Exploring access to HIV-related services and programmatic gaps for Men having Sex with Men (MSM) in rural India- a qualitative study.

Background: Despite the Link Worker Scheme to address the HIV risk and vulnerabilities in rural areas, reaching out to unreached men having sex with men (MSM) remains a challenge in rural India. This study explored issues around health care access and programmatic gaps among MSM in rural settings of India.

Methods: We conducted eight Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), 20 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and 20 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) in four rural sites in Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh between November 2018 and September 2019.

Prevention of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis using lactobacilli-containing vaginal tablets among women with HIV: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase IV trial.

Objectives: The effectiveness of lactobacilli-containing vaginal tablets (VT) in bacterial vaginosis (BV) recurrence prevention among women infected with HIV treated with standard oral metronidazole in Pune, India was studied.

Methods: Women infected with HIV with confirmed BV diagnosis (Nugent score ≥7 and Amsel criteria >3) were enrolled in a 12-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase IV study between 2018 and 2021. After a standard course of oral metronidazole for 7 days (400 mg three times a day), women were randomly assigned to either lactobacilli-containing or placebo VT arms to receive VTs for 4 months.