The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as...

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Main Authors: Maryana Sluzhynska, Olga Denisiuk, Ruzanna Grigoryan, Yulia Sereda, Gennadiy Slabkiy, Olena Levytska, Volodymyr Vozniuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2020-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11967
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author Maryana Sluzhynska
Olga Denisiuk
Ruzanna Grigoryan
Yulia Sereda
Gennadiy Slabkiy
Olena Levytska
Volodymyr Vozniuk
author_facet Maryana Sluzhynska
Olga Denisiuk
Ruzanna Grigoryan
Yulia Sereda
Gennadiy Slabkiy
Olena Levytska
Volodymyr Vozniuk
author_sort Maryana Sluzhynska
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT. This study aimed to calculate the proportion of misclassified MoT among HIV-positive MSM registered in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, during 2014-2018. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 127 HIV-positive MSM patients from Lviv region for the period of 2014-2018. Results: Out of 127 HIV-positive MSM included in the study, 110 (86.6%) were from urban areas. In addition, 52 patients (40.9%) were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV, 16 (12.6%) – stage 2, 19 (15%) – stage 3, and 36 (28.3%) – stage 4. CD4 count < 200 cells/μL was found in 35 (27.6%) patients. Mean time from registration to antiretroviral therapy initiation was 80 days. During the first visit to medical doctor out of those 48 patients who had previously reported “other modes” of HIV transmission, 33 patients (68.7%) disclosed homosexual MoT of HIV. The remaining 15 (31.3%) patients disclosed their homosexual MoT of HIV later – during their regular follow-up visits to the doctor. Conclusion: Special measures are needed to improve the reporting of homosexual MoT which can potentially strengthen the HIV care among MSM.
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spelling doaj-art-0c62f62a05a24389bc6e3a23b07ebfa82025-08-20T02:27:11ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802020-11-011411.110.3855/jidc.11967The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018Maryana Sluzhynska0Olga Denisiuk1Ruzanna Grigoryan2Yulia Sereda3Gennadiy Slabkiy4Olena Levytska5Volodymyr Vozniuk6Lviv Regional Public Health Center, Lviv, UkraineThe International Charitable Foundation “Alliance for Public Health”, Kyiv, UkraineTB Research and Prevention Center NGO, Yerevan, ArmeniaIndependent consultant, Kyiv, UkraineUzhhorod National University, Department of Public Health, Uzhgorod, UkraineLviv Regional Public Health Center, Lviv, UkraineLviv Regional Public Health Center, Lviv, Ukraine Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT. This study aimed to calculate the proportion of misclassified MoT among HIV-positive MSM registered in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, during 2014-2018. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 127 HIV-positive MSM patients from Lviv region for the period of 2014-2018. Results: Out of 127 HIV-positive MSM included in the study, 110 (86.6%) were from urban areas. In addition, 52 patients (40.9%) were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV, 16 (12.6%) – stage 2, 19 (15%) – stage 3, and 36 (28.3%) – stage 4. CD4 count < 200 cells/μL was found in 35 (27.6%) patients. Mean time from registration to antiretroviral therapy initiation was 80 days. During the first visit to medical doctor out of those 48 patients who had previously reported “other modes” of HIV transmission, 33 patients (68.7%) disclosed homosexual MoT of HIV. The remaining 15 (31.3%) patients disclosed their homosexual MoT of HIV later – during their regular follow-up visits to the doctor. Conclusion: Special measures are needed to improve the reporting of homosexual MoT which can potentially strengthen the HIV care among MSM. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11967MSMSORT ITStigmaHIVAIDS
spellingShingle Maryana Sluzhynska
Olga Denisiuk
Ruzanna Grigoryan
Yulia Sereda
Gennadiy Slabkiy
Olena Levytska
Volodymyr Vozniuk
The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
MSM
SORT IT
Stigma
HIV
AIDS
title The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
title_full The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
title_fullStr The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
title_full_unstemmed The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
title_short The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018
title_sort reporting of the mode of transmission among hiv positive men who have sex with men in lviv oblast ukraine 2014 2018
topic MSM
SORT IT
Stigma
HIV
AIDS
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11967
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