Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American men

Background  

As part of qualitative research for developing a culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate videotape-based HIV prevention intervention for heterosexual African- American men, six focus groups were conducted with thirty African-American men to determine their perceptions of AIDS as a threat to the African-American community, characteristics of past situations that have placed African Americans at risk for HIV infection, their personal high risk behaviors, and suggestions on how HIV intervention videotapes could be produced to achieve maximum levels of interest among African-American men in HIV training programs.     

重庆市男男性行为者中异性性行为和HIV感染情况及其影响因素分析

/茶吧(AOR=1.6,95%CI∶1.0～2.6)、首次性行为年龄大(AOR=0.6,95%CI∶0.4～0.8)、未卖性(AOR=0.5,95%CI∶0.3～1.0)以及HIV感染(AOR=1.7,95%CI∶1.1～2.7).结论 重庆市MSM/W人群HIV感染率较高,存在高危行为,该人群可能在MSM和异性性伴之间起着传播HIV的潜在桥梁作用,可能使HIV从高危人群向一般人群扩散.     

Commentary: methods women can use that may prevent sexually transmitted disease, including HIV.

Although sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are a major concern for women, few prevention messages are targeted specifically to women. Those that are generally stress abstaining, altering the number or selection of partners, and urging partners to use condoms. But these behaviors may be unrealistic for many women, particularly women who are at highest risk for sexually transmitted diseases, because they require significant changes in life-style or depend on male-controlled condom use. Recommendation of contraceptives for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases depends largely on how well specific methods perform under controlled conditions, either in the laboratory or in clinical trials. Observational studies, which better reflect day-to-day use, indicate that condoms, barriers, and spermicides, used properly and consistently, can provide substantial protection against various sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms can similarly help protect against HIV, but studies of barriers and spermicides are scant and currently inconclusive. Finally, those methods that are controlled by women are consistently more effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, although condoms used well are still the best choice, the imperative for female-controlled methods indicates that diaphragms and spermicides should receive greater emphasis in prevention messages.     

Using focus groups to develop HIV education among adolescent females in Zimbabwe

Seventy-eight adolescent females from Zimbabwe participatedin focus groups to assess need for HIV/AIDS prevention and education.The interview guide dealt with HIV transmission, preventionand education. Results show a high level of awareness regardingHIV transmission, however, myths and misconceptions still persist.General AIDS information was perceived as widely available,but individual counseling was perceived as nonexistent. Althoughmost of the young women still hold to traditional values regardingmarriage, negative male sexual attitudes and economic hardshipswere perceived as major factors that make females of their agevulnerable to HIV infections. Participants recommended face-to-face,gender-specific HIV/AIDS prevention and education. Nurses, physicians,persons living with AIDS and church officials were identifiedas possible facilitators. Based on this focus group experience,future efforts in developing comprehensive AIDS prevention andeducation programs should target adolescent and adult malesin order to assess salient issues regarding HIV/AIDS preventionand education.     

重庆市男男性行为者艾滋病病毒和梅毒的感染情况及其影响因素

目的 了解重庆市男男性行为者(MSM)艾滋病病毒(HIV)和梅毒感染率及其影响因素.方法 通过2006年和2007年两次横断面调查,收集包括人口学、行为学、艾滋病知识、继往性传播疾病相关症状及HIV有关干预接受相关情况信息,并采集血液标本进行HIV和梅毒抗体检测.结果 共调查1773名MSM,HIV和梅毒感染率分别为10.6%和8.4%.在近6个月,约1/3的MSM有多性伴和无保护肛交行为;1/5的MSM有异性性行为.感染HIV的独立危险因素为:大龄(26～35岁:AOR=1.7,95%C1:1.1～2.6;＞35岁:AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.4～3.8)、文化程度低(AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.5～3.5)、多性伴(AOR=1.8,95%CI:1.2～2.8)、浴池/桑拿招募(AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.1～4.7)、有既往性病相关症状(AOR=1.8,95%CI:1.2～2.7)及梅毒感染(AOR=1.7,95%CI:1.1～2.9).结论 重庆市MSM人群HIV及梅毒感染率已达较高水平,多性伴、无保护肛交和异性性行为多见,应采取及时有效的干预措施.     

Perceptions and attitudes in relation to reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections in rural Vietnam: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions, attitudes and health-seeking patterns for reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections (RTI/STI) among men and women in rural Vietnam. METHOD: Ten focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 46 women and 27 men aged 15-49 in Bavi district, northern Vietnam. A pre-designed discussion guide was used during the discussions. Content analysis was applied for data analysis. Each sentence/paragraph was coded. Similar codes were clustered and collapsed into sub-categories and categories. Two main themes 'community perceptions of RTI/STI' and 'attitudes towards RTI/STI' were created, based on the relationship between categories. FINDINGS: Complex terminology with many different terms was used by participants to describe and discuss RTI/STI. "Inflammation" [RTI], Gonorrhoea, Syphilis was described as three stages of STI. Health-seeking patterns for RTI/STI were reported to differ between men and women: self-medication was mentioned as a common practice among women, while men were more likely to seek health care from private providers. Complaints were voiced about clinicians' negative attitudes towards RTI/STI patients. CONCLUSION: Rural dwellers in a district of Vietnam expressed a variety of misconceptions regarding RTI/STI. Designing health education strategies to provide comprehensive RTI/STI information to the community and improving communication between RTI/STI patients and clinicians are urgently needed.     

Using HIV notification data to identify priority migrant groups for HIV prevention, New South Wales, 2000-2008

Non-Australian-born people comprise a third of HIV notifications in Australia. With increasing numbers of immigrants in Australia, public health and health promotion programs will need to adapt to the emerging epidemic of HIV among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. This study uses HIV notification data to compare Australian-born and non-Australian-born cases in New South Wales and aims to determine if income of source country is useful in identifying high priority CALD groups. Notified cases of newly diagnosed HIV between 2000 and 2008 in New South Wales were divided into Australian-born, persons born in high-income countries and persons born in middle and low-income countries based on World Bank classifications. These three groups were then compared to determine their risk factors for HIV infection. Of the 3,397 newly diagnosed HIV infections in New South Wales, 2,906 (86%) had a country of birth reported from 102 different countries. Cases born in high-income countries were similar to Australian-born cases; predominantly men reporting homosexual acquisition. Both these groups were different to cases born in middle and low-income countries; they were younger, more commonly female and reported heterosexual acquisition of HIV. Using income from source countries is useful as a model to better understand and target responses to HIV in non-Australian-born populations in New South Wales as it suggests that the public health and health promotion response in New South Wales and Australia should also focus on the priority communities drawn from low and middle income countries.     

Self-disclosure of HIV diagnosis to sexual partners by heterosexual and bisexual men: a challenge for HIV/AIDS care and prevention

This study investigated the disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus to sexual partners by heterosexual and bisexual men, selected in centers for HIV/AIDS care. In 250 interviews, we investigated disclosure of serostatus to partners, correlating disclosure to characteristics of relationships. The focus group further explored barriers to maintenance/establishment of partnerships and their association with disclosure and condom use. Fear of rejection led to isolation and distress, thus hindering disclosure to current and new partners. Disclosure requires trust and was more frequent to steady partners, to partners who were HIV-positive themselves, to female partners, and by heterosexuals, occurring less frequently with commercial sex workers. Most interviewees reported consistent condom use. Unprotected sex was more frequent with seropositive partners. Suggestions to enhance comprehensive care for HIV-positive men included stigma management, group activities, and human rights-based approaches involving professional education in care for sexual health, disclosure, and care of "persons living with HIV".     

Evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral, group, randomized controlled intervention trial to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies in young women

BACKGROUND: Few cognitive-behavioral interventions have focused on preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies (UPs) in young, sexually active women in a single study. Military recruit training provides a well-defined, national, nonclinic sample in which to evaluate such an intervention. METHODS: All female Marine recruits (N=2,288) in training were approached. Of these, 2,157 (94.3%) voluntarily agreed and were randomly assigned, by platoons, to participate in cognitive-behavioral interventions to prevent STIs or UPs or to prevent physical training injuries and cancer. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires and were screened for pregnancy, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis at baseline and, on average, 1 and 14 months postintervention. RESULTS: A higher proportion of the control group had a postintervention STI or UP [odds ratio (OR)=1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01-1.98]. Among participants who had no history of STIs or pregnancy, but who engaged in risky sexual behaviors just before recruit training, the control group was more likely to acquire a postintervention STI (OR=3.24, CI=1.74-6.03). Among participants who were not sexually experienced at baseline, the control group was more likely to have casual (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.04-4.08) and multiple (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.01-3.47) sexual partners postintervention. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized controlled trial indicates that cognitive-behavioral interventions are effective for reducing behavioral risk and preventing STIs and UPs in young, sexually active women who are not seeking health care.     

Short-term impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign to prevent syphilis among men who have sex with men

Objectives. We carried out an independent short-term impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign designed to reduce syphilis infections among men who have sex with men in south Florida in 2004.Methods. Venue-based surveys were conducted shortly after the campaign began and 6 months later to assess changes in exposure to campaign materials, awareness, knowledge about syphilis, perceptions of risk, sexual behavior, clinic visits, and testing and treatment for syphilis among participants.Results. Exposure to social marketing campaign materials increased from 18.0% at baseline to 36.5% at follow-up (P< .001). Awareness of syphilis and perceptions of risk increased among Broward County residents but not among Miami–Dade County residents. Risky sexual practices and patterns of recreational drug use did not change. No significant increases in knowledge, clinic visits, or testing or treatment for syphilis among participants were detected over the 6-month study period.Conclusions. None of the campaign objectives were fully met. The interventions were insufficient to produce a significant impact among men who have sex with men in south Florida.By the end of the 20th century, reported cases of syphilis in the United States had reached an all-time low. Most of the new cases were reported among impoverished African American heterosexual adults living in 28 counties, located primarily in the South. Some officials believed that with an intensified effort, the few remaining cases of infectious syphilis might be identified and brought to treatment. In June 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the National Plan to Eliminate Syphilis from the United States.1Shortly after the national plan was introduced, reported cases of syphilis in the United States began to rise. In San Francisco, for example, the number of cases of early syphilis increased from 41 in 1998 to 495 in 2002, and the proportion of cases reported among men who have sex with men (MSM) increased from 22% to 88%.2 Investigation of the outbreak in San Francisco revealed that many MSM were meeting their sexual partners through Internet connections and that a disproportionate number of those who had acquired syphilis were already infected with HIV.Based on observations made in San Francisco and elsewhere,3^–9 the CDC initiated an 8-city intervention project in fiscal year 2004.10 Two of the 8 cities, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Fla, were experiencing a recrudescence of infectious syphilis among MSM but had little information available about the sexual behaviors, patterns of recreational drug use, or other characteristics of those who were being exposed to and were becoming infected with syphilis.11 Therefore, the State of Florida Department of Health, Bureau of STD Prevention and Control requested that baseline and follow-up surveys of MSM be conducted in Fort Lauderdale and Miami to describe the target populations of MSM, guide the development of a social marketing campaign, and evaluate the campaign’s effectiveness. We conducted an evaluation of the short-term impact of the campaign with adult MSM recruited from diverse venues in Fort Lauderdale (Broward County) and Miami (Miami–Dade County) in 2004.     

Prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections,and related preventive and risk behaviours,among gay,bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Montreal,Toronto and Vancouver: results from the Engage Study

ObjectivesThe last Canadian biobehavioural surveillance study of HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) was conducted in 2010. We designed a study to measure STBBI prevalence among GBM in metropolitan Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver and to document related preventive and risk behaviours.MethodsThe Engage Cohort Study used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit GBM who reported sex with another man in the past 6 months. At baseline, we examined recruitment characteristics of the samples, and the RDS-II-adjusted distributions of socio-demographics, laboratory-confirmed HIV and other STBBI prevalence, and related behaviours, with a focus on univariate differences among cities.ResultsA total of 2449 GBM were recruited from February 2017 to August 2019. HIV prevalence was lower in Montreal (14.2%) than in Toronto (22.2%) or Vancouver (20.4%). History of syphilis infection was similar across cities (14–16%). Vancouver had more HIV-negative/unknown participants who reported never being HIV tested (18.6%) than Toronto (12.9%) or Montreal (11.5%). Both Montreal (74.9%) and Vancouver (78.8%) had higher proportions of men who tested for another STBBI in the past 6 months than Toronto (67.4%). Vancouver had a higher proportion of men who used pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the past 6 months (18.9%) than Toronto (11.1%) or Montreal (9.6%).ConclusionThe three largest cities of Canada differed in HIV prevalence, STBBI testing and PrEP use among GBM. Our findings also suggest the need for scale-up of both PrEP and STI testing among GBM in Canada.     

Does the use of a condom involve a risk for contacting sexually transmitted infections,HIV/AIDS?

The aim of this study is to elucidate and review the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among condom users. Men and women of reproductive age are the subjects of this study. Data were extracted from the literature through the MEDLINE service for the period 2000–2006. Female condoms (0.1%) were reported to be less liable to break than male condoms (3.1%), while slippage occurs more often with female condoms (5.6%) than with male condoms (1.1%). The nonlatex condoms have a higher frequency of breakage or slippage during intercourse or withdrawal (4%) than latex ones (1.3%). Adolescents having multiple sexual partners and/or having sex with someone they met on that same day are about 80% more likely to report condom failure. Condom breakage or slippage is associated with never having received instructions on correct condom use, more than one sexual partner and more frequent condom use. Ineffective condom use is common among young adults. A younger age, primary partner, lack of partner support, multiple recent sexual partners and use of condoms for contraception are positively associated with delayed condom use. However, condoms do offer 30–90% protection against STIs and HIV passed in the semen and 0–30% protection against diseases due to skin-to-skin contact. This inversely implies that there is always a risk of contacting Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV, or genital herpes and warts even when using a condom during sexual intercourse. Only correct – rather than consistent – condom use reduces the risk of STIs and HIV during intercourse. Therefore, condom users need to be cautioned that some risks are involved with the use of this method.     

中国六省（区）性病门诊男性就诊者艾滋病相关行为特征及HIV感染状况 影响因素研究

目的 了解中国6省(区)15～90岁性病门诊男性就诊者的艾滋病知识知晓、艾滋病相关行为及HIV感染等状况,分析其HIV感染的影响因素.方法 根据全国艾滋病哨点监测实施方案(试行)操作手册的要求,汇总广西、广东、河南、四川、云南和江西6省(区)2009-2010年国家级性病门诊男性就诊者哨点监测数据.对上报数据进行“清洗”,剔除不合格数据后用SPSS18.0软件进行统计分析.结果 6省(区)共汇总性病门诊男性就诊者资料64 003份,15～49岁组55 220人,≥50岁组8783人(13.7％).两组人群的艾滋病知识总知晓率(69.6％vs.80.1％)、近3个月发生过商业性行为的比例(34.1％vs.36.6％)、近3个月发生过临时性行为的比例(18.7％vs.28.4％)、发生同性肛交性行为的比例(0.7％vs.1.4％)、最近一年做过HIV抗体检测的比例(14.3％vs.17.1％)均为≥50岁组低于15 ～ 49岁组.而≥50岁组HIV抗体阳性检出率高于15 ～49岁组(1.1％vs.0.7％).对≥50岁组多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,有固定性伴(OR=0.588,P=0.034)、发生过同性肛交性行为(OR=5.226,P=0.006)与HIV抗体阳性有关.结论 发生高危性行为(包括同性肛交性行为)是≥50岁性病门诊男性就诊者感染HIV的主要危险因素.     

Evaluation of a health promotion programme to prevent the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids among Swedish adolescents

The aim of this study was to design an appearance programme in order to prevent the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids among adolescents and to evaluate the adolescents' perception of this programme. The study was performed in all schools in a primary health care area on the south west coast of Sweden. The intervention targeted all 16- and 17-year-old males and females (n = 921). The intervention and evaluation were completed by 451 boys. The strategy of the appearance programme was to create awareness of and to discuss attitudes towards steroid hormones among these adolescents. Youth leaders and health workers, who discussed these subjects with adolescents over a period of 2 years, carried out the intervention programme. The perception of the programme was analysed anonymously using questionnaires. Effects on the total population of youths were assessed by two cross-sectional surveys. The intervention programme was well received by the adolescents. The misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids had a tendency to decrease after the appearance programme. We demonstrated a method for involving the community in an appearance programme to reduce misuse of anabolic steroids and showed that youth were sensitive to our discussions about appearance and attitudes. This study indicates that drug abuse among adolescents can be decreased by health promotion activities, such as group discussions. Controlled studies are needed before the results of this appearance programme can be generalized.