Predictors of HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partners Among People Living with HIV in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the non-disclosure of HIV seropositivity among people living with HIV/AIDS undergoing antiretroviral treatment. A cross-sectional study was carried out in five HIV clinics in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of HIV status disclosure. It was found that 68.5% revealed their HIV seropositivity to their most recent sexual partner. The variables "casual partner" [OR 19.08, 95% CI (4.08, 20.23), p = 0.001], "sexual partners with negative HIV or unknown HIV" [OR 4.54, 95% CI (1.58, 1.01), p = 0.005], "multiple sexual partners" [OR = 3.17, 95% CI (1.34, 7.35), p = 0.009], and "lack of communication with the partner on HIV prevention"[OR = 8.3, 95% CI (3.88, 16.61), p = 0.001] were independently associated with non-disclosure of the diagnosis. Future HIV prevention interventions should encourage open communication between sexual partners.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los factores asociados con la no divulgación de la seropositividad al VIH entre las personas que viven con el VIH / SIDA en tratamiento antirretroviral. Se realizó un estudio transversal en cinco clínicas de VIH en el interior del estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Se utilizó un análisis de regresión logística para determinar predictores independientes de la revelación del estado del VIH. Se encontró que el 68,5% reveló su seropositividad al VIH a su pareja sexual más reciente. Las variables "pareja casual" [OR 19,08, IC 95% (4,08, 20,23), p = 0,001], "parejas sexuales con VIH negativo o VIH desconocido" [OR 4,54,95% IC 95% (1,58, 1,01), p = 0,005], "múltiples parejas sexuales" [OR 3,17, IC del 95% (1,34, 7,35), p = 0,009] y "falta de comunicación con la pareja sobre la prevención del VIH" [OR 8,3, IC 95% (3,88, 16,61), p = 0,001] se asociaron de forma independiente con la no divulgación del diagnóstico. Las futuras intervenciones de prevención del VIH deberían fomentar la comunicación abierta entre las parejas sexuales.

Knowledge of PEP and PrEP among people living with HIV/aids in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) are key to preventing sexual transmission of HIV, whose sexual partners are at high risk of acquiring HIV. We aimed to determine the factors associated with PrEP and PEP's knowledge as secondary prevention among people living with HIV/AIDS. METHOD: Cross-sectional analytical study carried out among people living with HIV/AIDS treated at five specialized services in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from July 2016 to July 2017. Individual interviews were conducted. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with knowing PrEP and PEP. RESULTS: Of the 397 participants, 140 (35.26%) were heterosexual women aged 40 to 49 years (36.2%).Participants with less than 11 years of study (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13-0.60); who did not have a low viral load or did not know their viral load (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.83) and those with casual partners (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.83) were less likely to know about the PrEP. MSM (adjusted odds: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.59-5.3) and those who used alcohol during sexual intercourse (adjusted odds: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.8) were more likely to know about the PEP. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge about PEP and PrEP is low in Brazil. This may undermine secondary prevention efforts. Educational interventions to raise awareness of these prevention methods are needed among people living with HIV and who have HIV-negative sexual partners.

Inconsistent condom use between serodifferent sexual partnerships to the human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze predictors of inconsistent condom use among HIV-positive people with sexual immunodeficiency virus serodifferent sexual partnership. METHOD: cross-sectional, analytical study with a consecutive non-probabilistic sample consisting of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus with serodifferent sexual partnership and who were in outpatient clinical follow-up. Data were collected through individual interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequently analyzed with bivariate analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: Seven variables were independently associated with inconsistent condom use. Schooling less than 11 years of schooling (4.9 [2.4-10.1]), having multiple partnerships (5.0 [1.3-19.6]), using alcohol (2.1 [1.1 -4.4]) or other drugs (2.8 [1.2-6.3]), do not receive advice from a healthcare professional (2.0 [1.1-3.9]), have no knowledge of treatment as prevention (3.0 [1,2-6,9]) and not knowing that undetectable viral load reduces the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission (3.8 [1,1-13,7]) were predictors for inconsistent condom use. CONCLUSION: The study showed that psychosocial factors interfere with consistent condom use between serodifferent partnerships. Thus, it is highlighted that there is a need for comprehensive interventions that include the integration of clinical and psychosocial care.

An Internet-Based HIV Self-Testing Program to Increase HIV Testing Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Brazil: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of people living with HIV worldwide are estimated to be unaware of their infection. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a strategy recommended by the World Health Organization to increase access to and uptake of testing among key populations who are at high risk for HIV infection. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the development and feasibility of a free, anonymous, internet-based HIVST strategy designed for men who have sex with men in Curitiba, Brazil (electronic testing [e-testing]). METHODS: The project was developed under the scope of the "A Hora é Agora" (The Time is Now) program. Individuals aiming to request an HIVST package (two tests each) answered an anonymous 5-minute questionnaire regarding inclusion criteria and sexual risk behavior. Eligible individuals could receive one package every 6 months for free. Website analytics, response to online questionnaires, package distribution, and return of test results were monitored via a platform-integrated system. RESULTS: Between February 2015 and January 2016, the website documented 17,786 unique visitors and 3218 completed online questionnaires. Most individuals self-reported being white (77.0%), young (median age: 25 years, interquartile range: 22-31 years), educated (87.3% completed secondary education or more), and previously tested for HIV (62.5%). Overall, 2526 HIVST packages were delivered; of those, 542 (21.4%) reported a result online or by mail (23 reactive and 11 invalid). During the study period, 37 individuals who reported using e-testing visited the prespecified health facility for confirmatory testing (30 positive, 7 negative). CONCLUSIONS: E-testing proved highly feasible and acceptable in this study, thus supporting scale-up to additional centers for men who have sex with men in Brazil.

Development of a Social Network-Based Intervention to Overcome Multilevel Barriers to ART Adherence Among Adolescents in Brazil.

Brazil's comprehensive HIV treatment program does not specifically address ART adherence challenges for adolescents-a group accounting for the largest number of incident HIV infections in Brazil. We conducted three focus groups with 24 adolescents (age 15-24) living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, separately for cisgender men who have sex with men, heterosexual-identified cisgender men and women, and transgender women of any sexual orientation, and key informant interviews (n = 7) with infectious disease specialists and HIV/AIDS service organization staff. Content analysis identified socioecological barriers and facilitators to adherence, including individual (e.g., low knowledge, side effects, and substance use), interpersonal (e.g., stigma from partners and health care providers) and structural (e.g., transportation and medication access) barriers. Overlapping and unique barriers emerged by sexual/gender identity. A community-informed, theory-driven ART adherence intervention for adolescents that is organized around identity and leverages social networks has the potential to improve HIV treatment and health outcomes for Brazilian adolescents.

[Vulnerability to HIV infection in serodiscordant couples in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Vulnerabilidade à infecção do HIV entre casais sorodiscordantes no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

A new era in HIV/AIDS treatment began in 1996 with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The advent of these new medicines expanded the treatment resources and improved life expectancy and quality of life for persons living with HIV and AIDS, favoring the maintenance and initiation of relationships between partners with discordant HIV serological status. The main objective of this study with serodiscordant couples was to understand the three dimensions of vulnerability - programmatic, social, and individual - in these couples. The study, belonging to the field of social constructionism, used analysis of discursive practices and production of meanings. Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with couples followed in a clinical research institute. The main results include the lack of information on sexuality in the family and in schools, distorted knowledge on HIV prevention and transmission, inadequacies in HIV testing, and flaws in communicating test results.

Awareness and Willingness to Use Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Brazil.

Antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended to prevent HIV infection among high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) though not available in Brazil where the HIV epidemic persists unabated in this group. This cross-sectional study describes PrEP awareness and willingness and associated factors among MSM and transvestite/transgender women (trans women) pre-screened for the PrEP Brasil study. Awareness was reported by 61.3 % of the participants and was associated with age, education, site, study period and prior HIV testing. Most participants (82.1 %) were willing to use PrEP, which was associated with site, study period, number of male condomless anal sexual partners and anal sex with HIV positive/unknown partners. PrEP information is need among young and less educated individuals. Willingness to use PrEP was high and future studies should be conducted to confirm PrEP acceptability and the characteristics of the population who chose to adopt this intervention.

Vulnerabilidade à infecção do HIV entre casais sorodiscordantes no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Vulnerability to HIV infection in serodiscordant couples in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Vulnerabilidad a la infección del VIH entre parejas serodiscordantes, en Río de Janeiro, Brasil

Em 1996, uma nova era no tratamento do HIV/AIDS se iniciou com o advento da terapia antirretroviral altamente potente (HAART). O advento desses novos medicamentos ampliou os recursos terapêuticos, melhorou a expectativa e a qualidade de vida das pessoas vivendo com HIV e AIDS, favorecendo a manutenção e o início de relacionamentos entre parceiros com sorologias diferentes para o HIV. Este estudo com casais sorodiscordantes teve como objetivo central compreender as três dimensões da vulnerabilidade - programática, social e individual - entre esses casais. A pesquisa inserida no campo do construcionismo social utilizou o método de análise das práticas discursivas e produção de sentidos. Foram realizadas 40 entrevistas em profundidade com casais acompanhados em instituto de pesquisa clínica. Dentre os principais resultados, pode-se destacar a falta de informação sobre sexualidade na família e nas escolas, os conhecimentos distorcidos sobre prevenção e transmissão do HIV, as inadequações na realização do teste anti-HIV e as falhas na comunicação dos resultados.

A new era in HIV/AIDS treatment began in 1996 with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The advent of these new medicines expanded the treatment resources and improved life expectancy and quality of life for persons living with HIV and AIDS, favoring the maintenance and initiation of relationships between partners with discordant HIV serological status. The main objective of this study with serodiscordant couples was to understand the three dimensions of vulnerability - programmatic, social, and individual - in these couples. The study, belonging to the field of social constructionism, used analysis of discursive practices and production of meanings. Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with couples followed in a clinical research institute. The main results include the lack of information on sexuality in the family and in schools, distorted knowledge on HIV prevention and transmission, inadequacies in HIV testing, and flaws in communicating test results.

En 1996, una nueva era en el tratamiento del VIH/SIDA vio la luz con el advenimiento de la terapia antirretroviral altamente potente (HAART). La llegada de estos nuevos medicamentos amplió los recursos terapéuticos, mejoró la expectativa y la calidad de vida de las personas que viven con VIH y SIDA, favoreciendo el mantenimiento e inicio de relaciones entre compañeros con serologías diferentes dentro del VIH. Este estudio con parejas serodiscordantes tuvo como objetivo central comprender las tres dimensiones de la vulnerabilidad -programática, social e individual - entre esas parejas. La investigación insertada dentro del campo del construccionismo social utilizó el método de análisis de las prácticas discursivas y producción de sentidos. Se realizaron 40 entrevistas en profundidad con parejas acompañadas en un instituto de investigación clínica. Entre los principales resultados, se puede destacar la falta de información sobre sexualidad en la familia y en las escuelas, los conocimientos distorsionados sobre prevención y transmisión del VIH, las inadecuaciones en la realización del test anti-VIH y los fallos en la comunicación de los resultados.

Technologies for HIV prevention and care: challenges for health services.

This article aims to consider some relevant challenges to the provision of "new prevention technologies" in health services in a scenario where the "advances" in the global response to AIDS control are visible. We take as material for analysis the information currently available on the HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment as prevention (TASP) and over the counter. The methodology consisted of the survey and analysis of the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS: MEDLINE, LILACS, WHOLIS, PAHO, SciELO) articles that addressed the issue of HIV prevention and care in the context of so-called new prevention technologies. The results of the studies show that there is assistance on the ground of clinics for the treatment of disease responses, but there are several challenges related to the sphere of prevention. The articles list some challenges regarding to management, organization of services and the attention given by health professionals to users. The current context shows evidence of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in reducing the risk of HIV transmission, but the challenges for the provision of preventive technologies in health services permeate health professionals and users in their individual dimensions and health services in organizational and structural dimension. Interventions should be made available in a context of community mobilization; there should be no pressure on people to make HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment or for prevention. In the management is responsible for the training of health professionals to inform, clarify and make available to users, partners and family information about the new antiretroviral use strategies.

Technologies for HIV prevention and care: challenges for health services / Tecnologias de Prevenção do HIV e desafios para os serviços de saúde

ABSTRACT This article aims to consider some relevant challenges to the provision of "new prevention technologies" in health services in a scenario where the "advances" in the global response to AIDS control are visible. We take as material for analysis the information currently available on the HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment as prevention (TASP) and over the counter. The methodology consisted of the survey and analysis of the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS: MEDLINE, LILACS, WHOLIS, PAHO, SciELO) articles that addressed the issue of HIV prevention and care in the context of so-called new prevention technologies. The results of the studies show that there is assistance on the ground of clinics for the treatment of disease responses, but there are several challenges related to the sphere of prevention. The articles list some challenges regarding to management, organization of services and the attention given by health professionals to users. The current context shows evidence of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in reducing the risk of HIV transmission, but the challenges for the provision of preventive technologies in health services permeate health professionals and users in their individual dimensions and health services in organizational and structural dimension. Interventions should be made available in a context of community mobilization; there should be no pressure on people to make HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment or for prevention. In the management is responsible for the training of health professionals to inform, clarify and make available to users, partners and family information about the new antiretroviral use strategies.

RESUMO Este artigo objetiva pensar desafios concernentes à oferta das "novas tecnologias de prevenção" nos serviços de saúde num cenário em que os "avanços" na resposta mundial para o controle da AIDS são visíveis. Tomamos como material de análise informações atualmente disponíveis sobre a profilaxia pós-exposição sexual (PEP) e pré-exposição sexual (PrEP), o tratamento como forma de prevenção (TCFP) e a autotestagem. A metodologia para elaboração do texto consistiu no levantamento e análise de artigos na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS: MEDLINE, LILACS, WHOLIS, PAHO, SciELO) que abordassem o tema da prevenção do HIV no contexto das chamadas novas tecnologias de prevenção. A análise dos artigos elenca alguns desafios para a gestão, organização dos serviços e atenção dispensada pelos profissionais de saúde aos usuários. O contexto atual mostra evidências sobre a eficácia do tratamento na redução do risco da transmissão do HIV, mas os desafios para a oferta das tecnologias de prevenção nos serviços de saúde perpassam profissionais de saúde e usuários em suas dimensões individuais e os serviços de saúde numa dimensão organizacional e estrutural. As intervenções devem ser disponibilizadas em um contexto de mobilização comunitária; não deve haver pressão sobre as pessoas para fazer o teste anti-HIV, tratamento ou antirretroviral como forma de prevenção. À gestão cabe o treinamento dos profissionais de saúde para informarem, esclarecerem e disponibilizarem a usuários, parceiros e familiares informações sobre as novas estratégias de utilização de antirretrovirais.

Unprotected sexual practices among men who have sex with women and men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS in Rio de Janeiro.

Combined antiretroviral therapy is now acknowledged for preventing new HIV infections, besides decreasing mortality and morbidity. However, in many Latin America countries the epidemic is still driven by unprotected sexual intercourse. This study aims to describe sexual practices related to HIV/STD and to evaluate factors associated to unprotected sex among men who have sex with women (MSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) under care at a reference center for HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A cross-sectional study, nested in a Brazilian clinical cohort, evaluated the sexual practices of 404 sexually active HIV-positive MSW and men who have MSM. Approximately 30 % of them reported unprotected sexual practices during the 6 months prior to the interview. Most frequent risky practices reported were unprotected vaginal sex among MSW and unprotected receptive anal sex among MSM. Factors increasing the chance of unprotected sexual practices among MSW were the partner's desire of becoming pregnant (OR 2.81; CI 95 %: 1.36-5.95). To have received comments about excessive consumption of alcohol (OR 2.43; CI 95 %: 1.01-5.83), illicit drug use (OR 4.41; CI 95 %: 1.75-11.60) and lived in marital situation (OR 2.10; CI 95 %: 1.09-4.08) were significantly associated with unsafe sexual practices among MSM. The results highlight that health care of men living with HIV, as well as the prevention strategies, must consider the particularities of sexual behavior practiced by people who differ in sexual orientation.

Over-the-counter human immunodeficiency virus self-test kits: time to explore their use for men who have sex with men in Brazil

Increasing access and frequency of human immunodeficiency virus testing are critical to stemming the epidemic. In Brazil's concentrated epidemic, human immunodeficiency virus prevalence in the men who have sex with men/transgender population far exceeds that in the general population, but testing rates fall below what is needed to ensure early detection and treatment. Over-the-counter human immunodeficiency virus self-testing kits, now available in stores in the U.S., have enormous potential to increase testing access and frequency and to facilitate early detection and treatment. With the advent of human immunodeficiency virus self-testing upon us, it is timely to engage the scientific community, government, and civil society in a dialog around how to best utilize this technology in Brazil. We summarize recent research on over-the-counter testing among men who have sex with men, raise potential questions and challenges to using self-tests, suggest implementation strategies, and outline a research agenda moving forward.

Over-the-counter human immunodeficiency virus self-test kits: time to explore their use for men who have sex with men in Brazil.

Increasing access and frequency of human immunodeficiency virus testing are critical to stemming the epidemic. In Brazil's concentrated epidemic, human immunodeficiency virus prevalence in the men who have sex with men/transgender population far exceeds that in the general population, but testing rates fall below what is needed to ensure early detection and treatment. Over-the-counter human immunodeficiency virus self-testing kits, now available in stores in the U.S., have enormous potential to increase testing access and frequency and to facilitate early detection and treatment. With the advent of human immunodeficiency virus self-testing upon us, it is timely to engage the scientific community, government, and civil society in a dialog around how to best utilize this technology in Brazil. We summarize recent research on over-the-counter testing among men who have sex with men, raise potential questions and challenges to using self-tests, suggest implementation strategies, and outline a research agenda moving forward.

Vulnerabilidade ao HIV/AIDS entre casais sorodiscordantes acompanhados no Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas/FIOCRUZ / Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among serodiscordant couples followed at Instituto Evandro Chagas Clinical Research /FIOCRUZ

O ano de 1996 evidenciou um importante marco no tratamento da aids em função do avanço das pesquisas clínicas e farmacológicas. No mundo surgiu novo tratamento da aids, conhecido na sigla em inglês por Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) ou Terapia Antirretroviral Potente, em português, regime de tratamento que combina várias medicações para suprimir a replicação viral e a progressão da doença. O advento desses novos medicamentos amplia os recursos terapêuticos, melhora a expectativa e a qualidade de vida das pessoas vivendo com HIV e aids. Esse cenário mundial traz para as pessoas vivendo com HIV e aids a perspectiva de poderem desfrutar de vida social: trabalhar, estudar, ter relacionamentos amorosos, casar e ter filhos. Esses relacionamentos podem ser com pessoas que têm a mesma sorologia para o HIV, definidas como soroconcordantes ou sorologias diferentes, casais sorodiscordantes, em que um é infectado pelo HIV ou tem aids e o outro não. Os temas relacionados aos casais sorodiscordantes, como revelação do diagnóstico ao parceiro, conjugalidade, práticas sexuais, uso do preservativo e reprodução, começam a ser discutidos entre profissionais de saúde e pesquisadores a partir do final dos anos 1990 nos EUA e dos anos 2000 no Brasil. Este estudo com os casais sorodiscordantes está inserido no campo teórico do construcionismo social em psicologia e utiliza o método qualitativo da análise das práticas discursivas e produção de sentidos no cotidiano. Foram realizadas 17 entrevistas com 13 casais heterossexuais e 04 casais homossexuais, acompanhados no Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, no Rio de Janeiro. O estudo teve como objetivo compreender como são construídas as três dimensões da vulnerabilidade programática, social e individual entre os casais sorodiscordantes. Os resultados da análise dos discursos, a partir do material transcrito das gravações, indicam questões importantes relacionadas a essas dimensões da vulnerabilidade dentre as quais podemos destacar a forma prescritiva em que é feito o trabalho de prevenção primária e secundária, pelos profissionais de saúde; a falta de informação sobre sexualidade na família e nas escolas; os conhecimentos distorcidos sobre a transmissão do HIV e suas formas de prevenção; as inadequações na forma como o teste anti-HIV é realizado e como o resultado é comunicado para as pessoas pelos profissionais de saúde; a ausência de apoio para ajudar na revelação do diagnóstico a parceiros e/ou familiares, assim como no suporte das questões relacionadas à conjugalidade. Alguns dos casais entrevistados incorporaram em seus relacionamentos sexuais novas tecnologias de prevenção, como a adesão ao tratamento como forma de prevenção, combinadas às técnicas de redução de riscos para infecção pelo HIV como alternativas ao uso do preservativo.

The year of 1996 showed an important milestone in AIDS treatment due to the advancement of clinical and pharmacological researchs. In the world appears a new AIDS treatment, known by Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), which is a treatment scheme that combines several medications to suppress viral replication and the progression of AIDS. The advent of these new drugs expands the therapeutic resources, improves expectancy and quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS.This world scenario brings for people living with HIV/AIDS the perspective of having a social life: working, studying, having loving relationships, marry and have children. These relationships can be with people with the same HIV status, defined as seroconcordant or different serology, serodiscordant couples, in which one is infected with HIV or have AIDS and the other not.Topics related to serodiscordant couples, like disclosure to partner, conjugality, sexual practices, condom use and reproduction, began to be discussed between health professionals and researchers from the late 1990s in the U.S. and the 2000s in Brazil. This study with serodiscordant couples is inserted into the theoretical field of social constructionism in psychology and uses the method of qualitative analysis of discursive practices and production of meanings in everyday life. 17 interviews were conducted with 13 heterosexual couples and 04 gay couples treated at Instituto Evandro Chagas Clinical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro. The aim of the study was to understand how are constructedthree dimensions of vulnerability: programmatic, social and individual.The results of the analysis of discourse, trought the transcribed material, indicated importants issues related to these dimensions of vulnerability, among which we can highlight a prescriptive manner how is done the primary and secondary prevention by health professionals; lack of information about sexuality; distorted knowledge about the transmission of HIV and its forms of prevention; inadequacies in how HIV testing is conducted and how the result is revealed to the people by health professionals; lack of support to help in HIV status disclosure to partners or family members and issues related to conjugality. Some of the couples interviewed incorporated in their sexual relationships new prevention technologies, such as treatment as prevention, combined with techniques of risk reduction for HIV infection as alternatives to the use of condoms.