Emerging models of clinical services for men who have sex with men: focused versus comprehensive approaches.

By the early 1970s, it was increasingly recognised that men who have sex with men (MSM) were at risk for specific sexually transmissible infections (STI), and clinician awareness regarding MSM STI grew significantly after the AIDS epidemic was first recognised in 1981. In many urban centres in the USA and other resource-rich countries, the development of clinical infrastructure to address the AIDS epidemic led to the creation of clinics that provided services for large numbers of MSM. During the same time period, other health centres were created that were community-focused, providing comprehensive behavioural health and medical services for all sexual and gender minority patients.

Comprehensive transgender healthcare: the gender affirming clinical and public health model of Fenway Health.

This report describes the evolution of a Boston community health center's multidisciplinary model of transgender healthcare, research, education, and dissemination of best practices. This process began with the development of a community-based approach to care that has been refined over almost 20 years where transgender patients have received tailored services through the Transgender Health Program. The program began as a response to unmet clinical needs and has grown through recognition that our local culturally responsive approach that links clinical care with biobehavioral and health services research, education, training, and advocacy promotes social justice and health equity for transgender people.

Barriers and facilitators to routine HIV testing: perceptions from Massachusetts Community Health Center personnel.

Since 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended routine, voluntary HIV testing for persons aged 13-64 in all health care settings, including the elimination of separate informed consent, which remains in effect in five states including Massachusetts. Community health centers (CHCs) represent an important HIV testing site for at-risk populations. From April to December 2008 a qualitative interview was administered to one senior personnel from each of 30 CHCs in Massachusetts, to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing CDC recommendations and to elucidate strategies to improve routine HIV testing.

Barriers to routine HIV testing among Massachusetts community health center personnel.

Objectives: We assessed the extent to which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations have influenced routine HIV testing among Massachusetts community health center (CHC) personnel, and identified specific barriers and facilitators to routine testing.

Methods: Thirty-one CHCs were enrolled in the study. We compared those that did and did not receive funding support from the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

“It's a quick way to get what you want”: a formative exploration of HIV risk among urban Massachusetts men who have sex with men who attend sex parties.

Community-based studies with men who have sex with men (MSM) suggest that between 8% and 25% of MSM have met recent male sexual partners at private sex parties. Little is known about HIV sexual risk behaviors of MSM who attend sex parties and whether risk reduction interventions can be delivered in this setting. In 2008, 40 MSM who reported attending and/or hosting sex parties in Massachusetts in the past 12 months completed a qualitative interview and quantitative assessment.

Sexual mixing patterns and partner characteristics of black MSM in Massachusetts at increased risk for HIV infection and transmission.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for HIV infection in the United States compared to other MSM. The aim of this study was to investigate Black MSM's sexual mixing patterns and partner characteristics in relation to sexual risk taking, as a possible explanation for this observed increase in HIV incidence. Between January and July 2008, 197 Black MSM were recruited via modified respondent-driven sampling and completed optional pretest and post-test HIV serological testing, counseling, and a demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial assessment battery.

Polysubstance use and HIV/STD risk behavior among Massachusetts men who have sex with men accessing Department of Public Health mobile van services: implications for intervention development.

Polysubstance use has been posited to be a significant contributor to excess burden of HIV disease among men who have sex with men (MSM). The current study investigated polysubstance use and sexual risk among men who utilize Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) van services (such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis testing; Hepatitis A and B vaccinations) at venues targeting MSM. Participants (n = 214) completed a one-time, cross-sectional survey via an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) in English or Spanish between June 2007 and September 2007.

HIV and STD status among MSM and attitudes about Internet partner notification for STD exposure.

Objectives: This study assessed the acceptability and perceived utility of Internet-based partner notification (PN) of sexually transmitted disease (STD) exposure for men who have sex with men (MSM) by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus.

Study Design: We recruited 1848 US MSM via a banner advertisement posted on an MSM website for meeting sexual partners between October and November 2005.

Results: Even though there was broad acceptance of a PN e-mail across HIV serostatus groups, HIV-infected men rated the importance of each component (e.

Acceptability of an internet-based partner notification system for sexually transmitted infection exposure among men who have sex with men.

US men who have sex with men (n=1848) completed an online questionnaire about their willingness to use Internet-based partner notification. Eighty-one percent reported that it would be important to them to receive a partner notification e-mail if they had been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection. Seventy percent reported that if infected, they would use a public health specialist to inform partners of possible exposure through Internet notification.