Puff, Puff, Don't Pass: harm reduction for cannabis use during a viral respiratory pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis use social practices often involved sharing prepared cannabis (joints/blunts/cigarettes) and cannabis-related paraphernalia. Previous studies have demonstrated that sharing paraphernalia for cannabis, tobacco, and crack cocaine is a risk factor for respiratory viral and bacterial infections. Although COVID-19 is a respiratory viral infection that spreads through droplets and airborne transmission, it is unclear if many individuals adopted harm reduction practices around sharing cannabis. This study: quantifies the prevalence of sharing prepared non-medical cannabis and cannabis-related paraphernalia reported before and during the pandemic; assesses changes in sharing of non-medical cannabis from before to during the pandemic; assess the association between frequency of non-medical cannabis use and sharing of cannabis during the pandemic; and describes how respondents obtained their cannabis and the reasons for changing their cannabis use during the pandemic to explain differences in sharing patterns. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data collected from an anonymous, US-based web survey on cannabis-related behaviors from August to September 2020 (n = 1833). Participants were included if they reported using a mode of inhalation for non-medical cannabis consumption. We calculated proportional changes in sharing cannabis before/during the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations between frequency of cannabis use and cannabis sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 1,112 participants reported non-medical cannabis use; 925 (83.2%) reported a mode of cannabis inhalation. More respondents reported no sharing during (24.9%) than before the pandemic (12.4%; p < 0.01); less respondents shared most of the time (19.5% before; 11.2% during; p < 0.01) and always during the pandemic (5.2% before; 3.1% during; p < 0.01). After adjusting for covariates, the odds of any sharing during the pandemic for those who reported ≥ weekly cannabis use was 0.53 (95% CI 0.38, 0.75) compared to those who reported ≤ monthly. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing of prepared cannabis and cannabis-related paraphernalia decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. This finding suggests potential risk mitigation strategies taken by participants for COVID-19 prevention either directly through behavior change or indirectly through adherence to COVID-19 prevention recommendations. Harm reduction messaging around sharing of cannabis during surges of COVID-19 or other respiratory infections may provide benefit in reducing infection among those who use cannabis, especially as cannabis use in the USA continues to increase.

Changes in secondary substance use after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use cannabis: Findings from a web-based sample of adults in the United States.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread impacts on mental health and substance use. Increases in cannabis use have been documented in the United States, but little is known about how other substance use has changed among people who use cannabis. We sought to examine changes in alcohol, tobacco, opioid, and stimulant use during COVID-19 and explore how these changes relate to patterns of cannabis use. Data were obtained from a web-based survey of adults in the United States who use cannabis (n = 1,471) administered in September 2020. Using data reported in retrospective (prepandemic) and time-of-survey assessment periods, we explored changes in the prevalence of regular (≥ weekly) alcohol, tobacco, opioid, and stimulant use during COVID-19 among respondents who used medical and nonmedical cannabis. We used modified Poisson regression to examine cannabis-related correlates of increasing or decreasing secondary substance use during the pandemic. There was a slight but significant increase in ≥weekly alcohol use in the medical use group only (41.4%-47.0%, p = .034). ≥ Weekly tobacco, opioid, and stimulant use did not change significantly. Pandemic-concurrent shifts in secondary substance use depended on interacting cannabis-related factors including medical cannabis use, prepandemic cannabis frequency, and pandemic-concurrent frequency changes. For example, ≥ weekly prepandemic cannabis use was significantly and positively associated with decreasing opioid use frequency among the medical cannabis use group only. Assessments of the pandemic's effects on substance use should consider relationships between cannabis and other substances, which may differ according to cannabis-specific behaviors, motives, and contexts of use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Evolving Primary Care Utilization of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People at a Community Sexual Health Clinic.

Purpose: Prior research has found that transgender people are less likely to have access to health care and health insurance than their cisgender peers and are more likely to delay seeking care due to systemic discrimination and stigma. To this end, this study seeks to measure transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) clients' primary care utilization and compare them to their cisgender peers. Methods: Demographic data and self-reported primary care utilization from 14,372 clients attending a community health center in Los Angeles, CA, from 2018 to 2020 were examined. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were used to examine correlates of gender identity on primary care utilization metrics-Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations and recent primary care visits. Results: Of TGNC clients, 38.0% reported being vaccinated for Hepatitis A compared to 49.2% of cisgender clients (p<0.01) and 42.6% reported being vaccinated for Hepatitis B compared to 51.6% of cisgender clients (p<0.01). TGNC clients had higher odds of engaging with the HPV vaccination series than their cisgender peers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.59). TGNC clients had higher odds of seeing their primary care provider within the preceding 2 years (aOR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01-2.93) compared to non-TGNC clients. Conclusions: This study's results found that TGNC clients were more likely to access certain primary care services more often than their cisgender counterparts. Our results support the efficacy of such interventions, such as a health care setting designed to support the health of gender minority people, and see similar, if not greater, primary care engagement in transgender persons compared to their cisgender peers.

High proportions of rectal and pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases among cisgender men are missed using current CDC screening recommendations.

OBJECTIVES: Pharyngeal and rectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections are often undiagnosed due to their asymptomatic nature. This study aims to determine (1) the prevalence of CT/NG infections by anatomical site among cisgender men; (2) the proportion of missed CT/NG rectal/pharyngeal infections if urogenital testing alone was performed or screening depended on self-reported behaviour alone; and (3) the predictive probability of self-reported behaviours for rectal CT/NG. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used electronic health records collected at a sexual health clinic in Los Angeles from 18 November 2018 until 28 February 2020. The included patients were ≥18 years of age cisgender men who received CT/NG testing at least once during the study period. We calculated the proportion of missed pharyngeal/rectal CT/NG infections if only urogenital testing had been done and if testing was based only on self-reported anal sex. Separately, we ran logistic regressions for predictive probability of self-reported anal sex on CT/NG rectal infections. RESULTS: Overall, there were 13 476 unique patients with 26 579 visits. The prevalence of any extragenital CT/NG infection was 37.28%. Over 80% rectal/pharyngeal CT cases and over 65% rectal/pharyngeal NG cases would be missed if urogenital testing alone was performed. Likewise, over 35% rectal CT/NG cases would be missed had testing relied on self-reported sexual behaviours alone. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of missed rectal and pharyngeal CT/NG infections is high. Our data from a sexual health clinic lend support to three-site opt-out testing for cisgender men attending a sexual health/Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) specialty clinic regardless of their sexual orientation or reported sexual behaviours.

Are men who have sex with men at higher risk for HIV in Latin America more aware of PrEP?

INTRODUCTION: PrEP awareness in Latin America has been poorly characterized, with studies in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru highlighting awareness of 65% among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). We assessed the association between higher risk of HIV infection, indicative of PrEP eligibility, and PrEP awareness among MSM from these countries. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a web-based survey advertised on social media platforms from March-June 2018 in Brazil, Mexico and Peru. Eligible individuals were cisgender MSM, ≥18 years old, HIV negative or of unknown status, who lived in these countries, and provided informed consent. Higher risk of HIV infection was defined as having 10 or more points in the HIV Risk Index for MSM (HIRI-MSM). We used multivariable Poisson regression models to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) testing the association between higher risk for HIV and PrEP awareness. RESULTS: After exclusions, 19,457 MSM were included in this analysis. In Brazil, 53.8% were classified as higher risk for HIV, 51.9% in Mexico, and 54.2% in Peru. Higher risk for HIV was minimally associated with PrEP awareness among those in Brazil (aPR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01, 1.06), but no such association was observed in Mexico or Peru. Having more than a high school education, high income, daily use of geosocial networking (GSN) applications, and substance use were associated with PrEP awareness. CONCLUSION: Higher risk of HIV infection was associated with increased PrEP awareness in Brazil. However, this association was weak indicating that PrEP awareness could be strengthened with further prevention efforts. In the remaining countries, results were non-conclusive between risk and awareness. Interventions to increase PrEP awareness are paramount to increase PrEP willingness and uptake and in turn prevent new HIV infections. Social media platforms could play an important role to achieve this goal.

Evidence supporting the standardisation of extragenital gonorrhoea and chlamydia screenings for women.

OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines for women do not include extragenital screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and do not mention anal sex behaviour. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the number of potentially missed CT and NG cases by relying on urogenital screening and self-reported anal sex behaviour among women. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data of 4658 women attending a community health centre in Los Angeles, California, USA from 2015 to 2018 were examined. CT and NG were detected using nucleic acid amplification test (APTIMA Combo 2, Hologic Gen-Probe, San Diego, California). Demographic and behavioural factors were also examined to assess potentially missed NG/CT cases. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine whether reported anal sex behaviour predicts NG/CT rectal infection. RESULTS: A total of 193 NG cases and 552 CT cases were identified; however, 53.9% of NG cases and 25.5% of CT cases were identified exclusively through extragenital screening. Of all positive cases of rectal CT, 87.0% did not report anal sex without a condom and 91.3% did not report any anal sex with their last sexual partner. Of all positive cases of rectal NG, 78.9% did not report anal sex without a condom and 76.3% did not report any anal sex with their last sexual partner. Anal sex with last partner was not predictive of NG/CT rectal infection. CONCLUSIONS: Relying solely on urogenital screening and reported behaviour misses NG/CT cases. Extragenital NG/CT screening should be conducted in all women regardless of reported anal sex behaviour.

Sexual Mixing Patterns and Anal Human Papillomavirus Among Young Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in 2 Cities in the United States, 2012-2014.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are at high risk for anal HPV infection and subsequent anal cancer. This study assessed the association of partner discordances with prevalent high-risk anal HPV (HRAHPV) among MSM and TGW. METHODS: Participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional young men's HPV study of gay, bisexual, and other MSM, and TGW, aged 18 to 26 years, from 2 cities. Participants completed a confidential standardized computer-assisted interview and provided self-collected anal swabs for type-specific HPV DNA testing. Multivariate analyses were conducted for 3 discordances of interest (i.e., partner age, race/ethnicity, and concurrent partner) to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Eight hundred sixty-two participants were included for partner race/ethnicity discordance, 601 for partner age discordance, and 581 for concurrent partner analysis. Most reported being older than 21 years, cisgender male, and gay. Adjusted odds of HRAHPV were not significantly increased among participants reporting partner age discrepancy >10 years (aOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.51-1.56), partner race/ethnicity discordance (aOR, 0.88; CI, 0.62-1.24), or partner with concurrent partners (aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.50-1.42), compared with those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis did not identify any partner discordances associated with HRAHPV. Because HPV infection can persist for years, sexual mixing patterns with early partners might be more relevant than the most recent sex partner. Prevalence of HRAHPV was high and could be preventable by preexposure vaccination, as recommended for everyone through age 26 years including MSM and TGW.

Midtrimester isolated oligohydramnios in monochorionic diamniotic multiple gestations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the natural history and perinatal outcomes of monochorionic diamniotic twins with midtrimester isolated oligohydramnios (iOligo). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of iOligo patients who were initially referred for the management of evolving twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) or selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR). iOligo was defined as a maximum vertical pocket of amniotic fluid of ≤2 cm in the iOligo twin's sac and normal fluid level (>2 and <8 cm) in the co-twin's sac. "Group A" patients did not subsequently develop TTTS or sIUGR Type II (umbilical artery persistent absent or reversed end-diastolic flow), and "Group B" patients did develop TTTS or sIUGR Type II. Results are reported as median (range). RESULTS: Of the 828 patients with complicated monochorionic twin gestations referred for possible TTTS or sIUGR, 36 (4.3%) were initially diagnosed with iOligo. After initial consultation, two patients terminated and one was lost to follow-up, resulting in a final study population of 33. Group A had 10 patients (30.3%) and Group B had 23 patients (69.7%). In Group A, nine of the 10 were expectantly managed, resulting in a median gestational age (GA) at delivery of 34.7 (18.0-36.4) weeks, a 30-day perinatal survival of at-least-one twin of 88.9% (8/9), and dual 30-day survivors in 8/9 (88.9%). In Group B, 12 (52.2%) developed TTTS and 11 (47.8%) developed sIUGR Type II. Fifteen Group B patients had laser surgery, resulting in a median GA at delivery of 33.7 (26.4-37.1) weeks, a 30-day perinatal survival of at-least-one twin of 100% (15/15), and dual survivorship of 46.7% (7/15). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the majority of patients with midtrimester iOligo have fetal growth restriction of the affected twin and subsequently progress to TTTS or sIUGR Type II.