Deterioration in social and economic conditions in Greece impact the health of LGBT populations: A call to action in the era of Troika

The health of the population of Greece has been severely affected because of economic crisis that occurred over the last decade. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population, which in the best of economic times experiences heightened health burdens and disparities because of homophobia, which is socially produced and state sanctioned, is not immune from the effects of the economic downturn and austerity measures imposed by the European Union. To date, we have very limited knowledge about the health of LGBT people in Greece beyond HIV-related heath. Here we review the economic conditions that prevail in Greece and the limited knowledge we have regarding LGBT health. We further consider the role that discrimination plays in the lives of the LGBT population, the preponderance of homophobic attitudes within the culture, the synergy between social and economic conditions, and how these structural inequities may undermine the health of the population. We offer a set of recommendations for both research and clinical practice that will document the health of LGBT people in Greece; scientifically disentangle and delineate the culturally produced drivers that may undermine their health; and use this knowledge to inform the development of health care programs, service, and training embedded within a cultural competency framework that attends to both Greek society at large and the culture of the LGBT population within Greece. © 2018 American Psychological Association

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Infection in Young Sexual Minority Men: The P18 Cohort Study

We examined the prevalence of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV in a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men [sexual minority men (SMM)]. HPV vaccination uptake was assessed; HIV antibody testing was performed and genetic testing for oral and anal HPV infection was undertaken. We examined both HPV vaccination and infection in relation to key demographic and structural variables. Participants (n = 486) were on average 23 years old; 70% identified as a member of a racial/ethnic minority group, and 7% identified as transgender females. Only 18.1% of the participants indicated having received the full dosage of HPV vaccination and 45.1% were unvaccinated. Slightly over half the participants (58.6%) were infected with HPV, with 58.1% testing positive for anal infection and 8.8% for oral infection. HIV seropositivity was associated with infection to oral HPV [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.03] and vaccine-preventable HPV, whereas both neighborhood-level poverty (AOR = 1.68) and HIV infection (AOR = 31.13) were associated with anal infection to HPV (AOR = 1.68). Prevalence of HPV infection is high among unvaccinated young SMM, despite the availability and eligibility for vaccination. HPV infection adds further health burden to these populations and is particularly concerning for those who are HIV positive as HIV infection increases the risk of developing HPV-related cancers. These findings underscore a missed prevention opportunity for an at-risk and underserved population and suggest the need for active strategies to increase HPV vaccination uptake in young SMM before the onset of sexual behavior. © Copyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2019