scholarly journals HIV understanding, experiences and perceptions of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Amazonian Peru: A qualitative study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Tattsbridge ◽  
Connie Wiskin ◽  
Gilles De Wildt ◽  
Anna Clavé Llavall ◽  
César Ramal-Asayag

Abstract Background HIV-related incidence and mortality is increasing across Peru, with highest mortality rates recorded in Amazonian Loreto. This epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men, a population with 14% HIV treatment adherence despite free national provision. This study investigates barriers and facilitators to following healthcare advice through experiences and perceptions of HIV-positive men who have sex with men and healthcare professionals in Loreto. Methods Twenty qualitative interviews with HIV-positive men who have sex with men and one focus group with HIV-specialist healthcare professionals were conducted in Loreto, January-February 2019. Thematic content analysis was used. Results A culture of isolation and discrimination was identified, propagated by poor public knowledge surrounding HIV transmission and treatment. Employment potential was hampered and 7/20 patients had suicidal thoughts post-diagnosis. Barriers to care included: shame, depression, travel cost/times, a preference for traditional plant-based medicine and side-effects of ART. Facilitators included: education, family and clinic support, disease acceptance and lifestyle changes. Conclusion More effective, focussed community education and workplace discrimination investigations are recommended.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Tattsbridge ◽  
Connie Wiskin ◽  
Gilles De Wildt ◽  
Anna Clavé Llavall ◽  
César Ramal-Asayag

Abstract Background HIV-related incidence and mortality is increasing across Peru, with highest mortality rates recorded in Amazonian region of Loreto. This epidemic is concentrated in men who have sex with men, a population with 14% HIV treatment adherence despite free national provision. This study investigates barriers and facilitators to following healthcare advice through experiences and perceptions of HIV-positive men who have sex with men and healthcare professionals in Loreto. Methods Twenty qualitative interviews with HIV-positive men who have sex with men and one focus group with HIV-specialist healthcare professionals were conducted in Loreto, January-February 2019. Interviews were transcribed per verbatim. Thematic content analysis and deviant case analysis were used. Results A culture of isolation and discrimination was identified, propagated by poor public knowledge surrounding HIV transmission and treatment. Employment potential was hampered and 7/20 patients had suicidal thoughts post-diagnosis. Barriers to care included: shame, depression, travel cost/times, a preference for traditional plant-based medicine and side-effects of antiretroviral therapy. Facilitators included: education, family and clinic support, disease acceptance and lifestyle changes. Conclusion More effective, focussed community education and workplace discrimination investigations are recommended to reduce stigma and increase adherence to treatment in this population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Tattsbridge ◽  
Connie Wiskin ◽  
Gilles De Wildt ◽  
Anna Clavé Llavall ◽  
César Ramal-Asayag

Abstract Background HIV-related incidence and mortality is increasing across Peru, with highest mortality rates recorded in Amazonian Loreto. This epidemic is concentrated in MSM, a population with 14% HIV treatment adherence despite free national provision. This study investigates barriers and facilitators to following healthcare advice through experiences and perceptions of HIV-positive MSM and healthcare professionals in Loreto. Methods Twenty qualitative interviews with HIV-positive MSM and one focus group with HIV-specialist healthcare professionals were conducted in Loreto, January-February 2019. Thematic content analysis was used. Results A culture of isolation and discrimination was identified, propagated by poor public knowledge surrounding HIV transmission and treatment. Employment potential was hampered and 7/20 patients had suicidal thoughts post-diagnosis. Barriers to care included: shame, depression, travel cost/times, a preference for traditional plant-based medicine and side-effects of ART. Facilitators included: education, family and clinic support, disease acceptance and lifestyle changes.Conclusion More targeted community education and workplace discrimination investigations are recommended.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Brennan ◽  
Seth L. Welles ◽  
Michael H. Miner ◽  
Michael W. Ross ◽  
B. R. Simon Rosser

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Belcher ◽  
Maya R. Sternberg ◽  
Richard J. Wolitski ◽  
Perry Halkitis ◽  
Colleen Hoff ◽  
...  

AIDS Care ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria R. Khan ◽  
Kathleen A. McGinnis ◽  
Christian Grov ◽  
Joy D. Scheidell ◽  
Laura Hawks ◽  
...  

Sexual Health ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Marcus ◽  
Axel J. Schmidt ◽  
Osamah Hamouda

Background: We aimed to quantify the frequency of HIV serosorting among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Germany, and evaluate the association of serosorting with other sexual risk management approaches (RMA) and with the frequency of bacterial sexually transmissible infections (STI). Methods: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed through German online sexual networking sites and medical practices in 2006. The analysis was based on 2985 respondents who reported an HIV test result. Based on two questions on RMA, serosorting was classified as tactical (an event-based decision) or strategic (a premeditated search for a seroconcordant partner). The analysis was stratified by HIV serostatus and seroconcordant partnership status. Results: HIV serosorting patterns were different for HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. Tactical serosorting ranked second after RMA based on condom use (HIV-positive: 55.1%, HIV-negative: 45.1%; P < 0.001). While the overlap of strategic and tactical HIV serosorting among HIV-positive MSM was substantial (58.0%), HIV-negative strategic and tactical serosorting were more distinct (18.1% overlap). Among HIV-positive and HIV-negative respondents, tactical serosorting was associated with reduced condom use. Compared with respondents using RMA other than serosorting, HIV-positive men reporting serosorting had a three-fold increased risk for bacterial STI (strategic: odds ratio (OR) = 2.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.76–3.89; tactical: OR = 3.19; 95% CI: 2.14–4.75; both for respondents without HIV seroconcordant partners). Conclusions: HIV serosorting has emerged as a common RMA among MSM. For HIV-positive MSM, it may contribute to high rates of bacterial STI that may lead to elevated per-contact risks for HIV transmission.


2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 1833-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Safren ◽  
Nicholas S. Perry ◽  
Aaron J. Blashill ◽  
Conall O’Cleirigh ◽  
Kenneth H. Mayer

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