Prevalence of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Urban Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Canada, 2017-2019.

BACKGROUND: Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers. In 2015 and 2016, HPV vaccines became publicly funded for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) under 27 years of age in most Canadian provinces. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2019, sexually-active GBM in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver were recruited through respondent-driven sampling. Participants aged 16 to 30 years were invited to self-collect oral rinse specimens for HPV testing. We estimated HPV prevalence in the oral tract overall and compared these by vaccination status. RESULTS: Among the 838 GBM with a valid oral specimen, 36.9% reported receiving ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine. Overall, oral HPV prevalence was 2.6% (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.5, 3.7%) for at least one HPV type and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.5, 1.9%) for any high-risk type. We detected quadrivalent (HPV 6/11/16/18) vaccine-preventable types in 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0, 1.0%) of vaccinated individuals and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.1, 2.0%) in unvaccinated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Oral HPV prevalence was low in a population of young urban GBM in Canada of whom 37% were vaccinated. Findings serve as a benchmark for monitoring of vaccination impacts on oral HPV infection within this priority population.

Improving prevalence estimates of mental health and well-being indicators among Sexual Minority Men: A Propensity Weighting Approach.

The prevalence and relative disparities of mental health outcomes and well-being indicators are often inconsistent across studies of Sexual Minority Men (SMM) due to selection biases in community-based surveys (non-probability sample), as well as misclassification biases in population-based surveys where some SMM often conceal their sexual orientation identities. The current paper estimated the prevalence of mental health related outcomes (depressive symptoms, mental health service use [MHSU], anxiety) and well-being indicators (loneliness and self-rated mental health) among SMM, broken down by sexual orientation using the Adjusted Logistic Propensity score (ALP) weighting. We applied the ALP to correct for selection biases in the 2019 Sex Now data (a community-based survey of SMMs in Canada) by reweighting it to the 2015-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (a population survey from Statistics Canada). For all SMMs, the ALP-weighted prevalence of depressive symptoms is 15.96% (95% CI: 11.36%, 23.83%), while for MHSU, it is 32.13% (95% CI: 26.09, 41.20). The ALP estimates lie in between the crude estimates from the two surveys. This method was successful in providing a more accurate estimate than relying on results from one survey alone. We recommend to the use of ALP on other minority populations under certain assumptions.

Reach of GetCheckedOnline among gay, bisexual, transgender and queer men and Two-Spirit people and correlates of use 5 years after program launch in British Columbia, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding who uses internet-based sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) services can inform programme implementation, particularly among those most impacted by STBBIs, including gender and sexual minority (GSM) men. GetCheckedOnline, an internet-based STBBI testing service in British Columbia, Canada, launched in 2014. Our objectives were to assess reach, identify factors associated with use of GetCheckedOnline 5 years into implementation and describe reasons for using and not using GetCheckedOnline among GSM men. METHODS: The Sex Now 2019 Survey was an online, cross-sectional survey of GSM men in Canada administered from November 2019 to February 2020. Participants were asked a subset of questions related to use of GetCheckedOnline. Multivariable binary logistic regression modelling was used to estimate associations between correlates and use of GetCheckedOnline. RESULTS: Of 431 British Columbia (BC) participants aware of GetCheckedOnline, 27.6% had tested using the service. Lower odds of having used GetCheckedOnline were found among participants with non-white race/ethnicity (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.41 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.74)) and those living with HIV (aOR=0.23 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.76)). Those who usually tested at a walk-in clinic, relative to a sexual health clinic, had greater odds of using GetCheckedOnline (aOR=3.91 (95% CI 1.36 to 11.61)). The most commonly reported reason for using and not using GetCheckedOnline was convenience (78%) and only accessing the website to see how the service worked (48%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Over a quarter of GSM men in BC aware of GetCheckedOnline had used it. Findings demonstrate the importance of social/structural factors related to use of GetCheckedOnline. Service promotion strategies could highlight its convenience and privacy benefits to enhance uptake.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Attitudes and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Gay and Bisexual Men.

BACKGROUNDS: Positive attitudes toward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, such as reduced concern about HIV transmissibility, are associated with sexual behaviors that may increase the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). We examined associations between HIV treatment attitudes and bacterial STI diagnoses among GBM in Canada's three largest cities. METHODS: We fit a structural equation model between HIV treatment attitudes and bacterial STI diagnoses via sexual behaviors in the Engage study's baseline data. We estimated direct and indirect paths between scores on HIV treatment attitudes and STIs via number of male anal sex partners, condomless anal sex, and oral sex. We conducted sub-analyses with participants stratified by HIV serostatus. RESULTS: Among 2449 GBM recruited in 2017 to 2019, there was a direct association between HIV treatment attitudes and current STI diagnoses (ß = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.07-0.19; P < 0.001). The mediated model revealed a positive total indirect effect through 2 pathways: (1) engaging in condomless anal sex and (2) number of male anal sex partners and condomless anal sex. These 2 indirect pathways remained in the stratified mediation models for both HIV negative GBM and for GBM living with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: The association between HIV treatment attitudes and diagnosed STIs is mediated through a higher number of male anal sex partners and condomless anal sex. The results highlight the importance of providers educating patients when providing effective STI counseling, testing, and prevention for GBM about how accurate HIV treatment attitudes may inadvertently be associated with the bacterial STI epidemic.

HIV Treatment Optimism Moderates the Relationship between Sexual Risk Behavior and HIV Risk Perception among Urban HIV-negative Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who have Sex With Men.

Using baseline data of the Engage Cohort Study, a Canadian study of sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM), we evaluated the association between sexual behavior and risk perception among HIV-negative participants and whether HIV treatment optimism moderated this relationship. Participants were recruited by respondent-driven-sampling (RDS). We defined high-risk sexual behavior in the past six months as any condomless anal sex with a casual partner (i.e. not the participant's main partner) with either unknown HIV-status where neither used pre-exposure prophylaxis or with a partner living with HIV having detectable/unknown viral load. We assessed HIV treatment optimism-skepticism using a 12-item scale. RDS-II-weighted adjusted logistic regression models examined associations with risk perception measured by the question "How would you assess your current risk of getting HIV?" (response options were on a 6-point Likert-scale ranging from "very unlikely" to "very likely", dichotomized into "No Perceived Risk" (very unlikely/unlikely) and "Perceived Risk" (somewhat likely/likely/very likely/I think I already have HIV). Of 1961 participants, engagement in high-risk sexual behavior was reported by 155 (17.0%), 62 (12.4%), 128 (17.2%) of participants in Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver, respectively. High-risk sexual behavior increased the odds of perceived HIV risk (pooled adjusted odds ratio = 2.9, 95%CI = 2.2-3.8). HIV treatment optimism-skepticism scores moderated the relationship: for GBM engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, higher HIV treatment optimism-skepticism scores increased perceived HIV risk. Promoting awareness around advances related to HIV prevention and treatment is important for appropriate risk assessment and for increased engagement in prevention interventions.

RESUMEN: Evaluamos la asociación entre el comportamiento sexual y la percepción de riesgo entre los participantes VIH negativos y si el optimismo sobre el tratamiento del VIH moderó esta asociación. Definimos comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo en los últimos seis meses como cualquier sexo anal sin condón con una pareja casual con un estado de VIH desconocido donde ninguno utilizó profilaxis previa a la exposición o con una pareja que vive con el VIH y que tiene una carga viral detectable/desconocida. Se evaluó el optimismo sobre el tratamiento del VIH mediante una escala de 12 ítems. Los modelos de regresión logística ajustados examinaron las asociaciones con la percepción del riesgo ("Riesgo no percibido" vs. "Riesgo percibido"). De 1961 participantes, 155 (17,0%), 62 (12,4%), 128 (17,2%) de los participantes en Montreal, Toronto y Vancouver, informaron comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo. El comportamiento sexual de alto riesgo se mostró asociado con riesgo percibido. El optimismo sobre el tratamiento modero la asociación. Promover la conciencia sobre los avances relacionados con la prevención y el tratamiento del VIH es importante para una evaluación adecuada de los riesgos y una mayor participación en las intervenciones de prevención.

Ethno-racial variations in mental health symptoms among sexually-active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada: a longitudinal analysis.

BACKGROUND: Minority stress from racism and heterosexism may uniquely interact to impact the mental health of racialized sexual minorities. We examined variations in anxiety and depressive symptoms by reported by ethno-racial identity among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: We recruited gbMSM aged ≥ 16 years from February 2012 to February 2015 using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Participants completed computer assisted self-interviews (CASI) at enrollment and every 6 months until February 2017. We examined factors associated with moderate/severe anxiety and depression scores (> 10) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and differences in key explanatory variables including sociodemographic, psychosocial, and substance use factors. We used multivariable mixed effects models to assess whether moderate/severe scores were associated with ethno-racial identity across all visits. RESULTS: After RDS-adjustment, of 774 participants, 79.9% of participants identified as gay. 68.6% identified as white, 9.2% as Asian, 9.8% as Indigenous, 7.3% as Latin American, and 5.1% as other ethno-racial identities. Participants contributed a median of 6 follow-up visits (Q1-Q3: 4-7). In the multivariable analysis, Asian participants had decreased odds of moderate/severe anxiety scores compared to white participants (aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18-0.86), and Latin American participants had decreased odds of moderate/severe depression scores compared to both white (aOR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.08-0.36) and Asian (aOR = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02-0.20) participants. CONCLUSION: Asian and Latino gbMSM reported decreased mental health symptoms compared to white participants. Asian and Latino gbMSM in Vancouver appear to manage multiple minority stressors without adversely affecting their mental health.

'It's not as good as the face-to-face contact': A sociomaterialist analysis of the use of virtual care among Canadian gay, bisexual and queer men during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread adoption of virtual care-the use of communication technologies to receive health care at home. We explored the differential impacts of the rapid transition to virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic on health-care access and delivery for gay, bisexual and queer men (GBQM), a population that disproportionately experiences sexual and mental health disparities in Canada. Adopting a sociomaterial theoretical perspective, we analysed 93 semi-structured interviews with GBQM (n = 93) in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, conducted between November 2020 and February 2021 (n = 42) and June-October 2021 (n = 51). We focused on explicating how the dynamic relations of humans and non-humans in everyday virtual care practices have opened or foreclosed different care capacities for GBQM. Our analysis revealed that the rapid expansion and implementation of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic enacted disruptions and challenges while providing benefits to health-care access among some GBQM. Further, virtual care required participants to change their sociomaterial practices to receive health care effectively, including learning new ways of communicating with providers. Our sociomaterial analysis provides a framework that helps identify what works and what needs to be improved when delivering virtual care to meet the health needs of GBQM and other diverse populations.

Attitudes of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (GBM) toward Their Use of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants and Relation to Reducing Use in Three Canadian Cities.

BACKGROUND: We explored attitudes of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) toward their amphetamine-use and associations with reduced use over time. METHODS: We recruited sexually-active GBM aged 16+ years in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada, from 02-2017 to 08-2019, with follow-up visits every 6-12 months until November 2020. Among participants who reported past-six-month (P6M) amphetamine-use at enrollment, we used logistic regression to identify demographic, psychological, social, mental health, other substance-use, and behavioral factors associated with reporting needing help reducing their substance-use. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to model reduced P6M amphetamine-use with perceived problematic-use as our primary explanatory variable. RESULTS: We enrolled 2,449 GBM across sites. 15.5-24.7% reported P6M amphetamine-use at enrollment and 82.6 - 85.7% reported needing no help or only a little help in reducing their substance use. Reporting needing a lot/of help or completely needing help in reducing substance-use was associated with group sex participation (AOR = 2.35, 95%CI:1.25-4.44), greater anxiety symptomatology (AOR = 2.11, 95%CI:1.16-3.83), greater financial strain (AOR = 1.35, 95%CI:1.21-1.50), and greater Escape Motive scores (AOR = 1.07, 95%CI:1.03-1.10). Reductions in P6M amphetamine-use were less likely among GBM who perceived their amphetamine-use as problematic (AOR = 0.17 95% CI 0.10 - 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Most amphetamine-using GBM did not feel they needed help reducing their substance use, and many reported reduced amphetamine-use at subsequent visits. Those who perceived their use as problematic were less likely to reduce their use. Further interventions to assist GBM in reducing their use are needed to assist those who perceive their use as problematic.

Minority Stress, Psychological Distress, Sexual Compulsivity, and Avoidance-Based Motivations Associated with Methamphetamine Use Among Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV: Examining Direct and Indirect Associations Using Cross-Sectional Structural Equation Modeling.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual minority men (SMM) living with HIV report significantly greater methamphetamine use compared with heterosexual and HIV-negative peers. Greater use may be related to stressors (e.g., HIV-related stigma) faced by SMM living with HIV and subsequent psychological and behavioral sequelae. We tested an integrated theoretical model comprised of pathways between stigma, discrimination, childhood sexual abuse, psychological distress, sexual compulsivity, and cognitive escape in predicting methamphetamine use among SMM living with HIV. METHODS: Among 423 SMM living with HIV, we tested a structural equation model examining factors hypothesized to be directly and indirectly associated with methamphetamine use. Analyses were adjusted for demographic covariates and sampling bias. RESULTS: The model showed good fit (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.01). Heterosexist discrimination was associated with psychological distress (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001) and psychological distress was associated with sexual compulsivity (ß = 0.33, p < 0.001). Sexual compulsivity was associated with cognitive escape (ß = 0.31, p < 0.001), which was associated with methamphetamine use (ß = 0.51, p < 0.001). Psychological distress was associated with methamphetamine use via serial indirect effects of sexual compulsivity and cognitive escape (ß = 0.05, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Heterosexist discrimination contributed to psychological distress among SMM living with HIV. Psychological distress is linked to methamphetamine use via sexual compulsivity and cognitive avoidance. Interventions seeking to reduce the likelihood that SMM living with HIV use methamphetamine should include coping strategies specific to heterosexism and related psychological distress.

Vaccine Effectiveness Against 12-Month Incident and Persistent Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against longitudinal outcomes is lacking among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). We compared 12-month incidence and persistence of anal HPV infection between vaccinated and unvaccinated GBM. METHODS: We recruited GBM aged 16-30 years in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada, from 2017 to 2019. Participants were followed over a median of 12 months (interquartile range, 12-13 months). Participants self-reported HPV vaccination and self-collected anal specimens for HPV DNA testing. We calculated prevalence ratios (PR) for 12-month cumulative incidence and persistence with ≥1 quadrivalent vaccine type (HPV 6/11/16/18) between vaccinated (≥1 dose at baseline) and unvaccinated participants using a propensity score-weighted, modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among 248 participants, 109 (44.0%) were vaccinated at baseline, of whom 62.6% received 3 doses. PRs for HPV 6/11/16/18 were 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], .24-1.31) for cumulative incidence and 0.53 (95% CI, .25-1.14) for persistence. PRs were 0.23 (95% CI, .05-1.03) and 0.08 (95% CI, .01-.59) for incidence and persistence, respectively, among participants who received their first dose at age ≤23 years and 0.15 (95% CI, .03-.68) and 0.12 (95% CI, .03-.54) among participants who were sexually active for ≤5 years before vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support national recommendations for HPV vaccination at younger ages or soon after sexual debut.

Self-reported Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Vaccine Effectiveness Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Quantitative Bias Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Self-report of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has ~80-90% sensitivity and ~75-85% specificity. We measured the effect of nondifferential exposure misclassification associated with self-reported vaccination on vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates. METHODS: Between 2017-2019, we recruited sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men aged 16-30 years in Canada. VE was derived as 1-prevalence ratio × 100% for prevalent anal HPV infection comparing vaccinated (≥1 dose) to unvaccinated men using a multivariable modified Poisson regression. We conducted a multidimensional and probabilistic quantitative bias analysis to correct VE estimates. RESULTS: Bias-corrected VE estimates were relatively stable across sensitivity values but differed from the uncorrected estimate at lower values of specificity. The median adjusted VE was 27% (2.5-97.5th simulation interval = -5-49%) in the uncorrected analysis, increasing to 39% (2.5-97.5th simulation interval = 2-65%) in the bias-corrected analysis. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of participants erroneously reporting HPV vaccination would be required to meaningfully change VE estimates.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay and bisexual men.

OBJECTIVES: While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV acquisition among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM), PrEP-using GBM may be more likely to engage in sexual behaviours associated with bacterial STIs. We examined associations between PrEP use, condomless anal sex (CAS), number of anal sex partners, oral sex and bacterial STI diagnoses among GBM living in Canada's three largest cities. METHODS: Among HIV-negative/unknown-status GBM in the baseline of the Engage cohort study, we fit a structural equation model of the associations between any PrEP use, sexual behaviours and bacterial STI diagnosis. We estimated direct and indirect paths between PrEP use and STI via CAS, number of anal sex partners and oral sex. RESULTS: The sample included 2007 HIV-negative/unknown status GBM in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. There was a significant direct association between PrEP use and current STI diagnosis (ß=0.181; 95% CI: 0.112 to 0.247; p<0.001), CAS (ß=0.275; 95% CI: 0.189 to 0.361; p<0.001) and number of anal sex partners (ß=0.193; 95% CI: 0.161 to 0.225; p<0.001). In the mediated model, the direct association between PrEP use and STIs was non-significant. However, the indirect paths from PrEP to CAS to STIs (ß=0.064; 95% CI: 0.025 to 0.120; p=0.008), and from PrEP to greater number of anal sex partners to CAS to STIs were significant (ß=0.059; 95% CI: 0.024 to 0.108; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the growing awareness that PrEP use among GBM may be associated with bacterial STIs because PrEP users have more anal sex partners and are more likely to engage in CAS. The results underscore the importance of providing effective STI counselling and regular testing to PrEP users, adapting PrEP care and related STI testing to individual needs, and the need for effective prevention strategies for bacterial STIs.

Geosexual Archetype, Preventive Behaviors, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among High-Risk Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BACKGROUND: Social geography plays an important role in transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men. Previous qualitative work had identified 7 "geosexual archetypes," each with distinct travel patterns for sex and potentially important differences in STI rates. The objective of this article was to explore what could be learned about STI transmission by looking at STI prevention strategies (condom use and preexposure prophylaxis use) and prevalence of STIs among these geosexual archetypes. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Sex Now 2019 online survey in Canada. Men who have sex with men who reported 3 or more partners in the past 6 months were included in the analysis (n = 3649). RESULTS: The most common archetype was "geoflexible" (sex at home, partner's home, and other places; 35.6%), followed by "privates" (sex only at own/partner's home; 23.0%); the least common archetypes was "rover" (sex not at home or partner's place; 4.0%). There were significant variations in both STI prevention strategies and prevalence of bacterial STIs in the past year by geosexual archetype. In particular, among those who were HIV negative, those who reported a geoflexible archetype and used preexposure prophylaxis but did not use condoms consistently had a 52.6% prevalence of bacterial STIs, which was much higher compared with all other groups. Within other archetypes, those living with HIV had the highest prevalence of bacterial STIs. CONCLUSIONS: Geosexual archetype together with participant's STI prevention strategies was a strong predictor of bacterial STI risk. Understanding how place is connected to bacterial STIs is key in prevention as individuals do not live in isolation.

Examining differential success in recruitment using respondent driven sampling (RDS) in a multi-site study of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND: The Engage Study is a longitudinal biobehavioral cohort study of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Baseline data (2,449 participants) were collected from February 2017 - August 2019 using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Recruitment in Montreal required fewer seeds, had a much shorter recruitment period, and recruited the largest sample. METHODS: To better understand why RDS recruitment was more successful in Montreal compared to other sites, we conducted an analysis to examine RDS recruitment characteristics for GBM in each of the three study sites, explore demographic characteristics and measures of homophily, that is, the tendency of individuals to recruit other study participants who are like themselves, and compared motivations for study participation. RESULTS: Montreal had the greatest proportion of participants over the age of 45 (29.1% in Montreal, 24.6% in Vancouver, and 21.0% in Toronto) and the highest homophily for this age group, but homophily was high across the three cities. Montreal also reported the lowest percentage of participants with an annual income greater or equal to $60,000 (7.9% in Montreal, 13.1% in Vancouver and 10.6% in Toronto), but homophily was similar across all three cities. The majority of participants indicated interest in sexual health and HIV as the main reason for participating (36.1% in Montreal, 34.7% in Vancouver, and 29.8% in Toronto). Financial interest as the main reason for participation was low (12.7% in Montreal, 10.6% in Vancouver, and 5.7% in Toronto). CONCLUSION: Taken together, although we found some differences in study demographic characteristics and homophily scores, we were unable to fully explain the different recruitment success based on the data available. Our study underlines the fact that success of RDS implementation may vary by unknown factors, and that researchers should be proactive and flexible to account for variability.

Patterns of Event-Level Concurrent Substance Use During Sex Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Metro Vancouver.

This study identified patterns of sexualized substance use among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) and examined associated risk factors for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI). Data were from a longitudinal cohort recruited using respondent-driven sampling between Feb-2017 and Feb-2019. Participants reported on events with up to five of their most recent sexual partners. Latent class analysis examined patterns of concurrent substance use 2 h prior to or during sex. Multinomial regression identified demographic, partner-level, and event-level factors associated across 11,877 sexual events reported by 757 participants. Most combinations of substance use were rare, but most drugs were frequently combined with other drugs when they were used prior to or during a sexual event. Six latent classes of concurrent event-level substance use were identified. The referent class (58.8% of events) was characterized by limited use of any drugs. The Common Drug Use class (12.1%) was characterized by use of alcohol, cannabis, and poppers and the Licit Drug Use class (21.6%) was characterized by use of alcohol alone. The Party 'N' Play (PnP) class (2.3%) was characterized by use of crystal methamphetamine GHB, Poppers, and Erectile Drugs; The Multi-use (3.5%) class was characterized by the PnP substances plus alcohol and ecstasy; and the Cannabis + class was characterized by use of Cannabis, Erectile Drugs, and Ecstasy. Relative to the referent class, all other classes were associated with events with more behavioural and network risk factors for STBBIs-highlighting the need for harm reduction interventions for gbMSM who use these drugs.

Examining Associations Between Resilience and PrEP Use Among HIV-negative GBM in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

This study evaluated the association between resilience and PrEP use among a population-based sample of Canadian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Sexually active GBM aged ≥ 16 years old were recruited via respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver from 02/2017 to 07/2019. We conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis of HIV-negative/unknown GBM who met clinical eligibility for PrEP. We performed multivariable RDS-II-weighted logistic regression to assess the association between scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience-2 Scale and PrEP. Mediation analyses with weighted logistic and linear regression were used to assess whether the relationship between minority stressors and PrEP use was mediated by resilience. Of 1167 PrEP-eligible GBM, 317 (27%) indicated they took PrEP in the past six months. Our multivariable model found higher resilience scores were associated with greater odds of PrEP use in the past six months (aOR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.00, 1.28). We found that resilience reduced the effect of the association between heterosexist discrimination and PrEP use. Resilience also mediated the relationship between internalized homonegativity and PrEP use and mediated the effect of the association between LGBI acceptance concern and PrEP use. Overall, PrEP-eligible GBM with higher resilience scores had a greater odds of PrEP use in the past six months. We also found mixed results for the mediating role of resilience between minority stress and PrEP use. These findings underline the continued importance of strength-based factors in HIV prevention.

Treatment interruptions and community connectedness among gbMSM living with HIV in Metro Vancouver, Canada.

HIV treatment interruptions are a major public health concern that demonstrate a lack of engagement in care and is detrimental to the health of people living with HIV. Community connectedness have demonstrated a protective effect for psychosocial health but are not well understood for HIV treatment outcomes. We explored associations between community connectedness and treatment interruptions among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) living with HIV in Vancouver, British Columbia. We analyzed survey data from the Momentum Health Study and identified treatment interruptions through data linkages with the provincial HIV Drug Treatment Program as episodes lasting more than 60 days beyond an expected antiretroviral therapy refill date from February 2012 to July 2019. We built a mixed-effects logistic regression model, adjusting for confounders. Of 213 gbMSM living with HIV, 54 experienced treatment interruption (25.4%) over a median five-year follow-up. Multivariable results found the number gbMSM who spoken to in the past month (aOR = 0.995; 95% CI = 0.991, 1.000 (per 100-unit increase)) and attending a gay community meeting more than once per month (aOR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.11, 0.89) were associated with lower odds of treatment interruptions. These results highlight the importance of social connections in facilitating effective HIV care.

Unpacking racism during COVID-19: narratives from racialized Canadian gay, bisexual, and queer men.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemics impact individuals unevenly across race, gender, and sexuality. In addition to being more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, evidence suggests racialized gender and sexual minorities experienced disproportionate levels of discrimination and stigma during the COVID-19 epidemic. Drawing on Critical Race Theory (CRT), we examined the experiences of gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men (GBQM) of colour facing discrimination during COVID-19. DESIGN: Engage-COVID-19 is a mixed methods study examining the impact of COVID-19 on GBQM living in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal, Canada. We conducted two rounds of qualitative interviews (November 2020 to February 2021, and June to October 2021) with 93 GBQM to explore the evolving impact of COVID-19 on their lives. Transcripts were coded using inductive thematic analysis. Data analysis was conducted using Nvivo software. RESULTS: Fifty-nine participants identified as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Colour (BIPOC). These GBQM of colour described multiple experiences of discrimination during COVID-19. Although participants did not report experiences of discrimination based on their sexual identity during COVID-19, we found that experiences of racism affected how they were treated within their sexual networks. Experiences of racism were most often reported by East Asian and Black GBQM. These participants faced racism in public and online spaces, primarily in the form of verbal harassment. Several participants were also harassed because they wore face masks. Verbal abuse against GBQM of colour was largely prompted by racist discourses related to COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Racism remains a pernicious threat to the well-being of GBQM of colour. CRT highlights the importance of assessing how sexualized and gendered discourses about race shape the experiences of GBQM of colour navigating multiple epidemics like COVID-19 and HIV. These pervasive discourses unevenly affect racial and sexual minorities across multiple epidemics, and negatively impact health outcomes for these populations.

Comparison of the burden of self-reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections among men having sex with men across 68 countries on four continents.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are in general more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than the heterosexual men population. However, surveillance data on STI diagnoses lack comparability across countries due to differential identification of MSM, diagnostic standards and methods, and screening guidelines for asymptomatic infections. METHODS: We compared self-reported overall diagnostic rates for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia infections, and diagnostic rates for infections that were classified to be symptomatic in the previous 12 months from two online surveys. They had a shared methodology, were conducted in 68 countries across four continents between October 2017 and May 2018 and had 202,013 participants. RESULTS: Using multivariable multilevel regression analysis, we identified age, settlement size, number of sexual partners, condom use for anal intercourse, testing frequency, sampling rectal mucosa for extragenital testing, HIV diagnosis, and pre-exposure prophylaxis use as individual-level explanatory variables. The national proportions of respondents screened and diagnosed who notified some or all of their sexual partners were used as country-level explanatory variables. Combined, these factors helped to explain differences in self-reported diagnosis rates between countries. The following differences were not explained by the above factors: self-reported syphilis diagnoses were higher in Latin America compared with Europe, Canada, Israel, Lebanon, and the Philippines (aORs 2.30 - 3.71 for symptomatic syphilis compared to Central-West Europe); self-reported gonorrhea diagnoses were lower in Eastern Europe and in Latin America compared with all other regions (aORs 0.17-0.55 and 0.34 - 0.62 for symptomatic gonorrhea compared to Central-West Europe); and self-reported chlamydia diagnoses were lower in Central East and Southeast Europe, South and Central America, and the Philippines (aORs 0.25 - 0.39 for symptomatic chlamydia for Latin American subregions compared to Central West Europe). CONCLUSIONS: Possible reasons for differences in self-reported STI diagnosis prevalence likely include different background prevalence for syphilis and syndromic management without proper diagnosis, and different diagnostic approaches for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Disjuncture between self-perceived and clinically assessed risk of HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Self-perceived and clinically assessed HIV risk do not always align. We compared self-perceived and clinically assessed risk of HIV and the reasons for self-perceived low risk of HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) from large urban centers in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Never PrEP users recruited from sexual health clinics or online, completed a cross-sectional survey between July/2019 and August/2020. We contrasted self-perceived HIV risk against criteria from the Canadian PrEP guidelines and participants were categorized as concordant or discordant. We used content analysis to categorize participants' free-text explanations for perceived low HIV risk. These were compared with answers to quantitative responses about condomless sex acts and number of partners. RESULTS: Of 315 GBM who self-perceived low risk of HIV, 146 (46%) were considered at high risk according to the guidelines. Participants with discordant assessment were younger, had less years of formal education, were more often in an open relationship and were more likely to self-identify as gay. Reasons for self-perceived low HIV risk in the discordant group were condom use (27%), being in a committed relationship/having one main partner (15%), having no or infrequent anal sex (12%) and having few partners (10%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a disjuncture between self-perceived and clinically assessed risk of HIV. Some GBM may underestimate their HIV risk and clinical criteria may overestimate risk. Bridging these gaps requires efforts to increase HIV risk awareness in the community, and refinement of clinical assessments based on individualized discussions between the provider and the user.