Publications by authors named "Ward P H Van Bilsen"
Article Synopsis
- Biomedical HIV-prevention strategies like PrEP and viral load sorting (VLS) are vital for men who have sex with men (MSM) but have seen gradual uptake.
- A study of 632 HIV-negative MSM in Amsterdam from 2017 to 2019 showed that while PrEP use rose significantly from 10% to 31%, VLS remained low at 7-10%.
- The motivations for adopting these strategies evolved over time, with early uptake influenced by perceptions of efficacy and cost, while later stages emphasized social support and health concerns.
Objectives: To assess differences in socio-demographics, HIV testing and healthcare seeking behavior between individuals diagnosed late and those diagnosed early after HIV-acquisition.
Design: Cross-sectional study among recently HIV-diagnosed migrant and non-migrant individuals living in the Netherlands.
Methods: Participants self-completed a questionnaire on socio-demographics, HIV-testing and healthcare seeking behavior preceding HIV diagnosis between 2013-2015.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) and who are unaware of their HIV infection contribute to onward HIV transmission and are more likely to progress to severe illness. We therefore assessed determinants of never testing for HIV among MSM living in the Netherlands. Between April and July 2019, 950 HIV-negative and 122 never-tested MSM completed a cross-sectional survey on sociodemographics, HIV testing behavior, and sexual risk taking, which was distributed through gay networking sites/apps.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo assess whether HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) have realistic views of the current implications of living with HIV, we compared data of 950 tested HIV-negative and 122 never-tested MSM on anticipated consequences of an HIV-infection to the actual experiences of 438 MSM living with HIV. Data were collected with a self-reported, web-based survey conducted between May-June 2019 in the Netherlands. Results indicated that, compared to HIV-positive MSM, HIV-negative MSM significantly overestimated 95% (37/39) of items assessing HIV-related burden.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk of anogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. We aimed to assess the incidence and clearance of penile high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infections and their determinants among HIV-negative MSM living in the Netherlands.
Methods: Between 2010 and 2015, HIV-negative MSM were semiannually tested for penile HPV and completed detailed questionnaires on health and sexual behavior.
Objectives: We aimed to investigate the motives, barriers and experiences of HIV-STAR study participants. The HIV-STAR study was an analytical HIV treatment interruption trial (ATI) aiming to evaluate the origin of viral rebound, conducted in Ghent, Belgium.
Methods: A mixed-method study was performed among 11 participants of the HIV-STAR study.
Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) may be sexually transmitted. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have different sexual behaviour than the general population, and thus may be at risk for ESBL-E carriage. This study determined the prevalence of ESBL-E carriage and its association with sexual behaviour among MSM in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the impact of Dutch COVID-19 restrictions on sexual behavior and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS) on HIV in Amsterdam.
Methods: ACS participants complete a questionnaire on sexual behavior and are tested for HIV/STI biannually. They may also be tested at the STI clinic in-between study visits.
Background: With biomedical developments in treatment and prevention of HIV, the implications of living with HIV are considerably more manageable. Within this context, we aimed to describe and quantify the present-day burden of living with HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands.
Methods: In this mixed-methods study, we did in-depth interviews on HIV-related burden with MSM diagnosed with HIV between 2014 and 2018.
Objectives: We investigated changes in incidence rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and trends in sexual behavior in MSM from 2009 to 2017.
Design: Open prospective cohort study.
Methods: HIV-negative MSM enrolled in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies were included.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the connection between flat penile lesions (FPL) and penile HPV in men who have sex with men (MSM), focusing on their impact on HPV transmission.
- - Conducted between 2015-2016, the research involved 116 MSM participants, analyzing factors such as HPV presence, viral load, and circumcision status in relation to FPL.
- - Findings indicated no significant differences in HPV infection rates, viral loads, or HIV status between MSM with and without FPL, suggesting that FPL may not play a critical role in HPV transmission among this group.
Background: Deferral of men who have sex with men (MSM) from blood donation is highly debated. We therefore investigated their suitability to donate blood.
Methods: We compared the antibody prevalence of 10 sexually and transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) among 583 MSM and 583 age-matched repeat male blood donors.
Objectives: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) associated with toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in patients starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).
Design: A historical multicenter cohort study.
Methods: We included all HIV-infected patients diagnosed with toxoplasmic encephalitis in six Dutch hospitals between 1996 and 2016.
Background: Immigrant HIV-infected adults in industrialized countries show a poorer clinical and virologic outcome compared with native patients. We aimed to investigate potential differences in clinical, immunological, and virologic outcome in Dutch HIV-infected children born in the Netherlands (NL) versus born in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in a national cohort analysis.
Methods: We included all HIV-infected children registered between 1996 and 2013.