Demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV infection in the Slovak Republic.

Background: The Slovak Republic, an Eastern European country, borders Ukraine, which has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in Europe. This study aims to inform readers about the demographic characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV/AIDS seeking temporary protection status in Slovakia due to the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. It focuses on their epidemiology, immunological profiles, co-infections, and treatment.

Characterization of HIV-1 subtypes and drug resistance mutations in Slovakia: update 2017-2018.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide an overview on the HIV-1 subtypes circulating in Slovakia between 2017 and 2018 and to evaluate the risk of transmission of HIV‑resistant strains.

Background: The HIV epidemic in Slovakia is characterised by low incidence of new and pre-existing infections and a slightly elevated level of strain heterogeneity.

Methods: Partial HIV pol gene sequences of 110 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV between 2017 and 2018 were analysed.

Populations size estimations using SS-PSE among MSM in four European cities: how many MSM are living with HIV?

Background: Although men who have sex with men (MSM) are considered at high risk for transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, there are few studies estimating the population size of MSM in Europe. We used network data from a survey of MSM in four cities to perform successive sampling-population size estimations (SS-PSE) to estimate MSM population sizes.

Methods: Data were collected in 2013-14 in Bratislava, Bucharest, Verona and Vilnius using respondent-driven sampling (RDS).

Integration of community-based testing data into national HIV surveillance in Poland, Serbia and Slovakia within the framework of INTEGRATE project.

Background: Community-based voluntary counselling and testing contributes to early HIV diagnoses among key populations. Testing data from such decentralized services is however often not standardized nor linked to national surveillance systems. This study aimed to support the integration of community testing data into respective national surveillance and monitoring and evaluation systems for those infections.

Recommendations for collection and integration of community-based testing and linkage to care data into national surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections: results from the INTEGRATE Joint Action.

Background: National testing strategy, including monitoring and evaluation, is critical in responding to HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and viral hepatitis. Community-based voluntary counselling and testing contributes to early HIV diagnoses among key populations. Countries providing community-based testing, should integrate some core data on testing and linkage to care in these services into national surveillance and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Process evaluation of a bio-behavioural HIV research combined with prevention among GBMSM in 13 European countries.

Comparative European data using Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) are scarce among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. This study evaluated the implementation of Sialon II, a bio-behavioural HIV research combined with targeted HIV prevention in 13 European cities conducted in collaboration with community partners. A mixed-methods process evaluation assessed the project's coverage, outputs, quality, challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Estimating the percentage of European MSM eligible for PrEP: insights from a bio-behavioural survey in thirteen cities.

Objectives: This paper aims to estimate the percentage of European men who have sex with men (MSM) who may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), applying the three most widely used HIV risk indices for MSM (MSM Risk Index, Menza score, San Diego Early Test (SDET) score) and drawing on a large-scale multisite bio-behavioural survey (Sialon II).

Methods: The Sialon II study was a bio-behavioural survey among MSM implemented in 13 European cities using either time-location sampling or respondent-driven sampling. Biological and behavioural data from 4901 MSM were collected.