Community mapping and respondent-driven sampling of gay and bisexual men's communities in Vancouver, Canada

Forrest, Jamie I; Stevenson, Benjamin; Rich, Ashleigh J; Michelow, Warren; Pai, Jayaram; Jollimore, Jody; Raymond, H. Fisher; Moore, David; Hogg, Robert S.; Roth, Eric Abella

doi:10.1080/13691058.2014.881551

Cited by 27 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Momentum uses respondent-driven sampling (30) to recruit HIV-positive and HIV-negative GBM in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Initially-recruited “seeds” distributed a maximum of 6 paper and/or electronic vouchers to other Vancouver GBM (31). Voucher recipients were screened for study eligibility criteria, which included being 16 years of age and older, identifying as male, having had sex with another man in the past six months, living in Metro Vancouver, and competency to understand a questionnaire written in English.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroadaptive Strategies of Gay & Bisexual Men (GBM) with the Highest Quartile Number of Sexual Partners in Vancouver, Canada

et al. 2016

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Despite continued research among men with more sexual partners, little information exists on their seroadaptive behavior. Therefore, we examined seroadaptive anal sex strategies among 719 Vancouver gay and bisexual men (GBM) recruited using respondent driven sampling (RDS). Our objectives were to (1) describe the distribution in frequency of male sexual partnering among Vancouver GBM, and (2) identify important covariates associated with the number of male sexual partners. To this aims, we provide descriptive, univariate, and multivariate adjusted statistics, stratified by HIV status, for the association between having ≥7 male anal sex partners in the past six months (Population Q3, versus <7). Sensitivity Analysis were also performed to assess the robustness of this cut-off point. Results suggest that GBM with more sexual partners are more likely to employ seroadaptive strategies than men with fewer partners. These strategies may be used in hopes of offsetting risk, assessing needs for subsequent HIV testing, and balancing personal health with sexual intimacy. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of these strategies, assess how GBM perceive their efficacy, and understand the social and health impacts of their widespread uptake.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroadaptive Strategies of Gay & Bisexual Men (GBM) with the Highest Quartile Number of Sexual Partners in Vancouver, Canada

et al. 2016

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“…Cohort participants were recruited via respondent driven sampling between February 2012 and February 2014 (Forrest et al 2014), and enrolled in the Momentum Health Study after providing written informed consent. Initial participants or ‘seeds’ were recruited in-person via gay men’s health and social organisations as well as online via mobile sexual hook-up websites and apps and social media.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual HIV risk among gay, bisexual and queer transgender men: findings from interviews in Vancouver, Canada

Rich

Scott²,

Johnston

et al. 2017

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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Gay, bisexual, queer and other men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV in Canada. While up to two-thirds of transgender men identify as gay, bisexual or queer and report a variety of HIV sexual risk behaviours, transgender men are often overlooked within epidemiological HIV surveillance and research. While a growing body of research has begun to examine sexual risk for transgender gay, bisexual and queer men, most studies have been conducted in the USA. This study explored sexual HIV risk for this population in the Canadian context, specifically in British Columbia in an environment of publically funded universal access to healthcare including HIV testing and treatment. We conducted interviews with 11 gay, bisexual and queer transgender men. Participant narratives suggest that HIV risk for these transgender men is shaped by a diversity of sexual behaviours including inconsistent condom use, seeking partners online for greater safety, and accessing HIV/STI testing and other healthcare services despite facing transition-related barriers. Public health prevention and health education must recognise the presence of transgender men and ensure health services and broader population health promotion meet the unique sexual health needs of this sub-population of gay, bisexual and queer men.

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“…RDS begins by purposefully selecting a small number “seeds” to initiate the chains of peer referrals. Initial seeds were recruited from community agency or study team contacts in Vancouver, through participants identified through our formative work [20] and through our community advisory board (CAB). We also used advertisements on mobile smartphone applications or websites used by MSM to allow individuals not known by agencies, study staff or our CAB to volunteer to participate as seeds.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

HIV Community Viral Load and Factors Associated With Elevated Viremia Among a Community-Based Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vancouver, Canada

Moore

Cui

Lachowsky

et al. 2016

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

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Background We developed estimates of community viral load (VL) and risk factors for unsuppressed VL from a cross-sectional study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vancouver, Canada. Methods MSM were recruited from February 25, 2012 – February 28, 2014 using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). Participants completed a computer assisted self-interview questionnaire and a nurse-administered point-of-care HIV test. For HIV positive participants, we conducted VL and CD4 cell counts. We used RDS-weighted analysis to obtain population estimates of key variables and multivariable logistic regression to examine factors associated with having a VL ≥200 copies/mL among HIV-positive participants. Results We recruited 719 participants, of whom 119 (16.6%) were seeds. Our estimate of the population HIV prevalence was 23.4% (95% CI 15.8 – 31.0%) after RDS-adjustments. We estimated that 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.8 – 30.4%) of HIV-positive MSM in Vancouver had a VL ≥200 copies/mL. Having an unsuppressed VL was associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]= 4.34; 95% CI 1.67 – 11.1); an annual income of <$15,000 CAD (AOR=6.43; 95%CI 2.08–19.9); using GHB in the previous six months (AOR=4.85; 95%CI 1.79–13.2); unprotected anal intercourse with a known HIV negative or unknown serostatus partner (AOR=3.13; 95%CI 1.10–8.90); and disclosing one’s HIV serostatus ≥50% of the time (AOR=7.04; 95%CI 1.01–49.1). Conclusion Despite a high prevalence of HIV, we estimated that a small proportion of HIV positive MSM have undiagnosed HIV and unsuppressed VL. Our results highlight the importance of continued work to address health inequities using a social determinants of health framework.

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Community mapping and respondent-driven sampling of gay and bisexual men's communities in Vancouver, Canada

Cited by 27 publications

References 23 publications

Seroadaptive Strategies of Gay & Bisexual Men (GBM) with the Highest Quartile Number of Sexual Partners in Vancouver, Canada

Seroadaptive Strategies of Gay & Bisexual Men (GBM) with the Highest Quartile Number of Sexual Partners in Vancouver, Canada

Sexual HIV risk among gay, bisexual and queer transgender men: findings from interviews in Vancouver, Canada

HIV Community Viral Load and Factors Associated With Elevated Viremia Among a Community-Based Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vancouver, Canada

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