HIV biomedical prevention through treatment-as-prevention (TasP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious for reducing HIV transmission risk. The benefits could be undermined by the rising HIV transmission risks in men who have sex with men (MSM) who engaged in chemsex. This project aims to assess the impacts of chemsex on the growth of the HIV epidemic by exploring the complex relationships between chemsex engagement and usage of HIV biomedical prevention in MSM in Hong Kong. Participants would be recruited from the community and clinics in 2 cross-sectional studies (500 HIV-negative and 500 HIV-positive MSM), for HIV self-testing and completing an electronic questionnaire. The association of chemsex would be examined between PrEP-naïve and PrEP experienced HIV-negative MSM, and between good and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive subjects in case-control analyses using logistic regression and multilevel models. The main outcomes include coverage of biomedical prevention in MSM, and their drug use patterns.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
733
HIV test would be offered to self-reported HIV-negative / unknown HIV status MSM to confirm their HIV status
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
pre-exposure prophylaxis coverage
proportion of HIV-negative MSM taking pre-exposure prophylaxis; based on self-reported data in questionnaire
Time frame: 6 months
Good antiretroviral therapy adherence
proportion of HIV-positive MSM with good antiretroviral therapy adherence; based on self-reported data (CD4 count, viral load level, history of stoppoing ART / missing doses) in questionnaire
Time frame: 2 years
Drug use pattern
types of drugs taken for chemsex engagement (taking before or during sex); based on self-reported data in questionnaire
Time frame: 6 months
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