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Brainard J, Smith LE, Potts HWW, Rubin GJ. The relationship between age and sex partner counts during the mpox outbreak in the UK, 2022. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291001. [PMID: 37682827 PMCID: PMC10490899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the dynamics of an infectious disease outbreak linked to sexual activity requires valid expectations of likely counts of unique sex partners during the infectious period. Typically, age is the key demographic trait linked to expected partner count, with many transmission models removing adults from the sexually active pool abruptly at a pre-specified age threshold. Modelling the rate of decline in partner counts with age would benefit from a better description of empirical evidence. METHODS During the 2022 mpox epidemic in the UK, we asked individuals about their partner counts in the preceding three weeks, which is about the same as usual infectious period for persons with active mpox. We used negative binomial regression (all responses) and Weibull regression (non-zero responses) to analyse the relationship between age and partner counts, adjusted for other demographic data (such as education level and occupation), sub-dividing by three types of respondent: men who have sex with men (MSM), men who have sex with women, and women who have sex with men. RESULTS Most respondents had zero or one recent partner, all distributions were skewed. There was a relatively linear declining relationship between age and partner counts for heterosexual partnership groups, but a peak in partner counts and concurrency for MSMs in middle age years (age 35-54), especially for MSM who seemed to be in a highly sexually active subgroup. CONCLUSION Useful data were collected that can be used to describe sex partner counts during the British mpox epidemic and that show distinctive partner count relationships with age, dependent on partnership type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julii Brainard
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia Norwich, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Louise E. Smith
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry W. W. Potts
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - G. James Rubin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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2
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Wang N, Lan G, Zhu Q, Chen H, Huang J, Meng Q, Shen Z, Liang S, Wu X, Luo L, Ye R, Chen J, Tan S, Xing H, Shao Y, Ruan Y, Lin M. HIV Epidemiology, Care, and Treatment Outcomes Among Student and Nonstudent Youths Living With HIV in Southwest China Between 1996 and 2019: Historical Cohort Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e38881. [PMID: 36826980 PMCID: PMC10007008 DOI: 10.2196/38881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly one-third of new HIV infections occurred among youth in 2019 worldwide. Previous studies suggested that student youths living with HIV and nonstudent youths living with HIV might differ in some risk factors, transmission routes, HIV care, and disease outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the HIV epidemic, disease outcomes, and access to care among student and nonstudent youths living with HIV aged 16 to 25 years in Guangxi, China. METHODS We performed a historical cohort study by extracting data on all HIV or AIDS cases aged 16 to 25 years in Guangxi, China, during 1996-2019 from the Chinese Comprehensive Response Information Management System of HIV or AIDS. We conducted analyses to assess possible differences in demographic and behavioral characteristics, HIV care, and disease outcomes between student and nonstudent youths living with HIV. Multivariate Cox regression was used to assess differences in mortality and virologic failure between student and nonstudent cases. RESULTS A total of 13,839 youths aged 16 to 25 years were infected with HIV during 1996-2019. Among them, 10,202 cases were infected through sexual contact, most of whom were men (n=5507, 54%); 868 (8.5%) were students, and 9334 (91.5%) were not students. The number of student youths living with HIV was lower before 2006 but gradually increased from 2007 to 2019. In contrast, the nonstudent cases increased rapidly in 2005, then gradually declined after 2012. Student cases were mainly infected through homosexual contact (n=614, 70.7% vs n=1447, 15.5%; P<.001), while nonstudent cases were more likely to be infected through heterosexual contact (n=7887, 84.5% vs n=254, 29.3%; P<.001). Moreover, nonstudent cases had a significantly lower CD4 count than student cases at the time of HIV diagnosis (332 vs 362 cells/μL; P<.001). Nonstudents also had a delayed antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation compared to students (93 days vs 22 days; P<.001). Furthermore, the mortality rate of 0.4 and 1.0 deaths per 100 person-years were recorded for student and nonstudent youths with HIV, respectively. Overall, the mortality risk in nonstudent cases was 2.3 times that of student cases (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.2; P=.008). The virologic failure rate was 2.3 and 2.6 per 100 person-years among student and nonstudent youths living with HIV, respectively. Nonstudent cases had double the risk of virologic failure compared to student cases (AHR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.6; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Nonstudent youths living with HIV might face a low CD4 count at the time of HIV diagnosis, delayed ART initiation, and increased risk of death and virologic failure. Thus, HIV prevention and interventions should target youths who dropped out of school early to encourage safe sex and HIV screening, remove barriers to HIV care, and promote early ART initiation to curb the HIV epidemic among youths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China.,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Guanghua Lan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Qiuying Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Huanhuan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Jinghua Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Qin Meng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Zhiyong Shen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Shujia Liang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Xiuling Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Liuhong Luo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Rongyi Ye
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jinli Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Shengkui Tan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath, School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Hui Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhua Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Lin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Major Infectious Disease Prevention Control and Biosafety Emergency Response, Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
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3
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Leblanc NM, Crean HF, Dyer TP, Zhang C, Turpin R, Zhang N, Smith MDR, McMahon J, Nelson L. Ecological and Syndemic Predictors of Drug Use During Sex and Transactional Sex among U.S. Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Secondary Data Analysis from the HPTN 061 Study. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:2031-2047. [PMID: 33903969 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01871-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Threats to sexual health among U.S. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) may manifest in a context of social adverse experiences. Situational sex is one such context, which we characterize as sexual behaviors driven either by a desire to cultivate a specific sexual experience or attributable to social vulnerability. Two characterizations of situational sex explored in this study were drug use during sex and transactional sex. Guided by ecological and syndemic frameworks, we conducted a secondary data analysis of social conditions and sexual behaviors among a prospective cohort of Black MSM from the HIV Prevention Trial Network (HPTN) 061 study. Using structural equation modeling, this analysis examined the indirect effect of syndemic factors (substance use, depression, violence exposure) in the relationship between ecological constructs (anti-Black/homophobic stigma, childhood violence, and economic vulnerability) and situational sex (drug use during sex, transactional sex). Model fit indices, CFI (.870) and SRMR (.091), demonstrated reasonable fit. Significant indirect effects emerged via substance use for economic vulnerability (indirect effect = .181, 95% CI [.078, .294]) and anti-Black/homophobic violence and stigma (indirect effect = .061, 95% CI [.008, .121]) on drug use during sex; as well as on transactional sex (economic vulnerability indirect effect = .059, 95% CI [.018, .121] and anti-Black/homophobic stigma and violence indirect effect = .020, 95% CI [.003, .051]). Findings implicate the need for social and fiscal intervention to address upstream, ecological, and syndemic factors that influence inherent vulnerability of situational sex and overall threats to sexual health among Black MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Leblanc
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA.
| | - Hugh F Crean
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Typhanye P Dyer
- School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Rodman Turpin
- School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Nanhua Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Martez D R Smith
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - James McMahon
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - LaRon Nelson
- Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA
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4
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Starks TJ, Jones SS, Kyre K, Robles G, Cain D, Jimenez R, Stephenson R, Sullivan PS. Testing the drug use and condomless anal sex link among sexual minority men: The predictive utility of marijuana and interactions with relationship status. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 216:108318. [PMID: 33022531 PMCID: PMC7959658 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between drug use and condomless anal sex (CAS) is well documented among sexual minority men (SMM). Less is known about whether this association generalizes to marijuana and across relationship status and sexual agreements groups (single, partnered monogamous, partnered open -outside partners permitted, and partnered monogamish -outside partners permitted when main partners are together). METHODS A nationwide sample of SMM (N = 65,707) were recruited through a geosocial networking app between November 2017 and November 2019. Participants reported on drug use and instances of CAS with casual partners in the previous 30 days. RESULTS Both marijuana and club drug use were associated with the occurrence of CAS with casual partners among single men. Only club drug use was associated with CAS frequency in this group. The association between marijuana and the occurrence of CAS did not differ significantly among monogamous men, while the associations between club drug use and the occurrence as well as frequency of CAS were significantly weaker. Meanwhile, the associations between club drug use and the occurrence as well as frequency of CAS did not differ significantly between single and non-monogamous (open and monogamish) subgroups; however, the association between marijuana and the occurrence of CAS was significantly weaker. CONCLUSIONS Findings largely replicated the robust association between club drug use and CAS with casual partners. They support the assertion that marijuana use predicts sexual risk for some SMM subgroups. Finally, they illustrate the potential for relationship status - and sexual agreements - to contextualize associations between drug use and CAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrel J. Starks
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA,Doctoral Program in Health Psychology and Clinical Science, Graduate Center of CUNY, New York, NY, USA
| | - S. Scott Jones
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Kory Kyre
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriel Robles
- School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Demetria Cain
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruben Jimenez
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Rob Stephenson
- Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, and The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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5
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Mgbako O, Park SH, Callander D, Brinker DA, Kuhner C, Carrico AW, Rendina HJ, Duncan DT. Transactional sex, condomless anal sex, and HIV risk among men who have sex with men. Int J STD AIDS 2019; 30:795-801. [PMID: 31142221 DOI: 10.1177/0956462418823411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To understand the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men who engage in transactional sex (MSM-TS) in Paris, France, we sought to examine the association between engagement in transactional sex and HIV risk behaviors among MSM in Paris, France. Users of a geosocial-networking application in Paris were provided an anonymous web-based survey ( N = 580), which included questions about transactional sex and behavioral risk factors for HIV along with sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV status. Multivariate analyses showed that engagement in transactional sex was associated with condomless receptive and insertive anal intercourse (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.72 and aRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.04–1.91, respectively). MSM-TS were more likely to have engaged in substance use before or during sex (aRR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.13–1.62), to have participated in group sex (aRR = 1.37, CI = 1.13–1.62), and to have had an STI during the last year (aRR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.16–2.45). Transactional sex was not associated with HIV status. MSM-TS in Paris engaged in higher HIV risk behaviors, however, did not have higher rates of HIV infection. Sexual health interventions should continue to target MSM-TS; however, future studies should characterize the social, cultural, and structural factors that interact with individual behaviors to elevate HIV risk for MSM-TS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofole Mgbako
- 1 Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,2 Department of Population Health, Spatial Epidemiology Lab, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Su H Park
- 2 Department of Population Health, Spatial Epidemiology Lab, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denton Callander
- 3 The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Adam W Carrico
- 5 Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - H Jonathon Rendina
- 6 Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dustin T Duncan
- 2 Department of Population Health, Spatial Epidemiology Lab, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Prescott MR, Hern J, Petersen M, Santos GM. Does HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Modify the Effect of Partnership Characteristics on Condom Use? A Cross-Sectional Study of Sexual Partnerships Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in San Francisco, California. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2019; 33:167-174. [PMID: 30932698 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2018.0179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States among men who have sex with men (MSM) have raised concerns that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been associated with higher engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI). While partnership characteristics have previously been found to influence condom use, the extent to which PrEP use may modify their effect on CAI remains unknown. A secondary analysis of 535 sexual partnerships from a cross-sectional study in San Francisco was conducted to evaluate interactions between PrEP use and partnership characteristics on CAI. Bivariate and multivariate generalized estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression models were used to estimate relative measures of association, adjusted for confounding by seroconcordance and partnership type, as well as account for repeated partnerships per respondent. Partnerships where both partners used biomedical prevention had significantly greater odds of CAI [odds ratio (OR) = 5.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.27-11.9] compared to those where only one partner used biomedical prevention, while those where neither partner used biomedical prevention had significantly lower odds of CAI (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40-0.93). There was no significant association between meeting place (online vs. offline) and sexual risk taking (OR = 1.03, p = 0.894). Having one partner disclose their HIV status (compared to neither partner having disclosed) was associated with significantly higher odds of CAI among partnerships of PrEP-using MSM [adjusted OR (aOR) = 5.28, 95% CI: 1.91-14.61], while the association was not significant among the partnerships of non-PrEP-using MSM (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.75-2.21). Differences in condom use among MSM using PrEP may not be well explained by differences in the effect of partnership characteristics. MSM using PrEP appear to commonly practice biomedical matching and high engagement in CAI with other biomedical prevention users, which could indicate relatively concentrated sexual networks and partly explain their disproportionate risk for STIs. Future studies should further investigate biomedical matching to develop interventions that further promote the sexual health of those using PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximo R. Prescott
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Center for Public Health Research, San Francisco, California
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Jaclyn Hern
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Center for Public Health Research, San Francisco, California
| | - Maya Petersen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California
| | - Glenn-Milo Santos
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Center for Public Health Research, San Francisco, California
- Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California
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7
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Frank K. Rethinking Risk, Culture, and Intervention in Collective Sex Environments. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:3-30. [PMID: 29748787 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1153-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This article provides a narrative overview of research on HIV/STI risk and collective sexual behavior based on an inclusive analysis of research on environments where people gather for sexual activity-sex clubs, swingers' clubs, bathhouses, parks, private sex parties, etc. The aim is to analyze how collective sex has been approached across disciplines to promote conversation across paradigms and suggest new lines of inquiry. Attention to context-such as the location of sex-was a necessary redress to universalizing models of sexual risk-taking behavior, leading to insights rooted in the particularities of each environment and its users. However, the identification of ever more precise risk groups or environmental idiosyncrasies eventually becomes theoretically restrictive, leading to an overestimation of the uniqueness of sexual enclaves, and of the difference between any given enclave and the broader social milieu. Using a theoretical framework of transgression to interpret the interdisciplinary literature, similarities in the spatial and social organization of collective sex environments are identified. Insights generated from this complementary perspective are then applied to understandings of collective sex: first, the example of male-female (MF) "swingers" is used to illustrate the need to establish, rather than assume, the distinctiveness of each non-normative sexual enclave, and to broaden the conceptualization of context; second, questions are raised about the practicality of interventions in collective sex environments. Finally, new lines of intellectual inquiry are suggested to shed light not just on collective sex but on sociosexual issues more generally, such as increasing protective sexual health behavior or negotiating consent in sexual encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Frank
- Department of Sociology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89557, USA.
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8
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Przybyla SM, Krawiec G, Godleski SA, Crane CA. Meta-Analysis of Alcohol and Serodiscordant Condomless Sex Among People Living with HIV. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:1351-1366. [PMID: 28975477 PMCID: PMC7864120 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
While observational studies have found that alcohol consumption is associated with serodiscordant condomless sex among people living with HIV (PLHIV), no meta-analysis has yet examined this trend. We conducted a meta-analysis to synthesize empirical evidence on the association between alcohol and condomless sex with partners at risk of HIV acquisition. To meet inclusion criteria, studies: (1) specifically targeted PLHIV or provided stratified data for HIV-infected participants; (2) provided a quantitative measure of alcohol use; (3) provided a quantitative measure of condomless sex with serodiscordant partners; and (4) reported the results of statistical tests examining the relationship between alcohol use and serodiscordant condomless sex. Using random-effects models, weighted effect sizes were calculated. Three separate analyses were conducted to examine serodiscordant condomless sex in association with any alcohol consumption, binge/problematic drinking, and alcohol in a sexual context. A total of 36 independent effect sizes from 27 studies (including 25,065 HIV-infected participants) were pooled in the meta-analysis. Any alcohol consumption, binge/problematic drinking, and alcohol use in a sexual context were each associated with condomless sex with serodiscordant partners [OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.46-1.85); OR 1.65 (95% CI 1.14-2.39); OR 2.88 (95% CI 2.01-4.12), respectively]. Meta-analytic findings demonstrate a consistent positive relationship between alcohol use and serodiscordant condomless sex among PLHIV. Future public health programming for HIV-infected individuals needs to address the role of alcohol consumption in sexual risk-taking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarahmona M Przybyla
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
| | - Gabriela Krawiec
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | | | - Cory A Crane
- Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
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9
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Goldenberg T, Darbes LA, Stephenson R. Inter-partner and Temporal Variations in the Perception of Sexual Risk for HIV. AIDS Behav 2018; 22:1870-1884. [PMID: 28831758 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1876-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study uses longitudinal qualitative methods to examine how gay and bisexual men perceive sexual risk across both a variety of partners and across time. Over ten weeks, participants completed three quantitative personal relationship diaries (PRD) describing sexual encounters during that time period. Participants then completed a timeline-based individual in-depth interview to unpack the PRD data. Participants used multiple factors to determine their own sexual risk (e.g., type of sex, partner concurrency, emotional connections), which often resulted in inconsistencies in defining sexual risk and determining the level of risk both within and across partners and across time. These findings can inform HIV prevention messages and programming.
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10
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Koff A, Goldberg C, Ogbuagu O. Condomless sex and HIV transmission among serodifferent couples: current evidence and recommendations. Ann Med 2017; 49:534-544. [PMID: 28409656 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2017.1320423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a global pandemic. The primary driver of HIV incidence is sexual transmission between serodifferent individuals. Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are effective at preventing sexually transmitted HIV infections and are considered an integral component of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention. However, the demonstrated effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent HIV transmission, known as treatment as prevention and of pre-exposure prophylaxis, have raised an intriguing dilemma on the necessity and additive preventive benefit of condom use among individuals in serodifferent relationships utilizing these prevention strategies. Recent published evidence, although of limited follow-up duration, has shown no linked HIV transmissions with condomless sex among serodifferent couples where the infected partner was on ART and virologically suppressed. This paper will review the evidence surrounding HIV transmission risk among serodifferent couples with and without the use of condoms and will highlight factors that increase or attenuate this risk. It will also address the important benefits that condomless sex offers couples. This paper aims to provide a template for providers to have personalized discussions with their patients, particularly those with an HIV-positive sexual partner, around their individual risk of HIV transmission and the role of condom use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Koff
- a Department of Medicine , Norwalk Hospital , Norwalk , CT , USA
| | - Carole Goldberg
- b Department of Mental Health and Counselling , Yale School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA
| | - Onyema Ogbuagu
- c Section of Infectious Diseases , Yale School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA
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11
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Cruess DG, Burnham KE, Finitsis DJ, Cherry C, Grebler T, Goshe BM, Strainge L, Kalichman MO, Kalichman SC. Online Partner Seeking and Sexual Risk Among HIV+ Gay and Bisexual Men: A Dialectical Perspective. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:1079-1087. [PMID: 27671781 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-016-0833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 07/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
For almost two decades, researchers have explored the relationship between online partner seeking (OPS) and HIV/STI transmission risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay- and bisexual-identified men. A dichotomy has emerged with some findings that OPS is associated with greater sexual risk behavior, and a sparser but emerging literature that men may use OPS for sexual risk reduction. This study examined the association between proportion of partners met online and sexual risk behavior in a sample of 170 HIV-positive gay- and bisexual-identified men. Participants completed assessments including psychosocial factors and a comprehensive assessment of sexual behavior, including total number of male partners, and condomless insertive and receptive anal sex with HIV-negative/unknown serostatus partners or HIV-positive male partners. Our findings support taking a dialectical stance and indicate that OPS may impact risk differently given different individual and contextual circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean G Cruess
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA.
| | - Kaylee E Burnham
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - David J Finitsis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Chauncey Cherry
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Tamar Grebler
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Brett M Goshe
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Lauren Strainge
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Moira O Kalichman
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Seth C Kalichman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd., Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, Storrs, CT, USA
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Factors Associated with Sexual Risk of HIV Transmission Among HIV-Positive Latino Men Who have Sex with Men on the U.S.-México Border. AIDS Behav 2017; 21:923-934. [PMID: 27278549 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1449-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We present results from a cross-sectional, clinic-based survey of border-region Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and who also are living with HIV in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez area. Among the 66 participants who reported serodiscordant anal or vaginal intercourse, we examined levels of psychological distress and substance use and the association of these variables with condomless sex. Bivariate analyses indicated that MSM who reported condomless sex with a serodiscordant partner were more likely to report higher scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and trauma. These men were also more likely to report more days of alcohol use to the point of intoxication. In multivariate logistic regression, no variables were independently associated with sexual risk behavior, but symptoms of anxiety trended toward statistical significance. Our study is one of few reports aimed at understanding the HIV epidemic among Latino MSM living with HIV in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez border region. Although we found no evidence of a relation between our measures of psychological distress and substance use and sexual risk behavior in multivariate analyses, psychological distress and problematic alcohol use were common in the sample and are important targets for intervention in their own right.
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13
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Closson K, Lachowsky NJ, Cui Z, Shurgold S, Sereda P, Rich A, Moore DM, Roth EA, Hogg RS. Does age matter? Sexual event-level analysis of age-disparate sexual partners among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Vancouver, Canada. Sex Transm Infect 2016; 93:332-341. [PMID: 27852641 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-052721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine factors associated with age-disparate sexual partners among Vancouver gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM). METHODS Sexually active GBM aged ≥16 years were recruited from February 2012 to February 2014. Participants self-completed a questionnaire on demographics, attitudes and sexual behaviour and substance use at last sexual event with five most recent partners. Two generalised linear mixed models identified factors associated with: (1) 'same-age' (referent), 'younger' or 'much-younger' and (2) 'same-age' (referent), 'older' or 'much-older' partners. Statistical interactions between age and HIV status were tested. RESULTS Participants (n=719) were predominantly gay (85.1%), White (75.0%), HIV-negative/unknown status (72.9%) with median age of 33 years (Q1,Q3: 26,47). A minority of sexual events were reported with much-older/much-younger partners (13.7%). In the multivariable models, GBM reporting older partners were more likely to be Asian or Latino, have greater Escape Motivation scores, report their partner used erectile dysfunction drugs (EDDs) and have received something for sex; compared with condom-protected insertive anal sex, participants with older partners were more likely to report condomless insertive anal sex with a serodiscordant or unknown status partner or no insertive anal sex. GBM reporting older partners were less likely to be bisexual-identified, have given something for sex and report event-level alcohol and EDD use. GBM reporting younger partners were more likely to have annual incomes >$30 000 and have met their partner online. As per significant statistical interactions, age-disparate relations were more common for younger HIV-positive and older HIV-negative GBM. CONCLUSIONS Differences among age-disparate partners highlight important targets for health promotion and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Closson
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - N J Lachowsky
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.,School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Addictions Research British Columbia, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Z Cui
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
| | - S Shurgold
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
| | - P Sereda
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
| | - A Rich
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
| | - D M Moore
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - E A Roth
- Centre for Addictions Research British Columbia, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - R S Hogg
- Epidemiology and Population Health, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.,Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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