Assessing HIV in Hidden Populations: A Feasibility Study

评估隐藏人群中的艾滋病毒：可行性研究

• 批准号: 7225641
• 负责人: Patricia L Case
• 金额: $ 19.8万
• 依托单位: FENWAY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-08-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7225641
• 关键词: AIDS /HIV test; HIV infections; behavioral /social science research tag; clinical research; communicable disease transmission; condoms; data collection methodology /evaluation; ethics; female; focus groups; high risk behavior /lifestyle; human immunodeficiency virus; human population study; human subject; interview; male; prostitution; sample collection; semen; sex behavior

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): HIV surveillance using unlinked anonymous HIV testing of discarded blood samples has yielded important information; most such efforts rely on selected patient populations. Unlinked anonymous HIV testing of semen in discarded condoms may be a way to assess HIV in an unselected sample of men in public sex environments or who are clients of sex workers. Testing the semen of men who use condoms in these two contexts is important because in high risk environments such as public sex environments (PSEs) or environments where drugs are used men may use condoms inconsistently. Previous research indicates that men who are clients of female sex workers (FSWs) or who use PSEs may use condoms in those contexts but not with their regular partners and this research can provide an indirect assessment of potential risks to other groups. The goal of this feasibility study is to test components of a method for assessing HIV, illegal or prescribed drugs, sexually transmitted disease, or other infectious disease in two hidden populations; men who 1) frequent PSEs or 2) are clients of FSWs. Specifically, we are developing and testing methods to test semen captured in discarded condoms found in PSEs and assessing the feasibility of asking FSWs to collect used condoms following sexual encounters with their male clients. These methods may result in relatively low-cost methods for surveillance of high-risk groups and may have international applications but multiple concerns with respect to testing protocols and condom collection methods support the need for careful development of methods before incorporation into a larger project. The specific aims of this project are: 1) To test the reliability of semen and HIV antibodies in discarded or collected condoms in the laboratory and assess fitness of collected specimens for HIV testing after exposure to variations in time and temperature. 2) To map the discard rate, locations and condition of discarded condoms in a PSE in Boston. 3) To discover, through the use of ethnographic interviewing, the normative practices in condom use and disposal of FSWs and men who attend PSEs. 4) To conduct focus groups with FSWs to determine their perceptions of the feasibility of condom collection from their clients. 5) To conduct an ethical review of the issues underscoring unlinked anonymous HIV testing of discarded and collected condoms and other human subjects concerns raised by this study design.

描述（由申请人提供）：通过对废弃血液样本进行无关联匿名HIV检测进行的HIV监测已获得重要信息;大多数此类工作依赖于选定的患者人群。对丢弃的避孕套中的精液进行无关联的匿名艾滋病毒检测，可能是评估公共性环境中男性或性工作者客户中艾滋病毒的一种方法。对在这两种情况下使用避孕套的男性进行精液检测非常重要，因为在高风险环境中，如公共性环境（PSE）或使用毒品的环境中，男性可能会不一致地使用避孕套。以前的研究表明，男性谁是女性性工作者（FSW）的客户或谁使用PSE可能会使用安全套在这些情况下，但不是与他们的经常性伙伴，这项研究可以提供一个间接的评估潜在的风险，以其他群体。本可行性研究的目的是测试一种方法的组成部分，用于评估两个隐藏人群中的艾滋病毒、非法或处方药物、性传播疾病或其他传染病; 1）经常发生PSE或2）是FSW客户的男性。具体而言，我们正在开发和测试方法，以测试在性服务场所发现的丢弃避孕套中捕获的精液，并评估要求FSW在与男性客户发生性关系后收集用过的避孕套的可行性。 这些方法可能会导致对高风险群体进行监测的成本相对较低的方法，并可能具有国际应用，但对测试规程和避孕套收集方法的多种关切支持在纳入更大的项目之前仔细制定方法的必要性。本项目的具体目标是：1）在实验室检测废弃或收集的避孕套中精液和HIV抗体的可靠性，并评估收集的标本在暴露于时间和温度变化后用于HIV检测的适宜性。2)调查波士顿市一个PSE中避孕套的丢弃率、丢弃位置和丢弃状况。3)通过人种学访谈，发现FSW和参加PSE的男性在安全套使用和处置方面的规范做法。4)与FSW进行焦点小组讨论，以确定他们对从客户那里收集安全套的可行性的看法。5)对废弃和收集的避孕套的无关联匿名HIV检测以及本研究设计提出的其他人类受试者关注的问题进行伦理审查。