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Nakamanya S, Okello ES, Kwena ZA, Nanyonjo G, Bahemuka UM, Kibengo FM, Ssetaala A, Bukusi EA, Kapiga S, Fast PE, Seeley J. Social networks, mobility, and HIV risk among women in the fishing communities of Lake Victoria. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:555. [PMID: 36578062 PMCID: PMC9798550 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-02144-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population mobility is a demonstrated barrier to reducing HIV incidence. A clear understanding of social networks and their influence on mobility among women in the fishing communities of Lake Victoria may contribute to tailoring effective interventions that suit the needs of these mobile women. METHODS A cross-sectional qualitative methods study was conducted to understand mobility patterns among women resident and or working in fishing communities of Lake Victoria in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The study was conducted in six fishing communities from March 2018 to June 2019. The communities were purposively selected, based on population size (1000 people or more) and HIV prevalence of > 15% among women aged 18 years or older who had lived in the fishing community for at least six months. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 key informants and 72 women from the sites in the three countries. Questions focused on women's social networks and other factors that fuelled or facilitated women's mobility as well as challenges they faced due to mobility. Data analysis followed a thematic framework approach. RESULTS Different social groupings/networks existed among women in the fishing communities of Lake Victoria. These included female sex workers, women fish processors/traders, women bar workers/owners, restaurant workers, and family networks. Networks encouraged mobility, supporting finding work opportunities, but also increased sexual risks through partner changes. The benefits of networks included information sharing, financial support, and group protection, especially against violence. CONCLUSION Social networks and groupings among women in the fishing communities of Lake Victoria could be useful in tailoring HIV prevention and HIV care interventions to suit the needs of these highly mobile populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nakamanya
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.
| | - Elialilia S Okello
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU), National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Zachary A Kwena
- Research Care and Training Program (RCTP), Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Ubaldo M Bahemuka
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Freddie M Kibengo
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Elizabeth A Bukusi
- Research Care and Training Program (RCTP), Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Saidi Kapiga
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU), National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Patricia E Fast
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, USA
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Janet Seeley
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Beres LK, Schwartz S, Mody A, Geng E, Baral S. Five Common Myths Limiting Engagement in HIV-Related Implementation Research. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2022; 90:S41-S45. [PMID: 35703754 PMCID: PMC9204845 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT HIV-related implementation research holds great promise in achieving the potential of efficacious prevention and treatment tools in reducing the incidence of HIV and improving HIV treatment outcomes among people living with HIV. From the perspectives of HIV-related implementation research training and academia and through consultations with funders and investigators new to implementation research, we identified 5 myths that act as barriers to engagement in implementation research among new investigators. Prevailing myths broadly include (1) one must rigidly apply all aspects of an implementation framework for it to be valid, (2) implementation research limits the type of designs available to researchers, (3) implementation strategies cannot be patient-level or client-level approaches, (4) only studies prioritizing implementation outcomes are "true" implementation research, and (5) if not explicitly labeled implementation research, it may have limited impact on implementation. We offer pragmatic approaches to negotiate these myths with the goal of encouraging dialog, ensuring high-quality research, and fostering a more inclusive and dynamic field of implementation research. Ultimately, the goal of dispelling these myths was to lower the perceived bar to engagement in HIV-related implementation research while still ensuring quality in the methods and measures used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K. Beres
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sheree Schwartz
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aaloke Mody
- University of Washington, St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elvin Geng
- University of Washington, St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Nxumalo V, Nxumalo S, Smit T, Khoza T, Mdaba F, Khumalo T, Cislaghi B, McGrath N, Seeley J, Shahmanesh M, Harling G. Protocol: Mapping social networks, social influence and sexual health among youth in rural KwaZulu-Natal, the Sixhumene cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:164. [PMID: 36324699 PMCID: PMC9608251 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17896.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections are strongly affected by social connections, and interventions are often adapted more readily when diffused through social networks. However, evidence on how young people acquire ideas and change behaviour through the influence of important social contacts is not well understood in high-HIV-prevalence settings, with the result that past peer-led HIV-prevention interventions have had limited success. Methods: We therefore designed a cohort study (named Sixhumene or ‘we are connected’) to follow young people in three rural and small-town communities in uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and the people that these youth identify as important in their lives. We will interview them five times over three years, at each visit collecting information on their socioeconomic, social and sexual health lives, and testing them for HIV and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). We will use this information to understand how these young people’s sexual health decisions are formed. This will include evaluating how poor sexual health outcomes are correlated across social networks, how youth mimic the attitudes and behaviours of those around them, who is at greatest risk of acquiring HIV and HSV-2, and who might be most influential within communities and thus best able to promote protective interventions. Discussion: The information gathered through this study will allow us to describe social connection and influence spread through these real-world social networks, and how this leads to sexual health outcomes. Sixhumene will provide vital inputs for mathematical models of communities and spreading processes, as well as inform the development of effective interventions to protect the sexual health of community members through appropriate targeting with optimised messaging requiring fewer resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vuyiswa Nxumalo
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Theresa Smit
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Thandeka Khoza
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Fikile Mdaba
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Thulile Khumalo
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Beniamino Cislaghi
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Nuala McGrath
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
- MRC/Wits-Agincourt Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2193, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard Univeristy, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
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Geng EH, Nash D, Phanuphak N, Green K, Solomon S, Grimsrud A, Sohn AH, Mayer KH, Bärnighausen T, Bekker LG. The question of the question: impactful implementation science to address the HIV epidemic. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e25898. [PMID: 35384312 PMCID: PMC8982316 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Questions about the implementation of evidence-based intervention to treat and prevent HIV have risen to the top of the field's scientific priorities. Despite the availability of highly efficacious treatment and prevention interventions, impact has fallen short of targets because these interventions are used with insufficient reach, consistency, sustainability and equity in diverse real-world settings. At present, substantial excitement for implementation science - defined as research methods and strategies to improve use of evidence-based interventions - has focused on developing and disseminating methods to conduct rigorous research. Yet, impactful answers depend on a sometimes less visible, but even more important, step: asking good questions about implementation. DISCUSSION In this commentary, we offer several considerations for researchers formulating implementation research questions based on several distinctive features of the field. First, as findings are used not only by other researchers but by implementers, scientific questions must incorporate a range of stakeholder and community perspectives to be most relevant. Second, real-world settings are contextually diverse, and the most relevant scientific questions must position answers to make sense within these contexts (whether geographical, organizational and sociological), rather than apart from them. Third, implementation is complex and dynamic; consequently, research questions must make use of emerging standards in describing implementation strategies and their effects whenever possible. Finally, the field of implementation science continues to evolve, so framing problems with a diverse disciplinary lens will enable researchers to pose insightful and impactful questions. CONCLUSIONS We are now at a juncture marked by both rich evidence-based interventions and a persistent global pandemic. To achieve continued scientific progress against the HIV epidemic, asking the right questions might be part of the answer itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvin H Geng
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation, Institute of Public Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Denis Nash
- Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, City University of New York, New York, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, City University of New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Sunil Solomon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth H Mayer
- The Fenway Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Crawford ND, Josma D, Harrington KRV, Morris J, Quamina A, Birkett M, Phillips Ii G. Using the Think-Aloud Method to Assess the Feasibility and Acceptability of Network Canvas Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Persons: Qualitative Analysis. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e30237. [PMID: 34499040 PMCID: PMC8461526 DOI: 10.2196/30237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characteristics of an individual's social network have been important factors in understanding infectious disease transmission patterns. Social network data collection is generally time and resource intensive, yet it is crucial to our understanding of the complex epidemiologic landscape of human behaviors among stigmatized social groups. OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a self-administered social network data collection tool, Network Canvas, among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender persons using the think-aloud method, which is a robust and flexible research technique used to perform usability testing. METHODS We piloted a self-administered network interview within the Network Canvas Software Suite. Participants aged 18 years and older were recruited through a community-based organization in Atlanta, GA, and were included based upon their willingness to share information on sexual behaviors and drug use for themselves and their social networks. A semistructured interview guide was used to document cognitive decision-making processes while using the tool. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analyses were performed. RESULTS Among 7 BMSM and transgender participants, three main themes were identified from cognitive processes: (1) the utility, (2) navigation, and (3) intuitive design of Network Canvas. Overall, Network Canvas was described as "easy to use," with suggestions mainly directed toward improving navigation tools and implementing an initial tutorial on the program prior to use. Participants were willing to use Network Canvas to document their social networks and characteristics. In general, observed verbal responses from participants matched their behavior, although there were some discrepancies between verbal affirmations of use and understanding versus external observation. CONCLUSIONS We found Network Canvas to be a useful new tool to capture social network data. Self-administration allowed participants the opportunity to provide sensitive information about themselves and their social networks. Furthermore, automated name generation and visualization of an individuals' social network in the app has the potential to reduce cognitive burden during data collection. More efficient methods of social network data collection have the potential to provide epidemiologic information to guide prevention efforts for populations with stigmatized health conditions or behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie D Crawford
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dorie Josma
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kristin R V Harrington
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph Morris
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Population Health, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Michelle Birkett
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Gregory Phillips Ii
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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6
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Yang N, Wu D, Zhou Y, Huang S, He X, Tucker J, Li X, Smith KM, Jiang X, Wang Y, Huang W, Fu H, Bao H, Jiang H, Dai W, Tang W. Sexual Health Influencer Distribution of HIV/Syphilis Self-Tests Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: Secondary Analysis to Inform Community-Based Interventions. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24303. [PMID: 34061035 PMCID: PMC8207256 DOI: 10.2196/24303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social network–based strategies can expand HIV/syphilis self-tests among men who have sex with men (MSM). Sexual health influencers are individuals who are particularly capable of spreading information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within their social networks. However, it remains unknown whether a sexual health influencer can encourage their peers to self-test for HIV/syphilis. Objective The aims of this study were to examine the impact of MSM sexual health influencers on improving HIV/syphilis self-test uptake within their social networks compared to that of nonsexual health influencers. Methods In Zhuhai, China, men 16 years or older, born biologically male, who reported ever having had sex with a man, and applying for HIV/syphilis self-tests were enrolled online as indexes and encouraged to distribute self-tests to individuals (alters) in their social network. Indexes scoring >3 on a sexual health influencer scale were considered to be sexual health influencers (Cronbach α=.87). The primary outcome was the mean number of alters encouraged to test per index for sexual health influencers compared with the number encouraged by noninfluencers. Results Participants included 371 indexes and 278 alters. Among indexes, 77 (20.8%) were sexual health influencers and 294 (79.2%) were noninfluencers. On average, each sexual health influencer successfully encouraged 1.66 alters to self-test compared to 0.51 alters encouraged by each noninfluencer (adjusted rate ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.59-2.69). More sexual health influencers disclosed their sexual orientation (80.5% vs 67.3%, P=.02) and were community-based organization volunteers (18.2% vs 2.7%, P<.001) than noninfluencers. More alters of sexual health influencers came from a rural area (45.5% vs 23.8%, P<.001), had below-college education (57.7% vs 37.1%, P<.001), and had multiple casual male sexual partners in the past 6 months (25.2% vs 11.9%, P<.001). Conclusions Being a sexual health influencer was associated with encouraging more alters with less testing access to self-test for HIV/syphilis. Sexual health influencers can be engaged as seeds to expand HIV/syphilis testing coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Yang
- University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawai'i, HI, United States.,Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Global Health and STI Research of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Wu
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Zhou
- Zhuhai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Shanzi Huang
- Zhuhai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xi He
- Zhuhai Xutong Voluntary Services Center, Zhuhai, China
| | - Joseph Tucker
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Zhuhai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Kumi M Smith
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, The University of Minnesota Twin cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Xiaohui Jiang
- Zhuhai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yehua Wang
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Huang
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyun Fu
- Division of Community Health and Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Huanyu Bao
- University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongbo Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wencan Dai
- Zhuhai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, China
| | - Weiming Tang
- Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Global Health and STI Research of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Silva ÁMDCE, Reis MNDG, Marinho TA, de Freitas NR, Teles SA, de Matos MAD, Carneiro MADS, Bello G, Stefani MMA, Martins RMB. Epidemiological and Molecular Characteristics of HIV-1 Infection in a Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Brazil: Phylogeography of Major Subtype B and F1 Transmission Clusters. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:589937. [PMID: 33329467 PMCID: PMC7732656 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.589937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) prevalence, associated factors, viral genetic diversity, transmitted drug resistance (TDR), and acquired drug resistance mutations (DRM) among a population of 522 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited by the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method, in Goiânia city, the capital of the State of Goiás, Central-Western Brazil. All serum samples were tested using a four-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and reactive samples were confirmed by immunoblotting. Plasma RNA or proviral DNA was extracted, and partial polymerase (pol) gene including the protease/reverse transcriptase (PR/RT) region was amplified and sequenced. HIV-1 subtypes were identified by phylogenetic inference and by bootscan analysis. The time and location of the ancestral strains that originated the transmission clusters were estimated by a Bayesian phylogeographic approach. TDR and DRM were identified using the Stanford databases. Overall, HIV-1 prevalence was 17.6% (95% CI: 12.6–23.5). Self-declared black skin color, receptive anal intercourse, sex with drug user partner, and history of sexually transmitted infections were factors associated with HIV-1 infection. Of 105 HIV-1-positive samples, 78 (74.3%) were sequenced and subtyped as B (65.4%), F1 (20.5%), C (3.8%), and BF1 (10.3%). Most HIV-1 subtype B sequences (67%; 34 out of 51) branched within 12 monophyletic clusters of variable sizes, which probably arose in the State of Goiás between the 1980s and 2010s. Most subtype F1 sequences (n = 14, 88%) branched in a single monophyletic cluster that probably arose in Goiás around the late 1990s. Among 78 samples sequenced, three were from patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART); two presented DRM. Among 75 ART-naïve patients, TDR was identified in 13 (17.3%; CI 95%: 9.6–27.8). Resistance mutations to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) predominated (14.7%), followed by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (5.3%) and protease inhibitor (PI) mutations (1.3%). This study shows a high prevalence of HIV-1 associated with sexual risk behaviors, high rate of TDR, and high genetic diversity driven by the local expansion of different subtype B and F1 strains. These findings can contribute to the understanding about the dissemination and epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HIV-1 among the population of MSM living away from the epicenter of epidemics in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thaís Augusto Marinho
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Bello
- AIDS and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Rosenbaum JE, Jennings J, Ellen JM, Borkovic LM, Scott JA, Wylie C, Rompalo A. Giving syphilis and gonorrhea to friends: using in-person friendship networks to find additional cases of gonorrhea and syphilis. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1526. [PMID: 33081743 PMCID: PMC7575333 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Syphilis and gonorrhea reached an all-time high in 2018. The resurgence of syphilis and gonorrhea requires innovative methods of sexual contact tracing that encourage disclosure of same-sex sexual contacts that might otherwise be suppressed. Over 75% of Grindr mobile phone application users report seeking “friendship,” so this study asked people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea to identify their friends. Methods Patients at the two Baltimore sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics and the Baltimore City Health Department were asked 12 questions to elicit members of their friendship networks before eliciting sexual networks. The study included 353 index cases and 172 friendship contacts, yielding a friendship network of 331 non-isolates (n = 331) and sexual-only network of 140 non-isolates. The data were plotted and analyzed using exponential family random graph analysis. Results Eliciting respondents’ in-person social contacts yielded 12 syphilis cases and 6 gonorrhea cases in addition to the 16 syphilis cases and 4 gonorrhea cases that would have been found with sexual contacts alone. Syphilis is clustered within sexual (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (1.36, 3.66)) and social contacts (OR = 1.31, 95% CI (1.02, 1.68)). Gonorrhea is clustered within reported social (OR = 1.56, 95% CI (1.22, 2.00)) but not sexual contacts (OR = 0.98, 95% CI (0.62, 1.53)). Conclusions Eliciting friendship networks of people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea may find members of their sexual networks, drug use networks, or people of similar STI risk. Friendship networks include more diagnosed cases of syphilis and gonorrhea than sexual networks alone, especially among populations with many non-disclosing men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). Future research should evaluate whether this friendship network method of contact tracing can be implemented by adapting automated mobile phone COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, if these COVID-19 contact tracing methods are able to maintain anonymity and public trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet E Rosenbaum
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
| | - Jacky Jennings
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan M Ellen
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laurel M Borkovic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jo-Ann Scott
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charleen Wylie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne Rompalo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
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9
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Rosenbaum JE, Jennings J, Ellen J, Borkovic L, Scott JA, Wylie C, Rompalo A. Giving syphilis and gonorrhea to friends: Using in-person friendship networks to find additional cases of gonorrhea and syphilis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2020:rs.3.rs-22332. [PMID: 32793894 PMCID: PMC7402068 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-22332/v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Syphilis and gonorrhea reached an all-time high in 2018. The resurgence of syphilis and gonorrhea requires innovative methods of sexual contact tracing that encourage disclosure of same-sex sexual contacts that might otherwise be suppressed. Over 75% of Grindr mobile phone application users report seeking "friendship," so this study asked people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea to identify their friends. Methods Patients at the two Baltimore sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics and the Baltimore City Health Department were asked 12 questions to elicit members of their friendship networks before eliciting sexual networks. The study included 353 index cases and 172 friendship contacts, yielding a friendship network of 331 non-isolates (n=331) and sexual-only network of 140 non-isolates. The data were plotted and analyzed using exponential family random graph analysis. Results Eliciting respondents' in-person social contacts yielded 12 syphilis cases and 6 gonorrhea cases in addition to the 16 syphilis cases and 4 gonorrhea cases that would have been found with sexual contacts alone. Syphilis is clustered within sexual (odds ratio=2.2, 95% confidence interval (1.36, 3.66)) and social contacts (OR=1.31,95% CI (1.02, 1.68)). Gonorrhea is clustered within reported social (OR=1.56, 95% CI (1.22, 2.00)) but not sexual contacts (OR=0.98, 95% CI (0.62, 1.53)). Conclusions Eliciting friendship networks of people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea may find members of their sexual networks, drug use networks, or people of similar STI risk. Friendship networks include more diagnosed cases of syphilis and gonorrhea than sexual networks alone, especially among populations with many non-disclosing men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). Future research should evaluate whether this friendship network method of contact tracing can be implemented by adapting automated mobile phone COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, if these COVID-19 contact tracing methods are able to maintain anonymity and public trust.
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Rosenbaum JE, Jennings J, Ellen J, Borkovic L, Scott JA, Wylie C, Rompalo A. Giving syphilis and gonorrhea to friends: Using in-person friendship networks to find additional cases of gonorrhea and syphilis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2020:rs.3.rs-22332. [PMID: 36575756 PMCID: PMC9793830 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-22332/v4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syphilis and gonorrhea reached an all-time high in 2018. The resurgence of syphilis and gonorrhea requires innovative methods of sexual contact tracing that encourage disclosure of same-sex sexual contacts that might otherwise be suppressed. Over 75% of Grindr mobile phone application users report seeking "friendship," so this study asked people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea to identify their friends. METHODS Patients at the two Baltimore sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics and the Baltimore City Health Department were asked 12 questions to elicit members of their friendship networks before eliciting sexual networks. The study included 353 index cases and 172 friendship contacts, yielding a friendship network of 331 non-isolates (n=331) and sexual-only network of 140 non-isolates. The data were plotted and analyzed using exponential family random graph analysis. RESULTS Eliciting respondents' in-person social contacts yielded 12 syphilis cases and 6 gonorrhea cases in addition to the 16 syphilis cases and 4 gonorrhea cases that would have been found with sexual contacts alone. Syphilis is clustered within sexual (odds ratio=2.2, 95% confidence interval (1.36, 3.66)) and social contacts (OR=1.31, 95% CI (1.02, 1.68)). Gonorrhea is clustered within reported social (OR=1.56, 95% CI (1.22, 2.00)) but not sexual contacts (OR=0.98, 95% CI (0.62, 1.53)). CONCLUSIONS Eliciting friendship networks of people diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhea may find members of their sexual networks, drug use networks, or people of similar STI risk. Friendship networks include more diagnosed cases of syphilis and gonorrhea than sexual networks alone, especially among populations with many non-disclosing men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). Future research should evaluate whether this friendship network method of contact tracing can be implemented by adapting automated mobile phone COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, if these COVID-19 contact tracing methods are able to maintain anonymity and public trust.
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