Seizing opportunities for intervention: Changing HIV-related knowledge among men who have sex with men and transgender women attending trusted community centers in Nigeria

Abstract

Background Knowledge of HIV risk factors and reduction strategies is essential for prevention in key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). We evaluated factors associated with HIV-related knowledge among MSM and TGW and the impact of engagement in care at trusted community health centers in Nigeria. Methods The TRUST/RV368 cohort recruited MSM and TGW in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria via respondent driven sampling. During study visits every three months, participants underwent structured interviews to collect behavioral data, received HIV education, and were provided free condoms and condom compatible lubricants. Five HIV-related knowledge questions were asked at enrollment and repeated after 9 and 15 months. The mean number of correct responses was calculated for each visit with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multivariable Poisson regression was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios and CIs for factors associated with answering more knowledge questions correctly.

Trends of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes among Nigerian women between 2007 and 2017 using Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data

“…Thus, behavioral change intervention strategies that favor PLHIV should be encouraged. Governmental policy and laws should be modified to be more accommodating to all groups, as policies that segregate a particular group may hamper on the progress of HIV interventions and programs [ 53 ]. With Nigeria a signatory to numerous of human rights declarations including the Convention on Elimination of all Form of Stigma and Discrimination against Women [ 54 ]; there is the need for human rights organizations to intensify efforts in the enforcement of the anti-HIV discrimination law and ensure the conformity to these rights, with more innovative efforts towards HIV/AIDS advocacy, awareness.…”

Retention of a cohort of men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk for and living with HIV in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria: a longitudinal analysis

“…Together, facilities focused on the social, legal and sexual health needs of study participants and sensitization training was provided to promote integration of the two entities. Services included education about safer sex practices, distribution of condoms and condom‐compatible lubricants and diagnosis and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [14‐19]. Despite these services, we have previously reported a high HIV incidence of 15 infections per 100 person‐years in the cohort [20].…”

Food and Water Insecurity in Sexual and Gender Minority Groups Living With HIV in Lagos, Nigeria

“…This is in keeping with previous work by our group, which demonstrated that ongoing care engagement at a trusted community clinic resulted in improvements over time in other health-related outcome measures such as increased HIV knowledge, condom use, and condom-compatible lubricant use. 46,47 Unmeasured biases may have contributed to these outcomes and alternative explanations are possible. For example, who had the most food and water security could be more likely to remain in this study; however, several observed factors associated with water insecurity were robust to sensitivity analysis limited to participants who were followed through the end of this study.…”