Sexual Health
Volume 16 Number 1 2019
SH18104A systematic review of the geospatial barriers to antiretroviral initiation, adherence and viral suppression among people living with HIV
We all live somewhere and where we live has a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. In the present review we sought to understand how place and space impact the success of drug-based HIV prevention strategies in a changing landscape of HIV. Finding from our review highlight a landscape where vulnerable populations have greater difficulty access the health care they need.
SH18025Awareness of and attitudes to sexually transmissible infections among gay men and other men who have sex with men in England: a qualitative study
In many countries MSM are a priority group in efforts to reduce the prevalence of a range of STIs. However, we know relatively little about the extent to which STIs are understood and feared. Our focus group discussions suggest that there is widespread ignorance about the prevalence, modes of transmission, health implications and treatment regimens of many common STIs.
SH18025 Abstract | SH18025 Full Text | SH18025PDF (123 KB) Open Access Article
SH18032HIV knowledge, sexual health and sexual behaviour among Black and minority ethnic men who have sex with men in the UK: a cross-sectional study
Black and minority ethnic (BME) men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk of HIV than the general population. Results show that BME groups vary in their level of HIV knowledge and in their engagement in HIV risk behaviour. It is necessary to tailor HIV prevention interventions to specific BME groups.
SH17119Assessment of selected quality of life domains in patients who have undergone conservative or radical surgical treatment for penile cancer: an observational study
Knowledge of the effect of surgical treatment of penile cancer patients on their quality of life would help healthcare professionals to plan appropriate consulting and effective rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of primary surgical type on selected domains of quality of life and correlations between study variables after surgery. Disfiguring treatments for penile cancer significantly interfere with the sense of masculinity, but sexual functioning and self-esteem do not differ according to the type of surgical procedure.
SH18092Provision of online HIV-related information to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a health literacy-informed critical appraisal of Canadian agency websites
Condoms are no longer the only tool in the HIV prevention toolbox and finding and understanding this information can be challenging for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). A review of Canadian HIV-related websites for GBMSM found less information about more recent prevention tools, and many were not well designed to promote health literacy. Operators of HIV websites need to maintain up-to-date information and think about the different health literacy levels of people they are trying to reach.
SH18056Baseline characteristics of gay and bisexual men in a HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis demonstration project with equity quotas in Auckland, New Zealand
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) community roll-out should be rapid but also equitable. We conducted a demonstration project to identify real-world PrEP implementation challenges and successfully recruited a high risk sample containing 50% ethnic minorities. Meaningful engagement of minorities is critical for PrEP to be both effective and fair. TOC a
SH18091Early experience of implementing a national HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis service in Wales, United Kingdom 2017
Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV was introduced in the Welsh National Health Service in July 2017. We describe the roll out, present results for the first 6 months and discuss the challenges encountered. This can help inform service planning, shape policy development and identify future research work to understand PrEP uptake, use and effect in Wales and internationally.
SH18058Enumerating the population eligible for funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in New Zealand
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV transmission at the population level if offered to and accessed by individuals most at risk. We estimated that 5847 individuals are eligible for publicly funded PrEP in New Zealand. This number provides an implementation target and implies that the current health system will have to innovate its PrEP delivery services to meet this need.
SH18050Relational monogamy, condomless sex, and perceptions of pornography as sexual information in an English sample
Condomless sex contributes to STIs and unplanned pregnancies. This study found that sexually active individuals who are not in monogamous relationships and who see pornography as a source of sexual information are at a higher risk for condomless sex. Studies that do not take relational monogamy and perceptions of pornography as sexual information into account may falsely conclude that pornography and condomless sex are unrelated.
SH18037Personal and reported partner pornography viewing by Australian women, and association with mental health and body image
Understanding health impacts of pornography is of public health significance, given evidence of increasing use, particularly among young people. This cross-sectional online survey explored effects of personal and reported partner pornography viewing on mental health and body image, showing a minor effect. Further research is needed to explore the potential health effects of pornography, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
SH18037 Abstract | SH18037 Full Text | SH18037PDF (125 KB) Open Access Article
SH18071High uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) during early roll-out in Belgium: results from surveillance reports
Belgium has been one of the first European countries to roll-out Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a new tool for HIV prevention. This papers shows a high uptake of PrEP during the first 9 months of roll-out, almost entirely limited to Men having Sex with Men (MSM). HIV surveillance systems should carefully monitor the effect of PrEP on new HIV diagnoses.
SH17223Agreement between gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men’s period prevalence and event-level recall of sexual behaviour: an observational respondent-driven sampling study
There is a lack of empirical research conducted to compare the agreement and reliability of different approaches to measuring self-reported sexual behaviours. We observed moderate agreement between different question methods, which had differential advantages and ideal circumstances for use. This work highlights the tenuous balance in research between absolute measures of any sexual HIV risk and proximal contextual factors using event-level measures.
SH18100An automated, electronic, client-centred results delivery system saves time and improves workflow
For strategies aimed at increasing HIV testing to be successful, testing services need to have capacity to manage the increase. We developed an innovative result-robot module in the electronic medical record that reads and conveys the electronic result to the client. This system resulted in a 41% decrease in the number of clients calling for results. Redesigning services and systems can enable services to become more efficient.
SH18136Decision making over condom use during menses to avert sexually transmissible infections
Having penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) with men during menstrual sex increases the risk of both STI or HIV acquisition and transmission. This study investigated the role of receptive partners’ independent decision making over condom use during menses to avert STI transmission and acquisition. Findings across 146 countries suggest that those exercising independent decision-making over condom use during menses do so to avert STI transmission and acquisition.
SH18094Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART): from point-of-care test to ART at a peer-led community-based testing site in Sydney
Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy is recommended for all HIV infected persons, and has significant individual and public health benefits. We evaluated the impact of including baseline HIV investigations at the time of a reactive point of care HIV test in a community testing service. While the impact of the intervention requires further analysis the findings suggest that the rapid point of care test could have a significant effect on time to initiation of ART.
SH18039Factors associated with self-reported anal cancer screening history in men who have sex with men
A secondary analysis found that a history of anal cancer screening among men who have sex with men is associated with race, age and HIV status.