Factors associated with recent previous HIV testing among a sample of recently HIV-diagnosed gay men in Australia: a cross-sectional study

Gay community involvement and the sexual health behaviours of sexual minority men: a systematic review and directions for future research

Considerable research has examined how involvement in gay-affiliated communities is associated with sexual health behaviours in sexual minority men (i.e., gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men), yet findings in this domain are often contradictory and inconclusive. This systematic review aimed to (a) synthesise the related empirical literature, and (b) identify potential factors driving inconsistent findings. Peer-reviewed publications were included if they contained quantitative data and at least one measure of the statistical association between gay community involvement and sexual health behaviour. The search strategy was implemented in six databases and returned 6,409 articles, of which 86 met the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity in how gay community involvement was assessed across studies. Although gay community involvement was consistently associated with greater engagement in protective behaviours across studies, the association between gay community involvement and risk behaviours appeared to depend on how gay community involvement was conceptualised and measured (e.g., nightlife involvement vs. political activism). Findings emphasise a need for studies that employ validated measures that reflect the multidimensional nature of gay community involvement, as well as research designs better suited to address the causal effects of community involvement on HIV/STI transmission and prevention.

Exploring community enabling factors associated with recent HIV testing in a regional sample of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

HIV testing and diagnosis are the gateway into treatment and eventual viral suppression. With gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) persistently over-representing new HIV diagnoses in Canada, combined with the evolving nature of community social connection, an exploration of factors associated with recent HIV testing is warranted. As most studies of GBMSM rely on samples obtained from larger metropolitan regions, examining HIV testing from an under-researched region is necessary. With data collected from an online survey of LGBTQ+ persons 16 or older living, working, or residing in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, we used multinomial logistic regression to explore socio-demographic, behavioural, and psychosocial factors associated with recent HIV testing for GBMSM. In the final multivariate multinomial logistic regression model: sense of belonging was associated with more recently testing, as was having an increasing proportion of LGBT friends, app use to find sex partners in the past 12 months, access to the local AIDS service organization, and general sense of belonging to local community, among other. This analysis highlights the continued importance of enabling and need factors when accessing testing, and suggests areas for further testing promotion in physical and virtual spaces frequented by GBMSM.

Using machine learning approaches to predict timely clinic attendance and the uptake of HIV/STI testing post clinic reminder messages

Timely and regular testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) is important for controlling HIV and STI (HIV/STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). We established multiple machine learning models (e.g., logistic regression, lasso regression, ridge regression, elastic net regression, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbour, naïve bayes, random forest, gradient boosting machine, XGBoost, and multi-layer perceptron) to predict timely (i.e., within 30 days) clinic attendance and HIV/STI testing uptake after receiving a reminder message via short message service (SMS) or email). Our study used 3044 clinic consultations among MSM within 12 months after receiving an email or SMS reminder at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between April 11, 2019, and April 30, 2020. About 29.5% [899/3044] were timely clinic attendance post reminder messages, and 84.6% [761/899] had HIV/STI testing. The XGBoost model performed best in predicting timely clinic attendance [mean [SD] AUC 62.8% (3.2%); F1 score 70.8% (1.2%)]. The elastic net regression model performed best in predicting HIV/STI testing within 30 days [AUC 82.7% (6.3%); F1 score 85.3% (1.8%)]. The machine learning approach is helpful in predicting timely clinic attendance and HIV/STI re-testing. Our predictive models could be incorporated into clinic websites to inform sexual health care or follow-up service.

HIV Stigma, Homophobia, Sexual and Gender Minority Community Connectedness and HIV Testing Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men and Transgender People Who Have Sex with Men in Kazakhstan

Although HIV incidence is rising among gay, bisexual, and other men (MSM) and transgender people who have sex with men (TSM) in Kazakhstan, whether stigmatizing attitudes and connectedness are associated with HIV testing in this region is not known. We analyzed data from one-time interviews with 304 adult MSM and TSM conducted 2018-2019 in three cities in Kazakhstan. Logistic regression determined whether HIV stigma, internalized homophobia, sexual and gender minority (SGM) connectedness predicted HIV testing (within the lifetime, past year, and past 6 months) before and after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. 80% of participants reported ever receiving an HIV test. Gay-identified participants reported less HIV stigma and internalized homophobia as well as greater connectedness relative to those with bisexual or other identities. In adjusted models, those who had ever tested reported lower HIV stigma (aOR 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.91, P < .001) and higher connectedness (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.29, P = .003) than those who had not; those who had ever tested reported lower internalized homophobia in the unadjusted model only (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99, P = .01). Similar differences and trends were found in models examining testing in the past year and past 6 months. Addressing stigmatizing attitudes and connectedness may improve uptake of HIV testing among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan.

Upscaling HIV and hepatitis C testing in primary healthcare settings: stigma-sensitive practice

Increasing testing for viral hepatitis and HIV is central to meeting World Health Organization and Australian targets to eliminate blood-borne viruses as public health priorities by 2030. In this paper we draw on findings and recommendations from a Victorian consultation with 40 health and community practitioners engaged with blood-borne virus testing. The consultation focused on identifying what constitutes best practice in pre- and post-testing discussion in the current era of highly effective treatments for HIV and hepatitis C. Overall, the consultation found that the pre- and post-test discussion remains an important feature of testing, but, given that stigma continues to impact the lives of people affected by these viruses, sensitivity to this issue needs to inform how these discussions take place. We describe how primary healthcare settings can support the goal of upscaling HIV and hepatitis C testing in a way that delivers safe and stigma-free testing encounters. We offer the notion of 'stigma-sensitive practice' as a term to describe this approach to pre- and post-test discussions.

Factors associated with regular HIV testing behavior of MSM in China: a cross-sectional survey informed by theory of triadic influence

The prevalence of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China has increased in recent years. Regular HIV testing is a key prevention strategy for identifying HIV infections among MSM. Informed by the theory of triadic influence, we aimed to determine individual, social and environmental factors associated with regular HIV testing behavior. Regular HIV testing is defined as taking an HIV test every 3 to 6 months. Both an online survey and a face-to-face survey was administered to MSM in China. Logistic regression was used to examine associations with testing behavior. 500 MSM were surveyed, the prevalence of regular testing was 56.4%. In the final model, age of first sexual intercourse, self-efficacy, perceived risk, number of partners, orientation disclosure, knowledge of HIV testing, behavioral intention and HIV relevant behaviors (sexually transmitted infection testing history) were associated with regular HIV testing; social stream characteristics had stronger associations with regular testing than individual and environmental factors. Findings implicated that interventions aimed at improving the effective counseling service from healthcare providers and the medical environment and intrapersonal changes should be combined to encourage MSM to have their first HIV test and to keep coming back at regular intervals.

Not so different? Comparison of risk profile of gay men who acquired HIV while travelling with those who acquired HIV in Australia

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Many countries now identify HIV and international mobility as a priority issue within a global and shared epidemic, including Australia. To support health promotion in this complex area, we investigated recent HIV infections that occurred among Australian gay men while travelling and compared to HIV infections that occurred in Australia.

METHODS

446 gay men recently diagnosed with HIV completed an on-line survey regarding the high risk event (HRE) where they believed that they acquired HIV. Those who acquired HIV while in their usual place of residence (308 men), those who were travelling within Australia (59 men), and those who were travelling overseas (79 men) were compared.

RESULTS

Those who acquired HIV while overseas had very similar risk profiles, sexual behaviour, and made similar assumptions about their partners and their own HIV status, as those who acquired HIV in Australia. Only HIV status disclosure at the HRE differed across locations (P = .030). Three quarters (74.7%) of the men who acquired HIV while overseas were not diagnosed until they returned to Australia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings challenge the idea that there are necessarily differences in behaviour and assumptions for HIV transmission in Australia and overseas. However, the men travelling may be in communities where HIV status is less commonly disclosed, and where HIV prevalence is higher. SO WHAT?: A deeper understanding of contextual factors may be required for HIV prevention and health promotion strategies targeting gay men travelling to locations with different cultural, HIV prevalence, and HIV testing considerations. This would also identify opportunities for new tools such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and self-testing.

In Australia, Most HIV Infections Among Gay and Bisexual Men are Attributable to Sex with 'New' Partners

It has been estimated that the majority of global HIV infections among gay and bisexual men (GBM) can be attributed to sex within a committed relationship. In Australia, however, negotiated safety, whereby HIV-negative regular partners agree to discard condoms with each other but commit to consistent condom use with other partners, has been promoted as a key component of the HIV prevention response. We asked GBM recently diagnosed with HIV to describe their relationship to the person they believed to be the source of their infection ('source person'). The majority (66.1%) ascribed their infection to a casual partner. A further 23.3% ascribed their infection to a non-committed and non-romantic partner (or 'fuckbuddy'). Only 10.6% believed they had acquired their HIV from a 'boyfriend' in the context of a committed romantic relationship, and 51.7% of these occurred within the first 3 months following their first sexual contact. Most men (61.5%) believed they had acquired their HIV infection on the first occasion they had sex with the source person. In the Australian context, negotiated safety appears to have minimised infections between regular partners. However, many HIV infections between regular partners may not be in the context of a romantic committed relationship, and yet this distinction between types of regular partners has been all but ignored. Furthermore, in this sample, most infections occurred on the occasion of first meeting, suggesting that the most useful indicators of risk may be the characteristics, contexts, and lengths of sexual partnerships and how sex is negotiated, rather than how GBM categorize their partner. Findings suggest more new HIV infections occur in new partnerships, than in established relationships.

Impact of Peer Support on Behavior Change Among Newly Diagnosed Australian Gay Men

INTRODUCTION

Treatment as prevention relies on early uptake of HIV treatment, but onward transmission during primary HIV infection may be affected by changes in sexual risk behavior after diagnosis. What factors are associated with these changes in sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual men?

METHODS

We surveyed gay and bisexual men recently diagnosed with HIV about changes to their sexual behavior since their diagnosis. In 2008-2010, 263 men described their sexual behavior during the 4 weeks before, and during the 4 weeks after, their HIV diagnosis. In 2010-2015, 301 men reported how they had changed their sexual behavior since their HIV diagnosis.

RESULTS

During 2008-2010, 26.6% engaged in condomless anal intercourse with non-HIV-positive casual partners during the 4 weeks before diagnosis, and 9.7% did so during the 4 weeks after diagnosis (P < 0.001). Only peer support from other people with HIV was associated with this change in behavior (OR = 1.42; 95% confidence interval = 1.07 to 1.88; P = 0.014). Peer support was also associated with partner reduction after diagnosis (P = 0.010). During 2010-2015, 31.9% reported that they had increasingly disclosed their HIV status to sex partners since their diagnosis, and 74.1% reported having reduced the number of men with whom they had sex. Peer support was associated with both these changes in behavior (P = 0.003 and P = 0.015, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of onward transmission is likely to be less affected by immediate versus early treatment than it is by earlier diagnosis and peer support for those newly diagnosed with HIV. Enhanced peer support may further reduce the likelihood of onward transmission after diagnosis.

High-risk sexual behaviours among gay and bisexual men: comparing event-level casual sex encounters among seroconverters and non-seroconverters

BACKGROUND

With increasing use of non-condom-based HIV risk reduction strategies by gay and bisexual men (GBM), we compared occasions of condomless anal intercourse with casual partners (CLAIC) that resulted in HIV transmission and similar occasions when HIV transmission did not occur.

METHODS

We compared two demographically similar samples of Australian GBM. The HIV Seroconversion Study (SCS) was an online cross-sectional survey of GBM recently diagnosed with HIV. The Pleasure and Sexual Health (PASH) study was an online cross sectional survey of GBM generally. Using logistic regression, we compared accounts of CLAIC reported by men in SCS as being the event which led to them acquiring HIV, with recent CLAIC reported by HIV-negative men in PASH.

RESULTS

In SCS, 85.1% of men reported receptive CLAIC, including 51.8% with ejaculation; 32.1% reported having previously met this partner and 28.6% believed this partner to be HIV-negative. Among HIV-negative men in PASH reporting recent CLAIC, 65.5% reported receptive CLAIC, including 29.9% with ejaculation; 59.3% reported having previously met this partner and 70.1% believed this partner to be HIV-negative.

CONCLUSIONS

While both groups of men engaged in CLAIC, how they engaged in CLAIC differed, and the context in which they did so was different. A generic measure of CLAIC conceals the critical elements of HIV risk, particularly the role of receptive CLAIC, among GBM that distinguish those who seroconverted and those who did not. Detailed information about the context and nature of the practise of CLAIC is required for a more complete understanding of HIV risk among GBM.

The Road Less Travelled: Exploring Gay and Bisexual Men's Explanations of 'Uncommon' Routes of HIV Transmission

Although there are practices other than condomless anal intercourse that may result in HIV transmission among gay and bisexual men, very little is known about these 'uncommon' transmission explanations. To address this topic, the free text survey responses from 465 HIV positive gay men in Australia were thematically analysed; 123 participants offered uncommon explanations for their seroconversion. Men described several sexual acts they believed led to infection, categorised as adventurous sex (e.g., fisting) and foreplay (e.g., oral sex). Participants also identified mediating factors associated with their seroconversion, either internal (e.g., cum/pre-cum) or external (e.g., sores, illness) to sex. Finally, contextual forces associated with infection were also explored, namely physical spaces (e.g., sex on premises venues) or mental states (e.g., depression). While some uncommon explanations are unlikely to have resulted in HIV transmission, these accounts reveal the diverse and intersecting ways that men attempt to make sense of their seroconversion.

Factors associated with previously undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection in a population of men who have sex with men and male-to-female transgender women in Lima, Peru

The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and male-to-female transgender women in Lima, Peru.We analyzed characteristics of 378 MSM and transgender women recruited from 2 sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Lima, Peru. Descriptive analyses compared: (A) HIV-uninfected, (B) previously undiagnosed HIV-infected, and (C) previously diagnosed HIV-infected participants. Multivariable logistic regression models identified: (1) correlates of previously undiagnosed HIV-infection among participants thought to be HIV-uninfected (B vs A); and (2) correlates of previously undiagnosed HIV-infection among HIV-infected participants (B vs C). Subanalysis identified correlates of frequent HIV testing among participants thought to be HIV-uninfected.Among participants, 31.0% were HIV-infected; of those, 35.0% were previously undiagnosed. Among participants thought to be HIV-uninfected (model 1), recent condomless receptive anal intercourse and last HIV test being over 1-year ago (compared to within the last 6-months) were associated with increased odds of being previously undiagnosed HIV-infected (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.43, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.10-5.36; aOR = 2.87, 95%CI = 1.10-7.53, respectively). Among HIV-infected participants (model 2), recent condomless receptive anal intercourse was again associated with previously undiagnosed HIV-infection (aOR = 2.54, 95%CI = 1.04-6.23). Achieving post-secondary education and prior syphilis infection were associated with lower odds of having previously undiagnosed HIV-infection (aOR = 0.35, 95%CI = 0.15-0.81; aOR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.14-0.75, respectively).Reporting semiannual testing was associated with higher educational attainment, identifying as a transgender woman, or reporting a history of syphilis (aOR = 1.94, 95%CI = 1.11-3.37; aOR = 2.40, 95%CI = 1.23-4.70; aOR = 2.76, 95%CI = 1.62-4.71, respectively). Lower odds of semiannual testing were associated with recent condomless insertive anal intercourse or reporting a moderate or high self-perceived risk of acquiring HIV (aOR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.33-0.96; aOR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.18-0.59 and aOR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.21-0.86, respectively).In our study, undiagnosed HIV-infection was associated with recent condomless receptive anal intercourse, infrequent HIV testing, lower education, and absence of prior syphilis diagnosis. Infrequent HIV testing was associated with lower education, not identifying as transgender, recent condomless insertive anal intercourse, absence of prior syphilis diagnosis, and higher self-perceived risk of HIV. Further efforts to decrease HIV transmission and increase HIV-serostatus awareness should be directed towards effectively promoting condom use and frequent HIV testing, integrated with STI management.

Australian Gay Men Describe the Details of Their HIV Infection Through a Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey

Background

With emerging opportunities for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, it remains important to identify those at greatest risk of infection and to describe and understand the contexts in which transmissions occur. Some gay and bisexual men with recently diagnosed HIV infection are initially unable to identify high-risk behaviors that would explain their HIV infection. We explored whether Web-based data collection could assist them in identifying the circumstances of their infection.

Objective

To assess the capacity of a Web-based survey to collect reliable self-report data on the event to which gay and bisexual men ascribe their HIV infection.

Methods

The HIV Seroconversion Study included a Web-based survey of gay and bisexual men with recently diagnosed HIV infection in Australia. Participants were asked if they could identify and describe the event they believe led to their infection. Men were also asked about their sexual and other risk practices during the 6 months before their diagnosis.

Results

Most (403/506, 79.6%) gay and bisexual men with newly diagnosed HIV infection were able to identify and describe the circumstances that likely led to their infection. Among those who were initially unable to identify possible exposure events, many could nonetheless provide sensible information that ostensibly explained their seroconversion. Free-text responses allowed men to provide more detailed and contextual information, whereas questions about the totality of their sexual behavior before diagnosis provided opportunities for men to describe their sexual risk behavior in general. Overall, 84.0% indicated having engaged in condomless anal intercourse before their HIV diagnosis, including 71.8% in the receptive position.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using Internet-based technologies to capture sensitive information about the circumstances in which HIV infection occurs among gay and bisexual men. By providing a range of opportunities for relaying experience, this research reveals some of the complexity in how individuals come to understand and explain their HIV infection. These findings may assist in obtaining detailed sexual history in the clinical setting.