Evaluation of Text Message Reminders to Encourage Retesting for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Among Female Patients at the Municipal Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in Seattle, Washington.

BACKGROUND: United States guidelines recommend retesting for chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) approximately 3 months after treatment, but adherence to these guidelines is poor. METHODS: In May 2016, the municipal sexually transmitted disease (STD) Clinic in Seattle, WA, integrated opt-in short message system (SMS) (text message) retesting reminders for female patients into our clinic's routine electronic intake. Women were asked if they wanted to receive an SMS reminder for retesting for GC/CT in 3 months. We used Fisher exact tests to compare the proportion who returned to the clinic for retesting and the proportion who retested GC/CT positive 3 to 6 months after their initial diagnosis. We used sexually transmitted disease surveillance data to ascertain repeat GC/CT diagnoses. RESULTS: From May 2016 to December 2017, 743 (36%) of 2067 women opted to receive an SMS reminder. Overall, 95 of these women tested positive for GC or CT and provided a valid phone number; 31 (33%) had opted into SMS reminders. The percentage of women who returned to the clinic 3 to 6 months after their initial GC/CT diagnosis did not significantly differ for women who did and did not opt in to receive SMS reminders (23% vs 9%; P = 0.11). Repeat GC/CT diagnosis 3 to 6 months after the initial GC/CT diagnosis was not significantly different between women who did and did not opt in (7% vs 3%; P = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of automated SMS reminders among women was low, and most women who received reminders did not return for retesting. Despite this, SMS reminders integrated into an existing clinic infrastructure may somewhat increase retesting among women with GC/CT.

Changes in Sexual Behavior and STI Diagnoses Among MSM Initiating PrEP in a Clinic Setting.

We examined changes in sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence among 183 men who have sex with men (MSM) initiating pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at an STD Clinic in Seattle, WA. We used generalized estimating equations to measure changes in sexual behavior during PrEP use, and linked PrEP patient data with STI surveillance data to compare the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early syphilis in the periods prior to and during PrEP use. Reporting never using condoms in the prior 30 days increased (adjusted relative risk = 1.46; 95% confidence interval 1.13, 1.88) at 12 months after PrEP initiation compared to the initial PrEP visit. Reporting unknown status partners in the prior 30 days decreased at 12 months compared to the initial PrEP visit, but there was no change in number of sexual partners or reporting HIV-positive or HIV-negative partners. The percentage of patients diagnosed with any STI while using PrEP (49.2%) was higher than the percentage diagnosed in the 12 months prior to PrEP use (35.0%), likely driven in part by increased STI screening during PrEP use. Among MSM on PrEP, we observed decreases in condom use, and a higher prevalence of STIs during PrEP use compared to prior to PrEP initiation.

New Human Immunodeficiency Virus Diagnosis Independently Associated With Rectal Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BACKGROUND: Rectal sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis, but inferring a causal association requires disentangling them from receptive anal intercourse (RAI). METHODS: We conducted a stratified case-control study by frequency matching 4 controls to each case within year using clinical data from men who have sex with men (MSM) attending the Seattle STD Clinic 2001 to 2014. Cases were MSM with a new HIV diagnosis and negative HIV test at 12 months or less. Controls were HIV-negative MSM. All included men had rectal STI testing, tested negative for syphilis, and had complete sexual behavior data. We categorized men by RAI: (1) none; (2) condoms for all RAI; (3) condomless RAI only with HIV-negative partners; and (4) condomless RAI with HIV-positive or unknown-status partners. We created 3 logistic regression models: (1) 3 univariate models of concurrent rectal gonorrhea, rectal chlamydia, and rectal STI in 12 months or less with new HIV diagnosis; (2) those 3 infections, plus age, race, year, number of sexual partners in 2 months or less, and methamphetamine use; and (3) model 2 with RAI categories. We calculated the population attributable risk of rectal STI on HIV diagnoses. RESULTS: Among 176 cases and 704 controls, rectal gonorrhea, chlamydia and rectal STI in 12 months or less were associated with HIV diagnosis. The magnitude of these associations attenuated in the second model, but persisted in model 3 (gonorrhea: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.8; chlamydia: aOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.3; prior STI: aOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-6.2). One in 7 HIV diagnoses can be attributed to rectal STI. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal STI are independently associated with HIV acquisition. These findings support the hypothesis that rectal STI play a biologically mediated causal role in HIV acquisition and support screening/treatment of STI for HIV prevention.

Factors Associated with Returning At-Home Specimen Collection Kits for HIV Testing among Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, men who have sex with men (MSM) are known to disproportionately have HIV. The authors sought to describe the acceptability of providing at-home dried blood spot specimen collection kits for HIV testing among MSM. METHODS: Between August 2010 and December 2010, the authors recruited Internet-using, HIV-negative or -unknown MSM to participate in a 12-month study of behavioral risks. Eligible participants were mailed an at-home HIV test. RESULTS: Of the 896 men who were sent a test kit, 735 (82%) returned the kit. Returning a test kit was significantly associated with race (P = .002), highest level of education (P = .012), and annual income (P = .026). The adjusted odds of black, non-Hispanic men returning a test kit were about half of the odds of white, non-Hispanic men returning a test kit (adjusted odds ratios: 0.49; 95% confidence intervals: 0.31-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Men who have sex with men are willing to provide biological specimens as part of an Internet-based HIV prevention study.

Estimating chlamydia screening coverage: a comparison of self-report and health care effectiveness data and information set measures.

BACKGROUND: Population-based surveys (self-report) and health insurance administrative data (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set [HEDIS]) are used to estimate chlamydia screening coverage in the United States. Estimates from these methods differ, but few studies have compared these 2 indices in the same population. METHODS: In 2010, we surveyed a random sample of women aged 18 to 25 years enrolled in a Washington State-managed care organization. Respondents were asked if they were sexually active in last year and if they tested for chlamydia in that time. We linked survey responses to administrative records of chlamydia testing and reproductive/testing services used, which comprise the HEDIS definition of the screened population and the sexually active population, respectively. We compared self-report and HEDIS using 3 outcomes: (1) sexual activity (gold standard = self-report), (2) any chlamydia screening (no gold standard), and (3) within-plan chlamydia screening (gold standard = HEDIS). RESULTS: Of 954 eligible respondents, 377 (40%) completed the survey and consented to administrative record linkage. Chlamydia screening estimates for HEDIS and self-report were 47% and 53%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of HEDIS to define sexually active women were 84.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.6%-89.1%) and 63.5% (95% CI, 52.4%-73.7%), respectively. Forty percent of women had a chlamydia test in their administrative record, but 53% self-reported being tested for chlamydia (κ = 0.35); 19% reported out-of-plan chlamydia testing. The sensitivity of self-reported within-plan chlamydia testing was 71.3% (95% CI, 61.0%-80.1%); the specificity was 80.6% (95% CI, 72.6%-87.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set does not accurately identify sexually active women and may underestimate chlamydia testing coverage. Self-reported testing may not be an accurate measure of true chlamydial testing coverage.

Willingness of US men who have sex with men (MSM) to participate in Couples HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (CVCT).

BACKGROUND: We evaluated willingness to participate in CVCT and associated factors among MSM in the United States. METHODS: 5,980 MSM in the US, recruited through MySpace.com, completed an online survey March-April, 2009. A multivariable logistic regression model was built using being "willing" or "unwilling" to participate in CVCT in the next 12 months as the outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 81.5% of respondents expressed willingness to participate in CVCT in the next year. Factors positively associated with willingness were: being of non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-1.8), Hispanic (aOR: 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.6), or other (aOR: 1.4, CI: 1.1-1.8) race/ethnicity compared to non-Hispanic White; being aged 18-24 (aOR: 2.5, CI: 1.7-3.8), 25-29 (aOR: 2.3, CI: 1.5-3.6), 30-34 (aOR: 1.9, CI: 1.2-3.1), and 35-45 (aOR: 2.3, CI: 1.4-3.7) years, all compared to those over 45 years of age; and having had a main male sex partner in the last 12 months (aOR: 1.9, CI: 1.6-2.2). Factors negatively associated with willingness were: not knowing most recent male sex partner's HIV status (aOR: 0.81, CI: 0.69-0.95) compared to knowing that the partner was HIV-negative; having had 4-7 (aOR: 0.75, CI: 0.61-0.92) or >7 male sex partners in the last 12 months (aOR: 0.62, CI: 0.50-0.78) compared to 1 partner; and never testing for HIV (aOR: 0.38, CI: 0.31-0.46), having been tested over 12 months ago (aOR: 0.63, CI: 0.50-0.79), or not knowing when last HIV tested (aOR: 0.67, CI: 0.51-0.89), all compared to having tested 0-6 months previously. CONCLUSIONS: Young MSM, men of color, and those with main sex partners expressed a high level of willingness to participate in couples HIV counseling and testing with a male partner in the next year. Given this willingness, it is likely feasible to scale up and evaluate CVCT interventions for US MSM.

Willingness to Take a Free Home HIV Test and Associated Factors among Internet-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men.

OBJECTIVES: Online HIV prevention studies have been limited in their ability to obtain biological specimens to measure study outcomes. We describe factors associated with willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) to take a free home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. METHODS: Between March and April 2009, we interviewed 6163 HIV-negative MSM and assessed the willingness to test for HIV infection using a home collection kit. RESULTS: Men reported being very likely (3833; 62%) or likely (1236; 20%) to accept a home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. The odds of being willing to home test were higher for men who were offered incentives of $10 or $25, were black, had unprotected anal intercourse in the past 12 months, and were unaware of their HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Home testing offered as part of online HIV prevention research is acceptable overall and in important subgroups of high-risk MSM.

Offering of HIV screening to men who have sex with men by their health care providers and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: in 2006, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended offering HIV testing at least annually to men who have sex with men (MSM), but few studies describe the extent to which routine offering occurred after 2006. METHODS: data were collected from March to April 2009 using an online survey of US MSM aged ≥18 years. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the odds of being offered HIV testing for demographic factors and for having disclosed male-male sex behavior to the health care provider. RESULTS: of 4620 MSM reporting visiting a health care provider in the past year, 1385 (30%) were offered HIV testing. Being offered testing was associated with disclosing male-male sex to the provider (decreasing odds by age from age 20: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 19.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.79-23.41) and other demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: less than one third of the MSM visiting a provider reported being offered HIV testing. Providers should actively assess male-male sex risk to potentially improve offering of HIV screenings.