HIV and syphilis prevalence among transgender women and men who have sex with men, Silom Community Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand, 2017-2019.

We assessed HIV and syphilis infection among MSM and TGW attending Silom Community Clinic from 2017 to 2019. Walk-in and referral clients completed a registration application including a question on gender identity. We compared the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and HIV and syphilis coinfection among TGW and MSM. In a total of 1050 clients, 276 (26.3%) were TGW and 774 (74.7%) were MSM. Among TGW clients, HIV prevalence was 29.8%, syphilis prevalence was 38.4%, and coinfection prevalence was 18.5%. Comparing prevalence among TGW to MSM, the adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) for HIV was 1.8 (95% CI:1.4-2.3), for syphilis was 1.2 (95% CI:1.0-1.4), and for HIV and syphilis coinfection was 2.1 (95% CI:1.4-2.9). The prevalence of syphilis was higher than HIV among TGW, with a PR of 1.3 (95% CI:1.1-1.6), and among MSM, with a PR of 1.4 (95% CI:1.2-1.7). TGW age 15-21 years had an HIV prevalence of 16.9% and syphilis prevalence of 30.8%. After adjusting for age, referral, and sexual behaviors, TGW remain significantly associated with HIV and syphilis prevalence. There is a substantial burden of HIV and HIV/syphilis co-infection among TGW. HIV/STI prevention are needed for TGW, including linkage to HIV care.

Knowledge of and interest in using preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men in Thailand.

Little is known about HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand. The authors recruited an online convenience sample of Thai MSM (n = 404) to assess the knowledge of and interest in PrEP. Less than 7% had heard of PrEP; however, 35% indicated interest in PrEP after an explanation of its possible efficacy. Regression modeling demonstrated that HIV knowledge and risk behavior, but not demographics, are significant predictors of PrEP interest. More information and education about PrEP is necessary and more research is needed to examine PrEP acceptability and to inform the message for PrEP uptake.

Frequency of HIV-1 dual subtype infections, including intersubtype superinfections, among injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the frequency and incidence of dual HIV-1 subtype infections, including superinfections, among recent seroconvertors from a cohort of injection drug users (IDUs). METHODS: A total of 1209 HIV-negative IDUs were followed in a prospective cohort study at 15 methadone clinics in Bangkok, Thailand. After 2308 person-years (PY) of follow-up, 133 seroconverted to HIV-1, of which approximately 20% were subtype B and 80% were CRF01_AE (formerly called subtype E). Specimens from 126 individuals were available at time of first seropositive test and specimens from 80 of these 126 individuals were also available more than 12 months later. For each infected participant, we calculated the amount of time to superinfection, loss to follow-up, or to the closest visit more than 12 months after the time of initial seropositivity. RESULTS: Of all 126 seroconverters seen at the time of the first seropositive test result, there was no apparent case of concurrent dual subtype infection detected despite 2301 PY of observation. Overall, the incidence of superinfection was 2.2 per 100 PY [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3-7.8]. The 1-year incidence of CRF01_AE superinfection following subtype B primary infection was 3.9 per 100 PY (95% CI, 0.1-21.9) and the incidence of subtype B superinfection following CRF01_AE primary infection was 1.5 per 100 PY (95% CI, 0.04-8.3). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the frequency and incidence of dual HIV-1 subtype infection demonstrates that HIV-1 superinfection is not uncommon in a population with high HIV-1 incidence with more than one circulating strain.

Prevalence of and risk factors for methamphetamine use in northern Thai youth: results of an audio-computer-assisted self-interviewing survey with urine testing.

AIMS: Data from drug treatment facilities, drug seizures and drug arrests suggest rapidly increasing methamphetamine use by adolescents in Thailand. However, limited quantitative data are available about the prevalence of its use or correlates of use. The purpose of our study was therefore to estimate the prevalence of methamphetamine use and to identify possible risk factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using anonymous audio-computer-assisted self-interview and urine specimen analysis. SETTING: Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: 1725 students, 15-21 years of age (893 male and 832 female) attending one of three vocational schools in Chiang Rai Province. FINDINGS: Three hundred and fifty male and 150 female students reported a history of having ever used methamphetamine. In addition, 128 male and 49 female students had positive urine test results, indicating recent methamphetamine use; 27 of these students denied having ever used methamphetamine. According to history, urine test, or both, 41.3% of male students and 19.0% of female students used methamphetamine. In multivariate analysis, methamphetamine use was highly correlated with the use of other substances, sexual activity, peer pressure, positive attitudes toward methamphetamine, and absence of a family confidant. CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine use is common among adolescent students in northern Thailand. Demographic, behavioral and psychosocial correlates of methamphetamine use identified in this study may be helpful for the design and implementation of preventive interventions.