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Venue-Based HIV-Testing: An Effective Screening Strategy for High-Risk Populations in Lima, Peru

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Abstract

Venue-based testing may improve screening efforts for HIV and syphilis, thereby reducing transmission. We offered onsite rapid dual HIV and syphilis testing at venues popular among MSM and/or transgender women in Lima, Peru. We used Poisson regression to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for factors associated with each infection. Most (90.4%) of the 303 participants would test more frequently if testing was available at alternative venues. New cases of HIV (69) and syphilis infection (84) were identified. HIV was associated with recent sex work (aPR 1.11; 95% CI 1.02–1.22), sex with a partner of unknown serostatus (aPR 1.18; 95% CI 1.09–1.27), exclusively receptive anal sex role (aPR 1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.30) or versatile sex role (aPR 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.30) compared to insertive. Syphilis was associated with reporting role versatility (aPR = 2.69; 95% CI 1.52–5.74). Sex work venues had higher syphilis prevalence 47% versus 28% in other venues, p value = 0.012. Venue-based testing may improve case finding.

Resumen

Realizar pruebas en lugares de encuentro puede mejorar la detección del VIH y sífilis, llegando a reducir transmisión. Ofrecíamos pruebas rápidas para sífilis y VIH en lugares populares entre HSH y/o mujeres transgénero en Lima, Perú. Calculamos razones de prevalencia ajustados (aRP) para factores asociados con cada infección usando regresión de Poisson. La mayoría (90.4%) de los 303 participantes realizarían pruebas más frecuentemente si estuvieran disponibles en lugares alternativos. Se identificaron nuevos casos de VIH (69) y sífilis (84). VIH fue asociado con trabajo sexual (aPR = 1.11; IC95% 1.02-1.22), tener una pareja de seroestatus desconocido (aPR = 1.18; IC95% 1.09-1.27), sexo anal exclusivamente receptiva (aPR = 1.16; IC95% 1.03-1.30) o rol sexual versátil (aPR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.06-1.30) en comparación con insertivo. Sífilis fue asociado con versatilidad de rol (aPR = 2.69; IC95% 1.52-5.74). Los lugares de trabajo sexual tuvieron una mayor prevalencia de sífilis 47% en comparación con 28% en otros, valor-p = 0.012. Pruebas en lugares de encuentro pueden mejorar la búsqueda de casos.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the University of California, Los Angeles Center for AIDS Research #AI028697 as well as the South American Program in HIV Prevention Research NIH/NIMH R25MH087222. The dual rapid tests were donated by Standard Diagnostics, Incorporated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    M. Christina Herrera, Jeffrey D. Klausner & Kelika A. Konda

  3. Center for Interdisciplinary Investigation in Sexuality, AIDS, and Society and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

    Gino M. Calvo, Silver K. Vargas, Carlos F. Caceres & Kelika A. Konda

  4. Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

    Jeffrey D. Klausner & Kelika A. Konda

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  1. Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz
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  2. M. Christina Herrera
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  3. Gino M. Calvo
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Correspondence to Lao-Tzu Allan-Blitz or Kelika A. Konda.

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This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Allan-Blitz, LT., Herrera, M.C., Calvo, G.M. et al. Venue-Based HIV-Testing: An Effective Screening Strategy for High-Risk Populations in Lima, Peru. AIDS Behav 23, 813–819 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2342-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2342-8

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