Availability and accessibility of HIV self-tests and self-sample kits at community pharmacies in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: In 2016 the WHO declared HIV self-testing and self-sampling an effective and safe test option that can reduce testing barriers. HIV self-tests and self-sampling kits (HIVST/HIVSS) are available for purchase at Dutch community pharmacies since 2019. We investigated the availability and accessibility of HIVST/HIVSS in community pharmacies, and factors associated with test availability. METHODS: An online survey among all Dutch community pharmacies (n = 1,987) was conducted between April and June 2021. Availability of HIVST/HIVSS and experiences of pharmacists with the test offer were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The association of pharmacy and pharmacists' characteristics with HIVST/HIVSS availability was explored by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 465 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Of the responding pharmacists, 6.2% (n = 29) offered HIVST/HIVSS. The majority (82.8%) sold between 0 and 20 tests per year. In total, pharmacies sold an estimated 370 HIVST/HIVSS per year. Pharmacies having HIVST/HIVSS available were less often located in moderately-urbanized to rural neighborhoods (OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.16-0.77 versus highly-urbanized), and were less often located in moderate-to-low SES neighborhoods (OR 0.40, 95%CI 0.18-0.88 versus high-SES). Reasons for not offering HIVST/HIVSS by pharmacists were no or little demand (69.3%), and not being familiar with these tests (17.4%). 52% of the pharmacists provided information about testing to test buyers. Reported options to improve the test offer were giving advice about (performing) the test to test buyers (72.4%), placing tests visible on the counter (51.7%), and advertisement (37.9%). CONCLUSION: HIVST/HIVSS have a limited practical availability in Dutch community pharmacies since their introduction in 2019, especially in lower-urbanized and lower-SES areas. Further research is needed to explore how to expand access to HIVST/HIVSS through community pharmacies in the Netherlands, and how to tailor it to the needs of pharmacy clients.

Exploring the Breastfeeding Desires and Decision-Making of Women Living with HIV in the Netherlands: Implications for Perinatal HIV Management in Developed Countries.

Introduction: Guidelines in high-income countries recommend women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to formula feed their newborns, because the possibility of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV during breastfeeding cannot be ruled out. It is an ongoing debate if the possible transmission risk outweighs the medical, cultural, psychological, and social importance of breastfeeding in women stable on current first-line suppressive antiretroviral regimens. The study aim was to explore breastfeeding desires and decision-making of immigrant and nonimmigrant women living with HIV in the Netherlands. Method: A questionnaire was administered orally or online to 82 women living with HIV in the Netherlands. The breastfeeding desires of the participants were collected as categorical data, and breastfeeding decision-making and willingness to adhere to additional monitoring were collected on a 5-point Likert scale. Categorical data were presented as proportions, and Likert scale data were presented in Likert scale bar plots. Results: Seventy-one percent of the participants expressed a desire to breastfeed in the future. The most important factors influencing decision-making to breastfeed were the chance of transmission of HIV to the infant and the advice by the doctor or nurse practitioner. Of the participants, 42% expressed their interest in breastfeeding with a <1/100 transmission risk. More than half of the participants expressed their interest to breastfeed with additional monitoring. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of the women living with HIV in the Netherlands has a desire to breastfeed, of which the majority are willing to adhere to additional monitoring to do so.

Trends in HIV Stigma Experienced by People Living With HIV in the Netherlands: A Comparison of Cross-Sectional Surveys Over Time.

We investigated whether HIV stigma has changed in recent years. We compared data on stigma settings and manifestations from 2007 (n = 667) and, specifically for health care, 2009 (n = 262), to data acquired in 2019/2020 (n = 258). Results showed reductions in stigma from friends, family, acquaintances, at work, in the financial services sector, and in media, but stigmatizing messages in media remained highly prevalent. Stigma in the LGBTQI+ community, with sexual partners, and while partying also remained prevalent and, disconcertingly, relatively unchanged. Stigma in health care increased. HIV stigma was positively related to psychological distress, and negatively related to social support and medication adherence. Further, most participants were familiar with U=U and PrEP, but 13.3% questioned the accuracy of U=U. Stigma reduction efforts should focus on reducing stigma in media, in the LGBTQI+ community and while dating, and in health care, with U=U as a key message.

Significant Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care in Hospitals Affecting the First Pillar of the HIV Care Continuum.

During COVID-19 lockdown, the in-hospital number of HIV indicator conditions decreased disproportionally compared with other non-COVID-19 diseases, which was accompanied by reduced HIV testing rates, number and proportion of positive HIV tests, and new HIV referrals, with more late presentation after lockdown cessation, indicating a significantly impacted HIV care continuum.

A Mobile Application to Collect Daily Data on Preexposure Prophylaxis Adherence and Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Use Over Time and Comparability With Conventional Data Collection.

BACKGROUND: We studied the use of a mobile application (app) to measure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence and sexual behavior, assessed determinants of app use, and we compared data in app and questionnaires. METHODS: Men who have sex with men participating in the Amsterdam PrEP project (AMPrEP) on daily or event-driven PrEP at the Public Health Service of Amsterdam completed the data on sexual risk behavior and PrEP adherence through a standard questionnaire every 3 months and on a daily basis using the project's app. Regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with app use. Among those who reported 90% or greater of data in the app, the number of PrEP pills taken and number of unknown casual sex partners were compared between the app and the questionnaires by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Of all participants (n = 374), 94% (352 of 374) reported data in the app at least once; 72% (261 of 362) reported data ≥90% of the days in the sixth month and 62% (222 of 359) in the 12th month following PrEP initiation.Factors associated with reporting data in the app were using daily PrEP and recent initiation of PrEP. The reported numbers of pills taken and unknown sexual partners were comparable between app and questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: The AMPrEP app was used frequently, especially by those using a daily PrEP regimen. Data collected by app regarding adherence and sexual risk behavior were consistent with questionnaire data among those who used the app consistently. An app is a promising tool to measure PrEP adherence and sexual risk behavior.