(1) Background: We aimed to estimate sexualized drug use (SDU) prevalence and its predictors among sexual and gender minorities. (2) Methods: We used an online and on-site survey to enroll sexual/gender minorities people between October–December/2020, and multivariate logistic regression to obtain SDU correlates. (3) Results: We enrolled 3924 individuals (280 transgender women [TGW], 3553 men who have sex with men [MSM], and 91 non-binary), 29.0% currently on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). SDU prevalence was 28.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 27.4–30.2). TGW had 2.44-times increased odds (95%CI 1.75–3.39) of engaging in SDU compared to MSM, regardless of PrEP use. PrEP use (aOR 1.19, 95%CI 1.00–1.41), South/Southeast region (aOR 1.26, 95%CI 1.04–1.53), younger age (18–24 years: aOR 1.41, 95%CI 1.10–1.81; 25–35 years: aOR 1.24, 95%CI 1.04–1.53), white race/color (aOR 1.21, 95%CI 1.02–1.42), high income (aOR 1.32, 95%CI 1.05–1.67), binge drinking (aOR 2.66, 95%CI 2.25–3.14), >5 sexual partners (aOR 1.88, 95%CI 1.61–2.21), condomless anal sex (aOR 1.49, 95%CI 1.25–1.79), self-reported sexually transmitted infection (aOR 1.40, 95%CI 1.14–1.71), and higher perceived HIV-risk (aOR 1.37, 95%CI 1.14–1.64) were associated with SDU. (4) Conclusions: TGW had the highest SDU odds. SDU may impact HIV vulnerability among key populations and should be addressed in HIV prevention approaches.

Background: The 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak positioned the condition as a public health emergency of international concern. By May 2023, Brazil ranked second globally in the cumulative number of mpox cases and deaths. The higher incidence of mpox among gay and other men who have sex with men in the current mpox outbreak deepens the stigma and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities (SGM). This might worsen the structural barriers impacting access to health services, which ultimately leads to undertesting and underreporting of cases. There are no data available on mpox knowledge and stigma in Latin America. Objective: We aimed to evaluate mpox knowledge, stigma, and willingness to vaccinate for mpox among SGM, and to describe sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics according to self-reported mpox diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional, internet-based survey was conducted in a convenience sample of adults (aged >18 years) living in Brazil recruited through advertisements on dating apps, social media, referral institutions for infectious diseases websites, and mass media (October-November 2022). We compared participants’ characteristics according to self-reported mpox diagnosis using chi-square test or Fisher exact test for qualitative variables and Kruskal-Wallis test for quantitative variables. Results: We enrolled 6236 participants: 5685 (91.2%) were cisgender men; 6032 (96.7%) were gay, bisexual, or pansexual; 3877 (62.2%) were White; 4902 (78.7%) had tertiary education; and 4070 (65.2%) reported low or middle income. Most participants (n=5258, 84.4%) agreed or strongly agreed that “LGBTQIA+ individuals are being discriminated and stigmatized due to mpox.” Mpox awareness was 96.9% (n=6044), and 5008 (95.1%) were willing to get vaccinated for mpox. Overall, 324 (5.2%) reported an mpox diagnosis. Among these, 318 (98.1%) reported lesions, 178 (56%) local pain, and 316 (99.4%) sought health care. Among participants not reporting a diagnosis, 288 (4.9%) had a suspicious lesion, but only 158 (54.9%) of these had sought health care. Compared to participants with no diagnosis, those reporting an mpox diagnosis were younger (P<.001), reported more sex partners (P<.001), and changes in sexual behavior after mpox onset (P=.002). Moreover, participants diagnosed with mpox reported more frequently being tested for HIV in the prior 3 months (P<.001), living with HIV (P<.001), currently using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (P<.001), and previous sexually transmitted infection diagnosis (P<.001). Conclusions: Our results point to high mpox knowledge and willingness to vaccinate among SGM in Brazil. Participants self-reporting mpox diagnosis more frequently reported to be living with HIV, STI diagnosis, and current pre-exposure prophylaxis use, highlighting the importance of an mpox assessment that includes comprehensive sexual health screenings. Efforts to decrease stigma related to mpox among SGM are necessary to avoid mpox underdiagnosis.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate daily oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, retention, and adherence and predictors of study non‐attendance and low PrEP adherence in a Brazilian trans‐specific 48‐week study (PrEParadas).Methods: We enrolled transgender women (TGW) engaging in high‐risk sexual behaviours between August 2017 and December 2018. PrEP adherence was based on tenofovir diphosphate concentrations in dried blood spots (DBS). We used random effects logistic regression models and ordinal models to estimate the odds of having a missed visit and of low PrEP adherence, respectively. Multivariable models were adjusted for variables with p‐value<0.10 in the univariate analysis.Results: From the 271 eligible, 130 participants were enrolled in the study (PrEP uptake: 48%), out of which 111 (85.4%) were retained at 48 weeks. Multivariable model for study non‐attendance included study visit, age, main sexual partner and stimulant use. The odds of missing a visit increased after the week 24. Participants aged 18–24 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.76, 95% CI: 2.09–36.7) and 25–34 years (aOR = 6.79, 95% CI: 1.72–26.8) compared to TGW aged 35+ years had significantly higher odds of having a missed visit. The odds of a missed visit were higher among participants reporting stimulant use (aOR = 4.99, 95% CI: 1.37–18.1) compared to no stimulant use. DBS levels at week 48 showed that 42 (38.5%), 14 (12.8%) and 53 (48.6%) of 109 participants had low, moderate and high PrEP adherence. Multivariable model for low PrEP adherence included study visit, age, schooling, race/colour, housing, binge drinking, stimulant use, feminizing hormone therapy (FHT) use and received text message. Low PrEP adherence was significantly higher among participants with less years of schooling (aOR = 6.71, 95% CI: 1.30–34.5) and had a borderline association with Black colour/race (aOR = 6.72, 95% CI: 0.94–47.8). Participants using the FHT available at the site had decreased odds of low PrEP adherence (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16–0.88). No participant seroconverted over the course of the study.Conclusions: Although high PrEP retention can be achieved in a gender‐affirming setting, PrEP adherence may be an important challenge faced among TGW due to social disparities. The scale‐up of prevention tools like PrEP will have to address systemic social determinants as these stand as important barriers for TGW's access to health services.

Introduction: Monitoring the HIV epidemic and identifying populations among whom HIV is spreading is critical. We aimed to provide an estimate of the annualized HIV incidence rate using recency testing among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) at a reference centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Methods: We evaluated MSM and TGW who sought HIV testing at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases‐FIOCRUZ between March 2018 and January 2020. The Limiting Avidity assay (LAg) as part of a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA) was employed to identify recent infections (those with a normalized optical density ≤1.5 in the LAg that met all RITA criteria) among those who tested positive for HIV and the annualized HIV incidence was estimated.Results and discussion: Out of 3053 individuals assessed, 2591 (84.9%) were HIV negative and 462 (15.1%) were living with HIV. Among these, 302 (65.4%) with stored samples available were evaluated and 73/302 (24.2%) were classified as recent infections. The annualized incidence rate estimate using a false recency rate of zero was 7.35% (95% CI 5.76% to 9.25%).Conclusions: Our results suggest that the HIV epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, continues to disproportionately burden vulnerable populations, including MSM and TGW despite the existence and availability of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Adult trans women in Brazil are highly impacted by HIV, but little is known about risk for young trans women. Our study was conducted to compare the HIV prevalence and correlates of risk for young trans women ages 18–24 years old to adult trans women in Brazil. Trans women were recruited from Rio de Janeiro and Baixada (the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil (N = 345). Youth ages 18–24 years of age had significantly greater odds of being HIV negative than adults (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.6, p = 0.0002), but significantly lower odds of having post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) knowledge (OR 0.5, 95% CI:0.3–0.9, p = 0.02) and PrEP awareness (OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.8, p = 0.01). Young trans women also had significantly higher odds of using substances (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9, p = 0.02) and condomless anal intercourse with their last three sexual partners (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.0, p = 0.03) compared to adults. Already by age 24, one in four trans women in Brazil were infected with HIV pointing to a new generation at high risk of acquiring HIV. HIV prevention interventions are needed to change the healthcare system to reach and engage young trans women.