Provision of online HIV-related information to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a health literacy-informed critical appraisal of Canadian agency websites.

Unlabelled: Background HIV risk and prevention information is increasingly complex and poses challenges for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) seeking to find, understand and apply this information. A directed content analysis of Canadian HIV websites to see what information is provided, how it is presented and experienced by users, was conducted.

Methods: Eligible sites provided information relevant for GBMSM on HIV risk or prevention, were from community or government agencies, and were aimed at the public.

A novel Bayesian approach to predicting reductions in HIV incidence following increased testing interventions among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.

Increasing HIV testing rates among high-risk groups should lead to increased numbers of cases being detected. Coupled with effective treatment and behavioural change among individuals with detected infection, increased testing should also reduce onward incidence of HIV in the population. However, it can be difficult to predict the strengths of these effects and thus the overall impact of testing.

HIV testing behaviour and use of risk reduction strategies by HIV risk category among MSM in Vancouver.

We carried out an analysis of a serobehavioural study of men who have sex with men >19 years of age in Vancouver, Canada to examine HIV testing behaviour and use of risk reduction strategies by HIV risk category, as defined by routinely gathered clinical data. We restricted our analysis to those who self-identified as HIV-negative, completed a questionnaire, and provided a dried blood spot sample. Of 842 participants, 365 (43.

Vets, denialists and rememberers: social typologies of patient adherence and non-adherence to HAART from the perspective of HIV care providers.

For many people living with HIV/AIDS taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is difficult due to various individual and social factors, including the side effects of these medications, HIV/AIDS stigma and poor patient-provider relationships. Most studies that examine barriers to and facilitators of adherence to HAART have been conducted with people on these medications, which is critical to improving adherence among various HIV-affected groups. Less attention has been paid to the experiences of HIV care providers, which is an important gap in the literature considering the key role they play in the delivery of HAART and the management of patient treatment plans.

Relationship between disclosure of same-sex sexual activity to providers, HIV diagnosis and sexual health services for men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.

Objectives: Men who have sex with men (MSM) report challenges to accessing appropriate health care. We sought to understand the relationship between disclosure of same-sex sexual activity to a health care practitioner (HCP), sexual behaviour and measures of sexual health care.

Methods: Participants recruited through community venues and events completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample.

Community mapping and respondent-driven sampling of gay and bisexual men's communities in Vancouver, Canada.

Literature suggests formative research is vital for those using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to study hidden populations of interest. However, few authors have described in detail how different qualitative methodologies can address the objectives of formative research for understanding the social network properties of the study population, selecting seeds and adapting survey logistics to best fit the population. In this paper we describe the use of community mapping exercises as a tool within focus groups to collect data on social and sexual network characteristics of gay and bisexual men in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, Canada.

Risks for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among Asian men who have sex with men in Vancouver, British Columbia: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Individuals of Asian heritage represent the largest ethnic minority in Canada. Approximately 10% of the new HIV diagnoses in men in British Columbia occur among Asian-Canadians. However, the HIV risk patterns of Asian men who have sex with men (MSM) have not been extensively studied.

Impact of statistical adjustment for frequency of venue attendance in a venue-based survey of men who have sex with men.

Venue sampling is a common sampling method for populations of men who have sex with men (MSM); however, men who visit venues frequently are more likely to be recruited. While statistical adjustment methods are recommended, these have received scant attention in the literature. We developed a novel approach to adjust for frequency of venue attendance (FVA) and assess the impact of associated bias in the ManCount Study, a venue-based survey of MSM conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 2008-2009 to measure the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and other infections and associated behaviors.

Social-structural factors associated with supportive service use among a cohort of HIV-positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy.

As mortality rates decrease in British Columbia, Canada, supportive services (e.g. housing, food, counseling, addiction treatment) are increasingly conceptualized as critical components of care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Sexual identity and drug use harm among high-risk, active substance users.

Research shows that sexual minorities are at greater risk for illicit substance use and related harm than their heterosexual counterparts. This study examines a group of active drug users to assess whether sexual identity predicts increased risk of substance use and harm from ecstasy, ketamine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and crack. Structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 15 years and older in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada, during 2008-2012.

Implications for HIV prevention programs from a serobehavioural survey of men who have sex with men in Vancouver, British Columbia: the ManCount study.

Background: We examined HIV prevalence, awareness of HIV serostatus and HIV risk behaviour among a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vancouver.

Methods: MSM > or = 18 years were recruited from August 2008 to February 2009 through community venues. Participants completed a questionnaire and provided a dried blood spot (DBS) for HIV and other STI testing.

An examination of injection drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, BC after the closure of Victoria's only fixed-site needle and syringe programme.

Background: Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) have been established as effective harm reduction initiatives to reduce injection drug use (IDU)-related risk behaviours, including sharing needles. On May 31, 2008, Victoria, BC's only fixed site NSP was shut down due to community and political pressure. This study examines and compares IDU trends in Victoria with those in Vancouver, BC, a city which has not experienced any similar disruption of IDU-related public health measures.

HIV incidence and prevalence among aboriginal peoples in Canada.

We examined incidence, prevalence, and correlates of HIV infection in Aboriginal peoples in Canada and found that among most risk groups both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants showed similar levels of HIV prevalence. Aboriginal peoples who use illicit drugs were found to have higher HIV incidence and prevalence when compared to their non-Aboriginal drug-using peers. Aboriginal street youth and female sex workers were also found to have higher HIV prevalence.