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EMIS 2017 Journal Articles 2017

Social and behavioural determinants of syphilis: Modelling based on repeated cross-sectional surveys from 2010 and 2017 among 278,256 men who have sex with men in 31 European countries

Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2022 Aug 9;22:100483. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100483. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Authors: Ana Mendez-Lopez, David Stuckler, Ulrich Marcus, Ford Hickson, Teymur Noori, Robert N Whittaker, Klaus Jansen, Asuncion Diaz, Lukasz Henszel, Annie Velter, Jan C Semenza, Axel J Schmidt

Abstract

Background: Syphilis case notifications among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) have increased markedly over the past two decades in Europe. We tested several potential factors for this resurgence.

Methods: Self-reported data from two cross-sectional waves of the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2010 and EMIS-2017, N = 278,256 participants living in 31 European countries) were used to fit multivariable hierarchical logistic regression models designed to evaluate potential social, behavioural, and interventional determinants of syphilis diagnosis. Additional multivariable hierarchical negative binomial models investigated determinants of the number of non-steady male condomless anal intercourse (CAI) partners. We tested the hypothesis that more CAI and syphilis-screening are associated with syphilis resurgence, both linked to use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Findings: Between 2010 and 2017, incidence of syphilis diagnosis in the previous 12 months rose from 2.33% (95%CI: 2.26-2.40) of respondents reporting a syphilis diagnosis in 2010 compared with 4.54% (95%CI: 4.42-4.66) in 2017. Major factors contributing to syphilis diagnosis were living with diagnosed HIV (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.67, 95%CI: 2.32-3.07), each additional non-steady male CAI partner (aOR 1.01, 95%CI: 1.01-1.01), recency of STI-screening (previous month vs no screening, aOR 25.76, 95%CI: 18.23-36.41), selling sex (aOR 1.45, 95%CI: 1.27-1.65), and PrEP use (aOR 3.02, 95%CI: 2.30-3.96). Living with diagnosed HIV (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 3.91, 95%CI: 3.77-4.05), selling sex (aIRR 4.39, 95%CI: 4.19-4.59), and PrEP use (aIRR 5.82, 95%CI: 5.29-6.41) were associated with a higher number of non-steady male CAI partners. The association between PrEP use and increased chance of syphilis diagnosis was mediated by STI-screening recency and number of non-steady male CAI partners, both substantially higher in 2017 compared to 2010.

Interpretation: Syphilis cases are concentrated in three MSM population groups: HIV-diagnosed, PrEP users, and sex workers. Behavioural and interventional changes, particularly more non-steady male CAI partners and recency of STI-screening, are major contributing factors for increasing syphilis diagnoses among MSM in Europe.

Funding: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

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Categories
EMIS 2017 Journal Articles 2017

Would eligible gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men use PrEP? Awareness, knowledge, eligibility and intention to use PrEP among EMIS-2017 participants in Spain

Prev Med 2022; 156:106962. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106962.

Authors: Carlos Iniesta, Cinta Folch, Sebastian Meyer, María Vázquez, Jordi Casabona, Asunción Díaz

Abstract

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an efficacious strategy for reducing the incidence of HIV infection. It has been available in Spain since 2019. We aim to report on awareness, knowledge of, intention to use, and eligibility for PrEP and related factors among participants in the European Men-Who-Have-Sex-With-Men Internet Survey (EMIS-2017) in Spain. We used Spanish data from EMIS-2017, a cross-sectional study performed among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with mean (GBMSM) from 50 countries. We found that 65.3% of the 10,634 participants were aware of PrEP, some 30.1% of those HIV-negative and ≥ 18 years were eligible and 52.7% of those eligible intended to use it. Regarding knowledge about PrEP, only 15.4% of the participants knew 3 statement with true information about that PrEP meant. Older age, being born in Western Europe (WE) and greater outness were associated with greater awareness. Older age, being born in Latin America or Caribbean or WE, sex work, and living in a large city were associated with greater eligibility. A greater degree of outness was associated with reduced intention to use. Our study point to possible barriers in the implementation of PrEP in Spain and similar countries.

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