Prevalence and risk factors for alcohol use disorders, substance use disorders, and depression anxiety and stress among users of sexual health services in Singapore: a cross-sectional survey study
Wen Zhi Ng, Khairul Ariffin, Peter Kay Chai Tay, Mukul Prasad, Calvin Tan, Chronos Kwok, Rayner Kay Jin Tan This is the first study in Singapore to assess the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, and depression, anxiety and stress among users of sexual health services. We found a high prevalence of problematic alcohol (20.4%) and drug use (12.1%) among individuals using sexual health services. These findings support the integration of alcohol use and substance use disorder screening in sexual health services to ensure better interventions that reduce risks for poor sexual and mental health outcomes. ...
Source: Sexual Health - April 24, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Wen Zhi Ng Khairul Ariffin Peter Kay Chai Tay Mukul Prasad Calvin Tan Chronos Kwok Rayner Kay Jin Tan Source Type: research
East & #x2013;west disparities in safer sex inside China: a sociocultural perspective
Lin Zhang, Yi Mou, Jilong Wang A total of 1286 female college students in China was surveyed to investigate their sexual behaviours. The results show that between those students in the east (Shanghai and Nanjing) and those in the west (Chongqing and Chengdu), their rate of sexual intercourse experience, rate of safer sex, conservative sexual values, authority sex education, unofficial sex knowledge access and HIV knowledge level were different. Compared with the eastern students, western students have a higher rate of sexual activity, but lower rate of safer sex. The regional disparities in economy, social development and ...
Source: Sexual Health - April 24, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Lin Zhang Yi Mou Jilong Wang Source Type: research
Online platforms for prescription and supply of hormonal contraception in Australia: a mapping review
Tahlee B. Stevenson, Alice Rumbold, Emily Callander, Pip Buckingham, Anisa Assifi, Danielle Mazza, Luke E. Grzeskowiak Despite the fact that access to contraception it is key to reproductive autonomy, initiating and continuing use of hormonal contraception in Australia can be costly and logistically challenging. This mapping review aimed to identify and comment on the number and accessibility of online platforms providing prescriptions for and supply of hormonal contraception within Australia. We found that despite addressing some of the identified barriers, these services are unlikely to be truly accessible to all consume...
Source: Sexual Health - April 4, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Tahlee B. Stevenson Alice Rumbold Emily Callander Pip Buckingham Anisa Assifi Danielle Mazza Luke E. Grzeskowiak Source Type: research
The changing epidemiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae genogroups and antimicrobial resistance in Queensland, Australia, 2010 & #x2013;15: a case series analysis of unique Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates
Lisa McHugh, Amalie Dyda, Christine Guglielmino, Cameron Buckley, Colleen L. Lau, Amy V. Jennison, David G. Regan, James Wood, David Whiley, Ella Trembizki Our 5-year Queensland study demonstrates the potential for molecular surveillance to track the changing epidemiology, movement and antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia. This is increasingly important, because potential prevalent gonococcal strains are not captured well by current methods, and we found evidence of bridging from male-dominant networks to heterosexual networks, which has serious implications for current public health practise. Gen...
Source: Sexual Health - March 28, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Lisa McHugh Amalie Dyda Christine Guglielmino Cameron Buckley Colleen L. Lau Amy V. Jennison David G. Regan James Wood David Whiley Ella Trembizki Source Type: research
Thank you for the privilege
Christopher K. Fairley, Roy K. Chan This editorial, by the retiring Editors Christopher Fairley and Roy Chan, tells the story of the founding of Sexual Health in 2004 and its journey. They express their gratitude for privilege they have enjoyed as Editors-in-Chief of the journal. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - March 27, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Christopher K. Fairley Roy K. Chan Source Type: research
Sparking light in sexual health
Jason J. Ong, Joseph D. Tucker This editorial introduces the incoming co-Editors-in-Chief of the journal, and their plans to taking the journal in four directions focused on clinical impact, open science, building capacity, and improving the submission process. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - March 27, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Jason J. Ong Joseph D. Tucker Source Type: research
Trends in testing of sexually transmissible infections (STIs), sexual health knowledge and behaviours, and pornography use in cross-sectional samples of young people in Victoria, Australia, 2015 & #x2013;21
This study surveyed self-reported STI testing, sexual behaviours, pornography use, and sexual health knowledge in samples of young Victorians over the period of 2015–21, captured through an online survey. Results provide current trends in sexual health behaviours and knowledge to help inform effective public health interventions for young people. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - March 27, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Sarah Eddy Caitlin Douglass Michelle Raggatt Alexander Thomas Megan Lim Source Type: research
A qualitative evaluation of a Nudgeathon event for the co-design of sexual health campaign images targeting overseas-born men who have sex with men
Julien Tran, Ivo Vlaev, Daniel Read, Kelly Ann Schmidtke, Eric P. F. Chow, David Lee, James Tapa, Jason J. Ong We evaluated a 4-h online Nudgeathon aimed to co-design a digital advertisement campaign for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among overseas-born men who have sex with men. All interviewees were satisfied with the end-product they co-designed with their group, which proved to be as productive in co-designing solutions as past Nudgeathons conducted in person, lasting 1–2 days. Online co-design workshops can be a fast and efficient option for developing potential solutions to sensiti...
Source: Sexual Health - March 23, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Julien Tran Ivo Vlaev Daniel Read Kelly Ann Schmidtke Eric P. F. Chow David Lee James Tapa Jason J. Ong Source Type: research
Interim position statement on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) for the prevention of bacterial sexually transmissible infections in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand & #x2013; the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)
Vincent J. Cornelisse, Jason J. Ong, Nathan Ryder, Catriona Ooi, Arthur Wong, Penny Kenchington, Massimo Giola, Basil Donovan, Judith A. Dean, Jean-Michel Molina, Nicholas A. Medland This interim position statement from the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) outlines evidence for the effectiveness of doxycycline prophylaxis to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI), namely syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and outlines potential risks of this prevention strategy. This position statement aims to provide clinicians in Australia with the information needed to con...
Source: Sexual Health - March 17, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Vincent J. Cornelisse Jason J. Ong Nathan Ryder Catriona Ooi Arthur Wong Penny Kenchington Massimo Giola Basil Donovan Judith A. Dean Jean-Michel Molina Nicholas A. Medland Source Type: research
Would men who have sex with men support less frequent screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea to improve antibiotic stewardship? A qualitative study
Amelia Margaret Wardley, Henrietta Williams, Jacqueline Coombe, Cassandra Caddy, Christopher Kincaid Fairley, Jane Simone Hocking Current sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidelines recommend that men who have sex with men (MSM) taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should be tested every 3 months for chlamydia and gonorrhoea regardless of symptoms. However, these guidelines have not led to a noticeable reduction of gonorrhoea and chlamydia rates and there is increasing concern about antibiotic consumption among this group and its impact on antimicrobial resistance. We interviewed MSM to explore their a...
Source: Sexual Health - March 16, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Amelia Margaret Wardley Henrietta Williams Jacqueline Coombe Cassandra Caddy Christopher Kincaid Fairley Jane Simone Hocking Source Type: research
Pornography consumption and sexual health among emerging adults from Malaysia: an observational study
Pei Hwa Goh, Li Ann Phuah, Yi Hwa Low The prevalence of pornography consumption remains high in Malaysia despite governmental efforts in banning sexually explicit content. The current research revealed that the attitudes and behaviours related to pornography consumption among Malaysian emerging adults match trends that have been observed globally, and that pornography use can be particularly beneficial or detrimental for women. Findings highlight the need for comprehensive sex education to be provided to adolescents and emerging adults in Malaysia to promote sexual health literacy, especially among women. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - February 28, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Pei Hwa Goh Li Ann Phuah Yi Hwa Low Source Type: research
Self-efficacy mediates the effect of providing HIV self-testing kits on HIV testing frequency among Chinese men who have sex with men: results from a randomised controlled trial
This study was performed to examine how self-efficacy mediated the association between HIVST provision and HIV testing uptake. Our findings indicate HIVST provision could improve HIV testing self-efficacy, and self-efficacy mediated the predicted relationship between supplying HIVST kits and HIV testing frequency. Improving self-efficacy might be an effective way to increase HIV testing among Chinese MSM. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - February 28, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Ci Zhang Daoping Huang Lloyd A. Goldsamt Honghong Wang James Wiley Yan Shen Yuanyuan Chi Xianhong Li Source Type: research
Sexual mixing patterns in men who have sex with men: network approaches for smart resource allocation
M. Kumi Smith, Matthew Graham, Katherine Harripersaud, Qiuying Zhu, Guanghua Lan, Zhiyong Shen, Shuai Tang ‘Who has sex with whom?’ is the primary question that dictates how HIV and other sexually transmitted infections spread in populations. We used such sexual network data from a sample of Chinese men who have sex with men (to further answer, ‘who transmits to whom?’ Our findings – that most HIV transmission originates in men who have sex with men shortly after sexual debut – can guide the targeting of resources to the highest-need ...
Source: Sexual Health - February 27, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: M. Kumi Smith Matthew Graham Katherine Harripersaud Qiuying Zhu Guanghua Lan Zhiyong Shen Shuai Tang Source Type: research
Efficacy and acceptability of & #x2018;nudges & #x2019; aimed at promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use: a survey of overseas born men who have sex with men
Nicholas Fidler, Ivo Vlaev, Kelly Ann Schmidtke, Eric P. F. Chow, David Lee, Daniel Read, Jason J. Ong Nudge theory argues that a large portion of human behaviour is the result of how choices are presented to us, as opposed rational considerations such as which choices are in our best interests. ‘Nudges’ are interventions that allow policy makers to cheaply alter behaviour without significantly changing economic incentives. We investigate the use of these techniques as tools to increase awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis, an effective HIV prevention strategy, among overseas-born men who hav...
Source: Sexual Health - February 23, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Nicholas Fidler Ivo Vlaev Kelly Ann Schmidtke Eric P. F. Chow David Lee Daniel Read Jason J. Ong Source Type: research
Sexually transmitted infection testing and prevalence among MSM using event-based dosing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis
Kiersten Simmons, Colin Fitzpatrick, Daniel Richardson Men who have sex with men (MSM) can choose between either daily or event-based dosing (EBD) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. In our clinic-based study of 418 individuals on PrEP, EBD-PrEP users had a lower number of sexual partners and tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) less frequently than daily PrEP users, but were diagnosed with a similar number of STIs. More research is needed to understand the optimal frequency for STI testing in MSM using EBD-PrEP, and we need to increase opportunities for STI testing for MSM using EBD-PrEP. (Source: Sexual Health)
Source: Sexual Health - January 30, 2023 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Kiersten Simmons Colin Fitzpatrick Daniel Richardson Source Type: research
