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Spotlight on... awareness weeks

Awareness weeks guide

World AIDs Day

World AIDS Day

1st December 2024

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year to help raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. This year’s theme is ‘It starts with me.’  World AIDS Day

UpToDate

Acute and early HIV infection

Complications

Diagnosis and treatment

General

Mental health

Cochrane Library

Guidelines

Online resources

Reports

Articles

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Research

Treatment and access to services

E-books

E-journals

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Articles

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Factors associated with HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use among Asian men who have sex with men in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia: a cross-sectional study
To end HIV transmission in Australia, it will be necessary to develop strategies to improve PrEP access for the significant minority of Asian-born MSM who are at substantial risk of HIV infection. The Lancet regional health – Western Pacific 18 April 2024

Inequities in PrEP use according to Medicare status in a publicly funded sexual health clinic; a retrospective analysis
New HIV diagnoses continue to disproportionately affect overseas-born men who have sex with men (MSM). A retrospective study of all pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)-eligible MSM attending Sydney Sexual Health Centre for the first time in 2021 analysed self-reported PrEP-use, PrEP prescribed at the initial consult, and PrEP taken during 2021 using binomial logistic regression models. A total of 1367 clients were included in the analysis, 716 (52.4%) were born overseas and 414 (57.8%) were Medicare-ineligible. Medicare-ineligible clients were less likely to be on PrEP at initial visit (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.77). This study suggests inequities in PrEP access and/or awareness in Medicare-ineligible MSM in Australia. Sexual health 22 February 2024

Provider views of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for cisgender women – where do women fit in HIV elimination in Australia?
Clinician experience of PrEP prescribing to Australian cisgender women is limited, with substantial barriers to access perceived by prescribers. Targeted education to PrEP prescribers, updated national PrEP guidelines to include women as a distinct group and further research regarding women’s preferred model of PrEP access are required. Clarity of clinical ownership over PrEP implementation for women and, more broadly, women’s sexual health, is essential in order to achieve HIV elimination in Australia. Sexual health 31 October 2023

Restarting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis
About a quarter of people who stopped PrEP would restart, with substantial variation across countries and populations. It is important to understand the motivations and contextual factors influencing restarting PrEP and the support systems to enable restarting PrEP for those at ongoing risk. eClinicalMedicine 17 May 2024

Ending HIV transmission in Australia: Expanding PrEP to cisgender women: A scoping review
The authors conducted a scoping review to examine the extent to which PrEP access for cisgender women has been considered in Australia. Focused discussion of cisgender women’s use of PrEP was largely missing from the literature and, although their use of PrEP is supported in some relevant guidelines, little has been done to actively develop strategies to inform cisgender women about PrEP as a precursor to prescribing for HIV prevention. Healthcare providers’ narrow view of PrEP as being the domain of GBM further limits cisgender women’s potential access. If HIV elimination in Australia is to be a reality, we need to develop mechanisms to specifically engage with cisgender women about PrEP.  AIDS and behavior 28 May 2024

Variations in HIV prevention coverage in subpopulations of Australian gay and bisexual men, 2017–2021: Implications for reducing inequities in the combination prevention era
Using repeated behavioural surveillance data collected from gay and bisexual men (GBM) across Australia, the authors assessed trends in HIV prevention coverage (the level of ‘safe sex’ achieved in the population by the use of effective prevention methods, including condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] and having an undetectable viral load). AIDS and behavior 27 September 2024

Twice-yearly Lenacapavir or daily F/TAF for HIV prevention in cisgender women
No participants receiving twice-yearly lenacapavir acquired HIV infection. HIV incidence with lenacapavir was significantly lower than background HIV incidence and HIV incidence with F/TDF. NEJM 24 July 2024

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Research

Women living with HIV: identifying and managing their menopause, age-related, and psychosocial health needs in a metropolitan sexual health service in Sydney, Australia
This service has now implemented a reference tool to guide routine monitoring of women living with HIV, with sections dedicated to reproductive health and psychological wellbeing. Australian HIV management guidelines would benefit from specific guidance for women. Sexual health 16 September 2024

Key findings from the 2023 ‘ACT NOW on Global HIV Migration, Mobility and Health Equity’ community forum
Laws limiting the migration of people living with HIV actively discourage individuals from seeking HIV testing, treatment and care. Ultimately, restrictive migration laws and policies undermine global efforts to end AIDS as a public health concern and to virtually eliminate HIV transmission by 2030. Sexual health 13 August 2024

Improving digital partner notification for sexually transmitted infections and HIV through a systematic review and application of the Behaviour Change Wheel approach
Partner notification (PN) is key to controlling sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Digital PN options (e.g. social media, short message service (SMS), emails) are promising in increasing PN behaviour. However, their implementation is often challenging and studies report varied levels of acceptability and uptake of PN, highlighting the need to optimise digital PN interventions. The evidence-based recommendations in this paper should be used to optimise existing digital PN interventions and inform the co-production of new ones. Sexual health 26 February 2024

Life course stressors, latent coping strategies, alcohol use, and latent coping strategies among people with HIV
These findings reveal important coping classifications that are linked to stressors across the life course of people with HIV (PWH). An understanding of coping styles and stressors may aid in improving the continuum of care among PWH by reducing alcohol use and improving medication adherence. AIDS and behavior 15 November 2024

Missed opportunities for guidance on sexually transmitted infection services: a global review of national HIV PrEP guidance
PrEP services offer an opportunity for improved and expanded STI services, increasing person-centred care and addressing STI epidemics alongside HIV. This review highlights the strengths and gaps in incorporating critical STI interventions into national PrEP normative guidance. Addressing these gaps through a stepwise approach and increasing targeted testing and partner services can help improve quality of care and support an effective response to HIV and other STIs. Sexually transmitted infections 19 June 2024

HIV and risk of hypertension: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
As the first exploratory study using Mendelian randomization (MR) method to study the causal relationship between HIV infection and hypertension and blood pressure, this study found that HIV infection may increase systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increase the risk of hypertension. BMC infectious diseases 23 November 2024

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Treatment and access to services

Hiding in plain sight: highlighting the research gap on access to HIV and other sexual health services for underrepresented gay men in developed Western countries – insights from a scoping review with a focus on Arab men
This review highlights a paucity of research on access to HIV and sexual health services for underrepresented gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)populations in developed Western countries. The literature indicates that, for Arab men, this may be due to a difficulty in participant recruitment and poor data collection efforts. By focusing on one hidden population, the authors aim to advocate for inclusive policies and interventions that promote equitable sexual health access for all. Addressing this research gap aligns with broader local and global HIV strategies to reduce disparities among underrepresented GBMSM populations. Sexual health 2 January 2024

Outreach nurses critical for delivery of HIV care to women in western Victoria
Women living with HIV in regional Victoria face barriers accessing care. The authors evaluated the care cascade and outreach nurse support required for women attending our service between 2005 and 2020. A total of 33 women attended; 97% (32/33) were on antiretroviral therapy; 67% (22/33) retained in care, 27% (9/33) transferred and 6% (2/33) lost to follow up. Of women retained in care, 95% (21/22) were on antiretroviral therapy and 91% (20/22) had virological suppression. A total of 91% (30/33) required outreach nurse care (median care episodes 100/woman; IQR 44–179) – most frequently (87%; 26/30) liaising with pharmacies and prescribers. Outreach nurses are critical in achieving UNAIDS targets for women in western Victoria. Sexual health 2 January 2024

Efficacy of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide versus dolutegravir-based three-drug regimens in people with HIV with varying adherence to antiretroviral therapy
Participants with suboptimal (<85%) adherence to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) maintained high levels of virologic suppression (VS), whereas suboptimal dolutegravir (DTG)  + 2 NRTI adherence was associated with lower VS. Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy 18 November 2024

Clinical efficacy and safety of new compound single tablet antiviral drugs in the treatment of HIV/AIDS
The viral suppression rate was 100 % after the drug change treatment, and CD4+ T cell counts increased significantly across all four groups. Genvoya, Biktarvy and Dovato are recommended for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and have a good safety profile. Life sciences 18 October 2024

Harnessing artificial intelligence for HIV drug resistance: Prediction and personalized treatment
Harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for HIV drug resistance prediction and personalized treatment represented a transformative approach in managing HIV/AIDS. This review explored the integration of AI methodologies, particularly machine learning and deep learning, to enhance the prediction of drug resistance mutations in HIV.  Newport international journal of research in medical sciences 30 September 2024

Toward a cure – Advancing HIV/AIDs treatment modalities beyond antiretroviral therapy: A Review
This review explores the complex field of HIV/AIDS treatment, covering both established alternative treatment modalities and orthodox antiretroviral therapy. Medicine 5 July 2024

Discrepancies between self-reported medication in adherence and indirect measurement adherence among patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy: a systematic review
The findings underscored the complexity of accurately measuring medication adherence among antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients. Significant variability was observed across studies, with self-report methods showing a significant tendency towards overestimation. Year of reporting, geographic region, and adherence measurement tools appeared to influence the differences between self-report (SR) and indirect measurements. Future research should focus on developing and validating integrated adherence measurements that can combine SR data with indirect measures to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of adherence behaviors. Infectious diseases of poverty 5 July 2024

Clinical profile and adverse effects of Dolutegravir treatment in HIV-positive patients: A prospective observational study
While DTG-based therapies offer substantial advantages in HIV/AIDS management, such as rapid viral suppression and reduced toxicity, ongoing vigilance for adverse effects, particularly neuropsychiatric symptoms and metabolic disturbances, is imperative for optimizing patient care. Cureus 17 June 2024

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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E-Journals

A sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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