Design Strategy of the Sabes Study: Diagnosis and Treatment of Early HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru, 2013–2017

Background Syphilis incidence worldwide has rebounded since 2000, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). A predictive model for syphilis infection may inform prevention counselling and use of chemoprophylaxis. Methods: Data from a longitudinal cohort study of MSM and transgender women meeting high-risk criteria for syphilis who were followed quarterly for 2 years were analysed. Incidence was defined as a four-fold increase in rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titres or new RPR reactivity if two prior titres were non-reactive. Generalised estimating equations were used to calculate rate ratios (RR) and develop a predictive model for 70% of the dataset, which was then validated in the remaining 30%. An online risk calculator for the prediction of future syphilis was also developed. Results: Among 361 participants, 22.0% were transgender women and 34.6% were HIV-infected at baseline. Syphilis incidence was 19.9 cases per 100-person years (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.3–24.3). HIV infection (RR 2.22; 95% CI 1.54–3.21) and history of syphilis infection (RR 2.23; 95% 1.62–3.64) were significantly associated with incident infection. The final predictive model for syphilis incidence in the next 3 months included HIV infection, history of syphilis, number of male sex partners and sex role for anal sex in the past 3 months, and had an area under the curve of 69%. The online syphilis risk calculator based on those results is available at: www.syphrisk.net. Conclusions: Using data from a longitudinal cohort study among a population at high risk for syphilis infection in Peru, we developed a predictive model and online risk calculator for future syphilis infection. The predictive model for future syphilis developed in this study has a moderate predictive accuracy and may serve as the foundation for future studies.

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Acceptability of saliva-based HIVST among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Russia: a qualitative study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-178133/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Meylakhs ◽

Anastasia Meylakhs ◽

Arsen Davitadze

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Testing Strategies ◽

Self Testing ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic increased actuality of HIV self-testing (HIVST). Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Russia are highly stigmatized populations vulnerable to HIV infection and hard to reach with facility-based testing strategies. The study explored acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among these key groups in Russia. 32 semi-structured interviews with MSM and 3 TGW women from 5 Russian cities who underwent HIVST were conducted. Benefits of HIVST included ease of use, convenience and confidentiality. Confidentiality helped participants to avoid stigma related to their identity thus empowering them in conditions of high stigmatization of LGBTQ-people. Participants expressed concerns about accuracy of saliva-based HIVST and lack of counseling in case of reactive result. Our results suggest high acceptability of HIVST among Russian MSM and TGW and indicate that increase in HIVST uptake could be facilitated by popularization of HIVST and addressing the participants’ concerns.

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Discordance between self‐perceived and actual risk of HIV infection among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Thailand: a cross‐sectional assessment

Journal of the International AIDS Society ◽

10.1002/jia2.25430 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pich Seekaew ◽

Supabhorn Pengnonyang ◽

Jureeporn Jantarapakde ◽

Ratchadaporn Meksena ◽

Thanthip Sungsing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Actual Risk ◽

Sex With Men

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High incidence of extra-genital gonorrheal and chlamydial infections among high-risk men who have sex with men and transgender women in Peru

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462417744098 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 568-576 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz ◽

Kelika A Konda ◽

Gino M Calvo ◽

Silver K Vargas ◽

Segundo R Leon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Adjusted Incidence Rate ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Acquisition ◽

Rate Ratios ◽

Incident Cases ◽

The Impact

Extra-genital Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections are associated with antimicrobial resistance and HIV acquisition. We analyzed data from a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women followed quarterly for two years in Peru. Incident cases were defined as positive N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis nucleic acid tests during follow-up. Repeat positive tests were defined as reinfection among those with documented treatment. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). Of 404 participants, 22% were transgender. Incidence rates of rectal N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis infection were 28.1 and 37.3 cases per 100 person-years, respectively. Incidence rates of pharyngeal N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis infection were 21.3 and 9.6 cases per 100 person-years, respectively. Incident HIV infection was associated with incident rectal (aIRR = 2.43; 95% CI 1.66–3.55) N. gonorrhoeae infection. Identifying as transgender versus cisgender MSM was associated with incident pharyngeal N. gonorrhoeae (aIRR = 1.85; 95% CI 1.12–3.07) infection. The incidence of extra-genital N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis infections was high in our population. The association with incident HIV infection warrants evaluating the impact of rectal N. gonorrhoeae screening and treatment on HIV transmission.

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The cost-effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men and transgender women at high risk of HIV infection in Brazil

Journal of the International AIDS Society ◽

10.1002/jia2.25096 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. e25096 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paula M Luz ◽

Benjamin Osher ◽

Beatriz Grinsztejn ◽

Rachel L Maclean ◽

Elena Losina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

High Risk ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

The Cost

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A comparison of the effectiveness of respondent‐driven and venue‐based sampling for identifying undiagnosed HIV infection among cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women in Tijuana, Mexico

Journal of the International AIDS Society ◽

10.1002/jia2.25688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Heather A Pines ◽

Shirley J Semple ◽

Carlos Magis‐Rodríguez ◽

Alicia Harvey‐Vera ◽

Steffanie A Strathdee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Undiagnosed Hiv ◽

Sex With Men

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HIV incidence in a multinational cohort of men and transgender women who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from HPTN 075

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0247195

Author(s):

Theodorus G. M. Sandfort ◽

Yamikani Mbilizi ◽

Eduard J. Sanders ◽

Xu Guo ◽

Vanessa Cummings ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Prevention ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Cape Town ◽

Anal Intercourse ◽

The United States ◽

Transgender Women ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Incidence ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Sex With Men

Few studies have assessed HIV incidence in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We assessed HIV incidence and its correlates among MSM and TGW in SSA enrolled in the prospective, multi-country HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 075 study, conducted from 2015 to 2017. Participants were enrolled at four sites in SSA (Kisumu, Kenya; Blantyre, Malawi; Cape Town and Soweto, South Africa). Eligible participants reported male sex assignment at birth, were 18 to 44 years of age, and had engaged in anal intercourse with a man in the preceding three months. Participation involved five study visits over 12 months. Visits included behavioral assessments and testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Twenty-one of 329 persons acquired HIV during the study [incidence rate: 6.96/100 person-years (PY) (95% CI: 4.3, 10.6)]. Among TGW, HIV incidence was estimated to be 8.4/100 PY (95% CI: 2.3, 21.5). Four participants were found to have acute HIV infection at their first HIV-positive visit. HIV incidence varied among the four study sites, ranging from 1.3/100 PY to 14.4/100 PY. In multivariate longitudinal analysis, factors significantly associated with HIV acquisition were engagement in unprotected receptive anal intercourse [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 5.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4, 14.4] and incident rectal gonorrhea and/or chlamydia (AHR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.8). The higher HIV incidence in Cape Town compared to Blantyre could be explained by the higher prevalence of several risk factors for HIV infection among participants in Cape Town. Annual HIV incidence observed in this study is substantially higher than reported HIV incidence in the general populations in the respective countries and among MSM in the United States. Intensification of HIV prevention efforts for MSM and TGW in SSA is urgently needed.

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