Preferences and Acceptability of Vaginal Delivery Forms for HIV Prevention Among Women, Male Partners and Key Informants in South Africa and Zimbabwe: Qualitative Findings.

The attributes of an HIV microbicide may affect its acceptability, uptake and use. Quatro, a clinical study with a qualitative component, was conducted to elicit input from end-users and key informants (KIs) on four different placebo vaginal microbicide delivery forms; fast dissolving insert, ring, film and gel. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with young women, their male partners and KIs, to explore acceptability and preferences of the four placebo products, with the intention of improving product attributes, adherence, and consequently, long term effectiveness. None of the four microbicide delivery forms stood well above others as the most preferred. Product attributes; long-action, ease of use, invisibility, female initiated and non-interference during sex were favourable in both countries. Despite preference for the long-action, on-demand products were the most liked by women. Qualitative data from the Quatro study provided rich feedback on specific attributes important to the acceptability of four HIV prevention product platforms currently in development, enabling more informed and guided product development efforts moving forward.

Efficacy is Not Everything: Eliciting Women's Preferences for a Vaginal HIV Prevention Product Using a Discrete-Choice Experiment.

As new female-initiated HIV prevention products enter development, it is crucial to incorporate women's preferences to ensure products will be desired, accepted, and used. A discrete-choice experiment was designed to assess the relative importance of six attributes to stated choice of a vaginally delivered HIV prevention product. Sexually active women in South Africa and Zimbabwe aged 18-30 were recruited from two samples: product-experienced women from a randomized trial of four vaginal placebo forms and product-naïve community members. In a tablet-administered survey, 395 women chose between two hypothetical products over eight choice sets. Efficacy was the most important, but there were identifiable preferences among other attributes. Women preferred a product that also prevented pregnancy and caused some wetness (p < 0.001). They disliked a daily-use product (p = 0.002) and insertion by finger (p = 0.002). Although efficacy drove preference, wetness, pregnancy prevention, and dosing regimen were influential to stated choice of a product, and women were willing to trade some level of efficacy to have other more desired attributes.

Use of a Vaginal Ring Containing Dapivirine for HIV-1 Prevention in Women.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral medications that are used as prophylaxis can prevent acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. However, in clinical trials among African women, the incidence of HIV-1 infection was not reduced, probably because of low adherence. Longer-acting methods of drug delivery, such as vaginal rings, may simplify use of antiretroviral medications and provide HIV-1 protection. METHODS: We conducted a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a monthly vaginal ring containing dapivirine, a non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase inhibitor, involving women between the ages of 18 and 45 years in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. RESULTS: Among the 2629 women who were enrolled, 168 HIV-1 infections occurred: 71 in the dapivirine group and 97 in the placebo group (incidence, 3.3 and 4.5 per 100 person-years, respectively). The incidence of HIV-1 infection in the dapivirine group was lower by 27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1 to 46; P=0.046) than that in the placebo group. In an analysis that excluded data from two sites that had reduced rates of retention and adherence, the incidence of HIV-1 infection in the dapivirine group was lower by 37% (95% CI, 12 to 56; P=0.007) than that in the placebo group. In a post hoc analysis, higher rates of HIV-1 protection were observed among women over the age of 21 years (56%; 95% CI, 31 to 71; P<0.001) but not among those 21 years of age or younger (-27%; 95% CI, -133 to 31; P=0.45), a difference that was correlated with reduced adherence. The rates of adverse medical events and antiretroviral resistance among women who acquired HIV-1 infection were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A monthly vaginal ring containing dapivirine reduced the risk of HIV-1 infection among African women, with increased efficacy in subgroups with evidence of increased adherence. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01617096 .).

Impact of contraceptive initiation on vaginal microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Data evaluating the impact of contraceptives on the vaginal microbiome are limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that women initiating copper intrauterine device use would have increased bacterial vaginosis and bacterial vaginosis-associated microbes with use compared to women initiating and using hormonal contraceptive methods. STUDY DESIGN: Vaginal swabs (N = 1047 from 266 participants seeking contraception) for Nugent score determination of bacterial vaginosis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses for assessment of specific microbiota were collected from asymptomatic, healthy women aged 18-35 years in Harare, Zimbabwe, who were confirmed to be free of nonstudy hormones by mass spectrometry at each visit. Contraception was initiated with an injectable (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [n = 41], norethisterone enanthate [n = 44], or medroxyprogesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol [n = 40]), implant (levonorgestrel [n = 45] or etonogestrel [n = 48]), or copper intrauterine device (n = 48) and repeat vaginal swabs were collected after 30, 90, and 180 days of continuous use. Self-reported condom use was similar across all arms at baseline. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Lactobacillus crispatus, L jensenii, L gasseri/johnsonii group, L vaginalis, L iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, and Megasphaera-like bacterium phylotype I from swabs. Modified Poisson regression and mixed effects linear models were used to compare marginal prevalence and mean difference in quantity (expressed as gene copies/swab) prior to and during contraceptive use. RESULTS: Bacterial vaginosis prevalence increased in women initiating copper intrauterine devices from 27% at baseline, 35% at 30 days, 40% at 90 days, and 49% at 180 days (P = .005 compared to marginal prevalence at enrollment). Women initiating hormonal methods had no change in bacterial vaginosis prevalence over 180 days. The mean increase in Nugent score was 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.0; P = .001) in women using copper intrauterine devices. Although the frequency and density of beneficial lactobacilli did not change among intrauterine device users over 6 months, there was an increase in the log concentration of G vaginalis (4.7, 5.2, 5.8, 5.9; P = .046) and A vaginae (3.0, 3.8, 4.6, 5.1; P = .002) between baseline and 30, 90, and 180 days after initiation. Among other contraceptive groups, women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate had decreased L iners (mean decrease log concentration = 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-1.5; P = .004) and there were no significant changes in beneficial Lactobacillus species over 180 days regardless of contraceptive method used. CONCLUSION: Copper intrauterine device use may increase colonization by bacterial vaginosis-associated microbiota, resulting in increased prevalence of bacterial vaginosis. Use of most hormonal contraception does not alter vaginal microbiota.

Anal human papillomavirus infection in HIV-positive men and women at two opportunistic infections clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk of anal cancer; in the majority of cases this is linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Anal cancer screening is not routinely offered in Zimbabwe. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 152 patients (88 females; 64 males) attending Opportunistic Infection Clinics at 2 tertiary hospitals between November 2014 and June 2015. Demographic data, immunological parameters and behavioural characteristics were collected. An anal swab was collected from each patient for HPV genotype testing. HPV testing was performed using MY09/MY11 PCR, followed by typing using the dot blot method. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.6 years (range, 18-69 years). Median CD4 count was 375 cells/µL. 96% were on antiretroviral therapy. Only one patient identified as a man who has sex with men. Of 122 samples tested for HPV, 54 were positive (44%). HPV was three times more common in females (60%) than males (20%). Being HPV-positive was associated with history of perianal warts, history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and having more than ten lifetime sexual partners. The most commonly detected high-risk HPV genotypes were HPV-58 (13%), HPV-31 (11%) and HPV-16 (9%). Nine patients harboured multiple high-risk HPV types. The two most commonly detected low-risk genotypes were HPV-11 (17%) and HPV-53 (11%). CONCLUSION: Overall anal HPV prevalence was 44% in this mostly heterosexual HIV-positive population. Oncogenic HPV types accounted for almost half of infections, supporting the need for surveillance of anal cancer in this population.

Genotypic diversity of anogenital human papillomavirus in women attending cervical cancer screening in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Although anogenital cancers have been on a gradual rise in developing countries in the past few decades, they have been understudied. The objective was to investigate genotypic diversity of anogenital HPV amongst women reporting for routine cervical cancer screening in Harare in Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study that enrolled 144 women ≥18 years from a cervical cancer-screening clinic was performed. Each woman provided a self-collected cervico-vaginal swab (VS) and a clinician-collected anal swab (CCAS). HIV testing was offered and cervical cytology was performed. Both VS and CCAS samples were HPV genotyped, using amplicon sequencing of the L1 gene region with Illumina technology. Mean age of the women was 39.9 (range 18-83 years, SD ± 11.0). HPV prevalence was 72% (104/144) in VS and 48% (69/144) in CCAS. The most common genotypes detected in both VS and CCAS were HPV18, HPV52, and HPV16. Sixty two percent of the subjects had multiple genotypic HPV infections. The odds of being HPV-positive among HIV-infected women were higher than in HIV-negative women in both the vagina and the anus (CCAS OR = 4.8; CI 2.4-9.8, P < 0.001) and (VS OR = 2.9; CI 1.3-6.4, P = 0.005). High HPV prevalence and diverse genotypes were detected in both the vagina and anus. Anal oncogenic HPV infection was common. HPV 52 was one of the most common oncogenic genotypes in both the vagina and anus. HIV co-infection played a significant role in the prevalence of HPV. These data have implications for design of primary and secondary programs for prevention of anogenital cancer in Zimbabwe.

Hematological and biochemical laboratory reference intervals for Zimbabwean adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Reference intervals are used as an aid in the interpretation of laboratory results. Most developing countries do not have reference intervals specific to adolescents. This study was aimed at establishing hematological and biochemical reference intervals for adolescents aged ≥ 12 years to < 18 years. METHODS: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted using the multistage sampling technique. Participants were enrolled from the UZ-UCSF research study catchment areas of Harare, Chitungwiza, and Mutoko. Samples were transported for analysis at the UZ-UCSF Central Laboratory under recommended conditions. The data analysis presented in this paper is for 302 adolescents aged ≥ 12 to < 18. Non-parametric statistical methods were used to estimate the 95% reference limits for the hematological and biochemical parameters, with the lower limit defined as the 2.5 percentile and the upper limit defined as the 97.5 percentile of the distribution. RESULTS: A total of 302 adolescents were included. Results show significant differences between males and females in hematological parameters except platelets, eosinophils, basophils, and red cell distribution width. The biochemical parameters which showed significant differences between males and females were phosphate, ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, and lipase. CONCLUSIONS: Hematological indices and liver function tests differ significantly by gender and this should be considered when defining normal intervals.

Mucosal Escherichia coli bactericidal activity and immune mediators are associated with HIV-1 seroconversion in women participating in the HPTN 035 trial.

The mucosal environment may impact the risk for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition. Immune mediators were measured in vaginal fluid collected from HPTN 035 participants who acquired HIV-1 and from those who remained HIV-1 negative (controls). Mediator concentrations were similar in samples obtained before as compared to after HIV-1 acquisition in the 8 seroconverters. Compared with controls, seroconverters were more likely to have detectable levels of HßD-2 (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; P = .005) and greater Escherichia coli bactericidal activity (OR, 1.22; P = .01) prior to seroconversion. E. coli bactericidal activity remained significant in a multivariable analysis (P = .02) and may be a biomarker for HIV-1 acquisition.

Correction: Self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs show modest agreement for HPV genotyping.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250426.].

Impact of catch-up human papillomavirus vaccination on cervical cancer incidence in Kenya: A mathematical modeling evaluation of HPV vaccination strategies in the context of moderate HIV prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer incidence is high in Kenya due to HIV and limited access to cancer prevention services. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to increase HIV acquisition; however, the potential impact of HPV vaccination on HIV is unknown. We modeled the health impact of HPV vaccination in the context of the HIV epidemiology in Kenya. METHODS: Using a validated compartmental transmission model of HIV and HPV set in Kenya, we evaluated five scenarios of nonavalent HPV vaccination: single-age-vaccination of 10-year-old girls at 90% coverage; multi-age-cohort (MAC) vaccination of 10-14-year-old girls at 90% coverage; MAC plus moderate-coverage (50%) catch-up vaccination of 15-24-year-old women; MAC plus high-coverage (80%) catch-up of 15-24-year-old women; and MAC plus catch-up of 15-44-year-old women at 80% coverage (HPV-FASTER). We compared cervical cancer incidence, HIV prevalence, and cumulative cervical cancer and HIV cases averted after 50 years to a baseline scenario without vaccination. In all scenarios, we assumed the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal for HIV treatment is attained by 2030. FINDINGS: In 2021, model-estimated cervical cancer incidence is 44/100,000 and HIV prevalence among women is 6·5%. In 2070, projected cancer incidence declines to 27/100,000 and HIV prevalence reaches 0·3% without vaccination. With single-age-vaccination, cancer incidence in 2070 is reduced by 68%, averting 64,529 cumulative cancer cases. MAC vaccination reduces cancer incidence by 75%, averting 206,115 cancer cases. Moderate and high-coverage catch-up and HPV-FASTER reduce cancer incidence by 80%, 82%, and 84%, averting 254,930, 278,690, and 326,968 cancer cases, respectively. In all scenarios, HIV prevalence in 2070 is reduced by a relative 8-11%, with 15,609-34,981 HIV cases averted after 50 years. INTERPRETATION: HPV vaccination can substantially reduce cervical cancer incidence in Kenya in the next 50 years, particularly if women up to age 24 are vaccinated. HIV treatment scale-up can also alleviate cervical cancer burden. However, HPV vaccination has modest additional impact on HIV when antiretroviral therapy coverage is high. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prevalent human papillomavirus infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition in African women: advancing the argument for human papillomavirus immunization.

OBJECTIVE: Vaccine-preventable human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV risk is also high. However, unlike other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HPV's role in HIV acquisition is unclear. We evaluated this relationship using data from MTN-003, a clinical trial of HIV chemoprophylaxis among cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN: A case-control study. METHODS: We matched 138 women who acquired HIV (cases) to 412 HIV-negative controls. Cervicovaginal swabs collected within 6 months before HIV seroconversion were tested for HPV DNA. We estimated the associations between carcinogenic (high-risk) and low-risk HPV types and types targeted by HPV vaccines and HIV acquisition, using conditional logistic regression models adjusted for time-varying sexual behaviors and other STIs. RESULTS: Mean age was 23 (±4) years. Any, high-risk and low-risk HPV was detected in 84, 74 and 66% of cases, and 65, 55 and 48% of controls. Infection with at least two HPV types was common in cases (67%) and controls (49%), as was infection with nonavalent vaccine-targeted types (60 and 42%). HIV acquisition increased with any [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-4.7], high-risk (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.6) and low-risk (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9) HPV. Each additional type detected increased HIV risk by 20% (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4). HIV acquisition was associated with HPV types targeted by the nonavalent (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.6) and quadrivalent vaccines (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2). CONCLUSION: HPV infection is associated with HIV acquisition in sub-Saharan African women. In addition to preventing HPV-associated cancers, increasing HPV vaccination coverage could potentially reduce HIV incidence.

Effect of injectable progestin-only contraceptives, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone enanthate, on cytokine production during T-cell activation.

PROBLEM: There is paucity of human data about the effects of depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (Net-En) use on systemic immune function, which may have implications for reproductive tract infection susceptibility and transmissibility. We sought to evaluate the impact of injectable contraceptive use on T-cell responsiveness using T cells exposed in vivo and tested ex vivo. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from healthy, HIV-negative women after 30, 90 and 180 days of DMPA, norethisterone enanthate (Net-En) or copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) contraceptive use. Cells were stimulated ex vivo with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin, stained and analysed using flow cytometry. Mixed-effects linear models were used to evaluate change in proportions of T cells producing IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-13. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, decreased proportions of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (p = .003, p = .006, respectively) and TNF-α-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (p = .039, p = .034, respectively) were observed after 180 days of DMPA use. Decreased IL-4-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (p = .045 and p = .024, respectively) were noted after 180 days of Net-En use. Decreased IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells were observed after 30 days (p = .035) and not after 180 days of DMPA use (p = .49). There were no changes in proportion of T cells producing IL-13 in DMPA users, nor any changes in IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-13 in Net-En and Cu-IUD users. CONCLUSION: In vivo exposure of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to typical pharmacologic concentrations of DMPA does not cause broad suppression to stimuli; however, depletion of specific cytokine-producing T cells may occur after prolonged DMPA use.

Self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs show modest agreement for HPV genotyping.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Women with HIV/HPV coinfection and cervical lesions are at increased risk of developing HPV related anal cancer. Self-collection of anal swabs may facilitate HPV molecular testing in anal cancer screening, especially in high-risk groups, and yet it is not adequately studied. We evaluated level of agreement between self-collected anal swabs (SCAS) and clinician-collected anal swabs (CCAS) when used for HPV genotyping. We also described the anal HPV genotype distribution and HIV/HPV coinfection. METHODS: We performed a cross sectional study with participants from a visual-inspection-with-acetic-acid and cervicography (VIAC) clinic, in Harare, Zimbabwe. In a clinic setting, the women aged ≥18 years provided anal swabs in duplicate; first CCAS and then SCAS immediately after. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using next generation amplicon sequencing of a 450bp region of the HPV L1 gene. Level of agreement of HPV genotypes between CCAS and SCAS was calculated using the kappa statistic. McNemar tests were used to evaluate agreement in the proportion of genotypes detected by either method. RESULTS: Three-hundred women provided 600 samples for HPV genotyping. HPV genotypes were detected in 25% of SCAS and in 22% of CCAS. The most common genotypes with CCAS were HPV52, HPV62 and HPV70 and with SCAS were HPV62, HPV44, HPV52, HPV53 and HPV68. Total HPV genotypes detected in CCAS were more than those detected in SCAS, 32 versus 27. The agreement of HPV genotypes between the two methods was 0.55 in kappa value (k). The test of proportions using McNemar gave a Chi-square value of 0.75 (p = 0.39). Multiple HPV infections were detected in 28/75 and 29/67 women for CCAS and SCAS respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SCAS and CCAS anal swabs showed moderate agreement, with no statistically significant difference in the proportion of genotypes detected by either methods. Although the differences between the two methods were not statistically significant, CCAS detected more HPV genotypes than SCAS and more HPV infections were detected in SCAS than in CCAS. Our data suggest that self-collected anal swabs can be used as an alternative to clinician-collected anal swabs for HPV genotyping.

Safety, uptake, and use of a dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV-1 prevention in African women (HOPE): an open-label, extension study.

BACKGROUND: Two phase 3 clinical trials showed that use of a monthly vaginal ring containing 25 mg dapivirine was well tolerated and reduced HIV-1 incidence in women by approximately 30% compared with placebo. We aimed to evaluate use and safety of the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR) in open-label settings with high background rates of HIV-1 infection, an important step for future implementation. METHODS: We did a phase 3B open-label extension trial of the DVR (MTN-025/HIV Open-label Prevention Extension [HOPE]). Women who were HIV-1-negative and had participated in the MTN-020/ASPIRE phase 3 trial were offered 12 months of access to the DVR at 14 clinical research centres in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. At each visit (monthly for 3 months, then once every 3 months), women chose whether or not to accept the offer of the ring. Used, returned rings were tested for residual amounts of dapivirine as a surrogate marker for adherence. HIV-1 serological testing was done at each visit. Dapivirine amounts in returned rings and HIV-1 incidence were compared with data from the ASPIRE trial, and safety was assessed. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02858037. FINDINGS: Between July 16, 2016, and Oct 10, 2018, of 1756 women assessed for eligibility, 1456 were enrolled and participated in the study. Median age was 31 years (IQR 27-37). At baseline, 1342 (92·2%) women chose to take the DVR; ring acceptance was more than 79% at each visit up until 12 months and 936 (73·2%) of 1279 chose to take the ring at all visits. 12 530 (89·3%) of 14 034 returned rings had residual dapivirine amounts consistent with some use during the previous month (>0·9 mg released) and the mean dapivirine amount released was greater than in the ASPIRE trial (by 0·21 mg; p<0·0001). HIV-1 incidence was 2·7 per 100 person-years (95% CI 1·9-3·8, 35 infections), compared with an expected incidence of 4·4 per 100 person-years (3·2-5·8) among a population matched on age, site, and presence of a sexually transmitted infection from the placebo group of ASPIRE. No serious adverse events or grade 3 or higher adverse events observed were assessed as related to the DVR. INTERPRETATION: High uptake and persistent use in this open-label extension study support the DVR as an HIV-1 prevention option for women. With an increasing number of HIV-1 prophylaxis choices on the horizon, these results suggest that the DVR will be an acceptable and practical option for women in Africa. FUNDING: The Microbicide Trials Network and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the US National Institutes of Health.

Zim CHIC: A cohort study of immune changes in the female genital tract associated with initiation and use of contraceptives.

PROBLEM: Contraceptive hormones are systemically active, potent, and likely to invoke biological responses other than known fertility regulation impacts. We hypothesized that initiation of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) would increase genital HIV-target-cells and soluble immune mediators compared with baseline and initiation of other contraceptive methods. METHOD OF STUDY: We collected cervical cytobrushes and cervicovaginal fluid from healthy Zimbabwean women aged 18-34 to assess immune cell populations, cytokines, and innate anti-HIV activity at baseline and after 30, 90, and 180 days use of DMPA (n = 38), norethisterone enanthate (n = 41), medroxyprogesterone acetate/estradiol cypionate (n = 36), levonorgestrel implant (n = 43), etonogestrel implant (n = 47), or copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) (n = 45). Cells were quantified by flow cytometry, cytokines were detected by multiplex assays, and innate anti-HIV activity was assessed by in vitro HIV challenge. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, the number of cervical HIV target cells (#CD4 cells P < .04 and #CD11c cells P < .04), the concentration of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß (P < .01), and the innate in vitro anti-HIV activity (P < .001) significantly decreased following DMPA initiation. In Cu-IUD users, genital HIV target cells increased (#CD4 cells P < .001, #CD4CCR5 cells P = .02, #CD4CD69 cells P < .001, #CD8CD69 P = .01, and #CD11c cells P = .003) at day 30 and resolved by day 180. IFN-γ (P < .001), IL-1ß (P < .001), IL-6 (P < .001), IL-8 (P < .001), IL-10 (P < .01), and RANTES (P < .001) were also significantly increased at day 30. Minimal alterations were observed following initiation of subdermal implantable contraceptives. CONCLUSIONS: This head-to-head study compared six contraceptives and found increased HIV target cells and cervical inflammation temporally associated with Cu-IUD initiation. Use of hormonal contraception, including DMPA, did not increase cervical HIV target cells or inflammation. Clinical Trial Number: NCT02038335.

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone enanthate differentially impact T-cell responses and expression of immunosuppressive markers.

PROBLEM: Injectable contraceptive use may impact immune cell responsiveness and susceptibility to infection. We measured responsiveness of T-cells from women before and after initiating depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or norethisterone enanthate (Net-En). METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from women aged 18-34 years prior to, at steady state, and nadir concentrations after initiating DMPA (n = 30) or Net-En (n = 36) and from women initiating copper intrauterine device (CU-IUD; n = 32) were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and analyzed using flow cytometry. We evaluated percentage change in T-cells expressing programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4). RESULTS: Compared to baseline, there were decreased numbers of CD4+CTLA4+ (P < .001) and CD8+CTLA4+ (P < .01) T-cells following ex vivo stimulation challenge at steady state DMPA concentrations and no differences at nadir concentrations (P = .781 and P = .463, respectively). In Net-En users, no differences in CD4+CTLA4+ T-cells at steady state (P = .087) and nadir concentrations (P = .217) were observed. DMPA users had fewer CD4+PD-1+ (P < .001) and CD8+PD-1+ (P < .001) T-cells at nadir concentrations. Number of CD4+PD-1+ and CD8+PD-1+ T-cells decreased at steady state concentration (P = .002 and P = .001, respectively) and at nadir concentrations after Net-En initiation (P < .001 and P < .001). In CU-IUD users, there were no changes in number of CD4+CTLA4+ (P = .426) and CD8+CTLA4+ (P = .169) and no changes in CD4+PD-1+ (P = .083) and CD8+PD-1+ (P = .936) compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: Activation of T-cells in response to ex vivo stimulation is suppressed at steady state DMPA concentration and resolves at nadir concentration, suggesting DMPA immunosuppressive effects may be transient.

The association of puerperal sepsis with HIV infection at two tertiary hospitals in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between HIV infection and puerperal sepsis among women in Zimbabwe. METHODS: A subanalysis was performed using data from a prospective cohort study conducted between September 2, 2014, and July 1, 2015, at two tertiary hospitals in Zimbabwe. Eligible participants were consecutive women who met the WHO criteria for puerperal sepsis. Variables assessed included HIV-infection status and the use of antiretroviral therapy. Severity of immunosuppression was defined by the number of T cells that expressed cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4). Endocervical swabs and blood samples were collected for microbial culture and susceptibility testing. RESULTS: In all, 33 (21.9%) of the 151 women included in the present analysis had HIV. Among women with HIV, severe immunosuppression (CD4-positive T cell count <200/mm3 ) was associated with a mean hospital stay of 19.0 days versus 10.2 days for mild-advanced immunosuppression (CD4-positive T cell count 200-500/mm3 ) and insignificant immunosuppression (CD4-positive T cell count >500/mm3 ; P=0.030). Use of antiretroviral therapy did not independently influence clinical outcomes. Furthermore, infection with HIV did not influence the microorganisms isolated from blood or endocervical samples. CONCLUSION: Severe immunosuppression was associated with increased length of hospitalization among women with HIV who had puerperal sepsis.

Misreporting of contraceptive hormone use in clinical research participants.

OBJECTIVE: Researchers traditionally rely on participant self-report for contraceptive use. We hypothesized that self-reported contraceptive use by clinical research participants may disagree with objectively measured hormonal status. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled women in Harare, Zimbabwe, aged 18-34, who by self-report had not used hormonal or intrauterine contraception for >30 days, or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for >10 months, into a study designed to assess biologic changes with contraceptive initiation and use. Blood samples obtained at enrollment and each follow-up visit (N=1630 from 447 participants) were evaluated by mass spectrometry for exogenous hormones. We individually interviewed a subset of participants (n=20) with discrepant self-reported and measured serum hormones to better understand nondisclosure of contraceptive use. RESULTS: Discrepant with self-reported nonuse of hormonal contraception, synthetic progestogens were detectable in 120/447 (27%, 95% confidence interval 23%-31%) enrolled women. Measured exogenous hormones consistent with use of contraceptive pills (n=102), injectables (n=20) and implants (n=3) were detected at enrollment, with 7 women likely using >1 contraceptive. In-depth interviews revealed that participants understood the requirement to be hormone free at enrollment (100%). Most (85%) cited partner noncooperation with condoms/withdrawal and/or pregnancy concerns as major reasons for nondisclosed contraceptive use. All interviewed women (100%) cited access to health care as a primary motivation for study participation. Of participants who accurately reported nonuse of hormonal contraception at enrollment, 41/327 (12.5%) had objective evidence of nonstudy progestin use at follow-up that disagreed with self-reported nonuse. CONCLUSIONS: Women joining contraceptive research studies may misrepresent their use of nonstudy contraceptive hormones at baseline and follow-up. Objective measures of hormone use are needed to ensure that study population exposures are accurately categorized. IMPLICATIONS STATEMENT: Among Zimbabwean women participating in a contraceptive research study, 27% had objective evidence of use of nonstudy contraceptives at enrollment that disagreed with self-report. Studies that rely on self-report to identify contraceptive hormone exposure could suffer from significant misclassification.

Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy Incidence Among Women Participating in an HIV Prevention Trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent HIV prevention trials required use of effective contraceptive methods to fulfill eligibility for enrollment. We compared pregnancy rates in a subset of participants enrolled in the Microbicide Trials Network protocol (MTN-003), a randomized trial of chemoprophylaxis to prevent HIV acquisition among women aged 18-45 years who initiated depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or combined oral contraceptives (COCs) at enrollment, relative to those already using DMPA or COCs. METHODS: Data were analyzed from MTN-003 participants from Uganda. Before enrollment, information on contraceptive type and initiation date was obtained. Urine pregnancy tests were performed at monthly follow-up visits. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare pregnancy incidence among new users (initiated ≤60 days before enrollment) and established users (initiated >60 days before enrollment). RESULTS: Of 322 women enrolled, 296 were COC or DMPA users, 82 (28%) were new users, and 214 (72%) were established users. Pregnancy incidence was higher among new contraceptive users compared to established users (20.70% vs. 10.55%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.66; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.93-2.96). Among DMPA users, pregnancy incidence was 10.20% in new users versus 3.48% in established users (HR = 2.56; 95% CI 0.86-7.65). Among new COC users, pregnancy incidence was 42.67% in new users versus 23.67% in established COC users (adjusted HR = 1.74; 95% CI 0.87-3.48). CONCLUSIONS: New contraceptive users, regardless of method, at the Uganda MTN-003 site had an increased pregnancy risk compared to established users, which may be due to contraceptive initiation primarily for trial eligibility. New users may benefit from intensive contraceptive counseling and additional contraceptive options, including longer acting reversible contraceptives.

Acceptability of heat treating breast milk to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in Zimbabwe: a qualitative study.

Although heat treatment of human milk is an official infant-feeding recommendation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive mothers in Zimbabwe, its implementation has not been adequately addressed, because knowledge about the safety of this method is rudimentary and its acceptability is poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, the authors conducted focus group discussions among mothers, grandmothers, midwives, and husbands in various regions of Zimbabwe. Although the practice of heat treating expressed human milk was initially met with skepticism because of potential obstacles, including time constraints and social and cultural stigma, a pattern of opinion reversal emerged in all groups. By the end of each discussion, participants believed that, given its affordability and its potential to protect infants from HIV infection, heat-treated human milk may be a feasible infant-feeding option for HIV-positive mothers in Zimbabwe. These findings merit further investigation so that appropriate behavioral strategies can be designed.