Sex work, syndemic conditions and condomless anal intercourse among men who have sex with men who engage in sex work in Latin America.

Background In Latin American countries and Suriname, sexual transmission is one of the most common modes of HIV transmission, and men who have sex with men (MSM) who engage in sex work constitute a key population. Methods In a sample of MSM (N =53,166) from the Latin American Internet Survey (2018) across 18 countries, we examined how sex work engagement is associated with syndemic conditions (multidrug use, homophobic abuse, depression/anxiety, alcohol dependency (CAGE alcohol questionnaire) and internalised homonegativity) and condomless anal intercourse with non-steady male partners using separate logistic regressions. We then used a structural equation model to determine if and how syndemic conditions mediate the relationship between sex work engagement and non-steady male partners. Results We found that getting paid for sex was associated with less condom use for anal intercourse with non-steady male partners and particular syndemic conditions, such as multidrug use, homophobic abuse and alcohol dependency. In our structural equation model, the results showed that the direct relationship between sex work engagement and non-steady male partners was positive and significant, and syndemic conditions partially mediated this relationship. Conclusion Our results highlight the continuing need for including MSM who engage in sex work and those who experience syndemic conditions in the prevention strategies targeted to MSM in Latin America and Suriname, to prevent the transmission of HIV.

[Epidemiological situation of post-pandemic sexually transmitted infections in Catalonia, Spain]. / Situación epidemiológica de las infecciones de transmisión sexual pospandemia en Cataluña, España.

BACKGROUND: The growing trend of STIs in recent years was altered after the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. OBJECTIVES: Describe the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on STI declarations received during the pre-pandemic to pandemic period and estimate the number of STI cases expected for the pandemic period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive analysis of STI declarations received during the pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) periods. The influence of the number of positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 with the number of positive cases of STIs during the months of the pandemic was studied using a correlation model. Using the Holt-Wilson time series model, an estimate was made of the number of STI cases expected for the pandemic period. RESULTS: The global incidence rate for all STIs in 2020 decreased by 18.3% compared to 2019. Chlamydia and syphilis presented a greater reduction in their incidence from 2019 to 2020 of 22.7% and 20.9%, respectively and 9.5% and 2.5% for gonorrhea and LGV. Estimates showed that in 2020 there would have been 44.6% more STIs than those declared. The proportions according to sex, country of birth and sexual orientation changed significantly in chlamydia and gonorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: The measures adopted for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections were able to achieve an initial decrease in STI cases in 2020, however, this change was not maintained during 2021, which ended with higher incidences recorded to date.

[Facilitators of participation and implementation of the immigrant families' PELFI Sub-Cohort]. / Facilitadores de la participación e implementación de la subcohorte PELFI de familias inmigrantes.

OBJECTIVE: PELFI is a multicentre cohort study of migrant families in Spain. The objectives of this manuscript were: 1) to describe the recruitment strategies, data collection and the main socio-demographic characteristics according to geographical origin and sex of participants of the families; and 2) to assess the recruitment and data collection strategies that facilitated participation in the basal assessment of the Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramanet cohort. METHOD: Descriptive study on a convenience sample of migrant and native families residing in Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramanet. Health interviews were conducted on fathers, mothers and children>16 years; and medical examinations were performed. RESULTS: There were 115 participating families. Within the recruitment strategies, snow ball achieved 69% cooperation. The cooperation rate of the study was 57.5% and that of the clinical sub-sample was 66.6%. Cooperation rate of the Chinese families was 38.5% and Chinese children >16 years old were not recruited. Twenty-eight percent of the interviews were conducted at weekends or during the evening. Families had a mean of 12.2 years of residence. Seventy-one point two percent of the children >16 years had completed secondary studies. The migrants had lower social class than natives (p < 0.05) and the migrant women had lower levels of education (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Interacting frequently with the community, using different recruitment strategies simultaneously, incorporating researchers from the same geographical origin as participants, minimising language barriers and offering flexibility in conducting data collection facilitated the participation of the migrant families. The Chinese families presented greater difficulties. The study findings will facilitate the implementation of future cohort studies with similar characteristics.

Trends in human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses among men who have sex with men in North America, Western Europe, and Australia, 2000-2014.

PURPOSE: The aim of the article was to investigate recent trends in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income countries in North America, Western Europe, and Australia. METHODS: Data on annual rates of HIV diagnoses among MSM aged 15 to 65 years from 2000 to 2014 were collected from 13 high-income countries. Joinpoint regression software was used to empirically determine country-specific trend periods. Trends in HIV diagnosis rates and in the proportion of diagnoses occurring in young MSM aged 15 to 24 years were analyzed using Poisson regression and log-binomial regression, respectively. RESULTS: Six countries experienced an increasing trend from 2000 to 2007-08 followed by either a stable or declining trend through 2014. Five countries had recently increasing trends, and two countries had one stable trend from 2000 to 2014. All 13 countries experienced increases in the proportion of diagnoses occurring in young MSM. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2008, half of the 13 high-income countries examined experienced stable or decreasing trends. Still, some countries continue to experience increasing HIV trends, and young MSM are increasingly represented among new diagnoses. Efforts to support early sexual health promotion, reduce barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis, and improve care engagement for young MSM are critical to addressing current HIV trends.

[HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among migrant population in Spain: a scoping review]. / Infección VIH/Sida y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual en la población inmigrante en España: revisión bibliográfica.

BACKGROUND: Migration flows have the ability to disperse infectious agents and alter local epidemiologies. The aim of the study is to describe the socio-epidemiological, clinical and microbiology / molecular epidemiology of HIV / AIDS infection in the immigrant population. METHODS: Review of the literature following the methodology Scoping review. A literature search in Medline and MEDES, original items made in Spain, published between 1998-2012, with people from Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Asia and / or Eastern Europe was conducted. RESULTS: 41 articles were selected. The most studied population was from Latin America (48.8%). Higher HIV prevalence than in native was observed in men who have sex with men from Latin America (18.1%), transvestite and transsexual sex workers from Latin America (23.3%), pregnant women (0.9%) and men and women from sub-Saharan Africa (9.1% and 7.5%). Risk behaviors were different depending on the country of origin and sex. The diagnostic delay of HIV infections reached 43%, with higher prevalence in immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, which showed delayed diagnosis in 41% and resistance to anti-retroviral treatment in 13%. Immigrant women had more losses to follow up, worse immunological response to antiretroviral treatment and shorter time treatment failure. CONCLUSION: Higher prevalence of HIV is presented by subjects from sub-Saharan Africa, men who have sex with men and transgender and transvestite sex workers from Latin America. Also pregnant women. Delayed diagnosis and resistance to treatment are more common in individuals from sub-Saharan Africa. Immigrant women presented poorer response to antiretroviral treatment.