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.

Factores asociados a la calidad de la atención en población adulta afiliada a la Seguridad Social: El caso peruano / Factors associated with the quality of care in the adult population affiliated to Social Security: the Peruvian case

Objetivo: Identificar factores asociados a calidad percibida de atención en la población adulta afiliada al Seguro Social en Salud (EsSalud). Material y métodos: Analizamos la Encuesta Nacional Socioeconómica de Acceso a la Salud de los Asegurados de EsSalud. La calidad percibida fue evaluada en consultorio externo, hospitalización y emergencias. Reportamos razones de medias ajustadas (RMa) estimadas mediante regresión de Poisson múltiple. Resultados: Estar empleado (RMa=0,98; IC95% 0,96-0,99), no conocer los servicios que brinda EsSalud (RMa=0,97; IC95% 0,95-1,00), no recibir información sobre los derechos como usuarios (RMa=0,95; IC95% 0,93-0,98), valorar como bajo el nivel de accesibilidad al EESS (RMa=0,97; IC95% 0,95-0,99) y no sentirse cómodo en el EESS al que acude (RM=0,92; IC95% 0,91-0,94) fueron factores asociados a menor puntaje de calidad percibida en consultorio externo. En hospitalización, tener entre 40-59 años (RMa=0,93; IC95% 0,88-0,97), contar con un índice de riqueza bajo (RMa=0,92; IC95% 0,87-0,97), no haber recibido información sobre los derechos como usuarios (RMa=0,90; IC95% 0,84-0,95) y no sentirse cómodos en el EESS (RMa=0,92; IC95% 0,89-0,96) se asociaron a menor puntuación de calidad. En emergencia, no sentirse cómodo en el EESS (RMa=0,89; IC95% 0,93-1,00) fue el único factor asociado a una menor puntuación de calidad percibida. Conclusiones: Identificamos factores relativos a los usuarios y a la oferta de servicios independientemente asociados a calidad percibida de atención, los cuales pueden ser considerados por los tomadores de decisiones para la mejor gestión de EsSalud.

Objetive: To identify factors associated with perceived quality of care in the adult population affiliated with Social Security Health (EsSalud) Material and methods: We analyzed the National Socioeconomic Survey of Access to Health of the EsSalud Insured. Perceived quality of health care was evaluated in ambulatory care, hospitalization and emergency medical services. We reported adjusted ratios of means (RMa) estimated by multiple Poisson regression. Results: Being employed (RMa=0.98; IC95% 0.96-0.99), not knowing the services provided by EsSalud (RMa=0.97; IC95% 0.95-1.00), not receiving information about right to health (RMa=0.95; IC95% 0.93-0.98), perceiving as low the level of accessibility to the health facility (RMa=0.97; IC95% 0.95-0.99) and not feeling comfortable in the health facility of EsSalud (RM=0.92;IC95% 0.91-0.94) were factors associated with lower scores of perceived quality in ambulatory care. In hospitalization, being between 40-59 years old (RMa=0.93; IC95% 0.88-0.97), having a low wealth index (RMa=0.92; IC95% 0.87-0.97), not having received information about right to health (RMa=0.90; IC95%0.84-0.95) and not feeling comfortable in the health facility of EsSalud (RMa=0.92; IC95% 0.89-0.96) were associated with lower quality score. In emergency, not feeling comfortable in the health facility of EsSalud (RMa=0.89; IC95% 0.93-1.00) was the only factor associated with a lower perceived quality score. Conclusions: We identified factors related to users and service offerings independently associated with perceived quality of care, which can be considered by decision makers for better management of EsSalud.