Feasibility and Acceptability of a Prospective Syphilis Sexual Network Study for Sexual Minority Men.

Background: In preparation for a prospective syphilis network study of sexual minority men, we conducted a mixed-methods formative study with the following objectives: ( a ) assess acceptability of respondent-driven sampling, ( b ) assess acceptability of study procedures, ( c ) social network seed selection, and ( d ) pilot an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study to assess social networking, sexual, and substance use behaviors.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 8 providers serving sexual minority men and 5 focus group discussions with 34 sexual minority men, prioritizing 4 target populations: (1) young Black sexual minority men, (2) on preexposure prophylaxis, (3) living with HIV, and (4) not engaged in care. The 4-week EMA pilot was conducted with 40 sexual minority men.

Positive and Negative Social Consequences of Participating in a Sexual-Network Study.

Assessment of risks and benefits of study participation is standard practice preceding the initiation of human subjects research. Although tracking adverse events during research participation is routine, collecting information from participants about what they perceive as benefits is less common. We longitudinally tracked social risks and benefits of participation among a cohort of 241 men who have sex with men participating in a sexual health study to improve participants' experiences and enhance understanding of participant motivations to enroll and attend follow-up.

Changes in Sexual Behavior Over the COVID-19 Pandemic Among a Community-Based Cohort of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Columbus, Ohio.

Background: The purpose was to assess COVID-19 beliefs and attitudes and examine COVID-19-related changes in sexual behavior of men who have sex with men during 3 time periods: April-July 2020 (T1), August-December 2020 (T2), January-May 2021 (T3).

Methods: Data were analyzed from 157 men who have sex with men in Ohio recruited to participate in a longitudinal multisite network study of syphilis epidemiology in 3 US cities: Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; and Chicago, Illinois. In April 2020, a COVID-19 module was appended to existing baseline and follow-up surveys to assess beliefs, attitudes, and changes in sexual behavior.

Factors Associated With Syphilis Transmission and Acquisition Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Multisite Egocentric Network Study.

Background: In the United States, the rates of primary and secondary syphilis have increased more rapidly among men who have sex with men (MSM) than among any other subpopulation. Rising syphilis rates among MSM reflect changes in both individual behaviors and the role of sexual networks (eg, persons linked directly or indirectly by sexual contact) in the spread of the infection. Decades of research examined how sexual networks influence sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among MSM; however, few longitudinal data sources focusing on syphilis have collected network characteristics.

Prevalence of current and past COVID-19 in Ohio adults.

Purpose To estimate the prevalence of current and past COVID-19 in Ohio adults. Methods We used stratified, probability-proportionate-to-size cluster sampling. During July 2020, we enrolled 727 randomly-sampled adult English- and Spanish-speaking participants through a household survey.