Temporal Changes in Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Cohort of Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV: Sex Partner Seeking and Behavioral Correlates.

With "undetectable equals untransmittable," continued engagement in condomless sex has prolonged STI risk in people living with HIV. This study examined the pattern and relationship between STI diagnosis and sex partner-seeking practice over time in a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) attending the HIV specialist clinic in Hong Kong. Participants' STI diagnosis record since HIV diagnosis was retrieved and their frequency of seeking sex partners (A) before, (B) after HIV diagnosis, and (C) following extended period (5-10 years), through eight different settings, was assessed in two rounds of survey, along with their risk behavioral profile.

Hepatitis B burden and population immunity in a high endemicity city - a geographically random household epidemiology study for evaluating achievability of elimination.

This study aimed to provide reference for evaluating the achievability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination in a high endemicity city with universal neonatal vaccination in place for over 30 years. Between September 2018 and October 2020, 2085 citizens from 1143 geographically random households in Hong Kong completed a questionnaire and had blood-testing for HBV markers (anti-HBs, HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg). We evaluated the epidemiology and examined factors associated with HBV exposure, vaccination and chronic diseases.

Point-of-care hepatitis C reflex testing and treatment referral in methadone clinic settings in Hong Kong-a pilot study.

Objectives: People who inject drugs (PWID) constitute a population group with a high hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden. With the objectives of assessing the HCV prevalence in PWID and determining the proportion requiring treatment who could be linked to care, this study piloted onsite reflex HCV testing at low threshold methadone clinics, with prompt referral of HCV RNA-positive participants for treatment.

Methods: This was a prospective study on methadone clinic attendees in Hong Kong.

Relationship between patient experience and hospital readmission: system-level survey with deterministic data linkage method.

Background: Linkage of public healthcare data provides powerful resources for studying from a comprehensive view of quality of care than information for a single administrative database. It is believed that positive patient experiences reflect good quality of health care and may reduce patient readmission. This study aimed to determine the relationship between patient experience and hospital readmission at a system level by linking anonymous experience survey data with de-identified longitudinal hospital administrative admissions data.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A and B in the general population in Hong Kong: protocol of a cross-sectional survey using spatial sampling in a highly urbanised city.

Introduction: Differences in immunisation policies have significantly reshaped the epidemiology of hepatitis A and B in the population. Assessment of the susceptibility and transmission potential of these two types of vaccine-preventable hepatitis would enhance the capacity of public health authorities for viral hepatitis elimination. Focusing on Hong Kong, the objectives of this study comprise the determination of the population-level seroprevalence of hepatitis A and B and an examination of the risk factors for virus transmission and the population impacts of vaccinations.

Compliance and attitudes of blood donors following transitioning from permanent to 12-month deferral of men who have sex with men in Hong Kong.

Background And Objectives: Blood safety hinges not just on the scientific rationale for deferral period but potential donors' compliance with the prevailing policy. This study aimed to investigate donors' awareness, attitudes and compliance with the two-phased policy implementation of time-limited deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong.

Materials And Methods: Three rounds of questionnaire survey were conducted between July 2017 and June 2019 covering the periods of pre-implementation (Round A), post-implementation without and with pre-donation questionnaire revision (Round B and C).

Changes of sexual risk behaviors and sexual connections among HIV-positive men who have sex with men along their HIV care continuum.

Background: While HIV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing in Hong Kong, unprotected sex apparently remains prevalent among those infected but virally non-suppressed. Little is known about how sexual behaviours and sexual connections may change among MSM along their HIV care continuum.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, HIV-positive MSM attending the largest HIV specialist clinic in Hong Kong between October and December 2014 were invited to complete a self-administrated structured questionnaire.

Distribution of reported syphilis cases in South China: spatiotemporal analysis.

There was a varied spatial distribution of reported syphilis cases across cities in South China. This study aims to identify and describe spatiotemporal clusters of primary and secondary syphilis (P/S) cases in this region. Reported syphilis cases in Guangdong Province, China, from January 2014 to June 2015 were collected from the national centralized reporting system.

A comparative analysis of behaviors and sexual affiliation networks among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, men who have sex with men (MSM) account for a significant proportion of HIV infections. While perceived as a hidden population, they constitute a distinct social network shaped by their differential use of unique channels for sex partnership. To characterize their pattern of connectivity and association with high-risk sexual behaviors, 311 MSM were recruited via saunas and the internet to participate in a questionnaire survey.

Sex networking of young men who have sex with men in densely connected saunas in Hong Kong.

Background: Some men who have sex with men (MSM) meet and have sex with male partners at gay saunas, the connections between which are little explored for designing HIV prevention measures. This study aims to describe the network configuration of gay saunas and explore its relationship with risk behavior of MSM in the respective sauna communities, in the city of Hong Kong.

Methods: Using venue-based sampling, 205 MSM were recruited in 8 saunas in July 2011 for a cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey.

A GIS-based assessment of environmental influences on allergy development in children.

This study aims to assess potential environmental influences on allergy development in children. Based on a parent-completed questionnaire survey administered in Hong Kong in 2003 in accordance with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood protocol, the prevalence and incidence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis of 508 preschool children aged 4 to 6 years in Yuen Long District were determined and a range of indoor and outdoor environmental factors were assessed. Exposure to moisture and mold in the first year of life increased the risk of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.