Preferences for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men and trans women in 15 countries and territories in Asia and Australia: a discrete choice experiment.

Introduction: Scaling up pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in the Asia-Pacific region has been slow. We identified the drivers of PrEP use and forecasted PrEP uptake given different PrEP programmes for MSM and TGW living in 15 countries and territories in Asia and Australia.

Methods: Separate online discrete choice experiment surveys for MSM and TGW were distributed in 15 Asian countries and territories and Australia between May and November 2022.

Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis service package among men who have sex with men in Australia: a discrete choice experiment.

Objectives: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) usage remains below the Australian 75% coverage target. This study identified preferences for PrEP services shared among subgroups of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Australia and explored heterogeneity preferences across different age groups and countries of birth.

Methods: MSM aged>18 years with no prior HIV diagnosis and residing in Australia completed an online discrete choice experiment between May and November 2022.

Preferences and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV among men who have sex with men in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains low in mainland China and Hong Kong. We examined preferences for different PrEP modalities among men who have sex with men (MSM) in mainland China and Hong Kong. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey from May to November 2022 in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Progress towards the UNAIDS 2030 HIV prevention target in New South Wales, Australia: a population-based study.

Background: The UNAIDS ending AIDS strategy includes a 2030 prevention target of a 90% reduction in new infections from 2010. We report progress towards this goal in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods: We report HIV notification data for people newly diagnosed by exposure category, with a focus on GBM who comprised more than three-quarters of diagnoses.

PrEP use and willingness cascades among GBMSM in 15 Asian countries/territories: an analysis of the PrEP APPEAL survey.

Introduction: Despite the high HIV incidence among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and the demonstrated effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), PrEP is not accessible at scale across Asia. To help inform future scaling efforts, our study aimed to examine PrEP use and willingness to use among GBMSM to identify opportunities and target groups for upscaling PrEP.

Methods: The PrEP APPEAL survey was a cross-sectional survey, promoted through online advertising and community organizations, from May to November 2022.

Mpox vaccination coverage among Australian gay and bisexual men and non-binary people: Results of behavioural surveillance in early 2024.

Background: We examined characteristics associated with mpox vaccine uptake among gay, bisexual, queer and other men who have sex with men and non-binary people (GBQ+ people), the primary target group for Australian vaccination programs following the mid-2022 outbreak.

Methods: Vaccine uptake was assessed using cross-sectional surveys of GBQ+ people from three Australian jurisdictions in 2024: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria. Sexually active, mpox-undiagnosed participants were included.

Patterns of Social Support and LGBTQ + Community Involvement Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Australia and Their Effect on HIV-Related Outcomes: A Latent Class Analysis.

Peer support from social networks of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) has been recognised as a critical driver of engagement with HIV prevention. Using data from an online cross-sectional survey of 1,032 GBMSM aged 18 or over in Australia, a latent class analysis was conducted to categorise participants based on social support, LGBTQ + community involvement, and social engagement with gay men and LGBTQ + people. Comparisons between classes were assessed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.

Increasing event-driven HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Australia: results from behavioural surveillance 2019-2023.

Introduction: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been publicly available since 2018 in Australia as a daily regimen. In 2019, clinical guidelines were updated to support guidance on event-driven PrEP (ED-PrEP) use. We assessed trends in the PrEP dosing regimen by comparing daily PrEP use to ED-PrEP among cisgender gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).

Prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in Australia.

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective medication for preventing HIV acquisition. We examined Australian general practitioners' (GP) knowledge of PrEP efficacy, characteristics associated with ever prescribing PrEP and barriers to prescribing. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of GPs working in Australia between April and October 2022.

Exploring the Dark Matter of Human Proteome: The Emerging Role of Non-Canonical Open Reading Frame (ncORF) in Cancer Diagnosis, Biology, and Therapy.

Cancer develops from abnormal cell growth in the body, causing significant mortalities every year. To date, potent therapeutic approaches have been developed to eradicate tumor cells, but intolerable toxicity and drug resistance can occur in treated patients, limiting the efficiency of existing treatment strategies. Therefore, searching for novel genes critical for cancer progression and therapeutic response is urgently needed for successful cancer therapy.

Assessing HIV risk and the social and behavioural characteristics of gay and bisexual men who have recently migrated to Australia: an analysis of national, behavioural surveillance data 2019-2021.

Introduction: Overseas-born gay and bisexual men (GBM) are overrepresented in HIV diagnoses in Australia. We assessed social and sexual behaviours, and the use of HIV prevention and testing, by region of birth and length of residence in Australia. We sought to identify similarities and differences between recently arrived and non-recently arrived GBM from non-English-speaking countries to improve targeting and engagement with HIV testing and prevention.

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, we 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). We stratified these trends by age, country of birth/recency of arrival, sexual identity, and the proportion of gay residents in the participant's suburb. Among 25,865 participants with casual male partners, HIV prevention coverage increased from 69.

The impact of social connections and discrimination to HIV risk among Asian gay and bisexual men in Australia.

Background: Asian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are overrepresented in new HIV diagnoses in Australia. Social engagement with other GBMSM has been associated with HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. Asian GBMSM may be socially disconnected from LGBTQ+ people, which may increase their HIV risk.

National Surveillance of Home-Based HIV Testing Among Australian Gay and Bisexual Men, 2018-2020: Uptake After Commercial Availability of HIV Self-Tests.

HIV self-testing allows people to collect samples and test themselves at home, addressing known barriers to facility-based testing. We aimed to measure the uptake of home HIV testing among Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM). Using national cross-sectional data from the Australian Gay Community Periodic Surveys, we assessed trends in home HIV testing among non-HIV positive GBM between 2018 and 2020.

Changing Characteristics of HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men's Relationships in the Era of Biomedical Prevention.

Objective: To assess changes in personal and relationship characteristics among HIV-positive Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM) as rates of antiretroviral therapy and knowledge and confidence regarding the effectiveness of viral suppression in preventing HIV transmission have increased.

Design: Repeated behavioral surveillance of GBM recruited from venues, events, and online in 7 Australian states and territories.

Methods: HIV-positive participants were included.

Identifying Patterns of Discontinuing and Recommencing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the Context of Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia.

We mapped gay and bisexual men's (GBM) patterns of using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) over time and explored sexual behavior as PrEP use changed. We conducted semi-structured interviews between June 2020 and February 2021 with 40 GBM living in Australia who had changed their PrEP use since initiating. There was considerable diversity in patterns of discontinuation, suspension, and recommencement of PrEP.

Factors Associated With Willingness to Use Daily Antibiotics as Sexually Transmitted Infection Prophylaxis Among HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis-Experienced Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia.

Background: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) who use HIV preexposure prophylaxis (HIV-PrEP) have high rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The use of daily antibiotics as STI preexposure prophylaxis (STI-PrEP) may be appealing to GBM who are using or have previously used HIV-PrEP (HIV-PrEP-experienced) for the prevention of bacterial STIs.

Methods: We examined willingness to use daily STI-PrEP among a cross-sectional sample of HIV-PrEP-experienced GBM in Australia who participated in an observational online cohort study from August 2018 to March 2020.

Increased awareness of event-driven PrEP and knowledge of how to use it: results from a cross-sectional survey of gay and bisexual men in Australia.

Background: Recent changes to Australian PrEP prescribing guidelines support the use of event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis (ED-PrEP) to prevent HIV among gay and bisexual men (GBM). Social marketing campaigns to increase awareness of ED-PrEP were conducted in early 2021. This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of this method after these campaigns.

Adjusting Behavioural Surveillance and Assessing Disparities in the Impact of COVID-19 on Gay and Bisexual Men's HIV-Related Behaviour in Australia.

COVID-19 has disrupted sexual behaviour and access to health systems. We adapted regular HIV behavioural surveillance of gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Australia in response to COVID-19, assessed the impact on the profile of the sample, the participants' HIV-related behaviour, and whether COVID-19 may have accentuated existing disparities in the Australian HIV epidemic. Data collected from five states during July 2017-June 2021 were included (N = 31,460).

Switching to Non-daily Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia: Implications for Improving Knowledge, Safety, and Uptake.

Introduction: Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) dosing options such as event-driven PrEP hold promise to increase PrEP uptake among gay, bisexual, and queer men (GBQM), but their impacts have not yet been realized and uptake by GBQM suitable for PrEP remains slow in countries where it is only considered an alternative option to daily PrEP.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews between June 2020 and February 2021 with 40 GBQM in Australia to understand PrEP dosing behaviors, knowledge, and preferences.

Results: All participants commenced PrEP daily; 35% had ever switched to non-daily PrEP, mostly taking it event-driven.