BackgroundAccording to the 2015 report of the Joint United Nations Program on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the prevalence rates of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) varied from 6 to 37% depending on the country, far exceeding the national prevalence rates. The present study on HIV infection among men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa was conducted to describe the different sampling methods used to identify this target population and compare the prevalence rates of HIV infection among MSM to that of men in the general population.MethodsThe selection of studies to be included was carried out in the principal electronic databases. The 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) directives were used throughout the entire process. Bias evaluation was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. For each country, HIV prevalence values in both groups were calculated. A prevalence ratio was also calculated to compare the prevalence rates of the two groups.ResultsSeventeen articles were selected. Most of the studies (82.35%) used the Respondent-Driven Sampling method. The average prevalence rate was 17.81% (range: 3.7–33.46) for MSM and 6.15% (range: 0.5–19.7) for men in the general population. Overall, the human HIV prevalence rate was 4.94 times higher among MSM than among men in the general population (95%CI: 2.91–8.37). The western and central regions of Africa, as well as low-prevalence countries (prevalence < 1%), had very high prevalence ratios: 14.47 (95% CI: 9.90–21.13) and 28.49 (95% CI: 11.47–72.71), respectively.ConclusionMSM are at higher risk of HIV infection than men in the general population. The prevalence ratios are particularly elevated in West and Central Africa as well as in low-prevalence countries. Close monitoring of the situation, research and preventive measures are essential to control the epidemic amongst MSM.

Objective: The aim of this study conducted in Benin was to compare HIV-1 infected female sex workers (FSW) and patients from the general population (GP) to see whether there was a difference in adherence level, mortality rate and immuno-virologic response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: Fifty-tree FSW and 318 patients from the GP were recruited and followed for at least one year. We compared both cohorts according to poor-adherence (taking <95% of the pills), CD4 count increase, undetectable viral load (VL; ≤50 copies/mL) and crude mortality rate. We constructed a multivariate regression model to assess factors associated with undetectable VL. Results: During the first year, the proportion of FSW with poor-adherence was significantly higher than that of the GP patients (19.3% versus 7.5%; p < 0.0001) and median gain in CD4 count among FSW was slightly lower (103/mm3 versus 129/mm3; p = 0.085). In the multivariate model (including CD4 at ART initiation and the sub-cohort i.e. FSW vs GP patients), duration under ART (p = 0.003) as well as CD4 count at enrolment in the study (p < 0.0001) and good-adherence (0.057) were independently associated with undetectable VL. When adherence was withdrawn from this model, there was a borderline significant association between detectable VL and being a FSW (p = 0.074). The crude mortality rate was 1.11 per 100 persons-years among the GP patients and 4.65 per 100 persons-years among FSW. Conclusion: Response to ART was lower among FSW compared to GP patients, as a result of poorer adherence. Specific behavioural interventions are needed to improve adherence and response to ART among FSW

Background: In Benin, men who have sex with men (MSM) do not always use condoms during anal sex. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using Truvada® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate / emtricitabine) may be a complementary HIV prevention measure for MSM. This study aimed at identifying the potential facilitators and barriers to the use of PrEP. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 among male-born MSM aged 18 years or older who reported being HIV-negative or unaware of their HIV status. The participants were recruited by the RDS technique (respondent driven sampling) in six cities of Benin. Logistic regression analyses, adapted to RDS statistical requirements, were performed to identify the factors associated with PrEP acceptability. Results: Mean age of the 400 MSM recruited was 26.2 ± 5.0 years. PrEP was known by 50.7% of respondents. The intention to use PrEP was expressed by 90% of MSM. If PrEP effectiveness were 90% or more, 87.8% of the respondents thought they would decrease condom use. In multivariate analysis, the facilitators associated with PrEP acceptability were: not having to pay for PrEP (odds ratio (OR) = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.50-4.46) and its accessibility within MSM networks (OR = 9.82, 95% CI: 3.50-27.52). Only one barrier was significant: the concern that taking PrEP be perceived as marker of adopting HIV risky behaviors (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04-0.30). Conclusion: In Benin, not all MSM know about PrEP. But once well informed, the majority seems willing to use it if made available. The free availability of the drug and its accessibility in the MSM networks are important facilitators. The possibility of decrease in condom use should not be a barrier to the prescription of PrEP if made available.

This cross sectional study was conducted in 2018 in Côte d'Ivoire to assess PrEP acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM). Two hundred and one men were asked on their intention to use PrEP if made available. Logistic regression accounting for the sampling design was used to analyze associations between high PrEP acceptability and different independent variables including barriers and facilitators. Participants were mostly young (mean age = 25 years), educated (82% with secondary/postsecondary education) and single (95.5%). On average, 3.4 episodes of anal sex were reported monthly and 37.8% of men did not use a condom at last sex. Most MSM (72.6%) had heard of PrEP before enrollment. Overall, 35.3% reported that they would use PrEP very probably if made available. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with high PrEP acceptability were condom use at last sexual intercourse (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.51; 95% Confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.45-4.33); insertive sex as compared to versatile sex (OR = 2.56; 95%CI = 1.14-5.67); free PrEP delivery (OR = 2.45; 95%CI = 1.07-5.59), concerns about side effects (OR = 0.66; 95%CI = 0.48-0.90), and being preoccupied by the fact that post-PrEP antiretroviral therapy could be inefficient (OR = 0.25; 95%CI = 0.14-0.44). PrEP implementation among MSM in Côte d'Ivoire should be accompanied by awareness raising campaigns explaining its utility.