Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease with the risk of evolution towards hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Numerous studies have documented the possibility of HCV transmission through blood transfusions during surgery or during intravenous drug use. The percentage of the risk of sexual transmission, in the general population not presenting the aforesaid risks is still very controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concomitant levels of seropositivity for anti-HCV, in the partners of patients with chronic HCV liver disease, but no history of previous transfusions or use of intravenous drugs.
Methods: The study included 196 anti-HCV positive spouses with a clinical diagnosis of active chronic hepatitis, aged between 20 and 75 years (mean age 53 years, SD+/-11 years). HCV infection was diagnosed by positivity of serum samples for anti HCV (EIA), confirmed by RIBA II and by circulating HCV-RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All partners underwent anti-HCV assay (EIA), confirmed by RIBA II in the event of positivity.
Results: The mean period of cohabitation was 27 years (range 3-37, SD+/-9.8 years). The positivity of anti HCV in both subjects affected 11 couples (5.6%). Of these couples, the viral genotype was also available in 3 cases which proved to be identical in the index patient and the partner, whereas it was not possible to identify the genotype in other couples owing to scarce compliance.
Conclusions: The data obtained from this study confirm the possibility of the sexual transmission of HCV. However, in the context of subjects not belonging to "high risk" groups, this method of transmission does not appear to be important if compared with that of other viruses (HBV and HIV).
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JMIR Res Protoc
January 2025
Key Populations Program, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Background: In South Africa, there is no centralized HIV surveillance system where key populations (KPs) data, including gay men and other men who have sex with men, female sex workers, transgender persons, people who use drugs, and incarcerated persons, are stored in South Africa despite being on higher risk of HIV acquisition and transmission than the general population. Data on KPs are being collected on a smaller scale by numerous stakeholders and managed in silos. There exists an opportunity to harness a variety of data, such as empirical, contextual, observational, and programmatic data, for evaluating the potential impact of HIV responses among KPs in South Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrauma Violence Abuse
January 2025
Criminology, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Sexual violence experienced by LGBTQ+ adults is a rapidly expanding field of academic study. Therefore, there is a need for a synthesis and critical analysis of the research. The aim of this review was to conduct a critical review of the academic literature on adult LGBTQ+ sexual violence and to provide recommendations for future research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J STD AIDS
January 2025
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background: This study investigates the use of patient portals for disclosing sexually transmitted infection (STI) test result histories to sexual partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States.
Methods: Using data from the 2022-2023 American Men's Internet Survey, this cross-sectional analysis examined demographic, behavioral, and healthcare-related factors associated with MSM's utilization of patient portals for sharing STI test results. Participants ( = 2601) were surveyed on portal use, STI testing frequency, and partner disclosure practices.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
January 2025
West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Background: Fertility desire-based service guided by behavioral theory is a potential strategy to mitigate the HIV transmission risk, while related evidence remains scarce. We examined the long-term effect of theory-guided fertility desire-based services on HIV seroconversion between seropositive/seronegative partners in areas with high HIV prevalence and a cultural emphasis on fertility in China.
Methods: We established a retrospective cohort by recruiting 8,653 seropositive partners with seronegative partners between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2020, in Liangshan, China.
Glob Public Health
December 2025
Health & Nutrition Cluster, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
The current mpox outbreak has challenged previous understanding of the disease, with human-to-human transmission being a significant mode of transmission, particularly among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). A knowledge gap exists on MSM's mpox experiences in Nigeria's restrictive sociolegal context. This study explored mpox awareness, knowledge, and experiences among MSM in Lagos, Nigeria, through 28 in-depth interviews.
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