9 research outputs found
Quantifying unmet prevention needs among MSM in Europe through a multi-site bio-behavioural survey
Introduction: The HIV epidemic represents an important public health issue in Europe particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Global AIDS Monitoring indicators (GAM) have been widely and jointly promoted as a set of crucial standardised items to be adopted for monitoring and responding to the epidemic. Methods: The Sialon II study, implemented in 13 European cities (2013-14), was a complex multicentre integrated bio-behavioural cross sectional survey targeted at MSM, with a concomitant collection of behavioural and biological (oral fluid or blood specimens) data. Rigorous sampling approaches for hard-to-reach populations were used (time-location sampling and respondent-driven sampling) and GAM indicators were calculated; sampling frames were adapted to allow weighted estimates of GAM indicators. Results: 4,901 MSM were enrolled. HIV prevalence estimates ranged from 2.4% in Stockholm to 18.0% in Bucharest. When exploring city-level correlations between GAM indicators, prevention campaigns significantly correlated with levels of condom use and level of HIV testing among MSM. Conclusion: The Sialon II project has made an important contribution to the monitoring and evaluation of the HIV epidemic across Europe, integrating the use of GAM indicators within a second generation HIV surveillance systems approach and in participatory collaboration with MSM communities. It influenced the harmonisation of European data collection procedures and indicators via GAM country reporting and contributed essential knowledge informing the development and implementation of strategic, evidence-based HIV prevention campaigns for MSM.publishersversionpublishe
Quantifying Unmet Prevention Needs Among MSM in Europe Through a Multi-site Bio-behavioural Survey
The HIV epidemic represents an important
public health issue in Europe particularly among
men who have sex with men (MSM). Global AIDS
Monitoring indicators (GAM) have been widely and
jointly promoted as a set of crucial standardised items
to be adopted for monitoring and responding to the
epidemic. Methods: The Sialon II study, implemented
in 13 European cities (2013-14), was a complex multicentre
integrated bio-behavioural cross-sectional
survey targeted at MSM, with a concomitant collection
of behavioural and biological (oral fluid or blood
specimens) data. Rigorous sampling approaches for
hard-to-reach populations were used (time-location
sampling and respondent-driven sampling) and GAM
indicators were calculated; sampling frames were
adapted to allow weighted estimates of GAM indicators.
Results: 4,901 MSM were enrolled. HIV prevalence
estimates ranged from 2.4% in Stockholm to
18.0% in Bucharest. When exploring city-level correlations
between GAM indicators, prevention campaigns significantly correlated with levels of condom use
and level of HIV testing among MSM. Conclusion: The
Sialon II project has made an important contribution
to the monitoring and evaluation of the HIV epidemic
across Europe, integrating the use of GAM indicators
within a second generation HIV surveillance systems
approach and in participatory collaboration with
MSM communities. It influenced the harmonisation of
European data collection procedures and indicators
via GAM country reporting and contributed essential
knowledge informing the development and implementation
of strategic, evidence-based HIV prevention
campaigns for MSM
Quantifying unmet prevention needs among MSM in Europe through a multi-site bio-behavioural survey
Introduction
The HIV epidemic represents an important public health issue in Europe particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Global AIDS Monitoring indicators (GAM) have been widely and jointly promoted as a set of crucial standardised items to be adopted for monitoring and responding to the epidemic.
Methods
The Sialon II study, implemented in 13 European cities (2013-14), was a complex multi-centre integrated bio-behavioural cross-sectional survey targeted at MSM, with a concomitant collection of behavioural and biological (oral fluid or blood specimens) data. Rigorous sampling approaches for hard-to-reach populations were used (time-location sampling and respondent-driven sampling) and GAM indicators were calculated; sampling frames were adapted to allow weighted estimates of GAM indicators.
Results
4,901 MSM were enrolled. HIV prevalence estimates ranged from 2.4% in Stockholm to 18.0% in Bucharest. When exploring city-level correlations between GAM indicators, prevention campaigns significantly correlated with levels of condom use and level of HIV testing among MSM.
Conclusion
The Sialon II project has made an important contribution to the monitoring and evaluation of the HIV epidemic across Europe, integrating the use of GAM indicators within a second generation HIV surveillance systems approach and in participatory collaboration with MSM communities. It influenced the harmonisation of European data collection procedures and indicators via GAM country reporting and contributed essential knowledge informing the development and implementation of strategic, evidence-based HIV prevention campaigns for MSM.Peer Reviewe
Survey of methods : used in some Belgium occupational health services to inventorize chemical exposures /
Master of Science in Environmental Sanitatio
Exit and Entry Screening Practices for Infectious Diseases among Travelers at Points of Entry: Looking for Evidence on Public Health Impact
A scoping search and a systematic literature review were conducted to give an insight on entry and exit screening referring to travelers at points of entry, by analyzing published evidence on practices, guidelines, and experiences in the past 15 years worldwide. Grey literature, PubMed. and Scopus were searched using specific terms. Most of the available data identified through the systematic literature review concerned entry screening measures at airports. Little evidence is available about entry and exit screening measure implementation and effectiveness at ports and ground crossings. Exit screening was part of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) temporary recommendations for implementation in certain points of entry, for specific time periods. Exit screening measures for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the three most affected West African countries did not identify any cases and showed zero sensitivity and very low specificity. The percentages of confirmed cases identified out of the total numbers of travelers that passed through entry screening measures in various countries worldwide for Influenza Pandemic (H1N1) and EVD in West Africa were zero or extremely low. Entry screening measures for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) did not detect any confirmed SARS cases in Australia, Canada, and Singapore. Despite the ineffectiveness of entry and exit screening measures, authors reported several important concomitant positive effects that their impact is difficult to assess, including discouraging travel of ill persons, raising awareness, and educating the traveling public and maintaining operation of flights from/to the affected areas. Exit screening measures in affected areas are important and should be applied jointly with other measures including information strategies, epidemiological investigation, contact tracing, vaccination, and quarantine to achieve a comprehensive outbreak management response. Based on review results, an algorithm about decision-making for entry/exit screening was developed.Peer Reviewe
Prioritization of high consequence viruses to improve European laboratory preparedness for cross-border health threats
Highly infectious diseases can spread rapidly across borders through travel or trade, and international coordination is essential to a prompt and efficient response by public health laboratories. Therefore, developing strategies to identify priorities for a rational allocation of resources for research and surveillance has been the focus of a large body of research in recent years. This paper describes the activities and the strategy used by a European-wide consortium funded by the European Commission, named EMERGE (Efficient response to highly dangerous and emerging pathogens at EU level), for the selection of high-threat pathogens with cross-border potential that will become the focus of its preparedness activities. The approach used is based on an objective scoring system, a close collaboration with other networks dealing with highly infection diseases, and a diagnostic gaps analysis. The result is a tool that is simple, objective and adaptable, which will be used periodically to re-evaluate activities and priorities, representing a step forward towards a better response to infectious disease emergencies.</p
Numbers of SNPs identified in VEEV genomes, by gene region.
<p>Numbers of SNPs identified in VEEV genomes, by gene region.</p