Fatores associados à retenção de travestis e mulheres trans vivendo com HIV em uma intervenção com navegação de pares em São Paulo, Brasil / Factores asociados con la retención de travestis y mujeres transgénero que viven con el VIH en una intervención consultada por pares en São Paulo, Brasil / Factors associated with the retention of travestis and transgender women living with HIV in a peer navigation intervention in São Paulo, Brazil

Travestis e mulheres trans (TrMT) pertencem aos grupos com mais alta prevalência do HIV no mundo, com maior probabilidade de infecção em relação à população geral e menor adesão a estratégias de prevenção e tratamento do que outros grupos vulneráveis. Considerando esses desafios, descrevemos os fatores associados à retenção de TrMT com HIV no projeto TransAmigas. O recrutamento ocorreu entre abril de 2018 e setembro de 2019, em um serviço público de saúde em São Paulo, Brasil. Foram inscritas 113 TrMT, atribuídas aleatoriamente para uma intervenção com navegadora de pares (75) ou um grupo controle (38) e seguidas durante nove meses. Para analisar a associação entre as variáveis selecionadas e o desfecho ("retenção aos nove meses" independentemente do contato aos três meses, definido pela "resposta completa ao questionário final"), foram empregados modelos de regressão logística bi e multivariados. Uma exploração qualitativa dos formulários de contato de pares foi realizada para validar e complementar a seleção prévia de variáveis do componente quantitativo. Das 113 participantes, 79 (69,9%) responderam à entrevista de nove meses, sendo 54 (72%) do grupo intervenção e 25 (66%) do grupo controle. No modelo multivariado final, o contato aos três meses (odds ratio ajustado - ORa = 6,15; intervalo de 95% de confiança - 95%CI: 2,16-17,51) e a maior escolaridade (≥ 12 anos) (ORa = 3,26; IC95%: 1,02-10,42) permaneceram associados ao desfecho, ajustados por raça/cor, idade < 35 anos e revelação do status sorológico para HIV. Pesquisas futuras com TrMT devem incluir contato em intervalos regulares, com esforços adicionais voltados a participantes com menor escolaridade.

La población de travestis y mujeres trans (TrMT) está en los grupos con mayor prevalencia de VIH en el mundo, con mayor probabilidad de infección en comparación con la población general y menor adherencia a las estrategias de prevención y tratamiento que otros grupos vulnerables. Ante estos desafíos, describimos los factores asociados a la retención de TrMT con VIH en el proyecto TransAmigas. La selección ocurrió entre abril de 2018 y septiembre de 2019, en un servicio público de salud de São Paulo, Brasil. Se inscribieron 113 TrMT, a las cuales se asignaron aleatoriamente a una intervención de navegador de pares (75) o a un grupo control (38) y se les dio seguimiento durante 9 meses. Para analizar la asociación entre las variables seleccionadas y el resultado ("retención a los nueve meses" independientemente del contacto a los 3 meses, definido por "respuesta completa al cuestionario final"), se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística bi- y multivariante. Se realizó una exploración cualitativa de los formularios de contacto de pares para validar y complementar la selección previa de las variables en el componente cuantitativo. De las 113 participantes, 79 (69,9%) respondieron a la entrevista de los 9 meses, de las cuales 54 (72%) pertenecían al grupo intervención y 25 (66%) al grupo control. En el modelo multivariante final, el contacto a los 3 meses (odds ratio ajustado - ORa = 6,15; intervalo de 95% de confianza - IC95%: 2,16-17,51) y un alto nivel de instrucción (≥ 12 años) (ORa = 3,26; IC95%: 1,02-10,42) permanecieron asociados con el resultado, ajustado por etnia/color, edad < 35 años y divulgación del estado serológico respecto al VIH. Los futuros estudios con la población TrMT deberán incluir contacto a intervalos regulares, con esfuerzos adicionales dirigidos a las participantes con menor nivel de instrucción.

Travestis and transgender women (TrTGW) constitute the groups with the highest HIV prevalence in the world, with higher probability of infection compared with the general population and lower adherence to prevention and treatment strategies than other vulnerable groups. Considering these challenges, this study describes the factors associated with the retention of TrTGW with HIV to the TransAmigas project. Participants were recruited from April 2018 to September 2019 in a public health service in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 113 TrTGW were randomly assigned to either a peer navigation intervention (75) or a control group (38) and followed up for nine months. To analyze the association between the selected variables and the outcome ("retention at nine months", regardless of contact at three months, defined by the "full completion of the final questionnaire"), bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used. Peer contact forms were qualitatively assessed to validate and complement the previous selection of quantitative component variables. Of the 113 participants, 79 (69.9%) participated in the interview after nine months, of which 54 (72%) were from the intervention group and 25 (66%) from the control group. In the final multivariate model, contact at three months (adjusted odds ratio - aOR = 6.15; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI: 2.16-17.51) and higher schooling level (≥ 12 years) (aOR = 3.26; 95%CI: 1.02-10.42) remained associated with the outcome, adjusted by race/skin color, age ≤ 35 years, and HIV serostatus disclosure. Future studies with TrTGW should include contact at regular intervals, with additional efforts aimed at participants with lower schooling level.

The role of drug resistance in poor viral suppression in rural South Africa: findings from a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding factors driving virological failure, including the contribution of HIV drug resistance mutations (DRM), is critical to ensuring HIV treatment remains effective. We examine the contribution of drug resistance mutations for low viral suppression in HIV-positive participants in a population-based sero-prevalence survey in rural South Africa. METHODS: We conducted HIV drug resistance genotyping and ART analyte testing on dried blood spots (DBS) from HIV-positive adults participating in a 2014 survey in North West Province. Among those with virologic failure (> 5000 copies/mL), we describe frequency of DRM to protease inhibitors (PI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI), report association of resistance with antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, and assess resistance to first and second line therapy. Analyses are weighted to account for sampling design. RESULTS: Overall 170 DBS samples were assayed for viral load and ART analytes; 78.4% of men and 50.0% of women had evidence of virologic failure and were assessed for drug resistance, with successful sequencing of 76/107 samples. We found ≥1 DRM in 22% of participants; 47% were from samples with detectable analyte (efavirenz, nevirapine or lopinavir). Of those with DRM and detectable analyte, 60% showed high-level resistance and reduced predicted virologic response to ≥1 NRTI/NNRTI typically used in first and second-line regimens. CONCLUSIONS: DRM and predicted reduced susceptibility to first and second-line regimens were common among adults with ART exposure in a rural South African population-based sample. Results underscore the importance of ongoing virologic monitoring, regimen optimization and adherence counseling to optimize durable virologic suppression.

HIV self-testing: South African young adults' recommendations for ease of use, test kit contents, accessibility, and supportive resources.

BACKGROUND: The uptake of HIV self-testing (HIVST) could address socio-structural barriers that prevent South African youth from utilizing the testing resources available in their communities. However, to facilitate this, we must tailor components of the HIVST kit and process to ensure that we reach and encourage youth to test. The purpose of this study to elucidate concerns and issues regarding HIVST rollout among South African youth. METHODS: This study was conducted in two phases: 1) focus group discussions with rural, South African youth aged 18-24 and 2) direct observations of participants completing with an oral HIVST kit and/or a blood based HIVST kit. In phase 2a participants were invited to try both an oral and blood-based HIVST kit. In phase 2b, participants selected the HIVST kit of their choice. RESULTS: We enrolled 35 unique participants in phase 1, 20 participants in phase 2a, and 40 participants in phase 2b. While the focus group discussions highlighted hypothetical HIVST use only, participants appreciated the privacy that the HIVST could afford them. However, they expressed concerns about whether HIVST could be trusted due to false positives and negatives, as well as whether a person would be able to emotionally handle the results if they tested alone. They suggested that the kits be used alongside someone who could provide support. In phases 2a and 2b, participants were overwhelmingly positive about both kits regarding ease of use and whether their results could be trusted. The participants, however, experienced more challenges with the blood-based versus oral test. When given the choice in phase 2b, most participants (80%) chose the oral HIVST over the blood-based HIVST. CONCLUSIONS: During the focus group discussions, participants raised concerns about the validity of HIVST, lack of emotional support when testing alone, and the cost of HIVST kits, all of which could be addressed through current testing campaigns. Most of those who actually tested had positive experiences with HIVST and would recommend it to their friends. When offered a choice, most preferred the oral test. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03162965 , registered 19th May 2017.

Ability to use oral fluid and fingerstick HIV self-testing (HIVST) among South African MSM.

BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) may increase HIV testing uptake, facilitating earlier treatment for key populations like MSM who experience barriers accessing clinic-based HIV testing. HIVST usability among African MSM has not been explored. METHODS: We assessed usability of oral fluid (OF) and fingerstick (FS; blood) HIVST kits during three phases among MSM with differing degrees of HIVST familiarity in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In 2015, 24 HIVST-naïve MSM conducted counselor-observed OF and FS HIVST after brief demonstration. In 2016 and 2017, 45 and 64 MSM with experience using HIVST in a pilot study chose one HIVST to conduct with a counselor-observer present. In addition to written, the latter group had access to video instructions. We assessed frequency of user errors and reported test use ease, changes in error frequency by phase, and covariates associated with correct usage using log-Poisson and Gaussian generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among OF users (n = 57), 15-30% committed errors in each phase; however, observers consistently rated participants as able to test alone. Among FS users (n = 100), observers noted frequent errors, most commonly related to blood collection and delivery. We found suggestive evidence (not reaching statistical significance) that user errors decreased, with 37.5%, to 28.1%, and 18.2% committing errors in phases I, II, and III, respectively (p-value:0.08), however observer concerns remained constant. Ease and confidence using HIVST increased with HIV testing experience. Participants using three HIVST were more likely (RR:1.92, 95% CI:1.32, 2.80) to report ease compared to those without prior HIVST experience. Never testers (RR:0.66, 95% CI:0.44-0.99) reported less ease performing HIVST compared to participants testing in the past six months. CONCLUSIONS: MSM were able to perform the OF test. Fingerstick test performance was less consistent; however preference for fingerstick was strong and performance may improve with exposure and instructional resources. Continued efforts to provide accessible instructions are paramount.

High Acceptability and Increased HIV-Testing Frequency After Introduction of HIV Self-Testing and Network Distribution Among South African MSM.

BACKGROUND: South African men who have sex with men (MSM) have a high burden of undiagnosed HIV infection and HIV-testing rates incommensurate with their risk. HIV self-testing (HIVST) may increase testing uptake, frequency, and earlier HIV detection and treatment. SETTING: Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni districts, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal HIVST study among MSM between June 2015 and May 2017. Overall 127 HIV-negative MSM were provided with up to 9 test kits of their choice-oral fluid or blood fingerstick-to use themselves and distribute to their networks. Surveys conducted 3- and 6-month post-enrollment elicited information on HIVST experiences, preferences, acceptability, utilization, and distribution. We used generalized estimating equations to assess changes in testing frequency. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of participants self-tested. All participants who self-tested reported being likely to self-test again, with over 80% preferring HIVST to clinic-based testing. Fingerstick was preferred to oral fluid tests by approximately 2:1. Returning participants distributed 728 tests to sexual partners (18.5% of kits), friends (51.6%), and family (29.8%). Six participants seroconverted during the study, and 40 new diagnoses were reported among test recipients. Frequent (semi-annual) testing increased from 37.8% before the study to 84.5% at follow-up (P < 0.001), and participants reported anticipated frequent testing of 100% if HIVST were available compared with 84% if only clinic-testing were available in the coming year (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HIVST use and network distribution is acceptable and feasible for MSM in South Africa and can increase testing uptake and frequency, potentially improving early detection among MSM and their networks.