Low PrEP Awareness and Use Among People Who Inject Drugs, San Francisco, 2018.

We examined PrEP awareness and use among people who inject drugs (PWID) in San Francisco in 2018. Of 397 respondents not known to be HIV positive, 56.7% had heard of PrEP, 38.

Blood donation history and eligibility assessment in a community-based sample of men who have sex with men.

Background: In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration changed the regulation from a permanent deferral from donation for men who have sex with men (MSM) to a 1-year deferral since last sexual contact. It is unknown what proportions of MSM try to donate and if they would be willing to answer individual risk-based questions to assess their current eligibility.

Study Design And Methods: The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance surveys periodically measure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and risk behaviors among MSM using a venue-based, time-location sampling method.

Patterns of Bullying Behavior by Sexual Orientation.

Bullying has a long-lasting effect on both victims and their perpetrators; however, there is little literature dedicated to understanding the roles of sexual minority adolescents beyond being a victim or the specific types of bullying behaviors (verbal, relational, physical) in which sexual minority adolescents engage. Even less is known about the experiences of mostly heterosexual youth, as distinct from their lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) peers. This exploratory study sought to identify sexual orientation differences in bullying behavior participation using a random cluster sample obtained from a county school district in the Southeastern United States.

Estimating the Size of the MSM Population in Metro Vancouver, Canada, Using Multiple Methods and Diverse Data Sources.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV globally, regionally in Canada, and locally in Vancouver. Lack of reliable population size estimates of MSM impedes effective implementation of health care services and limits our understanding of the HIV epidemic. We estimated the population size of MSM residing in Metro Vancouver drawing on four data sources: the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a cross-sectional bio-behavioural MSM survey, HIV testing services data from sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics serving MSM, and online social networking site Facebook.

Brief Report: Nonfatal Overdose Events Among Persons Who Inject Drugs: Findings From Seven National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Cities 2009 & 2012.

The rate of drug and opioid overdose deaths in the United States has more than tripled over the past 15 years. The ability to conduct public health surveillance on nonfatal overdoses is limited. The current study used National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) data to estimate recent and lifetime history of nonfatal overdose events in persons who inject drugs in 7 cities.

Achieving Greater HIV Prevention Impact Through CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System.

The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system was designed to monitor risk factors for HIV infection and HIV prevalence among individuals at higher risk for HIV infection, that is, sexually active men who have sex with men who attend venues, persons who recently injected drugs, and heterosexuals of low socioeconomic status living in urban areas. These groups were selected as priorities for behavioral surveillance because they represent the major HIV transmission routes and the populations with the highest HIV burden. Accurate data on the behaviors in these populations are critical for understanding trends in HIV infections and planning and evaluating effective HIV prevention activities.

Modelling the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment cascade for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in South Africa: using the findings of a data triangulation process to map a way forward.

A data triangulation exercise was carried out between 2013 and 2015 to assess the HIV epidemic and response among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in South Africa. We used the findings to assess progress in achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals for GBMSM in the country. Three scenarios were developed using different GBMSM population factors (2.

Associations between depressive syndromes and HIV risk behaviors among San Francisco men who have sex with men.

HIV prevention plans for men who have sex with men (MSM) are often multifaceted. They involve reduction of sexual risk behaviors, such as condomless intercourse, but also often include pharmaceutical approaches, such as early treatment of HIV-infected individuals with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Effectiveness is possibly threatened by individual-level factors, such as depression.

Does size really matter? A sensitivity analysis of number of seeds in a respondent-driven sampling study of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is an increasingly used peer chain-recruitment method to sample "hard-to-reach" populations for whom there are no reliable sampling frames. Implementation success of RDS varies; one potential negative factor being the number of seeds used.

Methods: We conducted a sensitivity analysis on estimates produced using data from an RDS study of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) aged ≥16 years living in Vancouver, Canada.

Including Online-Recruited Seeds: A Respondent-Driven Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background: Technology has changed the way men who have sex with men (MSM) seek sex and socialize, which may impact the implementation of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) among this population. Initial participants (also known as seeds) are a critical consideration in RDS because they begin the recruitment chains. However, little information is available on how the online-recruited seeds may effect RDS implementation.

High Burden of HIV Infection and Risk Behaviors Among Female Sex Workers in Three Main Urban Areas of Mozambique.

This is the first integrated biological and behavioral survey among female sex workers (FSW) in Mozambique. Using respondent-driven sampling, 400, 411 and 429 FSW were enrolled respectively in Maputo, Beira and Nampula in 2011-2012. Estimates were produced using RDSAT 7.

The use and correlates of illicit silicone or "fillers" in a population-based sample of transwomen, San Francisco, 2013.

Introduction: There is a dearth of studies to quantify the use of illicit fillers by transwomen. Case studies of illicit filler injections have pointed to an array of serious health complications, including death.

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the population prevalence and identify correlates of filler use among transwomen in San Francisco, CA.

Alcohol and substance use among transgender women in San Francisco: prevalence and association with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Introduction And Aims: Alcohol and substance use can have negative health consequences among both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and -negative individuals, and are associated with behaviors that facilitate HIV transmission and acquisition. The relationship of substance use and HIV is well documented among key populations at risk for HIV. However, although transwomen (male-to-female transgender) are disproportionately impacted by HIV, this overlap remains understudied in this population.

Risk behaviors for HIV in sexual partnerships of San Francisco injection drug users.

While injection drug users (IDU) in the USA are known to form sexual partnerships with IDU as well as non-IDU, scientific research is lacking regarding risk behaviors for HIV transmission within these partnerships. Such information could aid HIV-prevention efforts among IDU and could also explain the relatively low prevalence of HIV among non-IDU heterosexuals in US cities such as San Francisco. Using data from a cross-sectional sample of San Francisco IDU we estimated (1) the prevalence of IDU-IDU and IDU-non-IDU sexual partnerships, (2) the frequency of serodiscordant unprotected intercourse in IDU-IDU and IDU-non-IDU sexual partnerships, and (3) the frequency of concurrence of sexual risk and injection-related risk within IDU-IDU sexual partnerships.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding syphilis screening among men who have sex with men in San Francisco.

Background: Syphilis screening for men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco (SF) is recommended every 3 to 6 months. We surveyed MSM in SF to determine the prevalence and factors associated with complying with that recommendation, identify screening barriers, and investigate whether identifying low perceived syphilis risk as a reason for not testing correlated with syphilis risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System.

Prevalence and correlates of herpes simplex virus type-2 infection among men who have sex with men, san francisco, 2008.

Background: Most herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections are asymptomatic or unrecognized, so periodic serological surveys are necessary in order to measure the true prevalence of infection, track trends over time, and identify correlates of infection, including coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional, serological survey among 500 men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco during 2008.

Results: The seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection was 26.