News from aidsmap
PrEP marketing should not be a story about HIV, but a story about young women
What do we want young women’s hearts to feel and minds to think about PrEP? This was the question that a group of group of researchers and marketing experts sought to answer in order to build a strong, evidence-informed, and unified brand positioning for PrEP. MOSAIC conducted a comprehensive review of all the previous PrEP demand generation work and formative research in eight countries to make use of their knowledge of what has worked and hasn't in HIV prevention demand generation.
Substance use treatment effective in helping men reduce their use of crystal meth
Any substance use treatment is better than none when it comes to reducing how often gay and bisexual men use methamphetamine (crystal meth), a study from Los Angeles has found. This study’s findings emphasise the importance of harm reduction over an abstinence-only approach to managing methamphetamine use.
Migrants being left behind by the HIV response in Europe
Although half of new HIV diagnoses are in people born in another country, migrants have less access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services across Europe. Many European countries have no data on migrants’ engagement with the HIV care continuum, which is likely to leave any barriers to care unaddressed, data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show.
Greater income inequality linked to worse HIV outcomes
Countries with greater income inequality have more new HIV infections and more deaths from both AIDS and COVID-19, a recent study has found. Researchers from the African Health Economics and Policy Association and UNAIDS investigated the impacts of income inequality on pandemic outcomes in a multi-country study published in BMJ Global Health.
Multiple strategies needed to reduce disengagement from HIV care in Uganda
Disengagement from HIV care happens for numerous reasons and efforts to promote re-engagement in care should develop strategies that address the multiple patterns of disengagement, a study of people with unsuppressed viral load in Uganda reports.
People with HIV still running out of treatment options – not always because of resistance
Around one in ten people with HIV developed limited treatment options – which meant that they could no longer take a standard three-drug antiretroviral combination – during approximately five years of follow-up, a large study has found.
DoxyPEP did not reduce STIs among women, probably due to low adherence
Taking doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis after sex – known as doxyPEP – did not reduce the likelihood of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among cisgender women in Africa as it does for gay and bisexual men, according to recently published study results. Actual use of the antibiotic was found to be low, however, suggesting doxyPEP might still work for women if adherence is higher.
Despite increasing HIV prevention among gay and bisexual men in Australia, some men less well protected
HIV prevention coverage is increasing among gay and bisexual men in Australia, but some men remain less well protected. Gay and bisexual men under the age of 25, bisexual men of all ages, and men living in suburbs with fewer gay residents have higher levels of HIV risk and lower levels of prevention coverage.
Almost half of people living with HIV in the UK feel ashamed
A positive diagnosis continues to be a source of isolation and stigma for people living with HIV, especially among trans people, younger people and women. Findings from the UK’s largest survey of people living with HIV show that while knowledge of ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable’ (U=U) is high and linked to higher self-esteem, women are less likely to know and believe that U=U is true.
Huge fall in deaths after improving meningitis care for people with HIV in African hospitals
An implementation project in three African countries that used an algorithm to quickly identify, diagnose, and treat people with HIV-related central nervous system infections during routine care resulted in a significant decrease in mortality, according to a recent publication in The Lancet HIV. Before the intervention, 49% of patients died within two weeks, reducing to 24% during the implementation phase.
What's needed to make statins available for people with HIV in low- and middle-income countries?
Offering statins to people with HIV to lower the risk of heart disease poses particular challenges for low- and middle-income countries and requires investment in order to deliver the benefits identified in a large international clinical trial of the drugs.
Antiretroviral drug chart
We have published a new edition of our Antiretroviral drug chart. The chart is a one-page reference guide to all the anti-HIV drugs licensed for use in the UK or European Union, with information on formulation, dosing, key side effects and food requirements.
For clinics that are members of our patient information subscription scheme, printed editions of the chart will be available to order on the clinic portal at the end of the month.
Editors' picks from other sources
With harsh anti-LGBTQ law, Uganda risks a health crisis | The New York Times
The country had made great progress against HIV. Now terrified patients have fled clinics, and experts fear a resurgence.
Study explores per-act HIV risk reduction of dapivirine vaginal ring | TheBodyPro
On a per-sex-act basis, the dapivirine vaginal ring is associated with a 62% reduction in the risk of HIV seroconversion, according to research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.
NIH-developed HIV antibodies protect animals in proof-of-concept study | National Institutes of Health
Three different HIV antibodies each independently protected monkeys from acquiring simian-HIV (SHIV) in a placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study intended to inform development of a preventive HIV vaccine for people.
Sex and drugs: Medicare shames sexual seniors | The Baffler
I’m a 76-year-old cisgender male with silver hair who had sex with about a dozen guys last year. Guys only, all ages, a few regulars and some one-time online hookups, each offering a different kind of vibration and satisfaction.
Health & Power
Last week, we broadcast the final episode of Health & Power, our series for people of colour focusing on health inequalities. NAM aidsmap's Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea spoke with Professor Samuel Seidu from the University of Leicester and Rianna Raymond-Williams from the Impact on Urban Health, who is also a PhD student in sexual health. The focus this episode was on diabetes and sexual health.