Barriers,Motivators, and Facilitators to Engagement in HIV Care Among HIV-Infected Ghanaian Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM)

In Ghana, men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a high burden of HIV. Identifying factors that influence engagement in HIV care among HIV-infected Ghanaian MSM is critical to devising novel interventions and strengthening existing programs aimed at improving outcomes across the HIV care continuum. Consequently, we conducted an exploratory qualitative research study with 30 HIV-infected Ghanaian MSM between May 2015 and July 2015. Common barriers were fear of being seen in HIV-related health facility, financial difficulties, and health system challenges. Major motivators for engagement in care included social support, fear of mortality from HIV, and knowledge of effectiveness of HIV treatment. Key facilitators were enrollment in health insurance, prior relationship and familiarity with hospital personnel, and positive experience in healthcare setting. Our findings highlight the need for new and innovative care delivery mediums, affirming and competent healthcare providers, and increased access to health insurance.     

Factors Associated with HIV Testing History and Returning for HIV Test Results Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Thailand

We evaluated factors associated with HIV testing history and returning for HIV test results among 2,049 Thai men who have sex with men. Of men, 50.3% reported prior HIV testing and 24.9% returned for HIV test results. Factors associated with prior HIV testing were male sex work, older age, employed, living away from the family, insertive anal sex role, history of drug use and having heard of effective HIV/AIDS treatment. Factors associated with returning for HIV test results were male sex work, older age, lack of a family confidant, history of sexually transmitted infections, and testing HIV negative in this study.     

HIV and Syphilis Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in 4 Cities in China

To know the status of HIV and syphilis infection, and the correlates for HIV and syphilis prevalence among YMSM in China. 150 YMSM were recruited in Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou and Chengdu respectively and investigated with questionnaire, HIV and syphilis testing. The prevalence of HIV infection, syphilis infection and concurrent infection of HIV and syphilis was 6.7, 8.3, 1.5% respectively. HIV infection was associated with numerous factors including education level of high school, not being student, etc. Syphilis infection was associated with not being student and having had vaginal intercourse. The prevalence of HIV and Syphilis are high among YMSM in cities in China. Preventive interventions should be developed for controlling HIV spreading among YMSM urgently.     

HIV Knowledge and Beliefs Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Five hundred men who have sex with men (MSM), recruited through respondent driven sampling in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were interviewed in order to assess knowledge and beliefs about HIV infection. The mean proportion of HIV correct knowledge answers was 62 %; however participants whose sexual partners in the prior year included women (MSM&W) had lower frequencies of correct answers than participants with no women partners. Men with previous HIV testing experience and those who were HIV positive had higher HIV knowledge. In relation to HIV beliefs, less than half of participants responded correctly to each of the scenarios presented. Accurate answers for all items were more likely among those who only have sex with men. Men have basic HIV knowledge but also many misconceptions about transmission and prevention. Furthermore, MSM&W have less information than those who are exclusively MSM, probably related to the fact that information campaigns specifically targeted gay identified men.     

Assessing Priorities for Combination HIV Prevention Research for Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Africa

A consultation was hosted in South Africa (March 2011) to assess the combination HIV prevention research priorities of academics, implementers and MSM community leaders. Sixty-nine participants, representing 17 African countries, participated. Interactive strategies were used to present current data on HIV interventions and discussions on research possibilities were facilitated with research priorities identified using the nominal group technique. Data were analysed using directed content analysis. Health worker training, social mobilisation, and community engagement were prioritised as structural interventions. Comprehensive counselling was identified as the most important behavioural intervention, with adherence, mental health, and risk reduction counselling identified as key counselling topics. Rectal microbicides, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and condom and lubricant distribution were the most important biomedical interventions. This consultation resulted in the first combination HIV prevention research agenda for MSM in Africa. Outcomes will inform future research and be used to advocate for combination approaches to HIV prevention for MSM.     

HIV Risk Behavior Among HIV-Infected Men Who have Sex with Men in Bangkok, Thailand

We assessed prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STIs), sexual risk behaviors, and factors associated with risk behaviors among HIV-infected MSM attending a public STI clinic serving MSM in Bangkok, Thailand. Between October 2005–October 2007, 154 HIV-infected MSM attending the clinic were interviewed about sexual risk behaviors and evaluated for STIs. Patients were examined for genital ulcers and had serologic testing for syphilis and PCR testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Results showed that sexual intercourse in the last 3?months was reported by 131 men. Of these, 32% reported anal sex without a condom. STIs were diagnosed in 41%. Factors associated with having sex without a condom were having a steady male partner, having a female partner and awareness of HIV status <1?month. Sexual risk behaviors and STIs were common among HIV-infected MSM in this study. This highlights the need for increased HIV prevention strategies for HIV-infected MSM.     

Social Media Technologies for HIV Prevention Study Retention Among Minority Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

This brief report describes results on study retention among minority men who have sex with men (MSM) from a 12-week, social networking-based, HIV prevention trial with 1-year follow-up. Participants, primarily minority MSM, were recruited using online and offline methods and randomly assigned to a Facebook (intervention or control) group. Participants completed a baseline survey and were asked to complete two follow-up surveys (12-week follow-up and 1-year post-intervention). 94 % of participants completed the first two surveys and over 82 % completed the baseline and both post-intervention surveys. Participants who spent a greater frequency of time online had almost twice the odds of completing all surveys. HIV negative participants, compared to those who were HIV positive, had over 25 times the odds of completing all surveys. HIV prevention studies on social networking sites can yield high participant retention rates.     

HIV Prevalence and Sexual Risk Behaviors Associated with Awareness of HIV Status Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Paris, France

A cross-sectional survey, using self-sampled finger-prick blood on blotting paper and anonymous behavioral self-administrated questionnaires was conducted in Paris in 2009 among MSM attending gay venues. Paired biological results and questionnaires were available for 886 participants. HIV seroprevalence was 17.7 % (95 % CI: 15.3–20.4). Four groups were identified according to their knowledge of their HIV biological status. Among the 157 found to be seropositive, 31 (19.7 %) were unaware of their status and reported high levels of sexual risk behaviors and frequent HIV testing in the previous 12 months. Among the 729 MSM diagnosed HIV-negative, 183 were no longer sure whether they were still HIV-negative, or had never been tested despite the fact that they engaged in at-risk sexual behaviors. This study provides the first estimate of HIV seroprevalence among MSM in Paris and underlines the specific need for combined prevention of HIV infection in this MSM population.     

HIV Prevention Among Cisgender Men Who have Sex with Transgender Women

AIDS and Behavior - Cisgender men who have sex with transgender women face elevated risk for HIV, yet are understudied in prevention research. We conducted in-depth interviews with 19 men who have...     

HIV Risk and Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Peri-Urban Townships in Cape Town,South Africa

Current guidelines on HIV prevention for MSM emphasise the need for ‘combination prevention’ based on context-specific understandings of HIV risk. MSM in South Africa are a population with a high risk of HIV infection, however there is little research available on the drivers of this risk. In the context of a focus on combination prevention, this paper argues that effective HIV prevention for MSM in South Africa requires an understanding of the factors at multiple ‘distances’ from individuals that contribute to HIV risk. Based on qualitative research with MSM in Cape Town, South Africa, we situate HIV risk using a socio-ecological framework and identify factors at distal, proximal, and personal, levels that contribute to MSM’s high risk of HIV infection. By understanding the interactions and linkages between risk environments and the risk situations in which HIV is transmitted, HIV prevention programmes will be more effectively able to address the multiple drivers of HIV risk in this population.     

Risk Factors Associated with HIV Among Men Who Have Sex Only with Men and Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women in Three Urban Areas in Mozambique

Using respondent-driven sampling (RDS), an integrated biological behavioral survey among men that have sex with men (MSM) enrolled 457 participants in Maputo [63.0 % were MSM who had sex with women (MSMW)], 538 in Beira (36.2 % MSMW) and 330 in Nampula-Nacala (54.8 % MSMW) in 2011. Analysis suggests that MSM who have sex only with men (MSMO) had increased odds of having HIV (aOR 2.7) compared to MSMW. HIV among MSMO associated with age, self-reported STI (aOR 4.2), having a single male anal partner (aOR 3.8) and having transactional sex with a man (aOR 3.5) in the past year. Among MSMW, HIV associated with age, lower education (aOR 32.5), being uncircumcised (aOR 3.1) and having transactional sex with a woman (aOR 6.0) in the past year. Findings confirm that MSMO and MSMW have distinct HIV risks in Mozambique; HIV programs for MSM in Southern Africa should take such differences into consideration.     

Rising HIV Prevalence Among Married and Unmarried Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Jinan, China

We report on two waves of bio-behavioral surveillance of MSM in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. HIV prevalence rose from 0.05% in 2007 to 3.1% in 2008. Differences in the two waves of surveys were noted, particularly with respect to marital status, requiring stratified analysis. In multivariable analysis, unmarried, homosexually identified MSM who do not have female sex partners have a greater than sixfold greater chance of being infected with HIV compared to married, non-homosexually identified MSM who do have female partners. Carefully targeted and population-specific messages will be needed for homosexually identified and non-identified MSM in China.     

Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in Taiwan: Its Association With HIV Prevalence, Awareness of HIV Status, and Use of Antiretroviral Therapy

To understand how awareness of HIV-positivity and the use of antiretroviral therapy associated with syphilis infection, 361 MSM attending 16 Hong-Pa (drug-and-sex parties) in Taiwan were studied. The syphilis rate of individuals within their first 2 years after HIV diagnosis (awareness) was lower than that in individuals who had not been diagnosed HIV infection prior to Hong-Pa (unawareness) (Adj OR = 0.24, P < 0.05). Notably, there was a decrease in the beneficial effect of HIV-positive status awareness on syphilis prevention with an increase in time since notification. Moreover, antiretroviral therapy was not associated with a lower incidence of syphilis, and syphilis infection peaked during the treatment dropout period. In conclusion, the duration of a protective effect of knowing one’s HIV-positivity against syphilis infection was short, and the highest risk of syphilis infection was observed when patients discontinued antiretroviral therapy. Future research should examine the behavioral mechanisms involved in this prevention failure.     

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with HIV Infection Among Men Having Sex with Men in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

To learn more about risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam and their prevalence of HIV, we conducted a study among MSM in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to determine HIV-1 prevalence and behaviors associated with infection. This consisted of formative (35 MSM) and cross-sectional (600 MSM) studies at 72 sites, including 75 transvestites, 55 bisexuals, 10 sex workers, and 460 other MSM. Only 5.3% cohabited with a wife/girlfriend, but 30% reported ever having sex with a female. Prevalence of HIV was 8%, ranging from 33% in sex workers to 7% among transvestites and other MSM. Injecting drugs, selling sex, being 20–40 years old, having less than 6 years of education, and having more than five male anal sex partners in the past month were associated with being HIV-infected. MSM are an HIV bridge group, and should be included in sentinel surveillance. Targeted interventions should be implemented.     

Awareness and Acceptability of Pre-exposure HIV Prophylaxis Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Baltimore

This paper assessed characteristics associated with awareness of and willingness to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Baltimore men who have sex with men (MSM). We used data from BESURE-MSM3, a venue-based cross-sectional HIV surveillance study conducted among MSM in 2011. Multivariate regression was used to identify characteristics associated with PrEP knowledge and acceptability among 399 participants. Eleven percent had heard of PrEP, 48% would be willing to use PrEP, and none had previously used it. In multivariable analysis, black race and perceived discrimination against those with HIV were significantly associated with decreased awareness, and those who perceived higher HIV discrimination reported higher acceptability of PrEP. Our findings indicate a need for further education about the potential utility of PrEP in addition to other prevention methods among MSM. HIV prevention efforts should address the link between discrimination and potential PrEP use, especially among men of color.     

Vengeance,Condomless Sex and HIV Disclosure Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV

Vengeance has been shown to be a risk factor for HIV nondisclosure. Research examining the associations between vengeance, condomless sex, and HIV nondisclosure is lacking. The aim of the current study was to explore the association between vengeance, condomless sex and disclosure (behavior, attitude and intention) among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Participants included 266 MSM who were a part of a disclosure intervention study. Men were recruited from local and state AIDS service organizations (ASOs), HIV-related venues and forums, and at local eating and drinking establishments in Tampa, Florida, and Columbus and Dayton, Ohio metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Advertisements were also placed in local daily newspapers. Vengeance was operationalized into three groups based on percentiles (least, more, and most vengeful) and as a continuous variable. Crude and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between vengeance and condomless sex in the past 30 days. Simple and multiple linear regression models were used to determine the association between vengeance and HIV disclosure. After adjusting for demographic and geographic characteristics, participants who were “most vengeful” had, on average, an approximate six-point decrease (β: ?5.46; 95% CI ?9.55, ?1.36) in disclosure intention compared to MSM who were “least vengeful.” Prevention and intervention programs geared towards improving disclosure among MSM should address vengeance.