Identifying and Characterizing Places for the Targeted Control of Heterosexual HIV Transmission in Urban Areas

Abstract

Places with active HIV transmission may serve as key locations for targeted control. In 2008–2009, heterosexual sex partner venues in Baltimore, MD were identified using a three-phase process and characterized by the presence or absence of HIV cases. 1,594 participants aged 18–35 years were enrolled at 87 venues. The study yielded an overall HIV prevalence of 3.7%; 42% of venues had ≥1 case of HIV (i.e., HIV positive venues). In final age-adjusted models, HIV positive venues had 10% more high HIV-risk sexual partnering (95% CI: 1.01, 1.19) and more than twice as much drug market activity (95% CI: 1.04, 6.46) compared to HIV negative venues. Commercial sex work, parenteral risk behavior and venue-level sex market activity were not significantly associated with HIV status of the venues. This study highlights characteristics of venues, such as drug market activity, that may be important in identifying places with active HIV transmission.

Social place as a location of potential core transmitters—implications for the targeted control of sexually transmitted disease transmission in urban areas

“…Potential high STI-risk sex partner meeting venues were identified using a three-phase, venue-based methodology described previously (20, 21) and based on the Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) methodology (22). Briefly, in phase one, multiple sources of information were used to identify specific sex partner meeting venues and high STI-risk areas (i.e., census block groups [CBGs]) where sex partner meeting venues might exist).…”

Social venues and HIV vulnerability of young venue workers: a cluster analysis of data from a national-level cross-sectional survey of social venues in Uganda

“…Previous research, both qualitative and quantitative, has given considerable attention to venues where people meet sexual partners. Studies, including some in Africa, have mapped and characterised these venues,4 26–29 while others have examined sexual behaviours and HIV seroprevalence of workers and customers at venues for social interaction 2 6 8 11 12. Relatedly, other studies have assessed availability of HIV preventive interventions at venues for social interaction and provided a case for support for venue-based HIV programmes 2 30–32.…”

Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health: A Status-Neutral, Mobile Van, HIV/STI Testing Intervention Using Online Outreach to Reach MSM at High Risk for HIV Acquisition or Transmission

“…We used the Priority Locations for AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) method, an approach used to prioritize physical locations associated with HIV transmission (ie, hotspots), 14,20 to guide recruitment and enrollment. For MSM, recent studies have shown increasing reports of GSN and social media applications as sex partner meeting venues.…”

“…While transgender women who have sex with men also have significant HIV vulnerabilities, they are a distinct population and have called for their own tailored HIV control approaches. 19 We used the Priority Locations for AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) method, an approach used to prioritize physical locations associated with HIV transmission (ie, hotspots), 14,20 to guide recruitment and enrollment. For MSM, recent studies have shown increasing reports of GSN and social media applications as sex partner meeting venues.…”