The role of syringe exchange programs and sexual identity in awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for male persons who inject drugs.

Background: Male persons who inject drugs (male PWID) are at heightened risk for HIV, particularly if they also have sex with men. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could aid in HIV prevention for this population, but PrEP awareness within different sexual identities among male PWID is not well-understood. We report factors associated with greater awareness among male PWID to identify efficient means of awareness dissemination.

Hepatitis C infection among men who have sex with men living with HIV in New York City, 2000-2015.

Objectives: To calculate the rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with no reported history of injection drug use (IDU), and to assess whether disparities exist in HIV/HCV coinfection by race/ethnicity and neighbourhood poverty level within this population in New York City.

Methods: HIV-positive men who reported sex with men and did not report IDU at the time of HIV diagnosis, diagnosed through 2015 and alive as of 2000, were matched to people with HCV first reported to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene between 2000 and 2015. Those with HCV reported before or within 90 days of HIV infection were excluded.

Combination interventions for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis reduction among people who inject drugs: An agent-based, networked population simulation experiment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is endemic in people who inject drugs (PWID), with prevalence estimates above 60% for PWID in the United States. Previous modeling studies suggest that direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment can lower overall prevalence in this population, but treatment is often delayed until the onset of advanced liver disease (fibrosis stage 3 or later) due to cost. Lower cost interventions featuring syringe access (SA) and medically assisted treatment (MAT) have shown mixed results in lowering HCV rates below current levels.

Exchange Sex Among Persons Who Inject Drugs in the New York Metropolitan Area: The Importance of Local Context, Gender and Sexual Identity.

Exchanging sex for money or drugs is known to increase risk for HIV among persons who inject drugs (PWID). To better understand determinants of exchange sex among PWID we examined factors associated with exchange sex in the New York metropolitan area-defined as New York City (NYC), NY; Newark, NJ; and Long Island, NY-using data from the 2012 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system cycle on injection drug use. Of the 1160 PWID in this analysis, 24% reported exchange sex, with differences in gender and sexual identity by location.

Awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among women who inject drugs in NYC: the importance of networks and syringe exchange programs for HIV prevention.

Background: Women who inject drugs (WWID) are at heightened risk for HIV due to biological, behavioral, and structural factors. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could aid in HIV prevention for WWID. However, little is known about WWID awareness of PrEP, which is a necessary step that must occur before PrEP uptake.

HIV Among MSM and Heterosexual Women in the United States: An Ecologic Analysis.

Background: Phylogenetic studies show links between heterosexual women and men who have sex with men (MSM) that are more numerous than from heterosexual men to women suggesting that HIV infections among heterosexual women may stem from MSM. Poor communities have been associated with high rates of HIV among heterosexual women. Our analysis investigates potential transmission of HIV between MSM and female heterosexuals.

It's Never Just HIV: Exposure to an HIV Prevention Media Campaign and Behavior Change Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Participating in the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System in New York City.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to and impact of the It's Never Just HIV mass media campaign aimed at HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.

Methods: Questions about the campaign were included in the local questionnaire of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-sponsored National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) study of MSM in NYC conducted in 2011. Participants in this cross-sectional study were recruited using venue-based sampling.

Bisexual Behavior Among Male Injection Drug Users in New York City.

Drug using men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) may be at high risk for HIV infection and transmitting HIV to sex partners. In 2012, injection drug users (IDUs) were sampled in New York City for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling. Logistic regression was used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) to determine correlates of bisexual behavior in the past 12 months.

Community Sexual Bridging Among Heterosexuals at High-Risk of HIV in New York City.

Community sexual bridging may influence the socio-geographic distribution of heterosexually transmitted HIV. In a cross-sectional study, heterosexual adults at high-risk of HIV were recruited in New York City (NYC) in 2010 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system. Eligible participants were interviewed about their HIV risk behaviors and sexual partnerships and tested for HIV.

Constructing a representative sample of out-of-care HIV patients from a representative sample of in-care patients.

Individuals infected with HIV who are out of care are at a higher risk of HIV-related morbidity and mortality. It has been difficult to recruit a representative sample of out-of-care patients for epidemiological studies. Using a novel weighting method, we constructed a representative sample of out-of-care HIV patients from a representative sample of in-care patients.

HIV-related stigma in a New York City sample of adults in outpatient care for HIV infection: a short report.

This analysis used data from a randomly selected cross-sectional sample of HIV infected outpatient adults in New York City to assess HIV-related stigma and examine gender-specific differences among factors associated with HIV-related stigma. Data was collected by conducting participant interviews and medical records abstraction. HIV-related stigma was assessed using the internalized AIDS-related stigma scale (IA-RSS).

Experiences of Discrimination and HIV Risk Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in New York City.

The extent of gay-related discrimination in New York City (NYC) and the demographic and behavioral factors correlated with experiences of gay-related discrimination are not well understood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, a cross-sectional study, was conducted in NYC in 2011. Men who have sex with men were venue-sampled, interviewed, and offered HIV testing.

Correlates of selling sex among male injection drug users in New York City.

Background: Compared to female IDUs, the correlates of receiving money, drugs, or other things in exchange for sex ("selling sex") among male IDUs are not well understood.

Methods: In 2012, IDUs were sampled in New York City for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance cross-sectional study using respondent driven sampling. Analyses were limited to male participants.

Multilevel risk factors for greater HIV infection of black men who have sex with men in New York City.

Background: There is a large and disproportionate burden of HIV in black men who have sex with men (MSM) which is not adequately explained by racial/ethnic differences in risk behaviors. However, social factors may account for this disparity in HIV infection. We examine the extent to which both individual risk behaviors and social factors reduce the effect of black race and may account for the disparity in HIV infection of black MSM.

Trends in HIV prevalence and risk behavior among men who have sex with men in New York City, 2004-2011.

This study examined trends in HIV prevalence and HIV-related risk behaviors from 2004 through 2011 among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City. MSM were venue-sampled, interviewed, and offered HIV testing in serial cross-sectional studies. Significant differences in overall time trends were determined using the Spearman rank correlation and logistic regression models.

Prevalence of HIV infection and risk behaviors among younger and older injecting drug users in the United States, 2009.

This study compared HIV sero-prevalence and risk behaviors between younger and older injecting drug users (IDUs). IDUs aged ≥18 years were interviewed for the 2009 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System. Using GEE regression, we assessed characteristics of younger (18-29 years) and older (≥30 years) IDUs, and factors associated with past 12-month receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex (vaginal/anal).

Spatial recruitment bias in respondent-driven sampling: Implications for HIV prevalence estimation in urban heterosexuals.

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a study design used to investigate populations for which a probabilistic sampling frame cannot be efficiently generated. Biases in parameter estimates may result from systematic non-random recruitment within social networks by geography. We investigate the spatial distribution of RDS recruits relative to an inferred social network among heterosexual adults in New York City in 2010.

High HIV prevalence among low-income, Black women in New York City with self-reported HIV negative and unknown status.

Background: Black women are disproportionally affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study investigates factors associated with newly identified HIV infection among previously self-reported HIV negative or unknown status black women living in high risk areas (HRAs) of New York City (NYC).

Methods: Heterosexuals residing in or socially connected to NYC HRAs were recruited using respondent driven sampling for participation in the United States Centers for Disease Control-sponsored National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System in 2010.

Syringe access, syringe sharing, and police encounters among people who inject drugs in New York City: a community-level perspective.

Background: Injection drug user (IDU) experience and perceptions of police practices may alter syringe exchange program (SEP) use or influence risky behaviour. Previously, no community-level data had been collected to identify the prevalence or correlates of police encounters reported by IDUs in the United States.

Methods: New York City IDUs recruited through respondent-driven sampling were asked about past-year police encounters and risk behaviours, as part of the National HIV Behavioural Surveillance study.

Dual HIV risk: receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex among HIV-negative injection drug users in New York City.

HIV-negative injection drug users (IDUs) who engage in both receptive syringe sharing and unprotected sex ("dual HIV risk") are at high risk of HIV infection. In a cross-sectional study conducted in New York City in 2009, active IDUs aged ≥18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling, interviewed, and tested for HIV. Participants who tested HIV-negative and did not self-report as positive were analyzed (N = 439).

Factors associated with recent HIV testing among men who have sex with men in New York City.

Understanding factors associated with recent HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) is important for designing interventions to increase testing rates and link cases to care. A cross-sectional study of MSM was conducted in NYC in 2011 using venue-based sampling. Associations between HIV testing in the past 12 months and relevant variables were examined through the estimation of prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

Using HIV surveillance data to monitor missed opportunities for linkage and engagement in HIV medical care.

Monitoring delayed entry to HIV medical care is needed because it signifies that opportunities to prevent HIV transmission and mitigate disease progression have been missed. A central question for population-level monitoring is whether to consider a person linked to care after receipt of one CD4 or VL test. Using HIV surveillance data, we explored two definitions for estimating the number of HIV-diagnosed persons not linked to HIV medical care.

Injecting transition risk and depression among Mexican American non-injecting heroin users.

Introduction: Existing research has documented high comorbid rates for injecting drug use (IDU) and social and health consequences including HIV infection, a condition that disproportionately affects U.S. Hispanic populations.