PEP and TasP Awareness among Italian MSM, PLWHA, and High-Risk Heterosexuals and Demographic, Behavioral, and Social Correlates

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been proposed as a strategy to prevent the acquisition of HIV infection after certain high-risk exposures, and treatment as prevention (TasP) is also being advocated as a means to reduce sexual transmission of HIV. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEP and TasP awareness and their demographic, behavioral, and social correlates in Italy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,028 high-risk heterosexual men and women, 1,874 non-HIV positive MSM (men who have sex with men), and 694 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The majority of the participants was aware of PEP and unaware of TasP. MSM were less knowledgeable about PEP and TasP than were PLWHA and more knowledgeable about PEP and TasP than were high-risk heterosexual participants. The variables most consistently associated with PEP and TasP awareness were contact with HIV/AIDS organizations, HIV testing, and HIV stigma. A positive relationship between unprotected sexual intercourse and PEP and TasP awareness was found among high risk heterosexual participants, while this association was not significant among MSM and PLWHA. Because PEP and TasP are currently recommended, effective educational and dissemination strategies are needed to increase the level of knowledge about PEP and TasP

Lessons learned from the first European project on the integration of infectious diseases in testing services, data collection and country responses.

Despite the progress in effective treatments for HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), these infections remain major public health concerns across Europe. Recurring challenges of late presentation and unprioritized prevention programmes need to be effectively addressed in order to control and prevent transmission and ensure that people are diagnosed early and rapidly enter the care system. The prevalence of co-infections is high due to the social context of key populations and the shared modes of transmission, varying with local epidemiology, which underlines the need to combine efforts throughout the continuum of care

Psychometric Properties of a New HIV/AIDS Knowledge Measure for Adults

The aim of this study was to develop a new 29-item HIV/AIDS knowledge measure and to examine its psychometric properties for three samples of adults: non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The authors collected data using an online questionnaire. A total of 9,349 Italian individuals agreed to participate in the study: 694 individuals (7.4%) were PLWHA, 5,232 (56.0%) were HIV negative, and the remaining 3,423 (36.6%) were MSM. Using two-parameter item response theory analysis, a bifactor model was found to be better fitting than a one-factor model or a 12 correlated first-order factor model. Differential item functioning showed evidence of measurement nonequivalence of the instrument for the three samples of adults. The reliability of HIV/AIDS knowledge scale among PLWHA was satisfactory. Criterion-related validity was only achieved among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive MSM, as the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale was related with attitudes toward condom use, condom use with casual partners, unknown HIV status of partner, and HIV stigma. Among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale adds to the prediction of condom use above that of attitudes toward condom use scale. The HIV/AIDS knowledge scale is especially discriminating at low to medium levels of knowledge

The role of knowing someone living with HIV/AIDS and HIV disclosure in the HIV stigma framework: a Bayesian mediation analysis

The current study evaluated the role of knowing someone living with HIV/AIDS and disclosure of one\u2019s HIV-positive status in the HIV Stigma Framework using a Bayesian mediation analysis. We used data on 387 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and 6074 HIV uninfected Italian participants. Knowing someone living with HIV/AIDS was negatively related to stigmatizing attitudes among HIV uninfected participants and internalized stigma among PLWHA. Internalized stigma mediated the relationship between personal knowledge of someone living with HIV/AIDS and disclosure of one\u2019s HIV-positive status. In turn, disclosure of one\u2019s HIV-positive status mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and engagement in HIV care. Undetectable viral load was predicted by internalized stigma but not by disclosure of one\u2019s HIV-positive status and enacted stigma. Among uninfected participants, stigmatizing attitudes mediated the relationship between knowledge of someone living with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing. In addition, an interaction between knowledge of someone living with HIV/AIDS and HIV testing was found such that stigmatizing attitudes did not predict HIV testing among participants who do not have a personal knowledge of someone living with HIV/AIDS

Quanto ne sai di Hiv? QuestionAids: indagine su conoscenze in materia di Hiv/Aids

Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di studiare il livello di conoscenze sul tema dell’Hiv/Aids e i fattori ad esso associati in termini di variabili demografiche e sociali. Sono stati coinvolti in questo studio 11.588 partecipanti di maggiore età che sono stati invitati a rispondere a domande poste tramite un quiz su un sito web. Sebbene i livelli di conoscenza riguardo l’Hiv/Aids siano risultati medio alti, si è riscontrata la presenza relativamente diffusa di miti/stereotipi riguardo l’Hiv/Aids. La maggioranza dei partecipanti ha mostrato di non essere consapevole della TasP. Le variabili associate maggiormente alle conoscenze in tema di Hiv/Aids sono state il contatto con Associazioni che si occupano di Hiv/Aids, lo stato sierologico positivo, la conoscenza di persone con Hiv/Aids, e il grado di scolarità. Il presente studio mette in luce l’esigenza di programmare interventi informativi ed educativi efficaci sulle tematiche dell’Hiv/Aids al fine di incrementare le conoscenze

Factors associated with Awareness of PEP.

<p>Factors associated with Awareness of PEP.</p

Samples Characteristics.

<p>Samples Characteristics.</p

Factors associated with Awareness of TasP.

<p>Factors associated with Awareness of TasP.</p