Publications by authors named "Marcos Montoro Fernandez"

Background: Transgender women sex workers (TWSWs) and men sex workers (MSWs) are especially vulnerable to acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We aimed to describe HBV prevalence (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and core antibody [HBcAb]) and associated risk factors for HBV exposure (HBcAb), to assess vaccination status and risk factors for no prior vaccination, and to compare HBV prevalence and vaccination status between TWSWs and MSWs.

Methods: The SexCohort study was advertised to TWSWs and MSWs through several communication channels.

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Our aims were: (1) to characterize gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender (TG) populations using internet-based self-sampling services in the TESTATE project or attending community-based STI/HIV voluntary counselling and testing (CBVCT) services as alternative strategies to formal HIV testing within the Spanish national health system, and (2) to identify factors associated with repeat use of the same screening strategy from November 2018 to December 2021. Demographic, health, and behavioral characteristics of users using complementary strategies were analyzed. We developed a cross-sectional study, with descriptive analysis, HIV cascade, and a multivariate logistic model to identify factors associated with participants' repeated use of the same screening strategy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to a notable decrease in healthcare services usage among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Catalonia, particularly in HIV units, hospitals, and emergency departments.
  • During the lockdown, overall medical visits decreased by 17.1%, with significant drops in specific healthcare facilities, while primary care visits remained relatively stable.
  • CD4 and HIV RNA monitoring saw significant declines, emphasizing the need for better preparedness for future pandemics to maintain healthcare access for PLWH.
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We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an online self-sampling pilot intervention for HIV testing addressed to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and trans women (TW) users of dating apps in Spain. The website https://www.testate.

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Introduction: The objectives of the study are: to design and implement a pilot intervention to offer self-sampling kits to detect HIV, (CT), (NG) and (TP) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women users of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of PrEP follow-up. To evaluate if the pilot intervention causes a reduction of the retention to PrEP follow-up among the target population. To analyse the capacity of the intervention to reduce the healthcare burden on the PrEP service.

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Background: The growing trend of STIs in recent years was altered after the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Objectives: Describe the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on STI declarations received during the pre-pandemic to pandemic period and estimate the number of STI cases expected for the pandemic period.

Material And Methods: Descriptive analysis of STI declarations received during the pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) periods.

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Background: SARS-CoV-2 screening is one of the pillars of non-pharmaceutical preventive strategies to early identify and isolate infected individuals and therefore decrease community incidence.

Methods: We assessed the feasibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 self-testing with antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests in attendees of educational settings.

Results: A total of 305 students (88.

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The Sentinel Schools project was designed to monitor and evaluate the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Catalonia, gathering evidence for health and education policies to inform the development of health protocols and public health interventions to control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in schools. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and to identify their determinants among students and staff during February to June in the academic year 2020-2021. We performed two complementary studies, a cross-sectional and a longitudinal component, using a questionnaire to collect nominal data and testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

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We aimed to assess the feasibility of TESTA'T COVID strategy among healthcare and education professionals.in Spain during the peak of the 6th wave caused by Omicron variant. Kits were ordered online and sent by mail, participants answered an online acceptability/usability survey and uploaded the picture of results.

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Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies are currently being recommended and implemented in many countries. Forming part of the COVID-19 monitoring and evaluation plan of the Catalan Government Health Department, our network aims to initiate a primary healthcare sentinel monitoring system as a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

Methods And Analysis: The seroCAP is a serial cross-sectional study, which will be performed in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area to estimate antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

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Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), identify and characterise socio-epidemiological clusters and determine factors associated with HIV coinfection.

Design: Retrospective population-based cohort.

Setting: Catalonia, Spain.

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Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were increasing in Europe, and Spain and Catalonia were not an exception. Catalonia has been one of the regions with the highest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Spain. The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of the decline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the number of STI confirmed cases in Catalonia during the lockdown and de-escalation phases.

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