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1.
AIDS Educ Prev ; 35(5): 390-405, 2023 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37843908

ABSTRACT

We explored whether siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion. We used the Information-Motivation-Behavior model to develop and conduct surveys and dyadic interviews with Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and their siblings (n = 31) and three sibling-only focus groups (n = 20). For LMSM, only n = 14 (45%) agreed they would benefit from taking PrEP, yet n = 22 (71%) would take PrEP to make their sibling worry less about them, and n = 23 (74%) requested a PrEP referral. For siblings, n = 20 (65%) believed PrEP would benefit their brother, and n = 19 (95%) in the focus groups said they would take PrEP to help their brother get started. Qualitative results include (1) siblings' support for PrEP use, (2) explicit conversations about sex were not necessary for discussing sexual health, and (3) siblings wanted to understand what they could do to encourage their brother to consider PrEP. We conclude siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents , HIV Infections , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Siblings , Humans , Male , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Feasibility Studies , Hispanic or Latino , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/methods
2.
PLoS One ; 18(5): e0281578, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37141206

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess ecological, structural, community and individual level correlates of health services utilization along a continuum of HIV care, and sexual health and support services among gay and bisexual men worldwide. METHODS: Using a nonprobability internet sample of 6,135 gay and bisexual men, we assessed correlates of utilization of health services. Chi-Square Tests of Independence were performed to assess drop off along a continuum of HIV care. Multivariable logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equation models were conducted adjusting for geographic region and clustering by country. In multivariable analyses, we determined the association between utilization outcomes, and ecologic, structural, community and individual correlates by fitting separate generalized estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression models for each of the outcomes, fitted with robust SEs, and accounting for clustering by country. Stratified by sexual identity, analyses adjusted for variables that could influence HIV-related health outcomes including racial/ethnic minority status, participant age, insurance, ability to make ends meet, as well as country-level income (income of country of residence defined by the World Bank). RESULTS: Among men living with HIV (n = 1001), being in HIV care (n = 867) was associated with being on ART (X2 = 191.17, p < .001), and viral load suppression (X2 = 14.03, p < .001); and using ART (n = 840) was associated viral load suppression (X2 = 21.66, p < .001). Overall, the pattern of utilization outcomes were similar for both gay and bisexual men. For example, utilization of PrEP, being in HIV care and utilization of most of the sexual health and support services were negatively associated with sexual stigma. Whereas, utilization of most HIV prevention, and sexual health and support services were positively associated with provider discrimination. Utilization of all HIV prevention and all sexual health services were positively associated with greater community engagement, and receiving services from LGBT-led organizations. Bisexual men had higher odds of reporting provider discrimination when utilizing condom services (gay: AOR = 1.14, [0.95-1.36]; bisexual: 1.58, [1.10-2.28]), PrEP (gay: AOR = 1.06, [0.77-1.45]; bisexual: AOR = 2.14, [1.18-3.89], mental health services (gay: AOR = 1.03, [0.86-1.23]; bisexual: AOR = 1.32, [1.07-1.64]), and community-based support (gay: AOR = 1.23, [1.05-1.45]; bisexual: AOR = 1.49, [1.14-1.93]) than gay men. Bisexual men also reported higher odds of accessing services from LGBT-led organizations when utilizing PrEP (gay: AOR = 5.26, [2.50-11.05]; bisexual: AOR = 7.12, [3.16-16.04]), and community-based support/self-help groups/individual counseling (gay: AOR = 2.63, [1.72-4.01]; bisexual: AOR = 3.35, [2.30-4.88]. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential that barriers to health services utilization be addressed at structural and community levels. Structural interventions should be designed to reduce sexual stigma, as well as train and sensitize healthcare providers; and strengthen community level interventions that bring gay and bisexual men together to lead comprehensive health services.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Male , Humans , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Ethnicity , Men's Health , HIV Infections/therapy , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Minority Groups , Bisexuality , Sexual Behavior
6.
Glob Public Health ; 17(6): 827-842, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35435149

ABSTRACT

As COVID-19 continues to persist, there is a need to examine its impact among sexual and gender minority individuals, especially those with intersecting vulnerabilities. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a global sample of sexual and gender minority individuals (n = 21,795) from October 25, 2020 to November 19, 2020, through a social networking app. We characterised the HIV prevention and HIV treatment impacts of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 mitigation response and examined whether subgroups of our study population are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Many sexual and gender minority individuals reported interruptions to HIV prevention and HIV care and treatment services. These consequences were significantly greater among people living with HIV, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, individuals with a history of sex work, and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. These findings highlight the urgent need to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 among sexual and gender minority individuals.


Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Sexual and Gender Minorities , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Minority Groups , SARS-CoV-2 , Sexual Behavior
7.
JMIR Public Health Surveill ; 8(6): e33538, 2022 06 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35377321

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gay and bisexual men are 26 times more likely to acquire HIV than other adult men and represent nearly 1 in 4 new HIV infections worldwide. There is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may be complicating efforts to prevent new HIV infections, reduce AIDS-related deaths, and expand access to HIV services. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gay and bisexual men's ability to access services is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand access to HIV services at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Our study used data collected from two independent global online surveys conducted with convenience samples of gay and bisexual men. Both data sets had common demographic measurements; however, only the COVID-19 Disparities Survey (n=13,562) collected the outcomes of interest (HIV services access at the height of the first COVID-19 wave) and only the Global Men's Health and Rights Survey 4 (GMHR-4; n=6188) gathered pre-COVID-19 pandemic exposures/covariates of interest (social/structural enablers of and barriers to HIV services access). We used data fusion methods to combine these data sets utilizing overlapping demographic variables and assessed relationships between exposures and outcomes. We hypothesized that engagement with the gay community and comfort with one's health care provider would be positively associated with HIV services access and negatively associated with poorer mental health and economic instability as the COVID-19 outbreaks took hold. Conversely, we hypothesized that sexual stigma and experiences of discrimination by a health care provider would be negatively associated with HIV services access and positively associated with poorer mental health and economic instability. RESULTS: With 19,643 observations after combining data sets, our study confirmed hypothesized associations between enablers of and barriers to HIV prevention, care, and treatment. For example, community engagement was positively associated with access to an HIV provider (regression coefficient=0.81, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.86; P<.001), while sexual stigma was negatively associated with access to HIV treatment (coefficient=-1.39, 95% CI -1.42 to -1.36; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: HIV services access for gay and bisexual men remained obstructed and perhaps became worse during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community-led research that utilizes novel methodological approaches can be helpful in times of crisis to inform urgently needed tailored responses that can be delivered in real time. More research is needed to understand the full impact COVID-19 is having on gay and bisexual men worldwide.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Health Services Accessibility , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Adult , Bisexuality , COVID-19/epidemiology , Delivery of Health Care , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Pandemics
8.
PLoS One ; 17(2): e0264249, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35192663

ABSTRACT

Societal and legal impediments inhibit quality HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services and need to be removed. The political declaration adopted by UN member countries at the high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS in June 2021, included new societal enabler global targets for achievement by 2025 that will address this gap. Our paper describes how and why UNAIDS arrived at the societal enabler targets adopted. We conducted a scoping review and led a participatory process between January 2019 and June 2020 to develop an evidence-based framework for action, propose global societal enabler targets, and identify indicators for monitoring progress. A re-envisioned framework called the '3 S's of the HIV response: Society, Systems and Services' was defined. In the framework, societal enablers enhance the effectiveness of HIV programmes by removing impediments to service availability, access and uptake at the societal level, while service and system enablers improve efficiencies in and expand the reach of HIV services and systems. Investments in societal enabling approaches that remove legal barriers, shift harmful social and gender norms, reduce inequalities and improve institutional and community structures are needed to progressively realize four overarching societal enablers, the first three of which fall within the purview of the HIV sector: (i) societies with supportive legal environments and access to justice, (ii) gender equal societies, (iii) societies free from stigma and discrimination, and (iv) co-action across development sectors to reduce exclusion and poverty. Three top-line and 15 detailed targets were recommended for monitoring progress towards their achievement. The clear articulation of societal enablers in the re-envisioned framework should have a substantial impact on improving the effectiveness of core HIV programmes if implemented. Together with the new global targets, the framework will also galvanize advocacy to scale up societal enabling approaches with proven impact on HIV outcomes.


Subject(s)
Evidence-Based Practice/methods , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Health Plan Implementation/methods , Social Environment , Community Support , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/therapy , Health Plan Implementation/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Preventive Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence , Preventive Medicine/standards
9.
J Int AIDS Soc ; 25(1): e25880, 2022 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35049122

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Despite the widely recognized ethical and practical benefits of community engagement in HIV research, epistemic injustice persists within the field. Namely, the knowledge held by communities disproportionately affected by HIV is systematically afforded less credibility than that of more privileged academic researchers. In order to illustrate what this looks like in practice, we synthesized the extent of reporting on community engagement within recent high-impact HIV intervention research papers. However, we also posit that the HIV research sector has the potential to devise and showcase world-leading examples of equitable research-community partnerships and suggest actionable key steps to achieving this goal. DISCUSSION: In the absence of reporting requirements within the publishing process, it is difficult to infer whether and how the community have been consulted in the design, implementation, analysis and/or interpretation of findings. As an illustrative exercise, we offer a rapid synthesis of the extent of reporting on community engagement in HIV research from 2017 to 2019, which highlighted sporadic and very low rates of reporting of community engagement in recent high-impact HIV intervention studies. Of note is that none of the included studies reported on community engagement through all stages of the research process. There were also discrepancies in how community involvement was reported. We provide three actionable recommendations to enhance reporting on community engagement in HIV research: (1) community-led organizations, researchers and scientific journals should band together to develop, publish and require adherence to standardized guidelines for reporting on community involvement in HIV research; (2) research funders should (continue to) require details about how relevant communities have been engaged prior to the submission of funding requests; and (3) researchers should take proactive measures to describe their engagement with community organizations in a clear and transparent manner. CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear and urgent need for guidelines that facilitate transparent and consistent reporting on community engagement in HIV intervention research. Without standardized reporting requirements and accountability mechanisms within the research sector, the extent of meaningful community engagement cannot be established and may remain a catchphrase rather than reality.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Community Participation , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Research Personnel , Social Responsibility
10.
PLoS One ; 16(12): e0260555, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34852001

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In June 2021, United Nations (UN) Member States committed to ambitious targets for scaling up community-led responses by 2025 toward meeting the goals of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. These targets build on UN Member States 2016 commitments to ensure that 30% of HIV testing and treatment programmes are community-led by 2030. At its current pace, the world is not likely to meet these nor other global HIV targets, as evidenced by current epidemiologic trends. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further slow momentum made to date. The purpose of this paper is to review available evidence on the comparative advantages of community-led HIV responses that can better inform policy making towards getting the world back on track. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review to gather available evidence on peer- and community-led HIV responses. Using UNAIDS' definition of 'community-led' and following PRISMA guidelines, we searched peer-reviewed literature published from January 1982 through September 2020. We limited our search to articles reporting findings from randomized controlled trials as well as from quasi-experimental, prospective, pre/post-test evaluation, and cross-sectional study designs. The overall goals of this scoping review were to gather available evidence on community-led responses and their impact on HIV outcomes, and to identify key concepts that can be used to quickly inform policy, practice, and research. FINDINGS: Our initial search yielded 279 records. After screening for relevance and conducting cross-validation, 48 articles were selected. Most studies took place in the global south (n = 27) and a third (n = 17) involved youth. Sixty-five percent of articles (n = 31) described the comparative advantage of peer- and community-led direct services, e.g., prevention and education (n = 23) testing, care, and treatment programs (n = 8). We identified more than 40 beneficial outcomes linked to a range of peer- and community-led HIV activities. They include improved HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, intentions, self-efficacy, risk behaviours, risk appraisals, health literacy, adherence, and viral suppression. Ten studies reported improvements in HIV service access, quality, linkage, utilization, and retention resulting from peer- or community-led programs or initiatives. Three studies reported structural level changes, including positive influences on clinic wait times, treatment stockouts, service coverage, and exclusionary practices. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Findings from our scoping review underscore the comparative advantage of peer- and community-led HIV responses. Specifically, the evidence from the published literature leads us to recommend, where possible, that prevention programs, especially those intended for people living with and disproportionately affected by HIV, be peer- and community-led. In addition, treatment services should strive to integrate specific peer- and community-led components informed by differentiated care models. Future research is needed and should focus on generating additional quantitative evidence on cost effectiveness and on the synergistic effects of bundling two or more peer- and community-led interventions.


Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Delivery of Health Care/standards , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Literacy , Humans , Medication Adherence , Peer Group , Risk-Taking , Self Efficacy , United Nations
13.
AIDS Behav ; 25(8): 2551-2567, 2021 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33730253

ABSTRACT

Despite the prevailing consensus on the role that stigma and discrimination play in limiting access to HIV prevention technology, discouraging HIV testing, and impeding access to HIV care, studies that focus on structural interventions to address stigma and discrimination for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender women are surprisingly uncommon. We aimed to identify the outcomes from a coordinated set of community-led advocacy initiatives targeting structural changes that might eliminate barriers to HIV care for gay and bisexual men and transgender women in five African and two Caribbean countries. We conducted a prospective evaluation that included repeated site visits and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 112 people with direct knowledge of project activities, accomplishments, failures, and challenges. Using outcome harvesting and qualitative analysis methods, we observed that over the 18-month implementation period, local advocacy efforts contributed to enhanced political will on the part of duty bearers for ensuring equitable access to HIV care, increases in the availability of affirming resources, improved access to existing resources, and changes in normative institutional practices to enable access to HIV care. Evidence on Project ACT points to the vital role community-led advocacy plays in addressing stigma and discrimination as structural barriers to HIV care.


RESUMEN: Estudios cual centran en intervenciones estructurales para abordar el estigma y la discriminación de los hombres gay, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y mujeres transgénero son sorprendentemente poco comunes, a pesar del consenso prevaleciente sobre el rol que desempeñan el estigma y la discriminación al limitar el acceso a la tecnología de prevención del VIH, desalentar las pruebas del VIH e impedir el acceso a la atención del VIH. Nuestro objetivo era identificar los resultados de un conjunto coordinado de iniciativas de incidencia política dirigidas por la comunidad que apuntan a cambios estructurales que podrían eliminar las barreras a la atención del VIH para hombres gay y bisexuales y mujeres transgénero en cinco países de África y dos del Caribe. Realizamos una evaluación prospectiva que incluyó visitas repetidas al sitio y entrevistas profundas semiestructuradas con 112 personas con conocimiento directo de las actividades, logros, fracasos y desafíos del proyecto. Utilizando métodos de recolección de resultados y análisis cualitativo, observamos que durante el período de implementación de 18 meses, los esfuerzos de promoción local contribuyeron a una mayor voluntad política por parte de los titulares de deberes para garantizar el acceso equitativo a la atención del VIH, aumentos en la disponibilidad de recursos afirmativos, mejoras al acceso a los recursos existentes y cambios en las prácticas institucionales normativas para permitir el acceso a la atención del VIH. La evidencia sobre el Proyecto ACT apunta al papel vital que desempeñan las iniciativas de incidencia política liderada por la comunidad para abordar el estigma y la discriminación como barreras estructurales para la atención del VIH.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Transgender Persons , Female , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Social Stigma
14.
AIDS Behav ; 25(2): 311-321, 2021 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32654021

ABSTRACT

There is an urgent need to measure the impacts of COVID-19 among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a global sample of gay men and other MSM (n = 2732) from April 16, 2020 to May 4, 2020, through a social networking app. We characterized the economic, mental health, HIV prevention and HIV treatment impacts of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 response, and examined whether sub-groups of our study population are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Many gay men and other MSM not only reported economic and mental health consequences, but also interruptions to HIV prevention and testing, and HIV care and treatment services. These consequences were significantly greater among people living with HIV, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, sex workers, and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. These findings highlight the urgent need to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 among gay men and other MSM.


RESUMEN: Existe una necesidad urgente para medir los impactos de COVID-19 entre hombres gay y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH). Hemos conducido una encuesta multifuncional con una prueba mundial de hombres gay y otros HSH (n = 2732) desde el 16 de Abril hasta el 4 de Mayo del 2020, a través de una aplicación de red social. Nosotros caracterizamos los impactos económicos, de salud mental, prevención del VIH y tratamiento del VIH e impactos a COVID-19 y la respuesta de COVID-19, y examinamos si subgrupos de nuestra población de estudio fueron impactados desproporcionadamente por COVID-19. Muchos hombres no tan solo reportaron consecuencias económicas y de salud mental, sino también interrupciones de prevención y de pruebas de VIH, y cuidado del VIH y servicios de tratamiento. Encontramos consecuencias más significantes entre personas viviendo con VIH, grupos raciales/etnicos, migrantes, sexo servidores, y groupos socioeconomicamente disfavorecidos. Los resultados subrayan la necesidad crucial de mitigar los impactos multifacéticos de COVID-19 entre los hombres homosexuales y otros HSH, especialmente para aquellos con vulnerabilidades entrelazadas.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/psychology , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Mental Health/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , Ethnicity , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Male , SARS-CoV-2
16.
BMC Med ; 17(1): 32, 2019 02 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30764812

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Participatory praxis is increasingly valued for the reliability, validity, and relevance of research results that it fosters. Participatory methods become an imperative in health-related stigma research, where the constitutive elements of stigma, healthcare settings, and research each operate on hierarchies that push those with less social power to the margins. DISCUSSION: Particularly for people who are stigmatized, participatory methods balance the scales of equity by restructuring power relationships. As such, participatory praxis facilitates a research process that is responsive to community-identified priorities and creates community ownership of the research, catalyzing policy change at multiple levels and foregrounds, and addresses risks to communities from participating in research. Additionally, through upholding the agency and leadership of communities facing stigma, it can help to mitigate stigma's harmful effects. Health-related stigma research can reduce the health inequities faced by stigmatized groups if funders and institutions require and reward community participation and if researchers commit to reflexive, participatory practices. A research agenda focused on participatory praxis in health-related stigma research could stimulate increased use of such methods. CONCLUSION: For community-engaged practice to become more than an ethical aspiration, structural changes in the funding, training, publishing, and tenure processes will be necessary.


Subject(s)
Health Services Research/methods , Social Stigma , Humans
17.
J Int AIDS Soc ; 21 Suppl 5: e25130, 2018 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30033536

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Gay social networking apps have grown in popularity among men who have sex with men offering opportunities for rapid and confidential collection of vital data as well as social connection. The goal of our study was to explore factors associated with utilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral treatment (ART), and self-reported undetectable viral load (UVL) using data collected by the gay social networking app Hornet. METHODS: In 2016, the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) partnered with Hornet, to support an educational initiative called Blue-Ribbon Boys. One aspect of the initiative prompts Hornet users to answer a short series of yes-no questions about their sexual health. Using survey responses, we evaluated factors associated with PrEP and ART use as well as self-reported UVL by fitting separate multivariable generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS: In total, 16,008 unique Hornet users started the survey, of which 12,126 (76%) provided sufficient data for analyses. Of the 10,774 HIV-negative men, 13% reported PrEP use in the past year. PrEP use was associated with a recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) test or treatment (aOR = 2.19, CI = 1.49 to 3.21); and taking steps to protect oneself from HIV (aOR = 1.41, CI = 1.13 to 1.76). Among HIV-positive Hornet users (n = 1243), ART use was associated with older age (each year increase aOR = 1.02, CI = 1.01 to 1.04), a recent STI test or treatment (aOR = 4.54, CI = 2.65 to 7.78); and awareness of unlikely HIV transmission with UVL (aOR = 1.53, CI = 1.03 to 2.26). UVL was associated with older age (each year increase aOR = 1.03, CI = 1.01 to 1.04), a recent STI test or treatment (aOR = 4.84, CI = 2.74 to 8.55), and awareness of unlikely HIV transmission with UVL (aOR = 1.98, CI = 1.37 to 2.85). CONCLUSIONS: Study findings underscore the importance of STI testing and treatment as well as information about HIV transmissibility for encouraging PrEP and ART use. Our findings also reveal age disparities, which can undermine incidence reduction among gay men. Gay social networking apps can be effectively used for rapid data collection and sexual health promotion with men who have sex with men. STI testing and treatment programmes offer important opportunities for encouraging PrEP and ART use. Information about HIV transmissibility with consistent ART use should be incorporated into prevention messaging tailored to various age groups.


Subject(s)
Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , Homosexuality, Male , Mobile Applications , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis , Social Networking , Viral Load , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/methods , Self Report , Sexual Behavior , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
18.
JMIR Public Health Surveill ; 4(1): e15, 2018 02 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29422452

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other cisgender men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are disproportionately affected by the HIV pandemic. Traditionally, GBMSM have been deemed less relevant in HIV epidemics in low- and middle-income settings where HIV epidemics are more generalized. This is due (in part) to how important population size estimates regarding the number of individuals who identify as GBMSM are to informing the development and monitoring of HIV prevention, treatment, and care programs and coverage. However, pervasive stigma and criminalization of same-sex practices and relationships provide a challenging environment for population enumeration, and these factors have been associated with implausibly low or absent size estimates of GBMSM, thereby limiting knowledge about the dynamics of HIV transmission and the implementation of programs addressing GBMSM. OBJECTIVE: This study leverages estimates of the number of members of a social app geared towards gay men (Hornet) and members of Facebook using self-reported relationship interests in men, men and women, and those with at least one reported same-sex interest. Results were categorized by country of residence to validate official size estimates of GBMSM in 13 countries across five continents. METHODS: Data were collected through the Hornet Gay Social Network and by using an a priori determined framework to estimate the numbers of Facebook members with interests associated with GBMSM in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, The Gambia, Lebanon, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Ukraine, and the United States. These estimates were compared with the most recent Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and national estimates across 143 countries. RESULTS: The estimates that leveraged social media apps for the number of GBMSM across countries are consistently far higher than official UNAIDS estimates. Using Facebook, it is also feasible to assess the numbers of GBMSM aged 13-17 years, which demonstrate similar proportions to those of older men. There is greater consistency in Facebook estimates of GBMSM compared to UNAIDS-reported estimates across countries. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to use social media for epidemiologic and HIV prevention, treatment, and care needs continues to improve. Here, a method leveraging different categories of same-sex interests on Facebook, combined with a specific gay-oriented app (Hornet), demonstrated significantly higher estimates than those officially reported. While there are biases in this approach, these data reinforce the need for multiple methods to be used to count the number of GBMSM (especially in more stigmatizing settings) to better inform mathematical models and the scale of HIV program coverage. Moreover, these estimates can inform programs for those aged 13-17 years; a group for which HIV incidence is the highest and HIV prevention program coverage, including the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is lowest. Taken together, these results highlight the potential for social media to provide comparable estimates of the number of GBMSM across a large range of countries, including some with no reported estimates.

19.
Sociol Q ; 58(4): 721-737, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29230071

ABSTRACT

Rather than a defined endpoint that is waiting to be discovered or developed, racial and sexual identities can be considered social identities which are fluid, malleable, and socially created through a social process that defines what it means to be a member of a social group. This paper expands the work on how social identities are constructed by examining personal anecdotes used by gay men of color to discuss how they come to see themselves as "gay men of color." In doing so, we find that gay men of color use a number of cultural tropes that provide them the framework necessary to structure their experiences within a larger social context of a largely white, heterosexual society. Drawing on these cultural tropes, gay men of color create a social identity that is simultaneously raced and sexed through the use of shared cultural tropes that define what it means to be a member of this group.

20.
Subst Use Misuse ; 52(5): 666-673, 2017 04 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28139146

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Substance use is common among men who have sex with men (MSM) worldwide, and epidemiologic data suggest that alcohol/substance-using MSM are at greater risk for HIV. However, there are scarce data on substance abuse treatment programs (SATPs) for substance-using MSM. OBJECTIVES: We examined proportions of substance use as well as SATP availability and use. We used multivariable regression models, controlling for potential confounders, to examine behavioral and demographic correlates of SATP availability and use. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a multi-region, online sample of substance-using MSM. RESULTS: In this sample, 75% were substance-using MSM of whom 36% reported at-least-weekly use. Substance use was most prevalent among respondents from Eastern Europe/Central Asia (86%) and Latin America (79%). Among substance-using MSM, 96% and 33% reported alcohol intoxication and other substance use, respectively; 11% reported having high SATP availability; and 5% reported using SATPs. Controlling for global region of origin and age, high SATP availability was associated with high access to HIV risk-reduction education (aOR = 3.19; CI = 1.48-6.89), mental health services (aOR = 2.53; CI = 1.32-4.83), and medical care (aOR = 2.32; CI = 1.12-4.80); less than college-level education (aOR = 0.32; CI = 0.18-0.54); and higher comfort levels with providers (aOR = 1.75; CI = 1.30-2.37). Controlling for substance use frequency and personal income additionally, using SATPs was associated with higher levels of connection to the gay community (aOR = 2.76; CI = 1.22-6.22). CONCLUSION: In this global sample of MSM, we found high alcohol intoxication and other substance use proportions. Few substance-using MSM report SATP availability, highlighting the need to develop novel substance use programs outside traditional treatment settings.


Subject(s)
Homosexuality, Male , Substance Abuse Treatment Centers/supply & distribution , Substance-Related Disorders/therapy , Adult , Alcoholism/epidemiology , Alcoholism/therapy , Asia, Central/epidemiology , Europe, Eastern/epidemiology , Global Health/statistics & numerical data , Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data , Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Latin America/epidemiology , Male , Substance Abuse Treatment Centers/statistics & numerical data , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology
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