuals. Objective: The study aim is to determine whether there is a relationship between smoker male partners and IUI success. Methods: This research is an analytic study with cross-sectional approach conducted at Kasih Ibu General Hospital Denpasar with purposive sampling technique. There are 35 male couples aged 25-50 years who underwent the IUI procedure selected as samples. The research data was gathered from patient's medical records and statistically analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Results: The study found that of the 35 samples, 13 (37.1%) were smokers, whereas 22 (62.9%) male partners were non-smokers. There were 6 (17.1%) samples’ partners who were pregnant after undergoing the IUI procedure, and 29 (82.9%) samples’ partners were not pregnant. It was found that there was no significant relationship between male partner smokers and the success of IUI at Kasih Ibu General Hospital Denpasar (p=0.832). However, in descriptive analysis and relative risk calculation, smoker male partner is less likely to achieve pregnancy than non-smoker’s male partner (RR=0.85). Conclusion: Smoker male partners may not contribute to IUI success. Further studies should be done with a higher number of samples, multicenter, and more controlled risk factors to make it more accurate in determining the relationship.

Study protocol: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial of a dyadic mobile health intervention for black sexual-minority male couples with HIV in the USA

IntroductionHIV care engagement is lower among black sexual-minority men relative to other racial/ethnic groups of sexual-minority men. Being in a primary relationship is generally associated with more successful HIV care engagement across various populations. However, among black sexual-minority men, the association between primary relationship status and HIV-related outcomes is inconsistent across the HIV care continuum. Given the ubiquity of mobile technology access and use among racial/ethnic minority communities, leveraging mobile technology for HIV care engagement appears a promising intervention strategy. This paper outlines the protocol of the LetSync study, a pilot randomised controlled trial of a mobile health app intervention developed using the Framework of Dyadic HIV Care Engagement to improve care-engagement outcomes among black sexual-minority male couples living with HIV.Methods and analysisEighty black sexual-minority men in couples (n=160) will be enrolled to pilot test the LetSync app. At least one member of each dyad must be both HIV-positive and self-identify as black/African-American. Couples will be randomised to either a waitlist-control arm or an intervention that uses relationship-based approach to improve HIV care engagement. We will assess feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and intervention protocols based on predefined metrics of feasibility and acceptability. Execution of the study will yield the opportunity to conduct analyses to test the measurement and analysis protocol on antiretroviral therapy adherence by comparing the intervention and waitlist-control arms on self-reported and biological (hair sample) measures of adherence.Ethics and disseminationStudy staff will obtain electronic consent from all participants. This study has been approved by the University of California (UCSF) Institutional Review Board. Study staff will work with the Community Advisory Board at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies Board to disseminate results to participants and the community via open discussions, presentations, journal publications and/or social media.Trial registration numberNCT04951544.

O-108 Opinion and perceptions about how new family models conceived through Assisted Reproduction Techniques and parenthood differ between different generations in Argentina

Study question What is the degree of acceptance of new family models using Assisted Reproductive Techniques and what is the childbearing perception among different generations in Argentina Summary answer The youngest accept different family conformations through fertility treatments more than olders. They also consider, in greater proportion, that happiness is not linked to childbearing What is known already (1). Human reproduction changed dramatically in the last 40 years, with the development of Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) (2). In accordance with the new family models, gender diversity, self-acceptance and social openness, unacceptable until recently, are today a new reality. Since 2013, in Argentina, fertility treatments are regulated under National Law No. 26.862, allowing full access to ART regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. (3). However, there is still a legal vacuum around uterine surrogacy, which hinders treatment particularly in male homosexual couples. Study design, size, duration This is a cross-disciplinary descriptive study based on data obtained from an online self-administered survey. We surveyed a sample of 1800 people from the general population during June 2020. Participants/materials, setting, methods A structured and self-administered survey was carried out through OPINAIA (research consultant). Participants answered voluntarily an anonymous online questionnaire. We stratified our population in 4 groups according to different generations that represent the Argentinean population: Centennials (18-25 years), Millennials (26-35 years), Gen X (36-49 years), Baby Boomers (more than 50 years), respectively. We also stratified our sample by gender, socioeconomic level, and geographic location. Main results and the role of chance The data obtained in our survey showed that 92% of our population expressed an agreement to the use of ART for heterosexual couples, 76% for single women, 65% for single men, 62% for female couples and 59% as to male couples. However, when stratifying by generations, we observed that the youngest showed a clear tendency to accept the new family conformation models with respect to the oldest ones. When comparing by generations, Centennials showed a strong agreement for single women (63%), single men (52%), female couples (60%) and male couples (58%). However, Baby Boomers express agreement on single women (33%), single men (24%), female partners (24%), male partners (22%). So, our data reveals that the prejudices concerning the different family conformations models are less among the youngest. We also observe a tendency towards believing that happiness is not related to parenthood by the younger (Centennials 75%, Millennials 67%, X Generation 64%, Baby Boomers 60%). This is a representative sample of the Argentinean populations, based upon official National census. Thus, it accurately represents the local distribution concerning age, gender, socioeconomic level, and geographic location. Limitations, reasons for caution Our investigation is a descriptive and observational study Wider implications of the findings This is the first study about new family models in Latin America. The study sample represents the national population and reflects clearly social trends. Therefore, it allows predicting future scenarios for policy makers to plan effective education strategies and to consider the distribution of public health funds for fertility treatments. Trial registration number not applicable