Violence, Discrimination, and High Levels of Symptoms of Depression Among Adolescent Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Brazil.

Purpose: This study aimed at describing the prevalence of symptoms of depression among 15-19 year old adolescent men who have sex with men (aMSM) and transgender women (aTGW), who were recruited in an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis cohort study in three Brazilian capital cities. The study also examined potential associations, including violence and discrimination, with severe symptoms of depression among aMSM.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of baseline data among 730 aMSM and 56 aTGW recruited between February 2019 and February 2021.

Strategies to increase HIV testing among men who have sex with men and transgender women: an integrative review.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are disproportionately affected by HIV, with much higher incidence and prevalence rates than in the general population in different countries. There are several barriers to testing among MSM and TGW, such as low risk perception, anticipation of HIV-related stigma, discrimination of sexual orientation, in addition to difficulties related to care and access to health services. Therefore, analyzing the available evidence of the effectiveness of strategies for scaling up HIV testing among key populations is essential to point out potential knowledge gaps which may need to be addressed and develop public health policies to promote testing and early diagnosis of HIV infection.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Factors Associated With Sexual Violence in Adulthood Among Brazilian MSM.

Most studies of sexual violence are with women, and although men who have sex with men (MSM) is the group of the men that has been most investigated for sexual violence, there are still several questions to be answered about sexual violence and sexual revictimization among MSM. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual violence in different stages of life and identify factors associated with sexual violence in adulthood among Brazilian MSM. We conducted an analysis with data from the study conducted in 2016 with 4,176 MSM from 12 Brazilian cities recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS), who answered a survey to a set of questions, among which some specific about sexual violence.

Perceived Risk of HIV Infection and Acceptability of PrEP among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Brazil.

The HIV epidemic affects men who have sex with men (MSM) disproportionally in Brazil, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective for preventing HIV in this population. However, low perceived risk of HIV may influence the acceptability and decision to use PrEP. This study estimated the association between self-perception of HIV risk and acceptability of daily oral PrEP among Brazilian MSM.

Health vulnerabilities in female sex workers in Brazil, 2016.

Female sex workers (FSW) suffer stigma and discrimination that negatively impact their physical and mental health and affect access to health care services. This paper aims to describe selected health indicators among FSW in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. Brazilian cross-sectional Biological Behavioral Surveillance Survey was conducted in 2016 among 4328 FSW recruited by respondent-driven sampling.

Factors associated with symptoms of major depression disorder among transgender women in Northeast Brazil.

Introduction: Transgender women (TGW) are one of the most vulnerable groups, including higher prevalence of HIV and mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression than in the general population. Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is one of the most important mental health conditions due to an increasing trend in prevalence in the general population. This study aims at describing the prevalence of symptoms of MDD (SMDD) and associated factors among TGW in capitals of three States in Northeast Brazil.

Perception of discrimination due to sexual orientation and associated factors among men who have sex with men in 12 Brazilian cities.

Discrimination due to sexual orientation (DDSO) has an important association with health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to analyze factors associated with DDSO among MSM in 12 Brazilian cities. This is a cross-sectional study with 4,176 MSM participants recruited in 2016 which used a respondent-driven sampling method in 12 Brazilian cities.

Metabolic comorbidities and systemic arterial hypertension: the challenge faced by HIV patients on long-term use of antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Our objective was to estimate the frequency of comorbidities and assess its relationship with exposure factors after long-term ART use.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with PLHIV (≥18 years-old), who initiated ART between 2001 and 2005 and attended an HIV/AIDS public referral center (Belo Horizonte/Brazil), was performed. Demographic, clinical, therapeutic, and lifestyle data were obtained through interviews, medical charts, public database, routine laboratory examinations, and bone densitometry.

Sexual, reproductive health and health status of female sex workers in 12 Brazilian cities, 2016.

Objective: To investigate differences in sexual, reproductive health and health status indicators of female sex workers in 12 Brazilian cities.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of biological and behavioral surveillance survey with a minimum sample of 350 female sex workers per city, recruited by respondent driven sampling, in 2016. Complex sample design was considered in the data analysis.

Immune recovery after antiretroviral therapy initiation: a challenge for people living with HIV in Brazil.

Immune recovery reflects health conditions. Our goal was to estimate the time it takes to achieve immune recovery and its associated factors, in people living with HIV (PLHIV), after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. A historical cohort study was performed among PLHIV (> 18 years-old) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using data from healthcare databases.

Monitoring HIV infection in Minas Gerais state: 15-year assessment of adults living with HIV initiating Antiretroviral Therapy.

Introduction: The first Brazilian HIV treatment recommendation was put forward in 1996, resulting in 12 subsequent guidelines. Several changes were made regarding "when" and "how" to begin treatment. The latest guideline recommends immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Acceptability of HIV self-testing is low among men who have sex with men who have not tested for HIV: a study with respondent-driven sampling in Brazil.

Background: Brazil has many people living with HIV (PLWH) who are unaware of their serostatus. The public health system has recently added HIV self-testing (HIVST) for key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM). This study estimates HIVST acceptability among Brazilian MSM and explores factors associated with acceptability among MSM who have never tested for HIV or who had a previous negative result.

Factors associated with exchanging sex for money in men who have sex with men in Brazil.

This study aimed to analyze the association between sociodemographic, programmatic and contextual factors and the receipt of money in exchange for sex among men who have sex with men (MSM). This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in ten Brazilian cities between 2008 and 2009. Adult MSM recruited through the Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) were interviewed.

Quality of cause-of-death data in Brazil: Garbage codes among registered deaths in 2000 and 2015.

Introduction: reliability of mortality data is essential for health assessment and planning. In Brazil, a high proportion of deaths is attributed to causes that should not be considered as underlying causes of deaths, named garbage codes (GC). To tackle this issue, in 2005, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) implements the investigation of GC-R codes (codes from chapter 18 "Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified, ICD-10") to improve the quality of cause-of-death data.

HIV/AIDS knowledge among MSM in Brazil: a challenge for public policies.

Introduction: High level of HIV/AIDS knowledge is required for an effective adoption of preventive strategies.

Objective: To assess HIV/AIDS knowledge among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 12 Brazilian cities.

Methods: Respondent-Driven Sampling method was used for recruitment.

Discrimination based on sexual orientation against MSM in Brazil: a latent class analysis.

Introduction: Discrimination based on sexual orientation can influence vulnerability to HIV, increasing exposure to risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Objectives: To analyze data using latent class analysis (LCA) to identify groups of individuals with specific patterns of discrimination based on sexual orientation (DSO).

Methods: Cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016.

The 12 city HIV Surveillance Survey among MSM in Brazil 2016 using respondent-driven sampling: a description of methods and RDS diagnostics.

Introduction: This paper details the methods used in the second national Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BBSS) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C among men who have sex with men in Brazil.

Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used in 12 cities in 2016. The targeted sample size was initiated with five to six seeds in each city.

Sex work stigma and non-disclosure to health care providers: data from a large RDS study among FSW in Brazil.

Background: Stigma in health services may be detrimental to health seeking attitudes and practices. This study investigates non-disclosure of sex work to health care providers among female sex workers (FSW) in Brazil and its association with the utilization of health care services.

Methods: This study used cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling, carried out in 12 Brazilian cities to identify HIV risk behaviors among FSW.

Homelessness and incarceration among psychiatric patients in Brazil.

Psychiatric patients are at increased risk of adverse life events, such as being incarcerated and homelessness in their life course. Using data from a cross-sectional multicenter study of 2,475 patients selected from 26 mental health services in Brazil, we examined the association of sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, and adverse life characteristics with history of homelessness, incarceration or their co-occurrence during lifetime. Odds ratios were obtained by multinomial logistic regression models.

Prevalence estimates of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C among female sex workers (FSW) in Brazil, 2016.

Background: Female sex workers (FSW) bear a high burden of sexually transmitted infections (STI). In this paper, we estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HBV = hepatitis B virus (HBV), HCV = hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and co-infections in the second Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey among FSW in Brazil.

Method: The survey was conducted in 12 Brazilian cities from July to November 2016.

Comparing HIV risk-related behaviors between 2 RDS national samples of MSM in Brazil, 2009 and 2016.

Introduction: Periodic monitoring of sociobehavior characteristics at a national level is an essential component of understanding the dynamics the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic worldwide, including Brazil.

Methods: This paper compares descriptive sociobehavior characteristics in 2 national cross-sectional HIV biological behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSS) conducted in 2009 and 2016 among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Brazil. Respondent driven sampling (RDS) was used for recruitment in both years.

Monitoring self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy in public HIV care facilities in Brazil: A national cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical for HIV treatment success. Monitoring rates of adherence in public HIV outpatient care facilities can improve outcomes in Brazil where ART is universally available.

Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of ART adherence in 2010.