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Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, of the Secretariat for Health Surveillance of the Brazilian Ministry of Health Universidade Federal de S?o Jo?o del-Rei. Divinopolis, MG, Brazil. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes. Recife, PE, Brazil. Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Sa?de Coletiva. Salvador, BA, Brasil. Faculdade de Ci?ncias Medicas Santa Casa de S?o Paulo. S?o Paulo, SP, Brazil. Tulane University. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. New Orleans, LA, USA / Universidade Federal do Ceara. Dept Community Hlth. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Ceara. Dept Community Hlth. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Funda??o Alfredo Mata. Manaus, AM, Brazil. Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz. Recife, PE, Brazil. Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz. Recife, PE, Brazil. Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz. Campo Grande, MS, Brazil / Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Universidade de Brasilia. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Universidade de Brasilia. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Faculdade de Ci?ncias Medicas Santa Casa de S?o Paulo. S?o Paulo, SP, Brazil. Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil. Universidade Federal do Ceara. Project PI. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Centro Universit?rio Aut?nomo do Brasil. Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Ceara. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Universidade Federal do Ceara. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Secretaria Sa?de Cear?. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Tulane University. New Orleans, LA, USA / Universidade Federal do Ceara. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. University of California San Francisco. San Francisco, CA, USA. University of California San Francisco. San Francisco, CA, USA. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Departamento de Vigil?ncia, Preven??o e Controle das IST, do HIV/Aids e das Hepatites Virais. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Departamento de Vigil?ncia, Preven??o e Controle das IST, do HIV/Aids e das Hepatites Virais. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Departamento de Vigil?ncia, Preven??o e Controle das IST, do HIV/Aids e das Hepatites Virais. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Universidade do Estado Bahia. Departamento de Ci?ncias da Vida. Salvador, BA, Brazil. 16IEC The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI), stratified by age (18-24 or 25 + years old), in a sample of 4,129 MSM recruited by respondent driven sampling in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. The prevalence of URAI was higher among younger MSM (41.9% vs 29.7%) (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that perception of risk, sexual identity, self-rated health status, and having commercial sex were associated with URAI among younger MSM. History of sexual violence, sex with younger partners, having 6 + partners and unprotected sexual debut were associated with URAI among older MSM. Marital status, having stable partner, and reporting sex with men only were associated with URAI in both groups. Despite access to condoms and lubricants, preventive efforts may not be reaching MSM effectively. Age specific intervention approaches, including stigma, discrimination, and perception of risk must be considered.

Introduction: High level of HIV/AIDS knowledge is required for an effective adoption of preventive strategies. Objective: To assess HIV/AIDS knowledge among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 12 Brazilian cities. Methods: Respondent-Driven Sampling method was used for recruitment. HIV/AIDS knowledge was assessed by Item Response Theory. Difficulty and discrimination parameters were estimated, and the knowledge score was categorized in three levels: high, medium, and low. Logistic regression was used for analysis. Results: Among 4,176 MSM, the proportion of high level of knowledge was 23.7%. The following variables were positively associated with high knowledge (p < 0.05): age 25+ years old, 12+ years of schooling, white skin color, having health insurance, having suffered discrimination due to sexual orientation, having had a syphilis test, and having received educational material in the previous 12 months. Exchanging sex for money was negatively associated. Conclusions: The proportion of only 23.7% of high HIV/AIDS knowledge was low. We should note that the only potential source of knowledge acquisition associated with high level of knowledge was receiving educational materials. Our study indicates the need for expansion of public prevention policies focused on MSM and with more effective communication strategies, including the development of knowledge that involves motivation and abilities for a safer behavior. Introdução: Alto nível de conhecimento sobre HIV/aids é necessário para uma efetiva adoção de estratégias preventivas. Objetivo: Avaliar o nível de conhecimento sobre HIV/aids entre homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH) de 12 cidades brasileiras. Metodologia: O método Respondent-Driven Sampling foi utilizado para recrutamento. O conhecimento sobre HIV/aids foi avaliado por meio de 12 perguntas e analisados pela Teoria de Resposta ao Item. Foram estimados os parâmetros de dificuldade e discriminação e o escore de conhecimento categorizado em três níveis: alto, médio e baixo. Regressão logística foi utilizada para a análise. Resultados: Do total de 4.176 HSH, a proporção de alto nível de conhecimento foi de 23,7%. Estiveram associados positivamente (p < 0,05) com o alto conhecimento: idade 25+ anos, escolaridade 12+ anos, cor da pele branca, ter plano de saúde, ter sofrido discriminação devido à orientação sexual, ter realizado teste para sífilis e recebido material educativo nos últimos 12 meses. Ter recebido dinheiro por sexo esteve negativamente associado. Conclusões: A proporção de apenas 23,7% de alto nível de conhecimento sobre HIV/ aids foi baixa. Destaca-se que a única potencial fonte formal de aquisição de conhecimento associada com alto nível de conhecimento foi receber material educativo. Este estudo aponta a necessidade de expandir as políticas públicas de prevenção focadas no segmento HSH e com estratégias de comunicação mais eficazes, incluindo o desenvolvimento de conhecimento que envolva motivação e habilidade para um comportamento mais seguro.

Introdução: A discriminação por orientação sexual (DPOS) pode influenciar a vulnerabilidade ao HIV aumentando a exposição a comportamentos sexuais de risco entre homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH). Objetivos: Examinar dados utilizando a análise de classes latentes (ACL) para identificar grupos de indivíduos com padrões específicos de DPOS. Métodos: Estudo transversal com entrevistados recrutados pelo processo amostral respondent driven sampling em 12 cidades brasileiras em 2016. A ACL foi usada para caracterizar o DPOS entre HSH com base em 13 variáveis do bloco de discriminação do questionário da pesquisa. As proporções de DPOS e das variáveis de interesse, bem como seus intervalos de confiança (95%) foram ponderados usando o estimador de Gile. Resultados: A maioria era de jovens, solteiros, com alguma religião, escolaridade média ou superior, cor da pele preta ou parda e com nível socioeconômico médio. Mais da metade referiu ter sido discriminado nos últimos 12 meses por sua orientação sexual (65%), mais de um terço referiu ter tido medo de andar em lugares públicos nos últimos 12 meses e em torno de um quinto dos participantes reportaram ter sofrido agressão física ou sexual na vida. A DPOS foi classificada em 4 classes latentes, “muito alta”, “alta”, “média” e “baixa”, com estimativas de 2,2%, 16,4%, 35,1% e 46,19%, respectivamente. Conclusão: Observou-se alta proporção de discriminação entre os HSH participantes deste estudo. A utilização da ACL discriminou de maneira parcimoniosa as classes de DPOS. Introduction: Discrimination based on sexual orientation can influence vulnerability to HIV, increasing exposure to risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Objectives: To analyze data using latent class analysis (LCA) to identify groups of individuals with specific patterns of discrimination based on sexual orientation (DSO). Methods: Cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling in 12 Brazilian cities in 2016. LCA was used to characterize discrimination among MSM based on 13 variables in the survey questionnaire. The proportions of men reporting DSO and other variables of interest were estimated using Gile’s Successive Sampling estimator. Results: Most MSM were young, single, had a religion, had a high school or college degree, black or brown skin color, and socioeconomic status classified as average. More than half of the participants reported that they had been discriminated against during the last 12 months due to their sexual orientation (65%), more than a third said they had felt afraid of walking in public places during the past 12 months, and about one-fifth of participants reported having been victims of physical or sexual assault due to DSO. DSO was classified into four latent classes: “very high”, “high”, “moderate” and “low”, with estimates of 2.2%, 16.4%, 35.1%, and 46.19%, respectively. Conclusion: We observed a high proportion of discrimination against MSM in this study. The use of LCA differentiated parsimoniously classes of discrimination.

Introduction: This paper details the methods used in the second national Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BBSS) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C among men who have sex with men in Brazil. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used in 12 cities in 2016. The targeted sample size was initiated with five to six seeds in each city. HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C rapid tests were offered to participants. RDS Analyst with Gile’s successive sampling (SS) estimator was used to adjust results as recommended and a weight for each individual was generated for further analysis. Data for the 12 cities were merged and analyzed using Stata 14.0 complex survey data tools with each city treated as its own stratum. Results: Duration of data collection varied from 5.9 to 17.6 weeks. 4,176 men were recruited in the 12 cities. Two sites failed to achieve targeted sample size due to a six-month delay in local IRB approval. No city failed to reach convergence in our major outcome variable (HIV). Conclusion: The comprehensive BBSS was completed as planned and on budget. The description of methods here is more detailed than usual, due to new diagnostic tools and requirements of the new STROBE-RDS guidelines.

This paper reports human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in the 2nd National Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BBSS) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 12 cities in Brazil using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Following formative research, RDS was applied in 12 cities in the 5 macroregions of Brazil between June and December 2016 to recruit MSM for BBSS. The target sample size was 350 per city. Five to 6 seeds were initially selected to initiate recruitment and coupons and interviews were managed online. On-site rapid testing was used for HIV screening, and confirmed by a 2nd test. Participants were weighted using Gile estimator. Data from all 12 cities were merged and analyzed with Stata 14.0 complex survey data analysis tools in which each city was treated as its own strata. Missing data for those who did not test were imputed HIV+ if they reported testing positive before and were taking antiretroviral therapy. A total of 4176 men were recruited in the 12 cities. The average time to completion was 10.2 weeks. The longest chain length varied from 8 to 21 waves. The sample size was achieved in all but 2 cities. A total of 3958 of the 4176 respondents agreed to test for HIV (90.2%). For results without imputation, 17.5% (95%CI: 14.7–20.7) of our sample was HIV positive. With imputation, 18.4% (95%CI: 15.4–21.7) were seropositive. HIV prevalence increased beyond expectations from the results of the 2009 survey (12.1%; 95%CI: 10.0–14.5) to 18.4%; CI95%: 15.4 to 21.7 in 2016. This increase accompanies Brazil's focus on the treatment to prevention strategy, and a decrease in support for community-based organizations and community prevention programs.

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-05-26T17:49:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ines Dourado 3. 2016.pdf: 277312 bytes, checksum: ea4d3b8eab90f5797178f0722643e857 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-26T17:49:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ines Dourado 3. 2016.pdf: 277312 bytes, checksum: ea4d3b8eab90f5797178f0722643e857 (MD5) Diante das evidências de que os homens que fazem sexo com homens são afetados de forma desproporcional pelas infecções por HIV, investigamos os fatores de risco sociodemográficos, biológicos e de comportamentos sexuais associados à infecção por HIV, na cidade de Salvador, Bahia. Este trabalho é um recorte da pesquisa nacional "Comportamento, atitudes, práticas e prevalência de HIV e Sífilis entre homens que fazem sexo com homens em 10 cidades brasileiras", que foi do tipo corte transversal e selecionou participantes via técnica Respondent Driven Sampling . Devido à prevalência do HIV ser menor do que 10% e ao reduzido tamanho da amostra (383), utilizamos regressão logística exata nas análises para medir associação entre os fatores de risco e a infecção por HIV. A prevalência do HIV foi de 6,3% (IC95% 3,9 - 8,8), e após o ajuste do modelo final, os fatores de vulnerabilidade que se associaram à infecção por HIV foram: não fez teste de sífilis na vida (OR = 3,1: IC95% 1,3 - 7,3), ter mais de 8 parceiros sexuais (OR = 3,3; IC95% 1,4 - 8,1). Este estudo mostrou a alta prevalência do HIV na amostra, em comparação a população geral, bem como confirmou a importância da realização do teste de sífilis na vida no contexto da epidemia do HIV, sendo que essa detecção precoce permite uma aproximação das ações de prevenção para DST. São Paulo

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-05-26T18:56:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ines Dourado 5. 2016.pdf: 76222 bytes, checksum: 5f2edc948cc28b0c8bf900f033da812c (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-26T18:56:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ines Dourado 5. 2016.pdf: 76222 bytes, checksum: 5f2edc948cc28b0c8bf900f033da812c (MD5) Sampling strategies such as respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and time-location sampling (TLS) offer unique opportunities to access key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women. Limited work has assessed implementation challenges of these methods. Overcoming implementation challenges can improve research quality and increase uptake of HIV services among key populations. Drawing from studies using RDS in Brazil and TLS in Peru, we summarize challenges encountered in the field and potential strategies to address them. In Brazil, study site selection, cash incentives, and seed selection challenged RDS implementation with MSM. In Peru, expansive geography, safety concerns, and time required for study participation complicated TLS implementation with MSM and transgender women. Formative research, meaningful participation of key populations across stages of research, and transparency in study design are needed to link HIV/AIDS research and practice. Addressing implementation challenges can close gaps in accessing services among those most burdened by the epidemic. Francisco Inácio Bastos Inês Dourado10

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-05-02T20:16:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 artigo 26. 2016.pdf: 151225 bytes, checksum: d9a98b86d845ce6c087b08e1d2023164 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-02T20:16:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 artigo 26. 2016.pdf: 151225 bytes, checksum: d9a98b86d845ce6c087b08e1d2023164 (MD5) This study aimed to identify incentives and barriers to HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM). This was a cross-sectional study of MSM who had lived at least three months in greater metropolitan Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, 2010. The study recruited 391 men ≥ 18 years of age who reported sexual relations with men in the previous six months, using Respondent Driven Sampling. Personal network and socio-demographic data were collected and HIV testing was offered, analyzed with RDSAT 6.0 and Stata 11.0. The majority were young (40.3%), had 5 to 11 years of schooling (57.3%), were single (85.1%), had low income (37.6%), and 58.1% had tested for HIV some time in life. Incentive to test: certainty of not being infected (34.1%) and the exposure to national campaign Fique Sabendo [Know your Status] (34%). Barriers: trust in partner(s) (21%) and fear of discrimination if tested positive (20.3%). Policies should be developed to ensure test confidentiality and communication campaigns focusing on information gaps and encouragement for testing. Rio de Janeiro

Mycobacterium leprae bacilli are mainly transmitted by the dissemination of nasal aerosols from multibacillary (MB) patients to susceptible individuals through inhalation. The upper respiratory tract represents the main entry and exit routes of M. leprae. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in detecting M. leprae in nasal secretion (NS) and skin biopsy (SB) samples from MB and paucibacillary (PB) cases. Fifty-four NS samples were obtained from leprosy patients at the Dona Libânia National Reference Centre for Sanitary Dermatology in Ceará, Brazil. Among them, 19 MB cases provided both NS and SB samples. Bacilloscopy index assays were conducted and qPCR amplification was performed using specific primers for M. leprae 16S rRNA gene, generating a 124-bp fragment. Primer specificity was verified by determining the amplicon melting temperature (Tm = 79.5 °C) and detection limit of qPCR was 20 fg of M. leprae DNA. Results were positive for 89.7 and 73.3% of NS samples from MB and PB cases, respectively. SB samples from MB patients were 100% positive. The number of bacilli detected in NS samples were 1.39 × 103–8.02 × 105, and in SB samples from MB patients were 1.87 × 103–1.50 × 106. Therefore, qPCR assays using SYBR Green targeting M. leprae 16S rRNA region can be employed in detecting M. leprae in nasal swabs from leprosy patients, validating this method for epidemiological studies aiming to identify healthy carriers among household contacts or within populations of an endemic area.

Multilingual abstracts in the six official working languages of the United Nations. (PDF 697 kb)

Receiver Operating Curves (ROC) for ML Flow test in leprosy patients who developed RR, ENL and reaction-free. (DOC 715 kb)

Positivity to ML Flow test according to bacillary index (BI) and type of reaction. (DOC 43 kb)

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-05-12T19:50:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Art Per estrang. Mauricio L Barreto4. 2015.pdf: 275416 bytes, checksum: 8158d74f8ce46b38914f3852e027caab (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-12T19:50:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Art Per estrang. Mauricio L Barreto4. 2015.pdf: 275416 bytes, checksum: 8158d74f8ce46b38914f3852e027caab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12 Several factors suggest that armadillos present an important risk for human leprosy infection. This study uses semi-structured interviews to better illustrate how human interaction with armadillos may increase the risk of leprosy transmission. The participants were all residents of the state of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil, all acknowledged contact with armadillos either through hunting, through cooking, or through consumption of its meat. This study raises important issues about contact between human beings and armadillos. The interviews provide evidence of numerous situations in which leprosy transmission via the armadillo is possible. At a minimum, people who hunt armadillos need to be made aware of the risk of infection. Basel