Individual, interpersonal, and situational factors influencing HIV and other STI risk perception among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: a qualitative study

Investigating the Invisible: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Testing the Entertainment-Education Model to Provide a PrEP Education Intervention to Kink-Involved Populations

A growing proportion of the global population engages in alternative sexual behaviors and relationships, which are commonly grouped and known as kink or BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, sadism-masochism). Mainstream stigma and provider pathologizing of these behaviors and relationships may make kink-involved populations reticent to seek health care treatment. Moreover, some kink activities appear to expose kink-involved people to higher risks for HIV infection. To date, no studies have explored HIV risk prevention interventions for kink-involved people. The proposed study seeks to address the absence by describing a study designed to address HIV risk prevention with PrEP for this understudied and neglected population by testing an educational-entertainment intervention designed to focus on kink specifically. Using a repeated-measures randomized experimental methodology, this study proposes to include data collection and exposure to intervention materials at 3-month intervals over 12 months.

Mpox risk perception and associated factors among Chinese young men who have sex with men: Results from a large cross-sectional survey

The mpox outbreak since 2022 had attacked the community of men who have sex with men (MSM) heavily. This large cross-sectional study investigated the levels and associated factors of mpox risk perception among young MSM (YMSM) aged 18-29 years in six provincial regions of China in September 2022. The participants were recruited via facility-based sampling. Mpox risk perception was measured by perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of mpox. Geodetector was used to measure stratified heterogeneity of mpox risk perception. Univariate and multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the factors associated with mpox risk perception. A total of 2493 participants were included with a mean age of 24.6 years. The proportion of perceiving a susceptibility of mpox under different scenarios ranged 3.7%-17.0% and that of perceiving a severity of mpox ranged 81.6%-83.2%. Stratified heterogeneity of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and overall perceived risk of mpox were observed in several characteristics such as study sites, monthly income, risk behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Multivariable regression showed the level of mpox risk perception was positively associated with having in-person gathering activities (ba  = 0.457, 95% CI: 0.208, 0.705), history of HIV infection (ba  = 0.431, 95% CI: 0.028, 0.834), depressive symptoms (ba  = 0.069, 95% CI: 0.049, 0.090), and self-stigma to MSM identity (ba  = 0.047, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.071). The Chinese YMSM showed a high level of perceived severity of mpox but a low level of perceived susceptibility. It is warranted to strengthen targeted risk communication of mpox, develop comprehensive and unstigmatized health messages, and provide mental health support for YMSM.

Patterns of Event-Level Concurrent Substance Use During Sex Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Metro Vancouver

This study identified patterns of sexualized substance use among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) and examined associated risk factors for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI). Data were from a longitudinal cohort recruited using respondent-driven sampling between Feb-2017 and Feb-2019. Participants reported on events with up to five of their most recent sexual partners. Latent class analysis examined patterns of concurrent substance use 2 h prior to or during sex. Multinomial regression identified demographic, partner-level, and event-level factors associated across 11,877 sexual events reported by 757 participants. Most combinations of substance use were rare, but most drugs were frequently combined with other drugs when they were used prior to or during a sexual event. Six latent classes of concurrent event-level substance use were identified. The referent class (58.8% of events) was characterized by limited use of any drugs. The Common Drug Use class (12.1%) was characterized by use of alcohol, cannabis, and poppers and the Licit Drug Use class (21.6%) was characterized by use of alcohol alone. The Party 'N' Play (PnP) class (2.3%) was characterized by use of crystal methamphetamine GHB, Poppers, and Erectile Drugs; The Multi-use (3.5%) class was characterized by the PnP substances plus alcohol and ecstasy; and the Cannabis + class was characterized by use of Cannabis, Erectile Drugs, and Ecstasy. Relative to the referent class, all other classes were associated with events with more behavioural and network risk factors for STBBIs-highlighting the need for harm reduction interventions for gbMSM who use these drugs.

What Influences Miners' Safety Risk Perception?

The risks faced by the mining industry have always been prominent for every walk of life in China. As the direct cause of accidents, individual unsafe behaviors are closely related to their risk perception. So, it is important to explore the factors affecting miners’ risk perception and analyze the influencing mechanisms between these factors and risk perception. The questionnaire survey method was used to collect the data of risk perception from nearly 400 respondents working in metal mines in China. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyze and process collected data. The impact of four factors affecting miners’ risk perception was verified, namely: organizational safety atmosphere, organizational trust, knowledge level, and risk communication. Then, regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation model analysis were used to examine the effect of the four influencing factors on miners’ risk perception. The four influencing factors all have a positive impact on miners’ risk perception; knowledge level has the largest explained variation of miners’ risk perception, followed by risk communication. Organizational trust and organizational safety atmosphere have an indirect and positive impact on miners’ risk perception intermediated by knowledge level and risk communication. The results offer four important aspects of mine safety management to help miners establish quick and accurate risk perception, thereby reducing unsafe behaviors and avoiding accidents.

Perceptions, motivations, and beliefs about HIV risk and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among participants in a nurse-led PrEP service (PrEP-RN)

Background

While HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has become more readily available in Canada, its uptake among HIV priority populations continues to be affected by system-level and individual factors. Such impediments relate to challenges by healthcare providers in assessing HIV-related risk and variability in patients’ motivations for PrEP initiation and continued engagement in care.

Methods

In Ottawa, Canada, a group of researchers implemented Canada’s first nurse-led HIV prevention program, known as PrEP-RN. As part of this pilot, qualitative interviews were completed with fourteen patients who had accessed PrEP-RN. The purpose of these interviews was to understand participants’ perspectives related to HIV prevention and experiences accessing care through a nurse-led service. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, which were organized into the two major themes of (1) motivations for PrEP initiation and (2) beliefs about the benefits of PrEP.

Results

Findings revealed participants’ motivations for PrEP differed from healthcare provider’s views of risk, which were influenced by external life factors and personal perceptions of risk. In addition, participants discussed the benefits of PrEP in terms of its ability to manage their potential mistrust of sexual partners, control their sexual health, and liberate fears and anxieties related to HIV.

Conclusions

Based on these findings, health and allied providers should consider incorporating individual motivations and beliefs into patient education and counselling about PrEP to better target HIV prevention care at persons are at elevated risk of HIV. These perspectives could also be used to re-structure web and social media campaigns to increase PrEP uptake among HIV priority populations.