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In this trial of preexposure prophylaxis with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) in men who have sex with men, TDF-FTC was found to be effective in preventing HIV-1 infection when it was taken before sexual activity. The prevention of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) remains a major public health challenge. 1 Owing to the lack of an effective HIV vaccine, consistent condom use remains the cornerstone of prevention, but biomedical interventions such as male circumcision and the use of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV infection represent additional prevention strategies. 2 – 5 Among the promising interventions is preexposure prophylaxis, in which antiretroviral drugs are started in HIV-negative persons before potential exposure to the virus. Daily oral preexposure prophylaxis with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or the combination of TDF and . . .

Background Partner notification interventions are complex and assessing their effectiveness is challenging. By reviewing the literature on the effectiveness of partner notification interventions, our aim was to evaluate the choice, collection, and interpretation of outcomes and their impact on study findings. Methods We conducted a systematic review of individual-level randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of partner notification interventions for bacterial STIs, HIV or sexually transmitted HCV in high-income countries since 2000. Partner notification interventions included assisted patient referral interventions and expedited treatment. The content analysis was carried out through a narrative review. Results In the 9 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 16 different outcomes were found. In most studies, one or two outcomes assessing partner notification practices were associated with an outcome reflecting STI circulation through index case reinfections. These outcomes assessed the main expected effects of partner notification interventions. However, partner notification is composed of a succession of actions between the intervention on the index case and the testing and/or treatment of the notified partners. Intermediate outcomes were missing so as to better understand levers and barriers throughout the process. Potential changes in participants’ sexual behaviour after partner notification, e.g. condom use, were outcomes reported in only two studies assessing interventions including counselling. Most outcomes were collected through interviews, some weeks after the intervention, which might lead to desirability and attrition biases, respectively. Assessment of the effectiveness of partner notification interventions on partner testing/treatment was limited by the collection of data from index cases. Few data describing index cases and their partners were provided in the studies. Additional data on the number and type of exposed partners and the proportion of partners already aware of their infection before being notified would help to interpret the results. Conclusions These insights would help to understand why and under what conditions the intervention is considered effective and therefore can be replicated or adapted to other populations and contexts.

Chemsex—the use of drugs in a sexual context—has been associated with more at-risk sexual practices and substance-related complications in men who have sex with men (MSM). To date, no study has focused on the impact of France’s first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown on the mental health and drug/alcohol use of MSM who practice chemsex. We implemented a web-based survey of 9,488 MSM living in France in June 2020 (after the country’s first COVID-19 lockdown). Specifically, we first compared the subpopulation of MSM who self-reported practicing chemsex during their most recent sexual intercourse (defined as “chemsexers”) with other MSM, using five outcomes: increased 1/tobacco use, 2/alcohol use, and 3/other psychoactive drug use. 4/using psychotropic medication during the lockdown, and finally 5/psychological distress. We then analyzed the outcomes’ associations with the main explanatory variable “chemsexer,” after adjusting for all relevant variables. Among 7,195 MSM who had sexual intercourse with a man during the previous 6 months, 359 participants (5%) were identified as “chemsexers.” Multivariable analyses showed that during the first lockdown period, chemsexers were significantly more likely than non-chemsexers to have increased their use of tobacco, alcohol, and other psychoactive substances. Chemsexers were also more likely to have used psychotropic medication and to have experienced psychological distress during the previous month. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in France and worldwide, this finding highlights the need to develop psychosocial interventions and harm reduction services for MSM chemsexers, potentially via mobile health.

Pleasure-seeking plays a role in prevention (means choices and use), and in the sexual quality of life of men who have sex with men (MSM). Since HIV is a major threat to MSM health, new means of prevention, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), must meet the needs of MSM to be fully efficient. Using a psychosocial approach, we examined how pleasure-seeking plays a role in participation of MSM in “ANRS-IPERGAY,” a community-based trial on sexual health which included sexual on-demand PrEP. Thirteen semistructured collective interviews were conducted with 45 participants. First, we analyzed participants’ search for new prevention means due to previous failures in condom use. We found that participants perceived condoms as a barrier—both materially and symbolically—to pleasure and desire, causing anxiety and stress considering sexual intercourse. Second, we explored representations and attitudes concerning pleasure within the context of PrEP. We found that PrEP allowed participants to freely choose their desired sexual positions and to better enjoy intimacy. Third, we studied the sexual quality of life for PrEP users in ANRS-IPERGAY and found an improvement. Thanks to the community-based design of the trial, this new prevention tool became a means to develop agency and empowerment for participants, not only in negotiating individual prevention but also in opposing the normative and stigmatizing discourse on sexuality and HIV. In conclusion, pleasure-seeking appears to be an essential element of sexual fulfillment that needs to be integrated as a positive notion in the study of HIV prevention.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036118.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055225.].

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in France is recommended for persons of both sexes up to 19 years of age. This increases to 26 years for men who have sex with men (MSM), as they are considered a high-risk group. Raising the upper age limit for MSM is a targeted sexual healthcare policy because it takes into account the specificities of MSM sexual practices. Assessing MSM’s perceptions of targeted sexual healthcare, using HPV vaccination as an example, is crucial for improving public health policy and HPV recommendations. As part of the French mixed-methods study Vaccigay, we conducted a qualitative study—using semi-structured interviews—with MSM selected by age and HPV vaccination status in 2022. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using NVivo. Some respondents supported targeted sexual healthcare policy for MSM because they recognised the epidemiological factors involved and wanted healthcare workers to have a non-judgmental attitude toward them. Others did not because they felt it stigmatised MSM; they advocated equal sexual healthcare for everyone. Ultimately, uncertainty about one’s own sexual orientation and difficulty discussing sexuality with doctors were barriers to accessing targeted sexual health care. We recommend improving training of healthcare workers on the specific needs of sexual and gender minorities, increasing the number of sexual health centres that serve these populations, and extending HPV vaccination to all adults up to the age of 26, irrespective of sexual orientation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062611.].

Background Although Senegal’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program has improved access to care, it has sometimes led to overuse of health services. Moreover, the program’s substantial financial debt to health facilities (HFs) has exposed them to organizational and financial problems, making it difficult to renew drug stocks and pay salaries on time. The multiple effects of the UHC program, both on individuals and on HFs, may discourage individuals from seeking for care in HFs. This study analyzed structural and individual factors associated with healthcare-seeking behavior in the context of Senegal’s UHC program. Methods We used data from six HFs in the mostly rural Fatick region that participated in two different two surveys: ANRS 12399 Soignants Sénégal and CMUtuelleS. We performed a multilevel logistic regression model to identify individual and structural factors influencing healthcare-seeking behavior. Results Among the 313 individuals included, 63.3% were female and median age was 52 years (IQR [41⎯63]). Half the participants (50.5%) sought health services after experiencing a health problem in the two months prior to the survey. HFs, which the National Agency managing the UHC program (33.3%) owed most to, were better equipped and staffed, but also the most negatively affected by UHC implementation. Despite this, individuals sought care in these facilities just as frequently as in others, suggesting that being better equipped and staffed helped them to be more resilient to the negative effects of the UHC program. Individuals were less likely to seek care in smaller HFs. Instead, they were more likely to seek care in HFs providing HIV and tuberculosis care. Voluntary (i.e., paying) members (vs. other members) of community-based health insurance organizations, and individuals with a chronic illness (vs. without), were more likely to seek care. Persons with a disability (vs. without) and those experiencing food insecurity (vs. no food insecurity) were less likely to seek care. Conclusion Both the financial support provided to individuals by the UHC program and structural characteristics of the healthcare system were associated with seeking healthcare. Taking greater account of these structural aspects when implementing UHC could enhance the program’s effectiveness and help achieve its objectives.

Introduction In sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), men who have sex with men (MSM) often have female sexual partners. Their overall risk of acquiring HIV is higher with male partners. Risk perception is associated with HIV knowledge, sexual risk and preventive behaviours. This synthesis aimed to summarize existing data about HIV knowledge and perceived HIV acquisition risk regarding sex with men and with women in MSM in SSA. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of MSM's relationships with women in SSA (PROSPERO‐CRD42021237836). Quantitative and qualitative data related to MSM's perceived risk from sex with men and with women and HIV knowledge (published up to 2021) were selected and synthesized. Results Twenty studies were selected. More MSM perceived that the greatest risk of HIV acquisition came from heterosexual/vaginal sex than from homosexual/anal sex (53% vs. 15%; 51% vs. 39%; 42% vs. 8%; 27% vs. 25%; 43% vs. 11%; 23% vs. 13%; 35% vs. 16%, cumulative sample n = 4396, six countries). A higher proportion of MSM received preventive information on heterosexual HIV transmission than on homosexual transmission (79% vs. 22%; 94% vs. 67%; 54% vs. 19%; cumulative sample n = 1199, four countries). The qualitative synthesis (eight studies) highlighted biology‐ and behaviour‐based misconceptions leading MSM to perceive lower or negligible HIV risk from sex with men, compared to sex with women. These misconceptions were partly fuelled by the predominant focus on heterosexual and vaginal HIV transmission in HIV prevention information. Discussion Common misconceptions regarding sexual risk between men remain unaddressed by the heteronormative messaging of HIV prevention. Underestimation by MSM of their HIV acquisition risk with male partners can pose significant barriers to effective HIV preventive behaviours and strengthen the transmission risk from MSM to their female partners. Conclusions Improving access of MSM to tailored HIV prevention information and tools that address their practices with male and female partners is crucial. Integrating messages about anal sex into broader public health initiatives, including sexual health programmes targeting the general population, is essential. Further research in diverse settings in SSA is necessary to gain a greater understanding of the drivers and implications of HIV risk perception in MSM.