Heterosexual Practices Among Young People in Britain: Evidence From Three National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.

Purpose: To describe time trends and current patterns in sexual practices with opposite-sex partners among men and women aged 16-24 years in Britain.

Methods: Complex survey analyses of cross-sectional probability survey data from three British National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal), conducted approximately decennially 1990-2012, involving interviews with 45,199 people in total.

Results: Birth cohort analysis showed a decline in the median age at first sexual experience and first intercourse since the midtwentieth century and a narrowing of the interval between these events.

Differential Immunodominance Hierarchy of CD8 T-Cell Responses in HLA-B*27:05- and -B*27:02-Mediated Control of HIV-1 Infection.

The well-characterized association between HLA-B*27:05 and protection against HIV disease progression has been linked to immunodominant HLA-B*27:05-restricted CD8 T-cell responses toward the conserved Gag KK10 (residues 263 to 272) and polymerase (Pol) KY9 (residues 901 to 909) epitopes. We studied the impact of the 3 amino acid differences between HLA-B*27:05 and the closely related HLA-B*27:02 on the HIV-specific CD8 T-cell response hierarchy and on immune control of HIV. Genetic epidemiological data indicate that both HLA-B*27:02 and HLA-B*27:05 are associated with slower disease progression and lower viral loads.

Self-taken vaginal swabs versus clinician-taken for detection of candida and bacterial vaginosis: a case-control study in primary care.

Background: Vaginal discharge and vulvitis are common presenting symptoms in general practice. Few studies have specifically looked at the validity of self-taken low vulvovaginal swabs (LVS) for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Aim: To assess if patient self-taken LVS are a valid alternative to clinician-taken high vaginal swabs (HVS) for the detection of VVC and BV.

Factors Associated With Access to HIV Testing and Primary Care Among Migrants Living in Europe: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: There is a heavy and disproportionate burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among migrant communities living in Europe. Despite this, the published evidence related to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment needs for migrants is sparse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with access to primary care and HIV testing among migrant groups living in Europe.

Counselling to include tailored use of combined oral contraception in clinical practice: an evaluation.

Background: Combined oral contraception (COC, 'the pill') remains the most prescribed method of contraception in the UK. Although a variety of regimens for taking monophasic COC are held to be clinically safe, women are not routinely counselled about these choices and there is a lack of evidence on how to provide this information to women.

Aim: To assess the usefulness and feasibility of including tailored use of monophasic COC within routine COC counselling in a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service using a structured format.

Management of MDR-TB in HIV co-infected patients in Eastern Europe: Results from the TB:HIV study.

Objectives: Mortality among HIV patients with tuberculosis (TB) remains high in Eastern Europe (EE), but details of TB and HIV management remain scarce.

Methods: In this prospective study, we describe the TB treatment regimens of patients with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Results: A total of 105 HIV-positive patients had MDR-TB (including 33 with extensive drug resistance) and 130 pan-susceptible TB.

Evaluating a multi-component, community-based program to improve adherence and retention in care among adolescents living with HIV in Zimbabwe: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) adolescent HIV-testing and treatment guidelines recommend community-based interventions to support antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in care, while acknowledging that the evidence to support this recommendation is weak. This cluster randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a psychosocial, community-based intervention on HIV-related and psychosocial outcomes.

Methods/design: We are conducting the trial in two districts.

Costs of facility-based HIV testing in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Background: Providing HIV testing at health facilities remains the most common approach to ensuring access to HIV treatment and prevention services for the millions of undiagnosed HIV-infected individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to explore the costs of providing these services across three southern African countries with high HIV burden.

Methods: Primary costing studies were undertaken in 54 health facilities providing HIV testing services (HTS) in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Using the eSexual Health Clinic to access chlamydia treatment and care via the internet: a qualitative interview study.

Objective: We developed the eSexual Health Clinic (eSHC), an innovative, complex clinical and public health intervention, embedded within a specialist sexual health service. Patients with genital chlamydia access their results online and are offered medical management via an automated online clinical consultation, leading to antibiotic collection from community pharmacy. A telephone helpline, staffed by Sexual Health Advisers, is available to support patients and direct them to conventional services if appropriate.

Sample Size Calculations for Population Size Estimation Studies Using Multiplier Methods With Respondent-Driven Sampling Surveys.

Background: While guidance exists for obtaining population size estimates using multiplier methods with respondent-driven sampling surveys, we lack specific guidance for making sample size decisions.

Objective: To guide the design of multiplier method population size estimation studies using respondent-driven sampling surveys to reduce the random error around the estimate obtained.

Methods: The population size estimate is obtained by dividing the number of individuals receiving a service or the number of unique objects distributed (M) by the proportion of individuals in a representative survey who report receipt of the service or object (P).

What factors are associated with reporting lacking interest in sex and how do these vary by gender? Findings from the third British national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with reporting lacking interest in sex and how these vary by gender.

Setting: British general population.

Design: Complex survey analyses of data collected for a cross-sectional probability sample survey, undertaken 2010-2012, specifically logistic regression to calculate age-adjusted OR (AOR) to identify associated factors.

The changing face of an epidemic: healthy old age with HIV.

The demographics of the HIV epidemic in the UK have changed significantly. Owing to a steady rate of new diagnoses and improved survival, the population of individuals living with HIV continues to increase. HIV is now widely considered to be a chronic condition and HIV-positive individuals are expected to live into old age.

Understanding processes of risk and protection that shape the sexual and reproductive health of young women affected by conflict: the price of protection.

Background: It is assumed that knowing what puts young women at risk of poor sexual health outcomes and, in turn, what protects them against these outcomes, will enable greater targeted protection as well as help in designing more effective programmes. Accordingly, efforts have been directed towards mapping risk and protective factors onto general ecological frameworks, but these currently do not take into account the context of modern armed conflict. A literature overview approach was used to identify SRH related risk and protective factors specifically for young women affected by modern armed conflict.

Perceived burden of care and reported coping strategies and needs for family caregivers of people with mental disorders in Zimbabwe.

Background: Mental health service resources are inadequate in low-income countries, and families are frequently expected to provide care for their relative with a mental disorder. However, research on the consequences of caregiving has been limited in low-income countries, including Zimbabwe.

Objective: The study explored the perceived impact of mental illness, reported coping strategies and reported needs of the family members of persons diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia attending a psychiatric hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Abortion terminology: views of women seeking abortion in Britain.

Background: Controversy exists as to whether 'abortion or 'termination of pregnancy' should be used by health professionals during interactions with women and in published works.

Methods: Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed to women attending 54 abortion clinics in Scotland, England and Wales during a 4-month period in 2015. Responses were coded and analysed using SPSS.

Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Efficacy, Safety Profile, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Receiving Subcutaneous Testosterone Pellets 900 mg for Treatment of Symptoms Associated With Androgen Deficiency.

Background: Implantation of testosterone doses of at least 150 to 450 mg (ie, two to six pellets) is common clinical practice despite a lack of prospective data.

Aim: To evaluate pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and patient-reported outcomes in men with androgen deficiency who received implantation of testosterone pellets (900 mg) in an open-label study.

Methods: Men with androgen deficiency (serum testosterone < 300 ng/dL [10.

Staff, associate specialist and specialty doctors' national audit on the management of gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom, 2015.

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) revised United Kingdom national guideline for the management of gonorrhoea in adults, 2011, identified five auditable outcome measures, namely, that all patients should receive first-line treatment, be screened or treated for chlamydial infection, have a test of cure (TOC), be offered written information and have partner notification carried out. The UK National Guideline for Gonorrhoea Testing, Clinical Effectiveness Group, BASHH, 2012, recommended in addition that all reactive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) from pharynx and rectum should be confirmed by supplementary testing, using a second NAAT which detects a different nucleic acid target, all those with a positive NAAT for gonorrhoea should have culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing and that TOC should be done by two weeks. Staff, associate specialist and specialty doctors performed a national audit against these standards.

Clinically significant depressive symptoms and sexual behaviour among men who have sex with men.

Background: The relationship between depression and sexual behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM) is poorly understood.

Aims: To investigate prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥10) and the relationship between depressive symptoms and sexual behaviour among MSM reporting recent sex.

Method: The Attitudes to and Understanding of Risk of Acquisition of HIV (AURAH) is a cross-sectional study of UK genitourinary medicine clinic attendees without diagnosed HIV (2013-2014).

"They made me feel comfortable": a comparison of methods to measure patient experience in a sexual health clinic.

Background: High quality sexual health services are needed to improve both individual and public health outcomes. This study set out to explore what is important to patients who visit a sexual health clinic, and examine their understanding of standard survey questions, in order to inform the collection and interpretation of patient experience data that are used to improve services.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, qualitative study.