Deferral from donating blood of men who have sex with men: impact on the risk of HIV transmission by transfusion in France

Background In France, men who have sex with men (MSM) are permanently excluded from blood donation. This policy is felt to be discriminatory by MSM activists. Furthermore, the policy is not fully respected because some MSM do not report their sexual behaviour before donating. Methods We estimated the fraction of the current risk of HIV attributed to MSM. We then constructed a model based on data obtained from behavioural and epidemiological surveys to assess the impact of a new strategy in which MSM would only be deferred if they report more than one sexual partner in the last 12 months. Results Thirty‐one HIV seroconversions occurred among repeat donors between 2006 and 2008, giving a risk of one in 2 440 000 donations. Fifteen of these seroconversions (48%) were MSM. If all MSM had abstained from donating blood, the risk would have been 1 in 4 700 000 donations, half the current risk. The new strategy would result in an overall HIV risk of between 1 in 3 000 000 (close to the current risk) to 1 in 650 000 donations (3·7 times higher than the current risk). Conclusions Changing the current MSM deferral policy may increase the risk of transfusion–transmission of HIV. However, this does not take into account a possible better compliance with MSM with a less stringent policy that would be perceived as more equitable. Conversely, relaxing the policy could encourage some MSM to seek an HIV test in blood centres. Thus, further qualitative study is needed to assess possible changes in compliance linked to a new policy.     

A re-evaluation of the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV prevented by the exclusion of men who have sex with men from blood donation in England and Wales, 2005-2007

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES One component of the rationale for lifetime exclusion of men who have sex with men (MSM) from blood donation in the UK is the probable reduction in the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV; this exclusion has recently been questioned. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data about HIV in blood donors and MSM were analysed to estimate the risk of infectious donations entering the blood supply under different scenarios of donor selection criteria (and donor compliance) for MSM and a heterosexual group with increased risk of HIV. RESULTS In 2005-2007, a change from lifetime exclusion of MSM to 5-year deferral or no deferral increased the point estimate of HIV risk by between 0·4% and 7·4% depending on compliance with the deferral (range -4% to 15%) and 26·5% (range 18% to 43%) respectively. A change from a 12-month deferral of the high-risk heterosexual group to lifetime exclusion reduced the estimated risk by about 7·2% (range 6% to 9%). Each point estimate was within the probable range of risk under the current criteria. CONCLUSION If prevalence is the only factor affected by a reduced deferral, then the increased risk of HIV is probably negligible. However, the impact of a change depends on compliance; if this stays the same or worsens, the risk is expected to increase because of more incident infections in MSM who donate blood. The risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV could probably be reduced further by improving compliance with any exclusion, particularly after recent risk behaviours.     

Improving HIV medical care engagement by attending to status disclosure and social support

ABSTRACT

Expeditious linkage and consistent engagement in medical care is important for people with HIV’s (PWH) health. One theory on fostering linkage and engagement involves HIV status disclosure to mobilize social support. To assess disclosure and social support’s association with linkage and engagement, we conducted a qualitative study sampling black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM of color) in the U.S. Participants' narratives presented mixed results. For instance, several participants who reported delaying, inconsistent access, or detachment from care also reported disclosing for support purposes, yet sporadic engagement suggests that their disclosure or any subsequent social support have not assisted. The findings contribute to the literature that questions disclosure and social support’s influence on care engagement, especially when decontextualized from circumstances and intentions. Our findings suggest the mechanics of disclosure and social support require planned implementation if intending to affect outcomes, especially among MSM of color. From the findings, we explore steps that may bolster interventions seeking to anchor medical care engagement.     

HIV vulnerabilities and coercive sex at same-sex sexual debut among men who have sex with men in Beijing,China

Few studies have examined coercive sex and HIV vulnerabilities among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. The present study seeks to compare individual characteristics between MSM who did and did not experience coercive sex at their MSM sexual debut and to identify HIV risk factors correlated with coercive sex at MSM sexual debut. In 2007, we recruited 167 MSM in Beijing, China by peer-referred social network sampling. Each participant then completed self-administered questionnaires regarding their sexual experiences and practices. Results show that 14% of participants reported coercive sex at MSM sexual debut, of whom 48% reported recent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Coercive sex at MSM sexual debut was significantly associated with UAI [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.95–14.87] and lifetime number of male sex partners (AOR: 7.25, 95% CI: 2.39–22.01). Coercive sex is harming MSM in China and should be immediately addressed by researchers, public health officials, and MSM community stakeholders.     

Partner Awareness of the Serostatus of HIV-Seropositive Men Who Have Sex With Men: Impact on Unprotected Sexual Behavior

Prior research has provided conflicting evidence about the association between partner awareness of an HIV-seropositive persons serostatus and HIV transmission behavior via unprotected intercourse. The current study examined partner awareness of participant HIV-seropositive status and sexual behavior in a multiethnic sample of HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men. Most HIV-seropositive men reported that their primary partners are aware, and most reported that at least some non-primary partners are aware the participant was HIV-seropositive before first having sex. Partner awareness of participant HIV-serostatus was related to unprotected sexual behavior during the past 3 months in a non-linear fashion, as men with partners who were inconsistently aware had higher rates of unprotected receptive anal intercourse than men with partners who were consistently aware or consistently unaware. Men with partners who were inconsistently aware also had higher rates of insertive oral intercourse than men with partners who were consistently aware. However, there were no differences in HIV transmission risk behavior between men with partners who were consistently aware and men with partners who were consistently unaware a participant was HIV-seropositive.     

Evaluation of an HIV Prevention Intervention for Men Who Have Sex with Men at Cruising Areas in the Netherlands

This study collected data from 362 men who had sex with men at cruising areas in the Netherlands, and measured characteristics of respondents, sexual risk behavior, and risk perceptions. Furthermore, the study assessed whether outreach activities at cruising areas promote safe sex behavior. Almost one in five respondents reported having sex with both men and women, and 18.5% of respondents reported sexual risk behavior at cruising areas. Men who had a conversation about safe sex with a volunteer used condoms more consistently than men who had not spoken with a volunteer. Finally, it was found that behaviorally bisexual men used condoms less frequently at cruising areas. The relatively high levels of risk-taking sex stress the importance of HIV prevention at cruising areas. Furthermore, special attention could be given to cruising area visitors who have sex with both men and women, because they report higher levels of risk behavior and have less access to safer sex information regarding homosexual behavior.     

86名男性性工作者AIDS相关情况调查

目的了解男性性工作者（MSW）的基本情况和艾滋病（AIDS）相关情况,探索适合在该人群中开展AIDS宣传教育和行为干预的模式,为今后的工作提供科学依据.方法在知情同意、保密和无伤害的原则下,采用个别访谈、填写调查问卷、发放健康就诊卡、敦促其到指定医院进行健康体检和免费咨询等方法,了解其基本情况和AIDS相关情况,用SPSS11.0对调查结果进行统计学分析.结果（1）在同意调查的86名MSW中,69名参加了调查问卷,其中年龄最小的17岁,最大的28岁,平均21.35岁;具有高中文化水平的＞50%;84.1%未婚.（2）愿接受艾滋病知识教育者占75.4%,获得艾滋病知识的途径来自报纸、杂志（55.1%）,电视、广播（37.7%）,医院、诊所（31.9%）;性生活的频率普遍偏高,1周内≥3～7次的占34.8%;安全套的使用率很低,最近一次性生活安全套使用率为23.2%;存在不同形式的吸毒现象.（3）86名MSW性病/艾滋病检测,查出梅毒5人,HIV抗体均为阴性.结论MSW人群具有更多的艾滋病传播危险因素,有关部门应提高重视程度,对他们应加强性病艾滋病教育和干预,提高其艾滋病知晓率和安全套使用率.     

Challenges in Research on Drug and Sexual Risk Practices of Men Who Have Sex with Men: Applications of Ethnography in HIV Epidemiology and Prevention

Epidemiological studies of persons who engage in illicit or illegal activities suffer from methodological difficulties in population definition and specification. Additionally, particularly in the context of HIV research, studies often lack the specificity and validity needed to understand and intervene in the behavioral practices by which viral pathogens such as HIV are transmitted. These limitations are particularly complicated in research among populations of drug-involved, men who have sex with men (DU/MSM), a hidden but internally diverse population which varies in both sexual behavior and drug use patterns across a number of complex and interacting dimensions. The challenges become even more profound when we factor in complexities of sexual identity and identity formation, the debilitating effects of multiple sources of stigma, and the economic imperatives that underpin drug and sexual risk practices among some groups of DU/MSM. This paper describes some of the uses of ethnographic methods, particularly participant-observation, in specifying the nature and interrelationship between risk practices among DU/MSM. We also show how ethnography can contribute to the process of disentangling the independent effects of age, period, and cohort factors, a perennial problem in epidemiological research in out-of-treatment populations.