Intersectional insights into racism and health: not just a question of identity.

Intersectionality is a useful tool to address health inequalities, by helping us understand and respond to the individual and group effects of converging systems of power. Intersectionality rejects the notion of inequalities being the result of single, distinct factors, and instead focuses on the relationships between overlapping processes that create inequities. In this Series paper, we use an intersectional approach to highlight the intersections of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination with other systems of oppression, how this affects health, and what can be done about it. We present five case studies from different global locations that outline different dimensions of discrimination based on caste, ethnicity and migration status, Indigeneity, religion, and skin colour. Although experiences are diverse, the case studies show commonalities in how discrimination operates to affect health and wellbeing: how historical factors and coloniality shape contemporary experiences of race and racism; how racism leads to separation and hierarchies across shifting lines of identity and privilege; how racism and discrimination are institutionalised at a systems level and are embedded in laws, regulations, practices, and health systems; how discrimination, minoritisation, and exclusion are racialised processes, influenced by visible factors and tacit knowledge; and how racism is a form of structural violence. These insights allow us to begin to articulate starting points for justice-based action that addresses root causes, engages beyond the health sector, and encourages transnational solidarity.

Say it right: measuring the impact of different communication strategies on the decision to get vaccinated.

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is a concerning menace to the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. Effective health communication could promote an overall understanding of the importance, risks, and benefits of vaccination and reduce vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: In this survey, four fictitious newspaper articles addressing an emerging bogus disease and its vaccine were randomly assigned to participants. The first version focused on information about the disease; the second was akin to the first, including a case description and image. The third version focused on vaccine safety/efficacy; the fourth version was like the third, including a case description and image. After reading a single version of the article, participants responded if they would take the vaccine and if they would vaccinate their children. We used chi-squared tests for comparisons and investigated interactions with vaccine-hesitant attitudes. RESULTS: We included 5233 participants between August/2021 and January/2022; 790 were caregivers of a child ≤ 5 years old, and 15% had prior vaccine hesitancy. Although most declared intention to take the vaccine, the percentage was highest among those exposed to the newspaper article focusing on the vaccine safety/efficacy with the case description and picture (91%; 95% confidence interval 89-92%), and lowest among participants exposed to the article focusing on the disease with no case description (84%; 95% confidence interval 82-86%). Similar trends were observed in the intention of offspring vaccination. We found evidence of effect modification by vaccine-hesitant attitudes, with a higher impact of communication focusing on vaccine safety/efficacy compared to that focusing on disease characteristics among hesitant participants. CONCLUSION: Communication strategies focusing on different aspects of the disease-vaccine duet may impact vaccine hesitancy, and storytelling/emotive imagery descriptions may improve risk perception and vaccine uptake. Moreover, the effect of message framing strategies may differ according to previous vaccine hesitant attitudes.

"Healthy", "usual" and "convenience" cooking practices patterns: How do they influence children's food consumption?

This study identified adults' cooking practices patterns and tested their associations with children's consumption of ultra-processed foods. Cross-sectional study conducted with 551 adult-child pairs from São Paulo, Brazil. Children's food consumption was collected through dietary recalls. Adults' cooking practices were identified using a questionnaire developed for the Brazilian's context. Principal Component Analysis has been employed to identify cooking patterns and linear regression models (crude and adjusted for sociodemographic variables) have been used to test associations between pattern's scores and contribution of ultra-processed foods to total energy at dinners. Three cooking patterns were identified: "Healthy", "Usual" and "Convenience". The first two patterns reflected behaviors of people who mostly cook "from scratch". Only the Healthy pattern (confidence to cook several meals using fresh foods and natural seasonings; healthier cooking techniques) was inversely associated with ultra-processed food consumption (ß = -4.1; p = 0.002), whereas the Convenience pattern (less frequency and time to cook, using microwave and ready-to-heat meals) was positively associated with (ß = 3.6; p = 0.008). Our results suggest that cooking at home, as an isolated action, is not enough to protect the consumption of ultra-processed foods. To promote healthy eating among children, the adults' cooking practices should be aligned with the preparation of meals made "from scratch", taking into account the healthiness of what is being cooked.

Mothers' food choices and consumption of ultra-processed foods in the Brazilian Amazon: A grounded theory study.

In recent decades, an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), a type of product frequently associated with diet-related obesity, chronic diseases, decrease of eating traditions and loss of culinary diversity, has been observed in middle-income countries. However, there is lack of information on factors related to choosing UPF. In this study, we aimed to understand the factors promoting UPF choices and consumption among mothers living in an urban context in the Brazilian Amazon, and to present a conceptual model grounded on their experiences that illustrates the dynamics between the observed factors. For this qualitative study, we used a constructive grounded theory approach, with a theoretical sampling of 40 women, to choose mothers with high and low consumption of ultra-processed foods. Data production and the first steps of analysis were performed concomitantly, followed by four steps of coding focused on creating conceptual categories and explaining the interactions between them. Our findings highlighted the importance of context in promoting UPF choice and consumption, particularly the "food environment", physical and virtual, and the "sociocultural environment". These contextual aspects interacted with the two main personal aspects influencing participants' UPF consumption, one concerning practices, "cooking behaviors", and the other concerning preferences, "food tastes". Factors such as economic and time constraints were also important and competed to shape eating practices through interactions with participants' health valorization. Findings are discussed in relation to food choice theories, social roles and the food environment. Implications for public health initiatives include the importance of considering environmental changes, sociocultural and economic influences, the reliance on UPF, and the role of women in the home, when promoting healthy diets.

Caregivers' perceptions on routine childhood vaccination: A qualitative study on vaccine hesitancy in a South Brazil state capital.

Immunization programs worldwide have been facing challenges in keeping vaccination coverage high. Even though universally known for its robust National Immunization Program, Brazil has also faced significant challenges regarding vaccination coverage. One of the reasons for this is vaccine hesitancy, a complex, multi-causal, and context-specific phenomenon. This qualitative study aims to understand the factors associated with decision-making and the drivers of vaccine hesitancy in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina state capital, regarding caregivers' perceptions of routine childhood vaccination. In-depth interviews were conducted in the Capital city of Santa Catarina State. Families with children up to 6 years old were included. Data were analyzed based on thematic content analysis. Twenty-nine caregivers in 18 families were interviewed. These caregivers were mainly mothers and fathers. Three themes emerged: 1. Access to information and the decision-making process, where we discuss the role of social circles, healthcare workers, and the internet; 2. Individual-institutions power relationships: Perceptions about the State's role and the Health institutions: 3. Reasons and motivations: The senses and meanings behind non-vaccination, where we discuss the drivers of vaccine hesitancy related to risk perception, caregivers' opinions on the medical-pharmaceutical industry, vaccines' composition and their side effects, families' lifestyles and worldviews, and the childhood routine vaccination schedule. The results of this study reaffirm the complexity of the decision-making process in childhood vaccination and further enable a better contextual understanding of the complex and challenging phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy.

HIV epidemic, prevention technologies, and the new generations: trends and opportunities for epidemic response. / Epidemia de HIV, tecnologias de prevenção e as novas gerações: tendências e oportunidades para a resposta à epidemia.

The United Nations has underscored the possibility of ending the HIV epidemic as a public health problem. However, an increase in the incidence among adolescents and youth has indicated a greater distance between HIV responses and the specificities of the new generations, which can maintain the epidemic for an extended period. Regards this matter, it is debated that the provision of a range of preventive methods, even if highly effective, and a conservatism that has internalized stigma within government policies, hinder the proper and essential dialogue between current preventive policies and the needs of the new generations. These generations are marked by a social representation of AIDS as a mild disease, by new gender and sexuality performances, and by the search for a more critical role in affective and sexual encounters, which includes frequent use of dating apps and substances. The hierarchy of the delivery of prevention methods is presented as a proposal for a new policy, prioritizing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and addressing the social determinants of the HIV epidemic, including strategies to mitigate stigma. The importance of the participation of adolescents and youth in constructing the policy and the need for an intersectoral response are also reinforced.

A Organização das Nações Unidas tem destacado a possibilidade de eliminar a epidemia de HIV como um problema de saúde pública. Porém, um aumento da incidência em adolescentes e jovens tem indicado um maior distanciamento entre a resposta ao HIV e as especificidades próprias das novas gerações, que pode estender a epidemia por um longo período. Frente a isso, é discutido que a oferta de uma cesta universal de métodos preventivos, mesmo que altamente eficazes, e um conservadorismo que internalizou o estigma em políticas governamentais, inviabilizam o adequado e necessário diálogo entre as atuais políticas preventivas e as necessidades das novas gerações. Estas gerações que são marcadas por uma representação social da aids com menor gravidade; novas performances de gênero e de orientação sexual; e a busca de um maior protagonismo nas interações afetivas e sexuais, o que inclui o uso mais frequente de aplicativos de encontro de parcerias e de substâncias na cena de sexo. É apresentado como proposta de uma nova política a hierarquização da oferta de métodos preventivos, com a priorização da profilaxia pré-exposição (PrEP) e o enfrentamento dos determinantes sociais da epidemia do HIV, incluindo estratégias de redução do estigma. Reforça-se, ainda, a importância da participação de adolescentes e jovens na construção da política e a necessidade de uma resposta intersetorial.

Las Naciones Unidas señalan la posibilidad de eliminar la epidemia del VIH como un problema de salud pública. Sin embargo, un incremento de la incidencia de esta enfermedad en adolescentes y jóvenes muestra una mayor distancia entre la respuesta al VIH y las especificidades de las nuevas generaciones, lo que puede extender la epidemia durante un largo periodo. En este contexto, se discute que la oferta de una canasta universal de métodos preventivos, aunque altamente efectivos, y que un conservadurismo que interiorizó el estigma en las políticas gubernamentales hacen inviable un adecuado y necesario diálogo entre las políticas preventivas actuales y las necesidades de las nuevas generaciones. Estas generaciones están marcadas por una representación social del sida con menos gravedad, por nuevas actuaciones de género y orientación sexual y por la búsqueda de un mayor protagonismo en las interacciones afectivas y sexuales, que incluye el uso más frecuente de aplicaciones para encontrar parejas y de sustancias en la escena sexual. Se presenta como propuesta de una nueva política la priorización de la oferta de métodos preventivos, con la priorización de la profilaxis preexposición (PrEP) y la confrontación de los determinantes sociales de la epidemia del VIH, que incluyen estrategias para reducir el estigma. También refuerza la importancia de la participación de los adolescentes y jóvenes en la construcción de la política y la necesidad de una respuesta intersectorial.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Latin America and Africa: a scoping review. / Hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 na América Latina e África: uma revisão de escopo.

Vaccination has played an important role in the containment of COVID-19 pandemic advances. However, SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy has caused a global concern. This scoping review aims to map the scientific literature on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Latin America and Africa from a Global Health perspective, observing the particularities of the Global South and using parameters validated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The review reporting observes the recommendations of the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) model. Search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, selecting studies published from January 1, 2020 to January 22, 2022. Selected studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy involves factors such as political scenario, spread of misinformation, regional differences in each territory regarding Internet access, lack of access to information, history of vaccination resistance, lack of information about the disease and the vaccine, concern about adverse events, and vaccine efficacy and safety. Regarding the use of conceptual and methodology references from the WHO for vaccine hesitancy, few studies (6/94) use research instruments based on these references. Then, the replication in Global South of conceptual and methodological parameters developed by experts from the Global North contexts has been criticized from the perspective of Global Health because of it may not consider political and sociocultural particularities, the different nuances of vaccine hesitancy, and issues of access to vaccines.

A vacinação tem papel relevante para conter os avanços da pandemia de COVID-19. No entanto, a hesitação vacinal com os imunizantes que agem contra o SARS-CoV-2 tem causado preocupação em âmbito global. Esta revisão de escopo tem como objetivo mapear a literatura científica sobre a hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 na América Latina e África sob uma perspectiva da Saúde Global, observando as particularidades do Sul Global e o uso de parâmetros validados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). O relato da revisão segue as recomendações do protocolo PRISMA para Revisões de Escopo (PRISMA-ScR). O levantamento foi realizado nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), selecionando estudos publicados entre 1º de janeiro de 2020 e 22 de janeiro de 2022, os quais indicam que a hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 envolve fatores como o cenário político, a disseminação de desinformação, diferenças regionais referentes ao acesso à Internet, falta de acesso à informação, o histórico de resistência à vacinação, falta de informações sobre a doença e a vacina, preocupação com eventos adversos, eficácia e segurança dos imunizantes. Quanto ao uso dos referenciais conceituais e metodológicos da OMS sobre hesitação vacinal, poucos estudos (apenas 6 de 94) utilizam instrumentos de pesquisa baseado neles. Desta forma, a replicação de parâmetros conceituais e metodológicos elaborados por expertises do Norte Global em contextos do Sul Global tem sido criticada pela perspectiva da Saúde Global, em decorrência da possibilidade de não considerar as especificidades políticas e socioculturais, as diferentes nuances de hesitação vacinal e questões de acesso às vacinas.

La vacunación tiene un papel relevante para frenar los avances de la pandemia de COVID-19. Sin embargo, la indecisión a las vacunas contra el SARS-CoV-2 ha causado preocupación a nivel global. Esta revisión de alcance tiene como objetivo mapear la literatura científica sobre la indecisión a las vacunas contra COVID-19 en América Latina y África desde una perspectiva de la Salud Global, observando las particularidades del Sur Global y el uso de parámetros validados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). El informe de la revisión sigue las recomendaciones del protocolo PRISMA para Revisiones de Alcance (PRISMA-ScR). La encuesta se realizó en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science e Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS), seleccionando los estudios publicados entre 1º de enero de 2020 y 22 de enero de 2022. Los estudios seleccionados indican que la indecisión a las vacunas de COVID-19 involucra factores como el escenario político, la diseminación de desinformación, las diferencias regionales de cada territorio referente al acceso a Internet, la falta de acceso a la información, el historial de resistencia a la vacunación, la falta de informaciones sobre la enfermedad y la vacuna, la preocupación por los eventos adversos, la eficacia y la seguridad de los inmunizantes. En cuanto al uso de los referenciales conceptuales y metodológicos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) sobre la indecisión a las vacunas, pocos estudios (6/94) utilizan instrumentos de investigación basados en esos referenciales. Así, la replicación de parámetros conceptuales y metodológicos elaborados por expertos del Norte Global en contextos del Sur Global ha sido criticada por la perspectiva de la Salud Global, por la posibilidad de no considerar las especificidades políticas y socioculturales, los diferentes matices de la indecisión a las vacunas y cuestiones de acceso a las vacunas.

Violence, discrimination, and sexual health practices among adolescent men who have sex with men, transgender women and travestis in three cities in Brazil.

The HIV epidemic has a disproportionate impact on adolescent and young men who have sex with men (AMSM) and transgender women and travestis (ATGW), with an increased HIV prevalence over the last 10 years. Violence affects the lives of these populations, undermining their ability to self-care and making them more vulnerable to HIV infection. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between different types of victimization by violence and discrimination and sexual health practices of these adolescent populations in steady and casual relationships. We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the cohort of PrEP1519 project. We used the mean score of sexual health practices as our outcome and the cumulative score of discrimination (within family, community, education, religious, online and public spaces) and violence (physical, sexual and intimate partner) as our exposure variable. We performed linear regression analyses to estimate the association between exposure and outcome. We found that 90% of AMSM and 95% of ATGW experienced at least one form of violence in the three months prior to this study and about 45% of ATGW suffered sexual violence during the same period. Experiencing discrimination within healthcare settings (from facilities or providers) was negatively associated with sexual health practices. Discrimination and violence negatively affect sexual health practices. HIV prevention and care of AMSM and ATGW people should involve listening to their experiences and addressing discrimination and violence in this population.

Methodological issues in qualitative research on HIV prevention: an integrative review.

In view of the growing concern about the use of qualitative approach in health research, this article aims to analyze how the qualitative theoretical-methodological framework of HIV prevention is presented in empirical research. We conducted an integrative literature review with the following guiding questions: "How is the qualitative theoretical-methodological framework expressed in empirical research on HIV prevention?"; "What are the limits and potentials of the qualitative methodological designs employed?". In the qualitative methodological discussion, five dimensions guided the methodological course and the presentation of findings, from the analysis of the characterization of qualitative studies to the contextualization of the studies and the methodological approaches used, highlighting the use of semi-structured interviews with thematic content analysis. We also examined social categories and analytical references, drawing attention to the plurality of these theoretical-conceptual references and to the authors' polyphony, and identified the limits and potentials of qualitative research. This study focuses on a scientific topic that is related to a wide variety of social groups and analyzes how they are affected by it, examining issues related to social inequality and other analytical possibilities surrounding HIV prevention, and providing resources for a comprehensive methodological discussion. Hence, avoiding the risk of conducting qualitative research based on checklists that limit inventiveness and openness to different designs and forms of execution and analysis is as pivotal as ensuring that the research is consistent and detailed in publications.

PrEP perception and experiences of adolescent and young gay and bisexual men: an intersectional analysis.

Studies indicate gaps in knowledge about the barriers to access and adhere to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adolescents. In this article, we explore the perceptions and experiences of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YGBMSM) of the search, use and adherence to PrEP, considering their positions according to social markers of difference such as race/skin color, gender, sexuality, and social status. Intersectionality provides theoretical and methodological tools to interpret how the interlinking of these social markers of difference constitutes barriers and facilitators in the PrEP care continuum. The analyzed material is part of the PrEP1519 study and is comprised of 35 semi-structured interviews with YGBMSM from two Brazilian capitals (Salvador and São Paulo). The analyses suggest connections between social markers of difference, sexual cultures, and the social meanings of PrEP. Subjective, relational and symbolic aspects permeate the awareness of PrEP in the range of prevention tools. Willingness to use and adhere to PrEP is part of a learning process, production of meaning, and negotiation in the face of getting HIV and other sexually transmittable infections and the possibilities of pleasure. Thus, accessing and using PrEP makes several adolescents more informed about their vulnerabilities, leading to more informed decision-making. Interlinking the PrEP continuum of care among YGBMSM with the intersections of the social markers of difference may provide a conceptual framework to problematize the conditions and effects of implementing this prevention strategy, which could bring advantages to HIV prevention programs.

Telehealth effectiveness for pre-exposure prophylaxis delivery in Brazilian public services: the Combine! Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery based on user needs can enhance PrEP access and impact. We examined whether telehealth for daily oral PrEP delivery could change the indicators of care related to prophylactic use in five Brazilian public HIV clinics (testing centres, outpatient clinics and infectious disease hospitals). METHODS: Between July 2019 and December 2020, clients on PrEP for at least 6 months could transition to telehealth or stay with in-person follow-up. Clients were clinically monitored until June 2021. A desktop or mobile application was developed, comprising three asynchronous consultations and one annual in-person consultation visit. Predictors influencing telehealth preference and care outcomes were examined. The analysis encompassed intent-to-treat (first choice) and adjustments for sexual practices, schooling, age, duration of PrEP use and PrEP status during the choice period. RESULTS: Of 470 users, 52% chose telehealth, with the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) increasing over time for PrEP use (aOR for 25-months of use: 4.90; 95% CI: 1.32-18.25), having discontinued PrEP at the time of the choice (aOR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.40-6.06) and having health insurance (aOR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.24-2.94) and decreasing for those who reported higher-risk behaviour (aOR for unprotected anal sex: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29-0.88). After an average follow-up period of 1.6 years (95% CI: 1.5-1.7), the risk of discontinuing PrEP (not having the medication for more than 90 days) was 34% lower with telehealth (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.45-0.97). When adjusted by mixed linear regression, no differences in adherence (measured by mean medication possession rate) were found between in-person and telehealth (p = 0.486) or at pre- and post-telehealth follow-ups (p = 0.245). Sexually transmitted infections increased between the pre-follow-up and post-follow-up choices and were not associated with in-person or telehealth (p = 0.528). No HIV infections were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that telehealth for PrEP delivery can enhance service rationalization and reinforce the prevention cascade. This approach reduces prophylaxis interruptions and is mainly preferred by individuals with lower demands for healthcare services.

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men: peer communication, engagement and social networks. / A Profilaxia Pré-Exposição ao HIV (PrEP) entre homens que fazem sexo com homens: comunicação, engajamento e redes sociais de pares.

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has renewed optimism in controlling the HIV epidemic, despite its continued growth among men who have sex with men (MSM). The popularity of dating-sexual dating apps and digital media platforms in exchanging information and experiences about PrEP on peer social networks is recognized. However, studies on contexts, motivations, and scope in HIV prevention are scarce. The article aims to understand the dynamics of virtual and face-to-face peer networks among MSM for the decision to use PrEP, its disclosure, and publicity. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 48 PrEP users from five Brazilian cities. Most interviewees share information and experiences about PrEP in peer social networks. However, its publication reveals tensions arising from the permanence of stigmas associated with homosexuality and HIV. The protagonism in exposing the use of PrEP expresses commitment to attracting new users. The relevance of peer social networks in sharing experiences and information about PrEP has the potential to diversify the target audience and expand and democratize PrEP coverage in the country.

A Profilaxia Pré-Exposição ao HIV (PrEP) tem renovado o otimismo no controle da epidemia de HIV, não obstante seu contínuo crescimento entre os homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH). A popularidade dos aplicativos de encontro afetivo-sexual e plataformas de mídias digitais na troca de informações e experiências sobre PrEP nas redes sociais de pares é reconhecida, embora sejam escassos estudos sobre contextos, motivações e alcance em termos da prevenção ao HIV. O artigo objetiva compreender a dinâmica das redes de pares virtuais e presenciais entre HSH para a decisão de usar PrEP, sua revelação e publicização. Estudo qualitativo com uso de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 48 usuários de PrEP de cinco cidades brasileiras. A maioria dos entrevistados compartilha informações e experiências sobre PrEP nas redes sociais de pares, contudo sua publicização revela tensões decorrentes da permanência de estigmas associados à homossexualidade e ao HIV. O protagonismo na revelação do uso da PrEP expressa engajamento em conquistar novos usuários. A relevância das redes sociais de pares no compartilhamento de experiências e informações sobre a PrEP tem potencial para a diversificação do público-alvo, ampliação e democratização da cobertura de PrEP no país.

Adolescents, poverty areas, violence, and public health: an intersectional perspective.

OBJECTIVES: to discuss the influence of urban poverty on the context of violence among adolescents from an intersectional perspective. METHODS: the original research, of the action research type, analyzed data from 13 workshops. The participants were adolescents from both sexes, from 15 to 17 years old, from a public school in a peripheral neighborhood of São Paulo, SP. The methodological proposition of intersectional analysis guided the interpretation of the empirical material. RESULTS: the intersection of class and gender may increase the (re)production of violence in some men. The intersection of race/color, social class, and territory contributes to the construction of narratives that naturalize inequality and, thus, justify discrimination. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: there is necessity of new public policies that consider the social contexts and experiences of the subjects that stem from the articulation of social markers.

Vaccine hesitancy in the global south: Towards a critical perspective on global health.

The complex phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has been causing increasing global concern. This systematic review aims at analysing the state of art of scientific literature concerning vaccine hesitancy in Latin America and Africa, observing if: (i) they use the same research trends as the global North; and (ii) the parameters recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and taken from the experience of the global North are adequate to the Global South's context. This review analyses empirical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-study publications, from 2015 to 2020, available at five different databases. The studies produced in the Global South bring up important context-specific issues, such as issues of access (that are not included in the WHO's definition of vaccine hesitancy), cultural and religious issues, reactions to governments, reactions to recent episodes of vaccine tests on populations, and reactions to past of colonial violence. Initiatives to understand the phenomenon based on methodological and conceptual frameworks from the global North alone can cause wrongful conclusions.

[More Doctors Program: a critical review of the implementation from the perspective of access and the universalization of health care]. / Programa Mais Médicos: revisão crítica da implementação sob a perspectiva do acesso e universalização da atenção à saúde.

The scope of this critical narrative review is the analysis of the national literature on the implementation of the More Doctors Program (PMM), from January 2016 to May 2019, distributed according to its three programmatic aspects: 1. Improvement of Infrastructure of the Primary Health Care Networks; 2. Expansion of Vacancies and Courses in Medicine and the Reform of Medical Education; and 3. Emergency Medical Supplies. After consulting the Scielo and Lilacs databases through the key words Programa Mais Médicos, and the English and Spanish equivalents, 37 articles were located, of which 31 were selected because they focused specifically on the implementation of one or more aspects. Aspect 1 had the lowest number of publications, while the highest concentration of articles occurred in aspects 2 and 3, in 2016 and 2019, respectively, depending on the timely implementation of the PMM. The literature analyzed points to successes and weaknesses in the formulation and implementation of the Program. This should be taken into consideration in the elaboration and execution of future projects, based on the expansion of access and the universalization of medical care to vulnerable populations.

Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa crítica que analisa a literatura nacional sobre a implementação do Programa Mais Médicos (PMM), no período de janeiro de 2016 a maio de 2019, distribuída segundo os três eixos programáticos que o compõem: 1) melhoria da infraestrutura das redes de atenção básica à saúde; 2) ampliação de vagas e cursos de medicina e reformas na educação médica; e 3) provisionamento emergencial médico. Consultada as fontes informacionais Scielo e Lilacs, mediante os marcadores Programa Mais Médicos, e suas versões em inglês e espanhol, encontraram-se 37 artigos, dos quais 31 foram selecionados, por se centrarem especificamente na implementação de um ou mais eixos. O eixo 1 apresentou menor número de publicações, enquanto a maior concentração de artigos se deu nos eixos 2 e 3, nos anos de 2016 e 2019, respectivamente, consoante à implementação temporal do PMM. A literatura analisada aponta êxitos e fragilidades na formulação e implementação do programa, devendo ser considerados na elaboração e execução de projetos futuros, tendo por base a ampliação do acesso e a universalização do atendimento médico às populações vulneráveis.

HIV risk perceptions and post-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in five Brazilian cities. / Percepções de risco e profilaxia pós-exposição ao HIV entre homens que fazem sexo com homens em cinco cidades brasileiras.

In the current context of the HIV epidemic, multiple prevention strategies including biomedical interventions have been presented as alternatives for vulnerable groups. This study investigated homosexuals' and bisexuals' perceptions of the risk of HIV infection and their experiences of using HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). We conducted a qualitative study with 25 men who have sex with men (MSM) in five Brazilian cities using semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the use of condoms was the main HIV prevention strategy employed by the respondents. In addition, condom failure, inconsistent condom use and intentional non-use are the main prompters of risk perception and the consequent decision to seek PEP. The respondent's perceptions and meanings of the use of PEP were mediated by prior knowledge of PEP. This work broadens the debate on the more subjective aspects of HIV prevention among MSM, especially those related to risk perception and the decision to use PEP in the context of combined prevention.

No atual contexto da epidemia de HIV múltiplas estratégias de prevenção vêm se apresentando como alternativas para populações mais suscetíveis, incluindo as biomédicas. Este trabalho buscou compreender as percepções de risco ao HIV de homossexuais e bissexuais e a experiência de uso da Profilaxia Pós-Exposição sexual ao HIV (PEP Sexual). Trata-se de estudo de abordagem qualitativa com uso de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 25 participantes em cinco cidades brasileiras. Os resultados apontam que dada a proeminência do preservativo como estratégia de prevenção ao HIV/Aids, a falha do método, o uso não consistente e o não uso intencional constituem as referências centrais da percepção de risco e a consequente tomada de decisão de busca por PEP. Quanto às percepções e os significados do uso da PEP, estes são modulados pelo conhecimento prévio sobre o método. O trabalho amplia o debate sobre aspectos subjetivos envolvendo a prevenção do HIV entre HSH, especialmente no que concerne a percepção de risco e tomada de decisão para o uso da PEP no atual cenário da epidemia e no contexto da prevenção combinada.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual and mental health of adolescent and adult men who have sex with men and transgender women participating in two PrEP cohort studies in Brazil: COBra study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic and its control measures have impacted health and healthcare provision in various levels. Physical distancing measures, for instance, may affect sexual health, impacting access to HIV prevention supplies and changing sexual behaviour, as well as mental health, increasing feelings of unsafety and weakening community support ties. These effects can be worsened among socially marginalised groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). Brazil is among the countries most affected by COVID-19 in the world, where control measures have been inconsistently implemented. We aim to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual and mental health of adolescent and adult MSM and TGW in Brazil. METHODS: Convergent mixed-method prospective cohort study, nested in two ongoing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohorts in Brazil, named PrEP1519 and Combina. Participants will be invited to answer, at baseline and after 6 months, a questionnaire about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual behaviour, HIV prevention and mental health. Data on HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STI) will be collected as part of routine follow-up from the cohorts. Main outcome measures (HIV infection, STI and depression symptoms) will be observed within 12 months after baseline. Sample size is estimated at 426 participants. Complementarily, 50 participants will be invited to in-depth interviews through video calls or interactive voice response, and 20 will be invited to chronicle their lives during the pandemic through digital diaries. Triangulation will be done across qualitative methods and with the quantitative data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by Research Ethics Committees from the Brazilian Universities coordinating the study. Findings will be published in scientific journals and presented at meetings. Informative flyers will be elaborated to communicate study findings to participants and key stakeholders.

Acceptability of daily pre-exposure prophylaxis among adolescent men who have sex with men, travestis and transgender women in Brazil: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents face socio-structural, personal and programmatic barriers to HIV prevention services, highlighting the importance of understanding knowledge and acceptability as essential aspects to promote their broader access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We analyzed the acceptability of PrEP among adolescent men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender women (TGW). METHODS: A qualitative investigation was conducted as part of the formative research of the PrEP15-19 study, an ongoing demonstration study that analyzes the effectiveness of daily PrEP among adolescent MSM, travestis and TGW aged 15-19 in three Brazilian cities. A total of 37 semi-structured interviews and 6 focus groups were conducted. Building from thematic analysis focusing on participants' sexual encounters, perceptions about PrEP efficacy, and vulnerability contexts, we analyzed prospective acceptability of PrEP. FINDINGS: Knowledge about PrEP was incipient and characterized by adolescents' frequent doubts about its prescription and efficacy. The 'ideal' use of PrEP appeared together with consistent condom use, especially in casual sex. PrEP use was also mentioned as depending on increased learning about prevention management over time. Main barriers to PrEP use included the incorporation of a daily medication into participants' routine and its impact on their social lives, especially related to stigma. Concerns over short- and long-term side effects were also reported as barriers to PrEP use. TGW and travestis contrasted using PrEP with the precarity of their life conditions, and some expressed a critical vision about PrEP by associating it with pharmaceuticalization and trans necropolitics. CONCLUSIONS: Participants' low knowledge and acceptability of PrEP are circumscribed by a rigid perception of condom as the ideal prevention method and the context of their sexual relations. Prospective acceptability highlights that the successful uptake of PrEP depends on overcoming barriers of access to health services and confronting transphobia and homophobia as part of care.

[Men, gender and health]. / Hombres, género y salud.

Men have always been present on the public health agenda, primarily from a clinical and epidemiological standpoint. In order to expand on these approaches, it is necessary to integrate a perspective that takes into account the relationship between gender and health. Furthermore, these discussions must include reflections on the intersectionality of gender (masculinities) with other categories of social differentiation such as race, ethnicity, social class, age, and sexuality. The articles selected from the call for papers on men, gender, and health at Salud Colectiva offer theoretical and empirical contributions that will undoubtedly enrich this debate. Although the articles presented here do not explore every possible aspect of this complex problem, they provide a starting point for a productive debate on the tensions and gaps that still remain in discussions of these issues.

Los hombres siempre han estado presentes en las agendas de salud, basadas principalmente en enfoques clínicos y epidemiológicos. Para ampliar estos enfoques, es necesario abordar el tema desde una perspectiva que tenga en cuenta la relación entre género y salud. Además, la discusión debe tener en cuenta la interseccionalidad de género (masculinidades) con otras categorías de diferenciación social, como raza, etnicidad, clase social, generación, sexualidad. Los artículos aprobados en la convocatoria "Hombres, género y salud" de la revista Salud Colectiva ofrecen producciones teóricas y empíricas que sin duda contribuirán al debate, y aunque este conjunto de textos no agota la complejidad del problema, abre un rico debate sobre las tensiones y las brechas que aún persisten en las discusiones sobre el tema.

'Repeat offenders' in care, but with no right to prevention: An analysis of the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in Porto Alegre, Brazil. / Reincidentes en el cuidado, pero sin derecho a la prevención: un análisis de la oferta de la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH en Porto Alegre, Brasil.

This study seeks to identify challenges in the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, based on an analysis of actions taken by healthcare professionals in the state-run health sector in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Based on a qualitative approach that included ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews, we found that contextual, institutional, and individual factors represented challenges to the implementation of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Barriers to implementation included the historical context structuring healthcare services and practices, the lack of training and/or continued education in health, and certain attitudes on the part of healthcare professionals (ideas regarding both the strategy itself as well as the individuals that seek PEP). We conclude that there is a need for greater attention to specialized services for STI/HIV/AIDS as well as the professionals that provide these services, in order to guarantee greater effective access to this strategy at the local level.

Buscamos identificar los desafíos para la implementación de la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH, a partir de analizar el accionar de las y los profesionales de la salud en un servicio de salud pública en Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Desde un enfoque cualitativo, con técnicas de observación etnográfica y entrevistas en profundidad, se encontró que los factores contextuales, organizacionales e individuales eran desafíos para implementar la profilaxis posexposición sexual al VIH. Las barreras para su implementación incluyeron el contexto histórico de la estructuración y la actuación del servicio, la falta de capacitación y/o educación continua en salud, y las concepciones de las y los profesionales de la salud (ideas sobre la estrategia en sí, y sobre las personas que buscan PEP). Se concluye que existe la necesidad de mayor atención al universo de servicios especializados en ITS/VIH/sida y a las y los profesionales que componen estos servicios, a fin de garantizar una mayor efectividad en el acceso a la estrategia a nivel local.