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Samudyatha UC, Kosambiya JK, Rathore MS. Impact of COVID-19 on Profession and Health of Female Sex Workers: Apprehension, Acquiescence, and Resilience. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024:10.1007/s10508-024-02866-w. [PMID: 38744730 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02866-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
In Surat city of Gujarat, India, female sex workers (FSW)-based targeted interventions (TI) and community-based organizations (CBO) have been functioning since 1998. To document the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown (March-May 2020) on FSWs and STI/RTI/HIV preventive measures provided through TI/CBOs in Surat city, sequential, explanatory mixed-methods design was used. We conducted a desk review of quarterly programmatic data (2018-2020) of four TIs and CBOs and interviewed of 221 FSWs to study pre- and post-lockdown socioeconomic conditions, engagement in sex work, health services during COVID-19 lockdown and coping strategies, followed by five focus group discussions of FSWs and TI/CBO project staff. Study identified four major themes: reasons for working as a FSW during COVID-19 lockdown, entry to sex work during or as a consequence of lockdown, exploitation of FSWs during lockdown, and challenges of TI and CBOs in service provision in pandemic situation. Number of new registrations and STI/RTI detection increased immediately after lockdown. TI/CBO and other NGOs working for women welfare must build financial independence by training them in microeconomics, savings, and entrepreneurship. TI/CBO staff must also include experts in finance or business, trained in emergency response. The presence of strong TI/CBO network facilitated prompt delivery of essential commodities and financial aid to FSWs. However, laboratory and screening services were hampered, which warrants need of introducing self-test kits. In backdrop of decrease in condom distribution, continuation of sex work during lockdown and disruption of routine HIV/STI/RTI screening facilities, our study also recommends intensified HIV/STI/RTI screening among FSWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- U C Samudyatha
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, 395001, India
- Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, SDUAHER, Kolar, Karnataka, India
| | - J K Kosambiya
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, 395001, India.
| | - Manvendra Singh Rathore
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, 395001, India
- WHO-NTEP, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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Viguerie A, Jacobson EU, Hicks KA, Bates L, Carrico J, Honeycutt A, Lyles C, Farnham PG. Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Outcomes in the United States: A Modeling Study. Sex Transm Dis 2024; 51:299-304. [PMID: 38301638 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic impacted sexual behaviors and the HIV continuum of care in the United States, reducing HIV testing and diagnosis, and use of preexposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy. We aimed to understand the future implications of these effects through a modeling study. METHODS We first ran our compartmental model of HIV transmission in the United States accounting for pandemic-related short-term changes in transmission behavior and HIV prevention and care provision in 2020 to 2021 only. We then ran a comparison scenario that did not apply pandemic effects but assumed a continuation of past HIV prevention and care trends. We compared results from the 2 scenarios through 2024. RESULTS HIV incidence was 4·4% lower in 2020 to 2021 for the pandemic scenario compared with the no-pandemic scenario because of reduced levels of transmission behavior, despite reductions in HIV prevention and care caused by the pandemic. However, reduced care led to less viral load suppression among people with HIV in 2020, and in turn, our model resulted in a slightly greater incidence of 2·0% from 2022 to 2024 in the COVID-19 scenario, as compared with the non-COVID scenario. DISCUSSION Disruptions in HIV prevention and care services during COVID-19 may lead to somewhat higher postpandemic HIV incidence than assuming prepandemic trends in HIV care and prevention continued. These results underscore the importance of continuing to increase HIV prevention and care efforts in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Viguerie
- From the Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Evin U Jacobson
- From the Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Laurel Bates
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC
| | | | | | - Cindy Lyles
- From the Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Paul G Farnham
- From the Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Kovacevic A, Smith DRM, Rahbé E, Novelli S, Henriot P, Varon E, Cohen R, Levy C, Temime L, Opatowski L. Exploring factors shaping antibiotic resistance patterns in Streptococcus pneumoniae during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. eLife 2024; 13:e85701. [PMID: 38451256 PMCID: PMC10923560 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85701] [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] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to block SARS-CoV-2 transmission in early 2020 led to global reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). By contrast, most European countries reported an increase in antibiotic resistance among invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from 2019 to 2020, while an increasing number of studies reported stable pneumococcal carriage prevalence over the same period. To disentangle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pneumococcal epidemiology in the community setting, we propose a mathematical model formalizing simultaneous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains of S. pneumoniae. To test hypotheses underlying these trends five mechanisms were built into the model and examined: (1) a population-wide reduction of antibiotic prescriptions in the community, (2) lockdown effect on pneumococcal transmission, (3) a reduced risk of developing an IPD due to the absence of common respiratory viruses, (4) community azithromycin use in COVID-19 infected individuals, (5) and a longer carriage duration of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains. Among 31 possible pandemic scenarios involving mechanisms individually or in combination, model simulations surprisingly identified only two scenarios that reproduced the reported trends in the general population. They included factors (1), (3), and (4). These scenarios replicated a nearly 50% reduction in annual IPD, and an increase in antibiotic resistance from 20% to 22%, all while maintaining a relatively stable pneumococcal carriage. Exploring further, higher SARS-CoV-2 R0 values and synergistic within-host virus-bacteria interaction mechanisms could have additionally contributed to the observed antibiotic resistance increase. Our work demonstrates the utility of the mathematical modeling approach in unraveling the complex effects of the COVID-19 pandemic responses on AMR dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kovacevic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - David RM Smith
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Health, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Eve Rahbé
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - Sophie Novelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
| | - Paul Henriot
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- PACRI unit, Institut Pasteur, Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
| | - Emmanuelle Varon
- Centre National de Référence des Pneumocoques, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de CréteilCréteilFrance
| | - Robert Cohen
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale-Groupe de Recherche Clinique Groupe d’Etude des Maladies Infectieuses Néonatales et Infantiles (IMRB-GRC GEMINI), Université Paris Est, 94000CréteilFrance
- Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique (GPIP), 06200NiceFrance
- Unité Court Séjour, Petits Nourrissons, Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier, Intercommunal de CréteilCréteilFrance
- Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (ACTIV), 94000CréteilFrance
- Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (AFPA), 45000OrléansFrance
| | - Corinne Levy
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale-Groupe de Recherche Clinique Groupe d’Etude des Maladies Infectieuses Néonatales et Infantiles (IMRB-GRC GEMINI), Université Paris Est, 94000CréteilFrance
- Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique (GPIP), 06200NiceFrance
- Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (ACTIV), 94000CréteilFrance
- Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (AFPA), 45000OrléansFrance
| | - Laura Temime
- Modélisation, épidémiologie et surveillance des risques sanitaires (MESuRS), Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
- PACRI unit, Institut Pasteur, Conservatoire national des arts et métiersParisFrance
| | - Lulla Opatowski
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion (EMAE) unitParisFrance
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm U1018, CESP, Anti-infective evasion and pharmacoepidemiology teamMontigny-Le-BretonneuxFrance
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Renfro KJ, Haderxhanaj LT, Loosier PS, Hogben M, Aral SO. Online Discussions of Sexually Transmitted Infections During COVID-19: Insights From the Social Media Platform Reddit. Sex Transm Dis 2024; 51:227-232. [PMID: 38039079 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea dropped and remained low for several months of 2020 as compared with 2019. Additional data are needed to reveal causes of reported rate changes. Here, we analyze sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related conversations from the online-discussion platform Reddit to gain insight into the role of the pandemic on public experience of STIs in 2020. METHODS We collected data from Pushshift's and Reddit's application programming interfaces via programs coded in Python. We focused data collection on the "r/STD" subreddit. Collected submissions contained the term(s) "covid" and/or "coronavirus" and were submitted between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. We collected the title and text of each submission. We used a Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm to create a topic model of post content and complemented this approach with key term analysis and qualitative hand-coding. RESULTS Of the 288 posts collected, 148 were complete and included in analyses. Latent Dirichlet Allocation revealed 4 main topics in the collected posts: narration of sexual experiences, STI testing, crowdsourcing of visual STI diagnoses, and descriptions of STI-related pains and treatments. Hand-coding of COVID-19 mentions revealed pandemic-related anxieties about STI care seeking and experienced delays in and changes to quality of STI care received. CONCLUSIONS References to COVID-19 and associated mitigation efforts were woven into Reddit posts pertaining to several domains of STI care. These data support the notion that Reddit discussions may represent a valuable source of STI information, standing to corroborate and further contextualize STI survey and surveillance work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaytlin J Renfro
- From the Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Anderle RV, de Oliveira RB, Rubio FA, Macinko J, Dourado I, Rasella D. Modelling HIV/AIDS epidemiological complexity: A scoping review of Agent-Based Models and their application. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297247. [PMID: 38306355 PMCID: PMC10836677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297247] [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] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, despite the increasing poverty and inequalities, policies should be designed to deal with population heterogeneity and environmental changes. Bottom-up designs, such as the Agent-Based Model (ABM), can model these features, dealing with such complexity. HIV/AIDS has a complex dynamic of structural factors, risk behaviors, biomedical characteristics and interventions. All embedded in unequal, stigmatized and heterogeneous social structure. To understand how ABMs can model this complexity, we performed a scoping review of HIV applications, highlighting their potentialities. METHODS We searched on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus repositories following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Our inclusion criteria were HIV/AIDS studies with an ABM application. We identified the main articles using a local co-citation analysis and categorized the overall literature aims, (sub)populations, regions, and if the papers declared the use of ODD protocol and limitations. RESULTS We found 154 articles. We identified eleven main papers, and discussed them using the overall category results. Most studies model Transmission Dynamics (37/154), about Men who have sex with Men (MSM) (41/154), or individuals living in the US or South Africa (84/154). Recent studies applied ABM to model PrEP interventions (17/154) and Racial Disparities (12/154). Only six papers declared the use of ODD Protocol (6/154), and 34/154 didn't mention the study limitations. CONCLUSIONS While ABM is among the most sophisticated techniques available to model HIV/AIDS complexity. Their applications are still restricted to some realities. However, researchers are challenged to think about social structure due model characteristics, the inclusion of these features is still restricted to case-specific. Data and computational power availability can enhance this feature providing insightful results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Felipe Alves Rubio
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - James Macinko
- Departments of Health Policy and Management and Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ines Dourado
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Davide Rasella
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Brenner IR, Simpson KN, Flanagan CF, Dark T, Dooley M, Agwu AL, Koay WLA, Freedberg KA, Ciaranello AL, Neilan AM. Projecting the Clinical and Economic Impacts of Changes to HIV Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2024; 13:60-68. [PMID: 37963069 PMCID: PMC10824262 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piad102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, many US youth with HIV (YHIV) used telehealth services; others experienced disruptions in clinic and antiretroviral therapy (ART) access. METHODS Using the Cost-effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC)-Adolescent HIV microsimulation model, we evaluated 3 scenarios: 1) Clinic: in-person care; 2) Telehealth: virtual visits, without CD4 or viral load monitoring for 12 months, followed by return to usual care; and 3) Interruption: complete care interruption with no ART access or laboratory monitoring for 6 months (maximum clinic closure time), followed by return to usual care for 80%. We assigned higher 1-year retention (87% vs 80%) and lower cost/visit ($49 vs $56) for Telehealth vs Clinic. We modeled 2 YHIV cohorts with non-perinatal (YNPHIV) and perinatal (YPHIV) HIV, which differed by mean age (22 vs 16 years), sex at birth (85% vs 47% male), starting CD4 count (527/μL vs 635/μL), ART, mortality, and HIV-related costs. We projected life months (LMs) and costs/100 YHIV over 10 years. RESULTS Over 10 years, LMs in Clinic and Telehealth would be similar (YNPHIV: 11 350 vs 11 360 LMs; YPHIV: 11 680 LMs for both strategies); costs would be $0.3M (YNPHIV) and $0.4M (YPHIV) more for Telehealth than Clinic. Interruption would be less effective (YNPHIV: 11 230 LMs; YPHIV: 11 620 LMs) and less costly (YNPHIV: $1.3M less; YPHIV: $0.2M less) than Clinic. Higher retention in Telehealth led to increased ART use and thus higher costs. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth could be as effective as in-person care for some YHIV, at slightly increased cost. Short interruptions to ART and laboratory monitoring may have negative long-term clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Ravi Brenner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kit N Simpson
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Clare F Flanagan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tyra Dark
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Center for Translational Behavioral Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Mary Dooley
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Allison L Agwu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Li Adeline Koay
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne M Neilan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Mehta N, Verma K. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infections: Indian experience. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2024; 0:1-2. [PMID: 38314975 DOI: 10.25259/ijdvl_745_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Mehta
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Kaushal Verma
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
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dos Santos LM, Vieira MRMDS, Vieira RC, Silva LBDL, de Macêdo GMM, Miranda AE, Brasiliense DM, e Guimarães RJDPS, Sousa EC, Ferrari SF, Pinheiro HHC, Ishikawa EAY, de Sousa MS. Prevalence and circulant genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis in university women from cities in the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0287119. [PMID: 38165909 PMCID: PMC10760737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 80% of infected women infected by Chlamydia trachomatis are asymptomatic, although this infection can lead to serious complications in the female reproductive tract. Few data on Chlamydia infection and genotypes are available in Amazonian communities. OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence of and associated factors and to identify the genotypes of sexual C. trachomatis infection in female university students in different urban centers (capital and interiors) in the Brazilian state of Pará, in the eastern Amazon region. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed among young women attending public universities in four different urban centers in the eastern Amazon region. They were invited to participate in the studt and cervical secretions were collected for molecular diagnosis of C. trachomatis. We utilized amplification of the ompA gene by nested PCR. Positive samples were genotyped by nucleotide sequencing. Study participants completed a questionnaire on social, epidemiological, and reproductive health variables. A Qui-square and Binominal regression test were used to evaluate the degree of association of these variables with the infection. RESULTS A total of 686 female students was included in the study. The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis was 11.2% (77/686). The prevalence of this infection was higher in interiors (15.2% vs 9.5%/ p: 0.0443). Female university students who do not have a sexual partner (11.8%/p <0.008), who do not use a condom in their sexual relations (17.8%/p <0.0001) and who reported having suffered a miscarriage (32%/p <0.0001) have high chances of acquiring this sexual infection. The ompA gene was sequenced in only 33 (42.8%) samples, revealing the genotype J was the most frequent (27.2% [9/33]), followed by genotypes D (24.2% [8/33]), and then genotypes F (18.2% [6/33]), E (15.1% [5/33]) K (6.1% [2/33]), Ia (6.1% [2/33]), and G (3.1% [1/33]). CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of sexual infection by C. trachomatis in the female university students from the interior of the state of Pará, individuals with no fixed sexual partner, those that had had a miscarriage, the students that do not use condoms in their sexual relations. The genotype J of C. trachomatis genotypes was the most frequent. These data are important to help defining the epidemiological effects of chlamydial infections in Amazonian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Angélica Espinosa Miranda
- Department of Social Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil
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King CMB, Garfein RS, Bazzi AR, Little SJ, Skaathun B. Association between where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet sexual partners and chlamydia/gonorrhoea infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in San Diego, California. Sex Transm Infect 2023; 99:527-533. [PMID: 37402567 PMCID: PMC10764637 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2022-055591] [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] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meeting sex partners online is associated with increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections. We examined whether different venues where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet sex partners was associated with prevalent Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection, and whether prevalence increased during (vs before) the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from San Diego's 'Good To Go' sexual health clinic from two enrolment periods: (1) March-September 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and (2) March-September 2021 (during COVID-19). Participants completed self-administered intake assessments. This analysis included males aged ≥18 years self-reporting sex with males within 3 months before enrolment. Participants were categorised as (1) meeting new sex partners in-person only (eg, bars, clubs), (2) meeting new sex partners online (eg, applications, websites) or (3) having sex only with existing partners. We used multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for year, age, race, ethnicity, number of sex partners, pre-exposure prophylaxis use and drug use to examine whether venue or enrolment period were associated with CT/NG infection (either vs none). RESULTS Among 2546 participants, mean age was 35.5 (range: 18-79) years, 27.9% were non-white and 37.0% were Hispanic. Overall, CT/NG prevalence was 14.8% and was higher during COVID-19 vs pre-COVID-19 (17.0% vs 13.3%). Participants met sex partners online (56.9%), in-person (16.9%) or only had existing partners (26.2%) in the past 3 months. Compared with having only existing sex partners, meeting partners online was associated with higher CT/NG prevalence (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.32; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.65), while meeting partners in-person was not associated with CT/NG prevalence (aOR 1.59; 95% CI 0.87 to 2.89). Enrolment during COVID-19 was associated with higher CT/NG prevalence compared with pre-COVID-19 (aOR 1.42; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.79). CONCLUSIONS CT/NG prevalence appeared to increase among MSM during COVID-19, and meeting sex partners online was associated with higher prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M B King
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Richard S Garfein
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Angela R Bazzi
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan J Little
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Britt Skaathun
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Williams E, Williamson DA, Hocking JS. Frequent screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections in men who have sex with men: time to re-evaluate? THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:e558-e566. [PMID: 37516129 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00356-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing debate regarding the harms and benefits of frequent asymptomatic screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in men who have sex with men (MSM). One concern is that frequent asymptomatic screening could result in increased antimicrobial resistance in an array of sexually acquired infections and other pathogens, due to selection pressure exerted by frequent broad-spectrum antimicrobial usage within some sexual networks. Here, we outline the harms and benefits of frequent C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae screening in MSM in high-income settings and propose that screening frequency be reduced. We describe the evidence gaps that should be further explored to better understand the implications of reducing the frequency of asymptomatic C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae screening in MSM and the surveillance systems that should be in place to prepare for such changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Williams
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Deborah A Williamson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Weidlich S, Schneider J, Lee M, Mijočević H, Graf N, Protzer U, Spinner C, Noe S. Seroconversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and dating behaviour in HIV-PrEP users in a German metropolis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J STD AIDS 2023; 34:956-961. [PMID: 37461288 PMCID: PMC10352700 DOI: 10.1177/09564624231190419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when mortality was high, social distance was the only option to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and prohibit uncontrolled spreading. As the impact of social distancing on sexual behavior was unclear, we aimed to assess the influence of sexual risk behavior on SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HIV pre-exposition prophylaxis (PrEP) users after declaration of the pandemic. METHODS Prospective study on SARS-CoV-2 IgG-antibody seroconversion rate over time in men having sex with men (MSM) using PrEP at a single tertiary university hospital in Munich, Germany, during quarterly (Q) routine HIV-PrEP visits over 1 year per participant (May 2020 - September 2021). Seroconversion was defined as at least one positive anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test as surrogate for past infection. In addition, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), personal estimated risk behavior and sexual contacts were assessed. RESULTS Seroconversion rate during the full observation period was 7.3% (9/124 subjects) by September 2021. Percentage of subjects with symptomatic STIs (T. pallidum, N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium) was 18.7% in Q3-20, 8.1% in Q4-20, 11.1% in Q1-21, 11.6% in Q2-21 and 9.5% in Q3-21. Perception of subjective threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adequacy of preventive measures decreased during the observation period. However, self-reported sex behavior remained stable during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort showed low proportion of PrEP-users with anti-N IgG by September 2021, comparable to the local incidence. Sexual behavior in this cohort did not change, despite local recommendations for social distancing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Weidlich
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Schneider
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hrvoje Mijočević
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Natalia Graf
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Spinner
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Noe
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- MVZ München am Goetheplatz, Munich, Germany
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Li Y, Liu X, Li X, Xue C, Zhang B, Wang Y. Interruption time series analysis using autoregressive integrated moving average model: evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on the epidemic trend of gonorrhea in China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2073. [PMID: 37872621 PMCID: PMC10594778 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16953-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis is a growing method for assessing intervention impacts on diseases. However, it remains unstudied how the COVID-19 outbreak impacts gonorrhea. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on gonorrhea and predict gonorrhea epidemics using the ITS-autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. METHODS The number of gonorrhea cases reported in China from January 2005 to September 2022 was collected. Statistical descriptions were applied to indicate the overall epidemiological characteristics of the data, and then the ITS-ARIMA was established. Additionally, we compared the forecasting abilities of ITS-ARIMA with Bayesian structural time series (BSTS), and discussed the model selection process, transfer function, check model fitting, and interpretation of results. RESULT During 2005-2022, the total cases of gonorrhea were 2,165,048, with an annual average incidence rate of 8.99 per 100,000 people. The highest incidence rate was 14.2 per 100,000 people in 2005 and the lowest was 6.9 per 100,000 people in 2012. The optimal model was ARIMA (0,1, (1,3)) (0,1,1)12 (Akaike's information criterion = 3293.93). When predicting the gonorrhea incidence, the mean absolute percentage error under the ARIMA (16.45%) was smaller than that under the BSTS (22.48%). The study found a 62.4% reduction in gonorrhea during the first-level response, a 46.47% reduction during the second-level response, and an increase of 3.6% during the third-level response. The final model estimated a step change of - 2171 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 3698 to - 644) cases and an impulse change of - 1359 (95% CI - 2381 to - 338) cases. Using the ITS-ARIMA to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on gonorrhea, the gonorrhea incidence showed a temporary decline before rebounding to pre-COVID-19 levels in China. CONCLUSION ITS analysis is a valuable tool for gauging intervention effectiveness, providing flexibility in modelling various impacts. The ITS-ARIMA model can adeptly explain potential trends, autocorrelation, and seasonality. Gonorrhea, marked by periodicity and seasonality, exhibited a downward trend under the influence of COVID-19 intervention. The ITS-ARIMA outperformed the BSTS, offering superior predictive capabilities for the gonorrhea incidence trend in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingyan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxiao Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenlu Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingjie Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongbin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
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Pyra M, Kline J, Taylor O, Rusie L, Schafer T, Motley D, Johnson AK. Changes in HIV Prevention and Sexual Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 94:143-150. [PMID: 37256682 PMCID: PMC10524977 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003229] [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] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND STI and HIV services and infection rates were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of changes in access to health care and individual behavior. Understanding how individuals made decisions around prevention and sexual activities during different phases of the pandemic is useful to addressing the rising rates of STIs and HIV. SETTING Federally-qualified health center focused on sexual and gender minority health, Chicago IL, 2021. METHODS Patients with a history of PrEP use who were contacted by the PrEP retention team as part of standard care were invited to complete an online survey. A subset of survey participants were then contacted to complete one-on-one interviews. Participants were asked about two distinct periods: November 2020 to January 2021 and February to June 2021. RESULTS From the 356 survey participants (mostly young, insured, and experienced with PrEP), more than half maintained their number of sex partners during the early pandemic and most also maintained PrEP use; during the later pandemic; most reported more or the same number of sex partners and almost all maintained PrEP use. From interviews, we identified diverse and changing experiences regarding sexual practices throughout the pandemic; whereas many participants changed PrEP use in accordance with sexual practices, many others maintained PrEP use as a habit. COVID-19 prevention was also a factor in sexual activities, particularly prevaccination. CONCLUSION Many PrEP users try to align their HIV prevention with their sexual exposures and establish PrEP as a long-term habit. Removing financial and access barriers is important to improve PrEP use and STI testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pyra
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health & Well Being, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - J Kline
- Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL
| | - O Taylor
- Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL
| | - L Rusie
- Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL
| | | | - D Motley
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - A K Johnson
- The Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL; and
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
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Veettil SK, Schwerer L, Kategeaw W, Toth D, Samore MH, Hutubessy R, Chaiyakunapruk N. Scoping review of modelling studies assessing the impact of disruptions to essential health services during COVID-19. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071799. [PMID: 37751952 PMCID: PMC10533712 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies assessing the indirect impact of COVID-19 using mathematical models have increased in recent years. This scoping review aims to identify modelling studies assessing the potential impact of disruptions to essential health services caused by COVID-19 and to summarise the characteristics of disruption and the models used to assess the disruptions. METHODS Eligible studies were included if they used any models to assess the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on any health services. Articles published from January 2020 to December 2022 were identified from PubMed, Embase and CINAHL, using detailed searches with key concepts including COVID-19, modelling and healthcare disruptions. Two reviewers independently extracted the data in four domains. A descriptive analysis of the included studies was performed under the format of a narrative report. RESULTS This scoping review has identified a total of 52 modelling studies that employed several models (n=116) to assess the potential impact of disruptions to essential health services. The majority of the models were simulation models (n=86; 74.1%). Studies covered a wide range of health conditions from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases. COVID-19 has been reported to disrupt supply of health services, demand for health services and social change affecting factors that influence health. The most common outcomes reported in the studies were clinical outcomes such as mortality and morbidity. Twenty-five studies modelled various mitigation strategies; maintaining critical services by ensuring resources and access to services are found to be a priority for reducing the overall impact. CONCLUSION A number of models were used to assess the potential impact of disruptions to essential health services on various outcomes. There is a need for collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the usefulness of any modelling. Future studies should consider disparity issues for more comprehensive findings that could ultimately facilitate policy decision-making to maximise benefits to all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajesh K Veettil
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- School of Medicine, Taylor's University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Luke Schwerer
- USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Warittakorn Kategeaw
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Damon Toth
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew H Samore
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Raymond Hutubessy
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Liu M, Zhou J, Lan Y, Zhang H, Wu M, Zhang X, Leng L, Mi X, Li J. A Neglected Narrative in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiological and Clinical Impacts of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Syphilis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2023; 16:2485-2496. [PMID: 37719933 PMCID: PMC10505047 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s417522] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our lives. While healthcare resources were redistributed and mobilized to focus on dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, there have been unmet medical needs of patients with other diseases such as syphilis, weaving an integral but neglected component of the pandemic story. In different countries, the epidemiology of newly reported syphilis underwent diverse changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asymptomatic cases experienced the largest decline in number. From the perspective of transmission, on one hand, the implementation of lockdown measures led to a higher degree of abstinence and sex distancing in many countries, thereby reducing the transmission of syphilis. On the other hand, vertical transmission was reported to have increased significantly during COVID-19. Meanwhile, the volume of STI clinic capacity declined, and STI staff were redeployed to facilitate the contact tracing of COVID-19. As a result, many STI centers converted traditional in-person clinical services to telemedicine and self-testing. However, syphilis testing and clinical treatment cannot fully adapt to this conversion. In syphilis diagnosis, COVID-19 infection and vaccination were reported to cause false positivity in syphilis serological tests. Diverse cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 could resemble the skin lesions in syphilis patients, requiring differential diagnosis from clinicians. As for the post-pandemic years, consequent to service interruptions and diagnosis delays, a surge in the number of confirmed cases of syphilis is expected. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been a meaningful lesson for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The experience in combating COVID-19 has underscored the importance of maintaining a robust and well-supported medical system for the provision of sexual health services and better healthcare equality even during eras of crisis, not least for syphilis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjuan Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- 4+4 M.D. Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yining Lan
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengyin Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ling Leng
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xia Mi
- Department of Dermatology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Tian T, Fu L, Lu Z, Wu X, Luo G, Wang B, Zhou X, Lin YF, Zhang Z, Liu L, Xi M, Zhen C, Dai J, Zou H. Changes in human papillomavirus prevalence, incidence, and clearance among men who have sex with men in Xinjiang, China after implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19: An interrupted time series analysis. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 134:261-268. [PMID: 37453487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the human papillomavirus (HPV) epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Xinjiang, China. METHODS In our cohort study, we enrolled and followed HIV-negative MSM in Xinjiang, China, between 2016 and 2022. Anal swab samples were collected to test for HPV DNA. We used interrupted time series analysis to characterize the temporal trends in HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance before (September 01, 2016, to July 16, 2020) and during the implementation of COVID-19 NPIs in Xinjiang (July 17, 2020, to March 31, 2022). We used binomial segmented regression models to estimate the impact of COVID-19 NPIs on HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance. RESULTS We recruited 1296 MSM who contributed to a total of 5374 HPV tests in our study. COVID-19 NPIs were associated with a 37.9% decrease in the prevalence (prevalence ratio, 0.621; 95% confidence interval, 0.465-0.830), 52.2% decrease in the incidence (risk ratio, 0.478; 0.377-0.606), and 40.4% increase in the clearance (risk ratio, 1.404; 1.212-1.627) of HPV of any genotype after the implementation of COVID-19 NPIs in Xinjiang. CONCLUSION COVID-19 NPIs may lead to lower transmission and higher clearance of HPV among MSM. Future studies are needed to clarify the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on the transmission and natural history of HPV among MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Leiwen Fu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Lu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinsheng Wu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ganfeng Luo
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bingyi Wang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinyi Zhou
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi-Fan Lin
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zewen Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Lirong Liu
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Miaomiao Xi
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Chen Zhen
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jianghong Dai
- School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
| | - Huachun Zou
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Sawatzky P, Lefebvre B, Diggle M, Hoang L, Wong J, Patel S, Van Caessele P, Minion J, Garceau R, Jeffrey S, Haldane D, Lourenco L, Gravel G, Mulvey M, Martin I. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada, 2021. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:388-397. [PMID: 38463902 PMCID: PMC10919915 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i09a05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background In Canada, gonorrhea is the second most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection. The Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP - Canada), a passive surveillance system monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada since 1985, is the source for this summary of demographics, antimicrobial resistance and N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) of gonococcal isolates collected in Canada in 2021. Methods Provincial and territorial public health laboratories submitted N. gonorrhoeae cultures and data to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg as part of the surveillance system. The antimicrobial resistance and molecular type of each isolate received were determined. Results In total, 3,439 N. gonorrhoeae cultures were received from laboratories across Canada in 2021, a 9.9% increase since 2020 (n=3,130). Decreased susceptibility to cefixime increased significantly (p<0.001) in 2021 (1.5%) compared to 2017 (0.6%). No significant change in decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone was detected between 2017 and 2021 (0.6%) (p>0.001); however, one ceftriaxone-resistant isolate was identified. Azithromycin resistance decreased significantly (p<0.001) in 2021 (7.6%) compared to 2017 (11.7%); however, there was a significant increase (p<0.001) in the proportion of cultures with an azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentration of at least 1 mg/L (2017=22.2% to 2021=28.1%). In 2021, NG-MAST-19875 (15.3%) was the most prevalent sequence type in Canada; 20.3% of isolates with this sequence type were resistant to azithromycin. Conclusion The spread of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea is a significant public health concern. The continued regional and national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae is essential in ensuring effective treatment therapies are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Sawatzky
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | | | - Mathew Diggle
- Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton, AB
| | - Linda Hoang
- BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, BC
| | - Jason Wong
- BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, BC
| | - Samir Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON
| | | | | | - Richard Garceau
- Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Moncton, NB
| | - Sarah Jeffrey
- Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
| | - David Haldane
- Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS
| | - Lillian Lourenco
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Genevieve Gravel
- Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Michael Mulvey
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
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Liu W, Wang R, Li Y, Zhao S, Chen Y, Zhao Y. The indirect impacts of nonpharmacological COVID-19 control measures on other infectious diseases in Yinchuan, Northwest China: a time series study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1089. [PMID: 37280569 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15878-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against COVID-19 continue to have an impact on socioeconomic and population behaviour patterns. However, the effect of NPIs on notifiable infectious diseases remains inconclusive due to the variability of the disease spectrum, high-incidence endemic diseases and environmental factors across different geographical regions. Thus, it is of public health interest to explore the influence of NPIs on notifiable infectious diseases in Yinchuan, Northwest China. METHODS Based on data on notifiable infectious diseases (NIDs), air pollutants, meteorological data, and the number of health institutional personnel in Yinchuan, we first fitted dynamic regression time series models to the incidence of NIDs from 2013 to 2019 and then estimated the incidence for 2020. Then, we compared the projected time series data with the observed incidence of NIDs in 2020. We calculated the relative reduction in NIDs at different emergency response levels in 2020 to identify the impacts of NIPs on NIDs in Yinchuan. RESULTS A total of 15,711 cases of NIDs were reported in Yinchuan in 2020, which was 42.59% lower than the average annual number of cases from 2013 to 2019. Natural focal diseases and vector-borne infectious diseases showed an increasing trend, as the observed incidence in 2020 was 46.86% higher than the estimated cases. The observed number of cases changed in respiratory infectious diseases, intestinal infectious diseases and sexually transmitted or bloodborne diseases were 65.27%, 58.45% and 35.01% higher than the expected number, respectively. The NIDs with the highest reductions in each subgroup were hand, foot, and mouth disease (5854 cases), infectious diarrhoea (2157 cases) and scarlet fever (832 cases), respectively. In addition, it was also found that the expected relative reduction in NIDs in 2020 showed a decline across different emergency response levels, as the relative reduction dropped from 65.65% (95% CI: -65.86%, 80.84%) during the level 1 response to 52.72% (95% CI: 20.84%, 66.30%) during the level 3 response. CONCLUSIONS The widespread implementation of NPIs in 2020 may have had significant inhibitory effects on the incidence of respiratory infectious diseases, intestinal infectious diseases and sexually transmitted or bloodborne diseases. The relative reduction in NIDs during different emergency response levels in 2020 showed a declining trend as the response level changed from level 1 to level 3. These results can serve as essential guidance for policy-makers and stakeholders to take specific actions to control infectious diseases and protect vulnerable populations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichen Liu
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - Ruonan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Li
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yinchuan, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - Shi Zhao
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yaogeng Chen
- School of Science, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, No. 1160, Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China.
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19
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Liang C, Suen SC, Nguyen A, Moucheraud C, Hsu L, Holloway IW, Charlebois ED, Steward WT. Impact of COVID-19 Response on the HIV Epidemic in Men Who Have Sex With Men in San Francisco County: The Importance of Rapid Return to Normalcy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 92:370-377. [PMID: 36728397 PMCID: PMC9988211 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003156] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, San Francisco County (SFC) had to shift many nonemergency health care resources to COVID-19, reducing HIV control resources. We sought to quantify COVID-19 effects on HIV burden among men who have sex with men (MSM) as SFC returns to pre-COVID service levels and progresses toward the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) goals. SETTING Microsimulation model of MSM in SFC tracking HIV progression and treatment. METHODS Scenario analysis where services affected by COVID-19 [testing, care engagement, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, and retention] return to pre-COVID levels by the end of 2022 or 2025, compared against a counterfactual where COVID-19 changes never occurred. We also examined scenarios where resources are prioritized to reach new patients or retain of existing patients from 2023 to 2025 before all services return to pre-COVID levels. RESULTS The annual number of MSM prescribed PrEP, newly acquired HIV, newly diagnosed, and achieving viral load suppression (VLS) rebound quickly after HIV care returns to pre-COVID levels. However, COVID-19 service disruptions result in measurable reductions in cumulative PrEP use, VLS person-years, incidence, and an increase in deaths over the 2020-2035 period. The burden is statistically significantly larger if these effects end in 2025 instead of 2022. Prioritizing HIV care/prevention initiation over retention results in more person-years of PrEP but less VLS person-years and more deaths, influencing EHE PrEP outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Earlier HIV care return to pre-COVID levels results in lower cumulative HIV burdens. Resource prioritization decisions may differentially affect different EHE goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citina Liang
- Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, LA
| | - Sze-Chuan Suen
- Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, LA
| | - Anthony Nguyen
- Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, LA
| | - Corrina Moucheraud
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, LA.,The Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ling Hsu
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, HIV Surveillance Unit, San Francisco, CA
| | - Ian W Holloway
- The Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; and
| | - Edwin D Charlebois
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Wayne T Steward
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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20
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Viguerie A, Song R, Johnson AS, Lyles CM, Hernandez A, Farnham PG. Isolating the Effect of COVID-19-Related Disruptions on HIV Diagnoses in the United States in 2020. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 92:293-299. [PMID: 36515707 PMCID: PMC10111242 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003140] [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: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnoses of HIV in the United States decreased by 17% in 2020 due to COVID-related disruptions. The extent to which this decrease is attributable to changes in HIV testing versus HIV transmission is unclear. We seek to better understand this issue by analyzing the discrepancy in expected versus observed HIV diagnoses in 2020 among persons who acquired HIV between 2010 and 2019 because changes in diagnosis patterns in this cohort cannot be attributed to changes in transmission. METHODS We developed 3 methods based on the CD4-depletion model to estimate excess missed diagnoses in 2020 among persons with HIV (PWH) infected from 2010 to 2019. We stratified the results by transmission group, sex assigned at birth, race/ethnicity, and region to examine differences by group and confirm the reliability of our estimates. We performed similar analyses projecting diagnoses in 2019 among PWH infected from 2010 to 2018 to evaluate the accuracy of our methods against surveillance data. RESULTS There were approximately 3100-3300 (approximately 18%) fewer diagnoses than expected in 2020 among PWH infected from 2010 to 2019. Females (at birth), heterosexuals, persons who inject drugs, and Hispanic/Latino PWH missed diagnoses at higher levels than the overall population. Validation and stratification analyses confirmed the accuracy and reliability of our estimates. CONCLUSIONS The substantial drop in number of previously infected PWH diagnosed in 2020 suggests that changes in testing played a substantial role in the observed decrease. Levels of missed diagnoses differed substantially across population subgroups. Increasing testing efforts and innovative strategies to reach undiagnosed PWH are needed to offset this diagnosis gap. These analyses may be used to inform future estimates of HIV transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Viguerie
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), Quantitative Sciences Branch (QSB)
| | - Ruiguang Song
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), Quantitative Sciences Branch (QSB)
| | - Anna Satcher Johnson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), HIV Surveillance Branch (HSB)
| | - Cynthia M. Lyles
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), Quantitative Sciences Branch (QSB)
| | - Angela Hernandez
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), HIV Surveillance Branch (HSB)
| | - Paul G. Farnham
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Division of HIV Prevention (DHP), Quantitative Sciences Branch (QSB)
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21
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Volkow P, Lárraga-Mancilla V, Mendoza MJ, Cornejo-Juárez P, Islas-Muñoz B, Pérez-Jiménez C, Alatorre-Fernández P, Martin-Onraet A. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the care of people living with HIV and cancer at an oncologic center in Mexico. Int J STD AIDS 2023; 34:159-167. [PMID: 36527188 PMCID: PMC9760499 DOI: 10.1177/09564624221142364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People living with HIV(PLWH) and cancer are among the most vulnerable patients and require constant access to medical services. We compared the characteristics of PLWH and cancer in Mexico, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Patients admitted 1 year before (pre-pandemic) and 1 year after the start of the pandemic (pandemic) were included. Clinical characteristics, HIV-related variables, and 90-day mortality were compared. Data are described a proportions (N,%) and central tendency measures. A multiple regression model for variables associated with 90-day mortality was performed. RESULTS Seventy-nine patients were seen in the pre-pandemic period; 92 during the pandemic. Main diagnoses were Kaposi Sarcoma and lymphoma. CD4+ cell count at diagnosis was lower during the pandemic: 81 cells/mm3 vs. 128 cells/mm3, p = .035. CD4+<100 cells/mm3 at first consultation increased from 41% to 58% during the pandemic (p = .041). Only BMI <20 kg/m2 was associated to death (aOR 8.27, 95%CI 1.74-39.25) (p = .008). The pandemic period was not associated with a higher 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS PLWH and cancer presented to care with advanced disease overall. This was more pronounced during the pandemic period. Mortality was associated with AIDS-related variables regardless of study period. This underscores the need for strategies to maintain in-person access to health-care services for PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexandra Martin-Onraet
- Alexandra Martin-Onraet, Infectious
Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Av. San
Fernando No. 22, Col. Belisario Domínguez, Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Ciudad de
México 14080, México.
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22
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Mann LM, Sanchez T, Stephenson R, Sullivan PS, Jenness SM. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Post-Lockdown Era. Am J Mens Health 2023; 17:15579883231168602. [PMID: 37081746 PMCID: PMC10119652 DOI: 10.1177/15579883231168602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions to sexual health services and changes to sexual behavior due to the first COVID-19 lockdowns were common among U.S. gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Less is known about the persistence of these changes after this initial lockdown period. These changes have long-term implications for HIV prevention for current and future pandemic periods. This study collected information on COVID-related impacts on sexual behavior and HIV-related health service disruptions from a cohort of U.S. GBMSM at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed that COVID-related disruptions to sexual behavior continued from early lockdown periods through December 2020. Although early interruptions to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access resolved in later 2020 and interruptions to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence were minimal, extended disruptions were observed in HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, HIV care clinical visits, and HIV viral load testing. Although sexual behavior did not return to prepandemic levels in late 2020, the reduced access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services during this period could result in an overall increased HIV transmission rate, with long-term impacts to the trajectory of the U.S. HIV epidemic. Additional resources and programs are needed to address challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as prepare for future potential pandemics and other disruptive events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Mann
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Travis Sanchez
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rob Stephenson
- Department of Systems, Populations, and Leadership, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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23
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Wang L, Zhao N, Wang Y, Sun K, Wang Y, Huang S, Yao F, Guo X, Yang Y, Ma C, Liu S. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dynamic COVID-zero strategy on HIV incidence and mortality in China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:361. [PMID: 36800946 PMCID: PMC9938685 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15268-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Chinese government implemented the dynamic COVID-zero strategy. We hypothesized that pandemic mitigation measures might have reduced the incidence, mortality rates, and case fatality ratios (CFRs) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2020-2022. METHOD We collected HIV incidence and mortality data from the website of the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China from January 2015 to December 2022. We compared the observed and predicted HIV values in 2020-2022 with those in 2015-2019 using a two-ratio Z-test. RESULTS From January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022, a total of 480,747 HIV incident cases were reported in mainland China, of which 60,906 (per year) and 58,739 (per year) were reported in 2015-2019 (pre-COVID-19 stage) and 2020-2022 (post-COVID-19 stage), respectively. The average yearly HIV incidence decreased by 5.2450% (from 4.4143 to 4.1827 per 100,000 people, p < 0.001) in 2020-2022 compared with that in 2015-2019. However, the average yearly HIV mortality rates and CFRs increased by 14.1076 and 20.4238%, respectively (all p < 0.001), in 2020-2022 compared with those in 2015-2019. During the emergency phase in January 2020 to April 2020, the monthly incidence was significantly lower (23.7158%) than that during the corresponding period in 2015-2019, while the incidence during the routine stage in May 2020-December 2022 increased by 27.4334%, (all p < 0.001). The observed incidence and mortality rates for HIV decreased by 16.55 and 18.1052% in 2020, by 25.1274 and 20.2136% in 2021, and by 39.7921 and 31.7535% in 2022, respectively, compared with the predicted values, (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that China's dynamic COVID-zero strategy may have partly disrupted HIV transmission and further slowed down its growth. Without China's dynamic COVID-zero strategy, HIV incidence and deaths in the country would have likely remained high in 2020-2022. There is an urgent need to expand and improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment, as well as surveillance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Geriatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003 China ,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Aging and Physic-chemical Injury Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003 China
| | - Na Zhao
- grid.440646.40000 0004 1760 6105School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002 Anhui Province China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Immunology, Basic Medical School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166 China
| | - Kaili Sun
- grid.28703.3e0000 0000 9040 3743College of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124 China
| | - Yike Wang
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510315 Guangdong Province China
| | - Shufang Huang
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510315 Guangdong Province China
| | - Feng Yao
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050 China
| | - Yunmei Yang
- Department of Geriatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Aging and Physic-chemical Injury Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Chenjin Ma
- College of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
| | - Shelan Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, Zhejiang Province, China.
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24
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Nowack N, Skaletz-Rorowski A, Potthoff A. [Sexually transmitted infections under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic]. DERMATOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 74:129-136. [PMID: 36688954 PMCID: PMC9869301 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-022-05099-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Germany are constantly rising. STI screening and testing decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to redistribution of public health resources. During the pandemic, there was a decline in the diagnosis of STIs. A minor aspect of this could be explained by reductions in the number of sexual contacts and therefore actual reduced infections, but the greater aspect seems to be due to underdiagnosis. A dramatic surge of infections is expected in the next few years. It is of utmost importance to resume STI screening for early detection and treatment and thereby lowering the transmission of STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Nowack
- WIR - Walk In Ruhr, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, St. Elisabeth-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Große Beckstr. 12, 44787, Bochum, Deutschland
- Interdisziplinäre Immunologische Ambulanz, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Adriane Skaletz-Rorowski
- WIR - Walk In Ruhr, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, St. Elisabeth-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Große Beckstr. 12, 44787, Bochum, Deutschland
- Interdisziplinäre Immunologische Ambulanz, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Anja Potthoff
- WIR - Walk In Ruhr, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, St. Elisabeth-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Große Beckstr. 12, 44787, Bochum, Deutschland.
- Interdisziplinäre Immunologische Ambulanz, Zentrum für Sexuelle Gesundheit und Medizin, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland.
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25
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Goodreau SM, Delaney KP, Zhu W, Smith DK, Mann LM, Sanchez TH, Hamilton DT, Hoover KW. Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviors, HIV prevention and care among men who have sex with men: A comparison of New York City and Metropolitan Atlanta. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282503. [PMID: 36943832 PMCID: PMC10030006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted HIV prevention, care, and transmission opportunities. This likely varies by geography, given differences in COVID-19 burden and mandates over time, and by age, given different likelihoods of severe COVID-19 consequences. We consider changes in sexual behavior, HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and antiretroviral therapy (ART) use among men who have sex with men (MSM) over the first year of the COVID-19 epidemic, comparing the Atlanta metropolitan area and New York City (NYC). We use two continuous time-series datasets and one panel dataset, assessing changes over time within city and comparing across cities, and disaggregate major findings by age. For clinical results, ART use showed by far the smallest reductions, and testing the largest. Disruptions occurred concurrently between cities, despite the major wave of COVID-19, and government mandates, occurring later in Atlanta. Test positivity increased in NYC only. In both cities, younger MSM saw the greatest reductions in testing and PrEP use, but the smallest in sexual behavior. Reduced clinical service usage would be unconcerning if stemming solely from reductions in exposure; however, the patterns for young MSM suggest that the COVID-19 epidemic likely generated new conditions for increased HIV transmission, especially in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Goodreau
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kevin P Delaney
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Weiming Zhu
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Dawn K Smith
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Laura M Mann
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Travis H Sanchez
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Deven T Hamilton
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Karen W Hoover
- Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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26
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Pyra M, Schafer T, Rusie L, Houlberg M, Thompson HM, Hazra A. Temporary changes in STI & HIV testing & diagnoses across different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago IL. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1072700. [PMID: 37206577 PMCID: PMC10188963 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1072700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While the U.S. has seen a sustained rise in STI cases over the past decade, the impact of the COVID-19 on STIs and HIV is unclear. Methods To examine the short- and medium-term impacts of COVID-19 and HIV and STI testing and diagnosis, we compared pre-pandemic trends to three periods of the pandemic: early- pandemic, March-May 2020; mid-pandemic June 2020-May 2021; and late-pandemic, June 2021-May 2022. We compared average number of monthly tests and diagnoses, overall and by gender, as well as the monthly change (slope) in testing and diagnoses. Results We find that after decreases in average monthly STI and HIV testing and diagnoses during the early- and mid-pandemic, cases were largely back to pre-pandemic levels by the late-pandemic, with some variation by gender. Conclusion Changes in testing and diagnoses varied by phase of the pandemic. Some key populations may require additional outreach efforts to attain pre-pandemic testing levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pyra
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
- Institute for Sexual & Gender Minority Health & Wellbeing, Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Correspondence: Maria Pyra
| | - Tommy Schafer
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Laura Rusie
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Magda Houlberg
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Hale M. Thompson
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Anu Hazra
- Department of Data, Evaluation, & Epidemiology, Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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27
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Chandra C, Morris M, Van Meter C, Goodreau SM, Sanchez T, Janulis P, Birkett M, Jenness SM. Comparing Sexual Network Mean Active Degree Measurement Metrics Among Men Who Have Sex With Men. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:808-814. [PMID: 36112005 PMCID: PMC9669154 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001708] [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: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mean active degree is an important proxy measure of cross-sectional network connectivity commonly used in HIV/sexually transmitted infection epidemiology research. No current studies have compared measurement methods of mean degree using a cross-sectional study design for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. We compared mean degree estimates based on reported ongoing main and casual sexual partnerships (current method) against dates of first and last sex (retrospective method). METHODS We used data from ARTnet, a cross-sectional survey of MSM in the United States (2017-2019). ARTnet collected data on the number and types of sexual partners in the past year, limited to the 5 most recent partners (data truncation). We quantified partnerships for months 0 to 12 before the survey date (retrospective method) and compared that with ongoing partnerships on the day of survey (current method). We used linear regression to understand the impact of truncated partnership data on mean degree estimation. RESULTS The retrospective method yielded similar degree estimates to the current for months proximate to the day of survey. The retrospective method mean degree systematically decreased as the month increased from 0 to 12 months before survey date. This was driven by data truncation: among participants with >5 partners in the past year compared with those with ≤5, the average change in main partnership degree between 12 and 0 months before survey date was -0.05 (95% confidence interval, -0.08 to -0.03) after adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, and education. The adjusted average change in casual partnership degree was -0.40 (95% confidence interval, -0.45 to -0.35). CONCLUSIONS The retrospective method underestimates mean degree for MSM in surveys with truncated partnership data, especially for casual partnerships. The current method is less prone to bias from partner truncation when the target population has high rate of partners per year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Chandra
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollin School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Martina Morris
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Connor Van Meter
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollin School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Travis Sanchez
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollin School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Patrick Janulis
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Michelle Birkett
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Samuel M. Jenness
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollin School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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28
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Beste LA, Keddem S, Borgerding J, Lowy E, Gardella C, McFarland L, Comstock E, Fonseca GA, Van Epps P, Ohl M, Hauser RG, Ross D, Maier MM. Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing in the National Veterans Health Administration Patient Cohort During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac433. [PMID: 36514443 PMCID: PMC9452156 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We performed a retrospective study of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during 2019-2021. Methods We determined the annual number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV tests from 2019 through 2021 using electronic health record data. We calculated rates by age, birth sex, race, census region, rurality, HIV status, and use of preexposure prophylaxis. Results The VHA system experienced a 24% drop in chlamydia/gonorrhea testing, a 25% drop in syphilis testing, and a 29% drop in HIV testing in 2020 versus 2019. By the conclusion of 2021, testing rates had recovered to 90% of baseline for chlamydia/gonorrhea, 91% for syphilis, and 88% for HIV. Declines and subsequent improvements in sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing occurred unequally across age, sex, race, and geographic groups. Testing for all 4 STIs in 2021 remained below baseline in rural Veterans. Excluding those aged <25 years, women experienced a steeper decline and slower recovery in chlamydia/gonorrhea testing relative to men, but quicker recovery in HIV testing. Asian Americans and Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders had a steeper decline and a slower recovery in testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea. Black and White Veterans had slower recovery in HIV testing compared with other race groups. People living with HIV experienced a smaller drop in testing for syphilis compared with people without HIV, followed by a near-total recovery of testing by 2021. Conclusions After dramatic reductions from 2019 to 2020, STI testing rates returned to near-baseline in 2021. Testing recovery lagged in rural, female, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Black Veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Beste
- Correspondence: Lauren A. Beste, MD, MSc, VA Puget Sound Health Care System,1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108 ()
| | - Shimrit Keddem
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joleen Borgerding
- Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elliott Lowy
- Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Carolyn Gardella
- Gynecology Service, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lorenzo McFarland
- Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Emily Comstock
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Giuseppe Allan Fonseca
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Puja Van Epps
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System,Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Ohl
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Ronald G Hauser
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David Ross
- Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Jenness SM, Le Guillou A, Lyles C, Bernstein KT, Krupinsky K, Enns EA, Sullivan PS, Delaney KP. The Role of HIV Partner Services in the Modern Biomedical HIV Prevention Era: A Network Modeling Study. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:801-807. [PMID: 36194831 PMCID: PMC9668377 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001711] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV partner services can accelerate the use of antiretroviral-based HIV prevention tools (antiretroviral therapy [ART] and preexposure prophylaxis [PrEP]), but its population impact on long-term HIV incidence reduction is challenging to quantify with traditional partner services metrics of partner identified or HIV screened. Understanding the role of partner services within the portfolio of HIV prevention interventions, including using it to efficiently deliver antiretrovirals, is needed to achieve HIV prevention targets. METHODS We used a stochastic network model of HIV/sexually transmitted infection transmission for men who have sex with men, calibrated to surveillance-based estimates in the Atlanta area, a jurisdiction with high HIV burden and suboptimal partner services uptake. Model scenarios varied successful delivery of partner services cascade steps (newly diagnosed "index" patient and partner identification, partner HIV screening, and linkage or reengagement of partners in PrEP or ART care) individually and jointly. RESULTS At current levels observed in Atlanta, removal of HIV partner services had minimal impact on 10-year cumulative HIV incidence, as did improving a single partner services step while holding the others constant. These changes did not sufficiently impact overall PrEP or ART coverage to reduce HIV transmission. If all index patients and partners were identified, maximizing partner HIV screening, partner PrEP provision, partner ART linkage, and partner ART reengagement would avert 6%, 11%, 5%, and 18% of infections, respectively. Realistic improvements in partner identification and service delivery were estimated to avert 2% to 8% of infections, depending on the combination of improvements. CONCLUSIONS Achieving optimal HIV prevention with partner services depends on pairing improvements in index patient and partner identification with maximal delivery of HIV screening, ART, and PrEP to partners if indicated. Improving the identification steps without improvement to antiretroviral service delivery steps, or vice versa, is projected to result in negligible population HIV prevention benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kyle T. Bernstein
- STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Eva A. Enns
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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30
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Rezaeian A, Ahmadi Pishkuhi M, Oliveira Reis L, Aghamir SMK. Sexuality Transmitted Infection in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Non-Pandemic Time. Am J Mens Health 2022; 16:15579883221134900. [PMID: 36412243 PMCID: PMC9692181 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221134900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the SARS-CoV-2 infection as a pandemic. The pandemic itself in addition to its containment measures affects individuals' lifestyles and welfare including their sexual behaviors. Thus, we hypothesized that sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence may be changed and so we evaluate urethritis incidence as the most common STI in men and some other related factors. Two cross-sectional surveys during the first 6 months of 2019 and 2020 were undertaken and data were collected from 11 urology offices located in different parts of the capital city. In total, 34,611 male participants were included in our study, and 191 (.55%) patients' clinical diagnoses were urethritis. The urethritis incidence significantly decreased from 149 of 17,950 (.83%) to 42 of 16,661 (.25%) individuals in the same period of the years 2019 and 2020, respectively (p-value < .001). There was a higher percentage of single (p-value = .049) and older (p-value < .001) urethritis patients in the first 6 months of the year 2020 compared with 2019. Our survey provided urethritis incidence, demographics, symptoms, and treatment characterization. As our results show, the proportion of urethritis patients in all populations admitted to urologist offices had dramatically decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with prior. The indirect effects of the pandemic and its containment measures on people's sexual health should be noticed and an appropriate reaction and policy-making are recommended to manage issues properly in different aspects of sexual health.
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Affiliation(s)
- AhmadReza Rezaeian
- Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Urology Research Center, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahin Ahmadi Pishkuhi
- Urology Research Center, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Pars Advanced & Minimally Invasive
Medical Manners Research Center, Pars General Hospital, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leonardo Oliveira Reis
- UroScience and Department of Surgery
(Urology), School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Unicamp, and
Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir
- Urology Research Center, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir, Urology
Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Hassan
Abad Sq., Imam Khomeini Ave., Tehran, Iran.
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31
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Thorington R, Sawatzky P, Lefebvre B, Diggle M, Hoang L, Patel S, Van Caessele P, Minion J, Garceau R, Matheson M, Haldane D, Gravel G, Mulvey MR, Martin I. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada, 2020. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2022; 48:571-579. [PMID: 38298531 PMCID: PMC10829890 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v48i1112a10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background The Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme is a passive surveillance system that has monitored antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada since the 1980s. This article summarizes the demographics, antimicrobial resistances and NG-MAST (N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing) for cultures collected in 2020. Methods The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg received resistant N. gonorrhoeae cultures from provincial and territorial public health laboratories. Agar dilution was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations to ten antimicrobials for all cultures received at NML, according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The NG-MAST typing was also determined for each culture. Results A total of 3,130 N. gonorrhoeae cases were cultured across Canada in 2020; a 36% decrease from 2019 (n=4,859). The level of decreased susceptibility to cefixime increased significantly between 2016 and 2020 to 2.8% (p=0.0054). Decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone declined significantly between 2016 (1.8%) and 2020 to 0.9% (p=0.001), and there was no significant change with azithromycin between 2016 (7.2%) and 2020 (6.1%). The proportion of cultures with an azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≥1 mg/L increased significantly from 11.6% in 2016 to 15.3% in 2020 (p=0.0017). The most common NG-MAST type in Canada for 2020 was sequence type (ST)-11461, while ST-12302 was most commonly associated with azithromycin resistance and ST-16639 with cephalosporin decreased susceptibility. Conclusion Antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae remains an important public health concern and continued surveillance is imperative to monitor trends to ensure the recommended therapies will be the most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Thorington
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Pamela Sawatzky
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | | | - Mathew Diggle
- Provincial Laboratory of Public Health Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Linda Hoang
- British Columbia Centres for Disease Control Public Health Microbiology & Reference Laboratory, Vancouver, BC
| | - Samir Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON
| | | | | | - Richard Garceau
- Dr. Georges L. Dumont University Hospital Centre, Moncton, NB
| | - Myrna Matheson
- Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT
| | - David Haldane
- Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre, Halifax, NS
| | - Genevieve Gravel
- Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Michael R Mulvey
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB
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D'Avanzo PA, LoSchiavo CE, Krause KD, Karr A, Halkitis PN. Biological, Behavioral, and Demographic Drivers of Recent Syphilis Infection Among Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men in New York City: The P18 Cohort Study. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2022; 36:416-424. [PMID: 36367994 PMCID: PMC9700354 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2022.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rate of syphilis infections among sexual minority men (SMM) has continued to increase in recent decades. As such, this analysis sought to identify demographic, biological, and behavioral factors associated with recent syphilis infection in emerging adult SMM. Data were drawn from a 3-year cohort study of emerging adult SMM (n = 665), from July 2014 to March 2019. Biannual study assessments included rapid HIV testing and behavioral surveys. At baseline, and at the 18- and 36-month time points, participants underwent chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis screening. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate four models of repeated syphilis screening. In this racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of SMM, 5.0% of participants tested positive for syphilis at baseline and 9.0% had an infection at the subsequent time points. Across all models, racial/ethnic minority SMM had higher odds of syphilis. Higher odds of syphilis infection were also significantly associated with more frequent condomless anal sex, more frequent marijuana use, HIV seropositivity, not currently using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and not receiving syphilis testing in the previous 6 months; lower odds were associated with more frequent oral sex and more frequent alcohol use. These findings support current screening guidelines based on SMM who may be at increased risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition, such as people living with HIV or those who engage in condomless sex. Further, our findings of reduced syphilis incidence among those who are on PrEP and engaged in regular STI testing support existing efforts to increase the availability and accessibility of preventive sexual health care for SMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. D'Avanzo
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Caleb E. LoSchiavo
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kristen D. Krause
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Urban-Global Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Anita Karr
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Perry N. Halkitis
- Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Urban-Global Health, Rutgers School of Public Health, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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33
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Intersecting epidemics: the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the HIV prevention and care continua in the United States. AIDS 2022; 36:1749-1759. [PMID: 35730392 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the broad impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HIV prevention and care in the United States with a focus on the status-neutral HIV care continuum. DESIGN We conducted an editorial review of peer-reviewed literature on the topics of HIV-risk behaviors, sexually transmitted illness (STI) and HIV prevalence, HIV prevention and treatment trends, and evolving practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS For relevant literature, we reviewed, summarized, and categorized into themes that span the HIV prevention and care continua, including sexual risk behaviors, mental health, and substance use. RESULTS We identified important changes within each component of the HIV care continuum across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifts in prevention practices, engagement with care, care provision, medication adherence, testing, and prevalence rates were observed during the pandemic. CONCLUSION Although heightened disparities for people at risk for, and living with, HIV were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, many health systems and clinics have achieved and maintained engagement in HIV prevention and care. This review highlights barriers and innovative solutions that can support durable and accessible health systems through future public health crises.
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34
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Mirzaei H, Moradi Y, Abbaszadeh S, Nasiri N, Mehmandoost S, Khezri M, Tavakoli F, Sharifi H. The Impact of COVID-19 on Disruptions of HIV-related Services: A Rapid Review. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2022; 36:98. [PMID: 36419948 PMCID: PMC9588155 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.36.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) and those at risk of HIV are marginalized worldwide and need to reach services regularly. The COVID-19 pandemic can disrupt the HIV care continuum. This study aimed to identify the extent to which HIV-related services have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can overcome these challenges. Methods: In this rapid review, we systematically searched PubMed and Scopus databases, the references of studies, international agencies, and studies "cited by" feature in google scholar till May 28, 2021, without restrictions to language. Results: Among the total of 1,121 studies, 31 of them were included in the review. The most important HIV-related services affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were; access to anti-retroviral drugs, HIV testing, periodic HIV-related testing in people living with HIV (PLHIV), pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, harm reduction services, psychological and counseling services. Some factors were introduced to mitigate the effects of these challenges, including increasing the resilience of health, protecting health care workers and their clients against COVID-19 through vaccination, providing HIV-related services through telehealth, and multi-month dispensing (MMD) of medicines. Conclusion: The results of this review study showed that PLHIV had difficulty in accessing follow-up, care and treatment services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs such as the MMD or telemedicine can be useful in providing services to PLHIV during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Mirzaei
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Yousef Moradi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran , Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran, Corresponding author:Yousef Moradi,
| | - Samaneh Abbaszadeh
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Naser Nasiri
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Soheil Mehmandoost
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Khezri
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tavakoli
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hamid Sharifi
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Corresponding author:Hamid Sharifi,
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Uhrmacher M, Skaletz-Rorowski A, Nambiar S, Schmidt AJ, Ahaus P, Serova K, Mordhorst I, Kayser A, Wach J, Tiemann C, Münstermann D, Brockmeyer NH, Potthoff A. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany. Front Public Health 2022; 10:930208. [PMID: 36091531 PMCID: PMC9449641 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.930208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Since 2017, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care has been provided through an intersectoral collaboration at WIR (Walk-in-Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany). The aim of this study was to establish possible impact of COVID-restrictions on the sexual behavior of PrEP users in North Rhine-Westphalia. Methods The current PrEP study collected data of individuals using PrEP, their sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before (each quarter of year 2018) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (each quarter of year 2020). Results During the first lockdown in Germany from mid-March until May 2020, PrEP-care appointments at WIR were postponed or canceled. Almost a third of PrEP users had discontinued their PrEP intake in the 2nd quarter of 2020 due to alteration of their sexual behavior. The number of sexual partners decreased from a median of 14 partners in the previous 6 months in 1st quarter of 2020, to 7 partners in 4th quarter of 2020. Despite such a significant reduction in partner number during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic period, a steady rate of STIs was observed among PrEP users in 2020. Conclusion The SARS-CoV-2-pandemic has impacted PrEP-using MSM in North Rhine-Westphalia with respect to their PrEP intake regimen and sexual behavior in 2020. Our study revealed a steady rate of STI among PrEP users even during the pandemic, thus highlighting the importance of ensuring appropriate HIV/STI prevention services in times of crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Uhrmacher
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - A. Skaletz-Rorowski
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - S. Nambiar
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - A. J. Schmidt
- Sigma Research, Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - P. Ahaus
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - K. Serova
- Institute of Educational Research, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - I. Mordhorst
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - A. Kayser
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Aidshilfe Bochum e.V. (Aids-Service Organization Bochum), Bochum, Germany
| | - J. Wach
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Local Health Department Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - C. Tiemann
- Laboratory Krone, Bad Salzuflen, Germany
| | | | - N. H. Brockmeyer
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - A. Potthoff
- WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany,Interdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany,*Correspondence: A. Potthoff
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Schumacher CM, Thornton N, Wagner J, Tilchin C, Ghanem KG, Hamill MM, Latkin C, Rompalo A, Ruhs S, Greenbaum A, Jennings JM. Sexually Transmitted Infection Transmission Dynamics During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Among Urban Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:e1137-e1144. [PMID: 35169833 PMCID: PMC8903324 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab1053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation measures on sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission and racial disparities remains unknown. Our objectives were to compare sex and drug risk behaviors, access to sexual health services, and STI positivity overall and by race during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with pre-pandemic among urban sexual minority men (MSM). METHODS Sexually active MSM aged 18-45 years were administered a behavioral survey and STI testing every 3-months. Participants who completed at least 1 during-pandemic (April 2020-December 2020) and 1 pre-pandemic study visit (before 13 March 2020) that occurred less than 6 months apart were included. Regression models were used to compare during- and pre-pandemic visit outcomes. RESULTS Overall, among 231 MSM, reports of more than 3 sex partners declined(pandemic-1: adjusted prevalence ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval: .54-.86; pandemic-2: 0.65, .51-.84; pandemic-3: 0.57, .43-.75), substance use decreased (pandemic-1: 0.75, .61-.75; pandemic-2: 0.62, .50-.78; pandemic-3: 0.61, .47-.80), and human immunodeficiency virus/preexposure prophylaxis care engagement (pandemic-1: 1.20, 1.07-1.34; pandemic-2: 1.24, 1.11-1.39; pandemic-3: 1.30, 1.16-1.47) increased. STI testing decreased (pandemic-1: 0.68, .57-.81; pandemic-2: 0.78, .67-.92), then rebounded (pandemic-3: 1.01, .87-1.18). Nei-ther Chlamydia (pandemic-2: 1.62, .75-3.46; pandemic-3: 1.13, .24-1.27) nor gonorrhea (pandemic-2: 0.87, .46 1.62; pandemic-3: 0.56, .24-1.27) positivity significantly changed during vs pre-pandemic. Trends were mostly similar among Black vs. non-Black MSM. CONCLUSIONS We observed sustained decreases in STI risk behaviors but minimal change in STI positivity during compared with pre-pandemic. Our findings underscore the need for novel STI prevention strategies that can be delivered without in-person interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Schumacher
- Center for Child and Community Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicole Thornton
- Center for Child and Community Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jessica Wagner
- Center for Child and Community Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carla Tilchin
- Center for Child and Community Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Khalil G Ghanem
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew M Hamill
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- STI/HIV Program, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carl Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne Rompalo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Adena Greenbaum
- STI/HIV Program, Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacky M Jennings
- Center for Child and Community Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Chase Brexton Health Services, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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37
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Xiridou M, Adam P, Meiberg A, Visser M, Matser A, de Wit J, Op de Coul E. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatitis B virus vaccination and transmission among men who have sex with men: a mathematical modelling study. Vaccine 2022; 40:4889-4896. [PMID: 35810058 PMCID: PMC9250904 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.06.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Xiridou
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Philippe Adam
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Institute for Prevention and Social Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Annemarie Meiberg
- National Coordination Centre for Communicable Disease Control, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Maartje Visser
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Amy Matser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity (AII), Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - John de Wit
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Eline Op de Coul
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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Labs J, Nunn AS, Chan PA, Bessey S, Park CJ, Marshall BDL, Patel RR, Mena LA, Goedel WC. Projected Effects of Disruptions to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Among Black/African American Men Who Have Sex With Men in an Ending the HIV Epidemic Priority Jurisdiction. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac274. [PMID: 35855962 PMCID: PMC9214131 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac274] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Disruptions in access to in-person human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a negative impact on our progress towards the Ending the HIV Epidemic goals in the United States. Methods We used an agent-based model to simulate HIV transmission among Black/African American men who have sex with men in Mississippi over 5 years to estimate how different reductions in access affected the number of undiagnosed HIV cases, new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) starts, and HIV incidence. Results We found that each additional 25% decrease in HIV testing and PrEP initiation was associated with decrease of 20% in the number of cases diagnosed and 23% in the number of new PrEP starts, leading to a 15% increase in HIV incidence from 2020 to 2022. Conclusions Unmet need for HIV testing and PrEP prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic may temporarily increase HIV incidence in the years immediately after the disruption period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Labs
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Amy S Nunn
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Philip A Chan
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - S Bessey
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Carolyn J Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Brandon D L Marshall
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Rupa R Patel
- John T. Milliken Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Leandro A Mena
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - William C Goedel
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Mumtaz GR, Chemaitelly H, AlMukdad S, Osman A, Fahme S, Rizk NA, El Feki S, Abu-Raddad LJ. Status of the HIV epidemic in key populations in the Middle East and north Africa: knowns and unknowns. Lancet HIV 2022; 9:e506-e516. [PMID: 35777412 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(22)00093-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Middle East and north Africa is one of only two world regions where HIV incidence is on the rise, with most infections occurring among key populations: people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and female sex workers. In this Review, we show a trend of increasing HIV prevalence among the three key populations in the Middle East and north Africa. Although the epidemic continues at a low level in some countries or localities within a country, there is evidence for concentrated epidemics, with sustained transmission at considerable HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men in over half of countries in the region with data, and among female sex workers in several countries. Most epidemics emerged around 2003 or thereafter. The status of the epidemic among key populations remains unknown in several countries due to persistent data gaps. The HIV response in Middle East and north Africa remains far below global targets for prevention, testing, and treatment. It is hindered by underfunding, poor surveillance, and stigma, all of which are compounded by widespread conflict and humanitarian crises, and most recently, the advent of COVID-19. Investment is needed to put the region on track towards the target of eliminating HIV/AIDS as a global health threat by 2030. Reaching this target will not be possible without tailoring the response to the needs of key populations, while addressing, to the extent possible, the complex structural and operational barriers to success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghina R Mumtaz
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Hiam Chemaitelly
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sawsan AlMukdad
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aisha Osman
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sasha Fahme
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nesrine A Rizk
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Shereen El Feki
- Regional Support Team for the Middle East and North Africa, The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Laith J Abu-Raddad
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar; Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Tao G, Dietz S, Hartnett KP, Jayanthi P, Gift TL. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Tests Performed by a Large National Laboratory-United States, 2019 to 2020. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:490-496. [PMID: 35470348 PMCID: PMC9196917 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions were anticipated in the US health care system for routine preventive and other nonemergency care, including sexually transmitted infection care. METHODS Using a large national laboratory data set, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the weekly numbers and percent positivity of chlamydia and gonorrhea tests ordered from the 5th week of 2019 to the 52nd week of 2020 in the United States. We compared weekly 2020 values for test volume, percent positive, and number of positives with the same week in 2019. We also examined the potential impact of stay-at-home orders for the month of April 2020. RESULTS Immediately after the declaration of a national emergency for COVID-19 (week 11, 2020), the weekly number of gonorrhea and chlamydia tests steeply decreased. Tests then rebounded toward the 2019 pre-COVID-19 level beginning the 15th week of 2020. The weekly percent positive of chlamydia and gonorrhea remained consistently higher in 2020. In April 2020, the overall number of chlamydia tests was reduced by 53.0% (54.1% in states with stay-at-home orders vs. 45.5% in states without stay-at-home orders), whereas the percent positive of chlamydia and gonorrhea tests increased by 23.5% and 79.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS To limit the impact of the pandemic on control of chlamydia and gonorrhea, public health officials and health care providers can assess measures put in place during the pandemic and develop new interventions to enable care for sexually transmitted infections to be delivered under pandemic and other emergency conditions. The assessment like this study is continuously needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephanie Dietz
- DHIS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Ivarsson L, de Arriba Sánchez de la Campa M, Elfving K, Yin H, Gullsby K, Stark L, Andersen B, Hoffmann S, Gylfe Å, Unemo M, Herrmann B. Changes in testing and incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae – the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the three Scandinavian countries. Infect Dis (Lond) 2022; 54:623-631. [DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2022.2071461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lovisa Ivarsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magdalena de Arriba Sánchez de la Campa
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Elfving
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Falu Hospital, Falun, Sweden
| | - Hong Yin
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Falu Hospital, Falun, Sweden
| | - Karolina Gullsby
- Centre for Research and Development, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg, Gävle, Sweden
| | - Lisa Stark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Berit Andersen
- University Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark
- Department for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Steen Hoffmann
- Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Åsa Gylfe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
- Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Björn Herrmann
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Corneli A, Perry B, Taylor J, Beckford J, Molokwu N, Reif S, Wilson J, Gulden C, Bickham J, Siren J, Thompson W, Clement ME. HIV Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sexual Activity and PrEP Use Among Black Same-Gender-Loving Men and Black Cisgender Women. AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR AIDS EDUCATION 2022; 34:142-157. [PMID: 35438538 PMCID: PMC9534043 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.2.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Black populations in the U.S. South are disproportionally affected by HIV and COVID-19 due to longstanding inequalities. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews-12 with Black same-gender-loving men and 8 with Black cisgender women-to explore the impact of the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual activities and PrEP use. Almost all participants reduced the frequency of sex and number of partners. Women described little interest in sex, whereas men began to connect with some sexual partners after stay-at-home orders were lifted. Both populations were concerned about contracting COVID-19 through sexual partners, and men described selecting partners based on perceived COVID-19 risk. Participants valued PrEP and could access it, although several men who were not having sex stopped taking it. Risk of acquiring HIV during this time was likely limited. Future qualitative research is needed to understand how sexual behaviors and PrEP use changed as the pandemic continued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Corneli
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC
| | - Brian Perry
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Jamilah Taylor
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Jeremy Beckford
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Orleans, LA
| | - Nneka Molokwu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Susan Reif
- Center for Health Policy and Inequities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | | | | | - Jacquelyn Bickham
- Louisiana Department of Health STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program, New Orleans, LA
| | - Julia Siren
- CrescentCare Federally Qualified Health Center, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Meredith E. Clement
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Orleans, LA
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Van Gerwen OT, Talluri R, Camino AF, Mena LA, Chamberlain N, Ford EW, Eaton EF, Muzny CA. Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Preferences for Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Southeastern United States: Implications for a Post-COVID-19 Era. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:208-215. [PMID: 34535613 PMCID: PMC8821133 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing preferences for location, staffing, and hours of operation among Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the Southeastern United States, a population at high risk for HIV/STIs. We used a discrete choice experiment to explore these preferences. METHODS Young Black men who have sex with men ages 16 to 35 years in Birmingham, AL and Jackson, MS completed online surveys evaluating their preferences (best/worst) for HIV/STI testing locations, staffing, hours, method of results notification, and cost. They also selected preferred combinations of these variables through choice tasks. Results were analyzed using joint best/worst and discrete choice experiment models. RESULTS Between June 2018 and December 2019, participants in Alabama (n = 54) and Mississippi (n = 159) completed online surveys. Both groups preferred stationary testing locations over mobile testing vans, with the most significant difference favoring STI testing-only clinics in Mississippi and local health departments in Alabama (P < 0.001). Technician-performed tests or self-testing were significantly less preferred compared with clinician-performed testing for both groups (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Free testing and phone results notification (versus text) were preferred by both groups. The most desirable combination among all participants was weekday clinician-performed testing at the health department for $5. CONCLUSIONS Young Black men who have sex with men in the Southeastern United States prefer traditional testing locations staffed by experienced personnel. Combination choices are influenced by services that are low or no cost. More research is needed to inform the best way(s) to provide affordable, high-quality HIV/STI testing services for YBMSM, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era when sexual health care delivery models are evolving toward home-based and remote health-focused strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia T. Van Gerwen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rajesh Talluri
- Center for Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Andres F. Camino
- University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Leandro A. Mena
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Nicholas Chamberlain
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Eric W. Ford
- Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Ellen F. Eaton
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christina A. Muzny
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Hong C, Horvath KJ, Stephenson R, Nelson KM, Petroll AE, Walsh JL, John SA. PrEP Use and Persistence Among Young Sexual Minority Men 17-24 Years Old During the COVID-19 Pandemic. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:631-638. [PMID: 34387777 PMCID: PMC8361406 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03423-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to health care access for sexual and gender minorities in the U.S. We sought to explore the impact of COVID-19 on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and sexual health services by assessing PrEP eligibility and use, changes in sexual behaviors, and HIV/STI testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed 239 young sexual minority men (YSMM) 17-24 years old between April and September 2020 in the U.S. One-in-seven YSMM PrEP users discontinued use during the pandemic, and all those who discontinued PrEP reported a decrease in sexual activity. Twenty percent reported difficulty getting prescriptions and medications from their doctors or pharmacies, and more than 10% reported challenges accessing HIV/STI testing. Among those who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for PrEP (n = 104), 86.5% were not currently using PrEP. Among those surveyed 3 months or later after the start of major COVID-19 stay-at-home measures (n = 165), 35.8% reported CAS with a causal partner within the past 3 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeking HIV testing was associated with reporting condomless anal sex in the previous 3 months, indicating the necessity for ensuring continuity of basic sexual health services for YSMM. Failure to adequately adjust HIV prevention services and intervention in the face of pandemic-related adversity undermines efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglin Hong
- Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith J Horvath
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rob Stephenson
- Department of Systems, Population and Leadership, School of Nursing & The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kimberly M Nelson
- Department of Community Health Sciences & Department of Psychiatry, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew E Petroll
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA
| | - Jennifer L Walsh
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA
| | - Steven A John
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA.
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Xiridou M, Heijne J, Adam P, Op de Coul E, Matser A, de Wit J, Wallinga J, van Benthem B. How the Disruption in Sexually Transmitted Infection Care Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Could Lead to Increased Sexually Transmitted Infection Transmission Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in The Netherlands: A Mathematical Modeling Study. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:145-153. [PMID: 34475357 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption in care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the social distancing measures have led to reductions in STI testing and sexual behavior. We assessed the impact of these COVID-19-related changes on transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in The Netherlands. METHODS We developed a mathematical model for CT and NG transmission among MSM, accounting for COVID-19-related changes in sexual behavior and testing in 2020 to 2021. Changes in 2020 were estimated from data from the Dutch COVID-19, Sex, and Intimacy Survey among MSM and the National Database of STI Clinics. Because of the lack of data for 2021, we examined several scenarios covering a range of changes. RESULTS A reduction of 10% and 40% in STI testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively, individuals with a 10% to 20% reduction in numbers of casual partners (according to partner status and activity level) during the second lockdown, resulted in a 2.4% increase in CT prevalence, but a 2.8% decline in NG prevalence in 2021. A 5% and 30% reduction in STI testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively, individuals with the same reduction in casual partners resulted in a 0.6% increase in CT prevalence and a 4.9% decrease in NG prevalence in 2021. CONCLUSIONS The disruption in STI care due to COVID-19 might have resulted in a small increase in CT prevalence, but a decrease in NG prevalence. Scaling up STI care is imperative to prevent increases in STI transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Xiridou
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Janneke Heijne
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Eline Op de Coul
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Birgit van Benthem
- From the Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Fojo A, Wallengren E, Schnure M, Dowdy DW, Shah M, Kasaie P. Potential Effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission: A Modeling Study in 32 US Cities. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:e1145-e1153. [PMID: 35016216 PMCID: PMC8755375 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab1029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The degree to which the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will affect the US human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is unclear. METHODS We used the Johns Hopkins Epidemiologic and Economic Model to project HIV infections from 2020 to 2025 in 32 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). We sampled a range of effects of the pandemic on sexual transmission (0-50% reduction), viral suppression among people with HIV (0-40% reduction), HIV testing (0-50% reduction), and pre-exposure prophylaxis use (0-30% reduction), and indexed reductions over time to Google Community Mobility Reports. RESULTS Simulations projected reported diagnoses would drop in 2020 and rebound in 2021 or 2022, regardless of underlying incidence. If sexual transmission normalized by July 2021 and HIV care normalized by January 2022, we projected 1161 (1%) more infections from 2020 to 2025 across all 32 cities than if COVID-19 had not occurred. Among "optimistic" simulations in which sexual transmission was sharply reduced and viral suppression was maintained we projected 8% lower incidence (95% credible interval: 14% lower to no change). Among "pessimistic" simulations where sexual transmission was largely unchanged but viral suppression fell, we projected 11% higher incidence (1-21% higher). MSA-specific projections are available at www.jheem.org?covid. CONCLUSIONS The effects of COVID-19 on HIV transmission remain uncertain and differ between cities. Reported diagnoses of HIV in 2020-2021 are likely to correlate poorly with underlying incidence. Minimizing disruptions to HIV care is critical to mitigating negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Fojo
- Correspondence: A. T. Fojo, 1830 East Monument Street, Room 8060, Baltimore, MD 21205 ()
| | - Emma Wallengren
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa Schnure
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David W Dowdy
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maunank Shah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Parastu Kasaie
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Zapata JP, Dang M, Quinn KG, Horvath KJ, Stephenson R, Dickson-Gomez J, John SA. COVID-19-Related Disruptions to HIV Testing and Prevention Among Young Sexual Minority Men 17-24 Years Old: A Qualitative Study Using Synchronous Online Focus Groups, April-September 2020. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:303-314. [PMID: 34773214 PMCID: PMC8589091 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02166-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV prevention services within the U.S., but few studies have explored this impact through an exploratory, qualitative lens. In this study, we sought to highlight the voices of young sexual minority men (YSMM) 17-24 years old and explored the perceived impact of the pandemic on HIV prevention among a diverse, nationwide sample of YSMM who participated in synchronous online focus group discussions between April and September 2020. Forty-one YSMM described the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV testing and prevention services, including limited and disrupted access to HIV testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. COVID-19-related challenges were compounded by ongoing, pre-COVID-19 barriers experienced by YSMM in the U.S. For instance, many YSMM relocated back home with family, causing men to avoid HIV prevention services for fear of outing themselves to relatives. YSMM also worried about placing their family at increased risk of COVID-19 by attending clinical appointments. YSMM who did seek HIV prevention services, including access to PrEP, experienced significant barriers, including limited appointment availability and services not tailored to YSMM. Further efforts are needed to support YSMM re-engaging in HIV prevention during and after the COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madeline Dang
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA
| | - Katherine G Quinn
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA
| | - Keith J Horvath
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rob Stephenson
- Department of Systems, Population and Leadership, School of Nursing and The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Julia Dickson-Gomez
- Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Steven A John
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA.
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Le Guillou A, Buchbinder S, Scott H, Liu A, Havlir D, Scheer S, Jenness SM. Population Impact and Efficiency of Improvements to HIV PrEP Under Conditions of High ART Coverage Among San Francisco Men Who Have Sex With Men. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 88:340-347. [PMID: 34354011 PMCID: PMC8556308 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key components of Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) plan include increasing HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage. One complication to addressing this service delivery challenge is the wide heterogeneity of HIV burden and health care access across the United States. It is unclear how the effectiveness and efficiency of expanded PrEP will depend on different baseline ART coverage. METHODS We used a network-based model of HIV transmission for men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco. Model scenarios increased varying levels of PrEP coverage relative under current empirical levels of baseline ART coverage and 2 counterfactual levels. We assessed the effectiveness of PrEP with the cumulative percentage of infections averted (PIA) over the next decade and efficiency with the number of additional person-years needed to treat (NNT) by PrEP required to avert one HIV infection. RESULTS In our projections, only the highest levels of combined PrEP and ART coverage achieved the EHE goals. Increasing PrEP coverage up to 75% showed that PrEP effectiveness was higher at higher baseline ART coverage. Indeed, the PIA was 61% in the lowest baseline ART coverage population and 75% in the highest. The efficiency declined with increasing ART (NNT range from 41 to 113). CONCLUSIONS Improving both PrEP and ART coverage would have a synergistic impact on HIV prevention even in a high baseline coverage city such as San Francisco. Efforts should focus on narrowing the implementation gaps to achieve higher levels of PrEP retention and ART sustained viral suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Le Guillou
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University
- Department of Research and Public Health, Reims Teaching Hospitals, Robert Debré Hospital, Reims, France
| | | | - Hyman Scott
- Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health
| | - Albert Liu
- Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health
| | - Diane Havlir
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
| | - Susan Scheer
- Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health
- HIV Epidemiology Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health
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Fojo AT, Schnure M, Kasaie P, Dowdy DW, Shah M. What Will It Take to End HIV in the United States? : A Comprehensive, Local-Level Modeling Study. Ann Intern Med 2021; 174:1542-1553. [PMID: 34543589 PMCID: PMC8595759 DOI: 10.7326/m21-1501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative aims to reduce incident HIV infections by 90% over a span of 10 years. The intensity of interventions needed to achieve this for local epidemics is unclear. OBJECTIVE To estimate the effect of HIV interventions at the city level. DESIGN A compartmental model of city-level HIV transmission stratified by age, race, sex, and HIV risk factor was developed and calibrated. SETTING 32 priority metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). PATIENTS Simulated populations in each MSA. INTERVENTION Combinations of HIV testing and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage among those at risk for HIV, plus viral suppression in persons with diagnosed HIV infection. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was the projected reduction in incident cases from 2020 to 2030. RESULTS Absent intervention, HIV incidence was projected to decrease by 19% across all 32 MSAs. Modest increases in testing (1.25-fold per year), PrEP coverage (5 percentage points), and viral suppression (10 percentage points) across the population could achieve reductions of 34% to 67% by 2030. Twenty-five percent PrEP coverage, testing twice a year on average, and 90% viral suppression among young Black and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) achieved similar reductions (13% to 68%). Including all MSM and persons who inject drugs could reduce incidence by 48% to 90%. Thirteen of 32 MSAs could achieve greater than 90% reductions in HIV incidence with large-scale interventions that include heterosexuals. A web application with location-specific results is publicly available (www.jheem.org). LIMITATION The COVID-19 pandemic was not represented. CONCLUSION Large reductions in HIV incidence are achievable with substantial investment, but the EHE goals will be difficult to achieve in most locations. An interactive model that can help policymakers maximize the effect in their local environments is presented. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Todd Fojo
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (A.T.F., M.S.)
| | - Melissa Schnure
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.S., P.K., D.W.D.)
| | - Parastu Kasaie
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.S., P.K., D.W.D.)
| | - David W Dowdy
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (M.S., P.K., D.W.D.)
| | - Maunank Shah
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (A.T.F., M.S.)
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Walsh AR, Sullivan S, Stephenson R. Are Male Couples Changing Their Sexual Agreements and Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic? AIDS Behav 2021; 25:3798-3803. [PMID: 33860408 PMCID: PMC8048335 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03256-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Sexual agreements are an important element of HIV prevention for many partnered gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This study describes sexual agreement and sexual behavior changes during the 2020 pandemic among a sample of 215 coupled US GBMSM. Overall, reported behavior shifted towards monogamy. Fifteen percent of respondents developed/ended/changed their agreement during the pandemic; the pandemic factored into 85% of reported changes. Individuals reported fewer outside sexual partners compared to the 3 months pre-pandemic. More research is needed to investigate shifting behavior and associated risk in order to adapt HIV services during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Walsh
- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N Ingalls St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Stephen Sullivan
- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rob Stephenson
- Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N Ingalls St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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