Objectives: We investigated the extent to which Brazilian and Portuguese Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) had casual sex partners outside their homes during the period of sheltering in place for the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted in Brazil and Portugal in April, during the period of social isolation for COVID-19, with a sample of 2361 MSMs. Recruitment was done through meeting apps and Facebook. Results: Most of the sample (53.0%) had casual sex partners during sheltering. Factors that increased the odds of engaging in casual sex in Brazil were having group sex (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.4), living in an urban area (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.2), feeling that sheltering had a high impact on daily life (aOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1–8.3), having casual instead of steady partners (aOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8–3.5), and not decreasing the number of partners (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 4.2–10.0). In Portugal, the odds of engaging in casual sex increased with using Facebook to find partners (aOR 4.6, 95% CI 3.0–7.2), not decreasing the number of partners (aOR 3.8, 95% CI 2.9–5.9), usually finding partners in physical venues (pre-COVID-19) (aOR 5.4, 95% CI 3.2–8.9), feeling that the isolation had a high impact on daily life (aOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3–6.7), and HIV-positive serostatus (aOR 11.7, 95% CI 4.7–29.2). Taking PrEP/Truvada to prevent COVID-19 was reported by 12.7% of MSM. Conclusions: The pandemic has not stopped most of our MSM sample from finding sexual partners, with high-risk sexual behaviors continuing.

Investigar os fatores associados à prática do sexo sob o efeito de drogas (chemsex) entre homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH) durante período de isolamento social, no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19. Inquérito multicêntrico online, aplicado aos territórios de Brasil e Portugal em abril de 2020, enquanto os dois países vivenciavam medidas sanitárias restritivas para a doença. Os participantes foram recrutados valendo-se de uma adaptação do método respondent driven sampling (RDS) ao ambiente virtual. Os dados foram coletados usando redes sociais e aplicativos de encontro voltados a HSH. Utilizamos regressão logística bivariada e multivariada para a produção das odds bruto (OR) e ajustado (ORa). Em um universo de 2.361 sujeitos, 920 (38,9%) realizaram a prática do chemsex, que, em 95% dos casos, foi realizada com parceiro casual. Aumentaram as chances de se envolver em chemsex: morar no Brasil (ORa = 15,4; IC95%: 10,7-22,1); não estar em isolamento social (ORa = 4,9; IC95%: 2,2-10,9); fazer sexo casual durante o distanciamento social (ORa = 52,4; IC95%: 33,8-81,4); fazer sexo grupal (ORa = 2,9; IC95%: 2,0-4,4); não apresentar nenhum tipo de sintoma para a COVID-19 (ORa = 1,3; IC95%: 1,1-1,8); não residir com o parceiro (ORa = 1,8; IC95%: 1,2-2,6) e estar em uso da profilaxia pré-exposição (ORa = 2,6; IC95%: 1,8-3,7). A ocorrência de chemsex foi elevada, sobretudo no Brasil, onde o isolamento social proposto não sensibilizou os HSH à adesão.

The elderly population is increasingly benefiting from recent technological advances. In this scenario, geolocation-based dating applications provide a viable alternative for finding partners in a practical and timely manner, but may be accompanied by certain risk behaviors for HIV infection. Although there are considerable number of users over 50 on these applications, no studies have addressed this problem. The aim of the present study was to analyze factors of vulnerability to HIV/Aids among the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) age 50 years or older who use dating apps. This was a cross-sectional, population-survey-based, analytical study, conducted exclusively online with a sample of 412 MSM. The data was collected from the following apps: Grindr®, Hornet®, Scruff® and Daddy Hunter®. Factors associated with a higher chance of having HIV were: sexual relations with an HIV-infected partner (ORa=5.53; 95%CI=2.23-13.73); chemsex (ORa=3.97; 95%CI=1.72-8.92); and, above all, having an HIV-infected partner (ORa=8.02; 95%CI=2.01-32.01). The belief that apps increase protection against sexually transmitted infections (ORa=0.43; 95%CI=0.19-0.95) and not being familiar with post-exposure prophylaxis (ORa=0.43; 95%CI=0.19-0.95) were associated with decreased chances of having HIV. We highlight some important factors that structure the vulnerability of the MSM surveyed in relation to HIV infection. The findings should be used to customize care for this population, which could bring them in more for health care services.

Resumo Objetivo Identificar e explorar as dimensões das dificuldades enfrentadas por Pessoas Vivendo com HIV/Aids no manejo da doença. Métodos Estudo descritivo, exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa desenvolvido em Serviços de Atendimento Especializado, com 26 pacientes. As entrevistas gravadas foram transcritas e posteriormente, processadas analisadas pela Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. Os achados foram fundamentados no Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Resultados Obteve-se cinco classes: “O preconceito intrafamiliar e seu impacto no enfrentamento da doença”; “Preconceito social: os impactos do macroambiente”; “As dificuldades em gerenciar o risco de transmissão do HIV/Aids e as implicações em parcerias”, “A manutenção de altas taxas de adesão ao tratamento do HIV/Aids: qualificando o serviço” e “ Promovendo a qualidade de vida em pessoas vivendo com HIV/Aids”. Conclusão As dificuldades experienciadas vão muito além da doença, tomando aspectos íntimos, centrais ligadas ao preconceito, que impede seu desenvolvimento pessoal, profissional e afetivo expandindo-se a macro-conceitos abstratos como qualidade de vida.

Objective: to develop and validate an educational technology for individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus. Method: a methodological study, for the elaboration of educational material. The educational needs, content selection, and illustrations were defined from interviews with the target population. Afterward, we carried the writing, the material layout elaboration, and assembly and, subsequently, it was validated by specialists. The content validation was established from the Level Content Validity Index higher than 0.8. Results: the educational material was prepared for adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus, with a focus on health promotion and quality of life, and was prepared in five volumes. The validation was made by 22 multi-professional judges selected according to the criteria established in the study. All items were evaluated as relevant by the judges and the average obtained with the index was 0.97. Conclusion: the booklet has been validated in terms of content, language, and appearance by experts in the field. We believe that through this technology it is possible to contribute to the health literacy and empowerment of individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus, strengthening their autonomy.

The purpose of our review was to analyze the relationship between the use of geosocial networking phone apps and risk behaviors for HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). The review was guided by the question: Does the use of geosocial networking apps to find sex partners increase risk behaviors for HIV infection by MSM? We searched the databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and LILACS, considering primary studies published up to December 2015, without any time restraint. All 14 studies that met our search criteria analyzed sexual behaviors in relation to sociocultural and economic characteristics, number of partners, unprotected anal sex, drug use, HIV testing, risk management measures, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. The results indicated that use of geosocial networking apps to find sex partners may lead to new patterns of behavior and relationships that place MSM at risk for HIV.