This year we were fortunate to have THIRTEEN Engage-related abstracts accepted for poster and oral presentations at CAHR! Our presentations this year showcase work that intersects across topics like mental health, substance use, STIs (besides HIV), HIV prevention, and the HIV care cascade. We are learning more about guys’ motivations for substance use during sex (sometimes called chemsex or PnP) and the implications of this for their sexual health. We are also exploring the links between mental health, substance use, and sexual health. Our other research includes exploring different ways and tools to protect guys’ sexual health such as: developing an index that predicts PrEP use; exploring the importance of social support, examining the role of online hook-up tools, and looking at partner notification after testing positive for a bacterial STI. Here’s where you can find our work during the CAHR virtual meeting:
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Title: |
Psychosocial predictors of crystal methamphetamine use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM): The importance of depression and cognitive escape |
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Presenter: |
Graham Berlin |
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Summary: |
Having a better understanding of why some GBM use crystal meth can help develop supports for guys who want to make changes to the way they use. About one in ten GBM in the Engage Study said they had used crystal meth in the past 6 months. We found that guys may use crystal meth to “escape” from thinking about HIV and other risks related to sex. We also found that reporting feelings of depression was associated with using crystal meth among guys who are living with HIV. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: SSP5.02 |
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Title: |
Mechanisms in the relationship between crystal methamphetamine use and STI diagnosis and HIV/STI risks in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) |
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Presenter: |
Trevor Hart |
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Summary: |
Using crystal meth is associated with a higher risk of HIV and STIs for GBM. Knowing whether guys’ crystal meth use is affected by their beliefs about using condoms and using crystal meth could help us understand these risks better. We found that using crystal meth was associated with engaging in receptive anal sex (bottoming) without condoms, and with being diagnosed with HIV in the past six months. We also found that guys’ beliefs about using condoms and using substances to “escape” from sex-related anxiety affected the relationship between using crystal meth and engaging in any CAS (topping or bottoming). Specific beliefs about being able to use condoms also affected the relationship between guys’ crystal meth use and being diagnosed with a STI in the past 6 months. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPHP9.03 |
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Title: |
Substance use patterns among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal: Results from the Engage study |
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Presenter: |
Syed Noor |
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Summary: |
Using different kinds of substances is associated with different levels of HIV and STI risk among GBM. Knowing more about these substance use patterns could help improve sexual health supports for GBM. We found that patterns of substance use among guys in the Engage Study were different in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. We also found that guys living with HIV in all three cities were more likely to use multiple substances, and that white guys were more likely to use multiple substances if they lived in Montreal or Vancouver. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: KP3.03 |
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Title: |
Chemsex and symptoms of anxiety and depression among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Montréal: Results from the ENGAGE study. |
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Presenter: |
Clément Conil |
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Summary: |
Among GBM enrolled in the Engage Study we found that chemsex (using meth or other stimulants before sex) was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms among HIV-negative GBM. We also found that having a history of sexual abuse also appears to be associated with anxiety and depression symptoms. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPHP9.01 |
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Title: |
Depression is associated with bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) |
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Presenter: |
Trevor Hart |
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Summary: |
Among GBM, depression is associated with using stimulants like crystal meth and cocaine, and with behaviour that carries a higher risk of HIV. We wanted to find out if there is a similar relationship between depression, stimulant use, and STIs. We found that depression was indirectly linked to STI diagnosis through its associations with stimulant use and CAS. We found this association even for HIV-negative guys who are taking PrEP. For guys living with HIV, depression was connected to CAS, but not to using stimulants. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: Concurrent Oral Presentation – Epi & Public Health Track: EPH2.02 |
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Title: |
The role of perceived discrimination on suicidal ideation among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Montreal |
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Presenter: |
Ivan Marbaniang |
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Summary: |
Having suicidal thoughts is more common among both racialized people and GBM who are living with HIV. In both cases, experiences of discrimination contribute to these higher levels of suicidal thoughts. We asked GBM from Montreal who were enrolled in the Engage Study whether they had experienced discrimination or suicidal thoughts over the past six months. We found that suicidal thoughts were more likely among racialized HIV-negative guys, and white guys living with HIV, who had experienced discrimination. We also found, unexpectedly, that racialized guys living with HIV were less likely to report discrimination and suicidal thoughts than either of these groups. |
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Where to find it: |
Concurrent Oral Presentation – Social Sciences Track: SSKP4.06 |
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Title: |
Substance use in syndemic conditions: substance use stigma and the mental health of sexual minority men |
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Presenter: |
Mark Gaspar |
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Summary: |
There is not much research yet on how substance use stigma fits into syndemic conditions and affects the health of GBM who use substances. Using qualitative methods with a smaller group of guys from the Toronto site of the Engage Study, we found that guys used substances to manage social anxiety and increase their confidence. However, they recognized that substance use can negatively affect mental health. Many guys expressed substance use stigma, often towards themselves and their own use. We found that substance use stigma was more common among guys who were living with HIV, or who had experienced problematic substance use in the past. We also found that substance use stigma was connected to riskier behaviour associated with STIs, HIV, and not taking HIV medications. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: SSP5.04 |
STIs (besides HIV)
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Title: |
Partner notification for bacterial STIs among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Results from the Engage study |
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Presenter: |
Gilles Lambert |
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Summary: |
Partner notification is an important way to find and treat people who have STIs. We asked GBM in the Engage Study who had been diagnosed with a STI in the past six months about factors related to partner notification. We found that guys were more likely to have notified all or most of their recent partners if they had a main partner, and if a healthcare provider encouraged them to do so. We also found that healthcare providers offered to help guys contact their partners at different rates depending on the city – about one third in Montreal, and more than half in Toronto and Vancouver. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPHP8.01 |
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Title: |
Prevalence of and factors associated with syphilis among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver: Results from the Engage study |
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Presenter: |
Gilles Lambert |
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Summary: |
Syphilis rates have been increasing among Canadian GBM over the last decade, with a disproportionate effect on guys who are living with HIV. Active syphilis infection also makes it easier to transmit HIV. Among guys in the Engage Study, we found that there were more active cases of syphilis in Vancouver (3%), compared to Montreal or Toronto (1%). We also found that the odds of having active syphilis were higher for guys with low incomes and guys who engaged in “party and play” (PnP). |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPH2.06 |
HIV Risk & Prevention
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Title: |
Social support and STBBI transmission behaviours among HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) |
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Presenter: |
Shayna Skakoon-Sparling |
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Summary: |
Having a sense of social support can help GBM cope with stressors and manage their sexual health. We found that higher levels of social support were associated with a lower likelihood of engaging in condomless anal sex (CAS) without PrEP among HIV-negative GBM in the Engage Study. |
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Where to find it: |
Concurrent Oral Presentation – Social Sciences Track: SS3.06
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Title: |
Developing a Predictive Index for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Use among Gay, Bisexual and Other men Who Have Sex with Men |
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Presenter: |
Joseph Cox |
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Summary: |
Using Montreal-Engage Data, our goal was to develop a predictive index that could be used to identify GBM who may need improved access to PrEP. This index is showing promise: 9 items were identified that, combined, can be used to generate an index score that is associated with not using PrEP. Indeed, >50% of those predicted not to use PrEP were considered at sufficient risk to benefit from PrEP. Index items may provide potential clues for intervention to improve access. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPH4.01 |
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Title: |
Is dating app/website use associated with sexual behaviours at risk for STBBI transmission? Results from Engage-Montréal |
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Presenter: |
William Pardoe |
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Summary: |
Regularly using dating apps or websites may be linked to having sex that carries a higher risk of STIs. We asked GBM from Montreal in the Engage Study how often they used dating apps or websites, and whether they’d had condomless anal sex (CAS) in the past six months. We found that guys who used dating apps or websites at least once a day were more likely to have engaged in CAS than guys who didn’t use apps or websites at all. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPH8.07 |
HIV Care Cascade
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Title: |
Characteristics of the HIV cascade of care and unsuppressed viral load among HIV positive gbMSM across three Canadian Cities |
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Presenter: |
David Moore |
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Summary: |
Engagement in HIV testing and treatment is a key strategy to reduce the impact of HIV on GBM communities. We found that at least two-thirds of HIV-negative GBM in the Engage Study said they had been tested for HIV within the past year. We also found that while having an unsuppressed viral load was uncommon among guys living with HIV, it was associated with certain factors – being younger, having more symptoms of depression, and having less access to health services. |
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Where to find it: |
E-poster: EPH8.07 |
Even
though we can’t get together in person this spring, we’re looking forward to
“Engage-ing” with you virtually.
Stay safe and stay healthy!
The Engage Core Leadership Team
Jose Patiño-Gomez
May 04th, 2020