RICARDO DE PAULA VASCONCELOS
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
LIM/52 - Laboratório de Virologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
5 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 5 de 5
- Attitudes and Knowledge About Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Brazilian Infectious Disease Physicians(2020) CERQUEIRA, Natalia Barros; VASCONCELOS, Ricardo; HOJILLA, J. Carlo; KALLAS, Esper Georges; I, Vivian Avelino-SilvaThe objective was to describe levels and predictors of knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Brazilian Infectious Disease (ID) Physicians. The design was a cross-sectional study. We collected information on demographics and attitudes/knowledge about PrEP using an anonymous electronic survey. Willingness to prescribe PrEP, fear of adherence issues, and concerns about risk compensation were addressed in three case vignettes that varied by a single characteristic (i.e., by gender identity, drug use, and socioeconomic status) randomly assigned to physicians. Three hundred seventy ID physicians responded to the survey. Although most identified as informed/well informed about PrEP (75%) and believed PrEP availability to be necessary (38%), concerns with adherence (49%), side effects (38%), risk compensation (28%), and increase in sexually transmitted infection incidence (38%) were raised. We found no statistically significant differences in willingness to prescribe PrEP and concerns around risk compensation across the three case vignettes. ID physicians who declared having a religion reported more concerns about risk compensation compared to those self-identified as atheists (72% vs. 46%,p < .001). Most Brazilian ID physicians reported a positive attitude toward PrEP. Patients' gender identity, drug use, and socioeconomic status were not associated with willingness to prescribe PrEP. However, ID physicians who declared having a religion were more frequently concerned about risk compensation among PrEP users, suggesting that personal beliefs can influence PrEP implementation.
- Predictors of knowledge of and access to biomedical prevention among MSM and transgender men in Latin America: Results from the Latin American internet survey(2022) AVELINO-SILVA, Vivian Iida; VASCONCELOS, Ricardo; CERQUEIRA, Natalia B.; MARCUS, Ulrich; SCHMIDT, Axel Jeremias; VERAS, Maria AmeliaIntroduction HIV is still a central public health issue in Latin America, disproportionally affecting key populations. Knowledge and access to biomedical prevention strategies, including treatment as prevention (TASP) or undetectable = untransmissible (U=U), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), are the first steps to increasing uptake. We used data from the Latin American MSM Internet Survey (LAMIS) to describe knowledge and access to biomedical HIV prevention strategies among gay, bisexual, transgender and other men who have sex with men (MSM) living in 18 Latin American countries. Methods We compared LAMIS data across countries and according to age categories using frequencies and percentages. We also used multivariable models to explore whether age, gender identity, sexual identity, steady partnership, HIV status and education were independently associated with outcomes. Results In all, 55 924 participants were included. Most were cisgender (99%) and identified as gay/homosexual (77%) or bisexual (17%). Schooling levels were very high, with 89% reporting highest attained education as tertiary level, university or post-graduation. In total, 16% had been previously diagnosed with HIV; of those, rates of undetectable viral load varied from 60% in Venezuela to 83% in Brazil. Overall, 54%, 54% and 52% of participants already knew about PEP, PrEP and U=U, respectively. Participants from Brazil and those aged between 26 and 55 years, living with diagnosed HIV and having a gay/homosexual identity had greater levels of awareness about biomedical prevention strategies. Conclusions Our study highlights gaps in HIV prevention campaigns directed to MSM in Latin America resulting in low uptake of biomedical prevention methods.
conferenceObject Attitudes and Knowledge About HIV PrEP Among Infectious Diseases Physicians in Brazil(2018) CERQUEIRA, Natalia; VASCONCELOS, Ricardo; HOJILLA, Carlo; KALLAS, Esper; AVELINO-SILVA, Vivian- Asymptomatic anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections are associated with systemic CD8(+) T-cell activation(2017) VIEIRA, Vinicius A.; AVELINO-SILVA, Vivian I.; CERQUEIRA, Natalia B.; COSTA, Dayane A.; COSTA, Priscilla R.; VASCONCELOS, Ricardo P.; MADRUGA, Valdez R.; MOREIRA, Ronaldo I.; HOAGLAND, Brenda; VELOSO, Valdilea G.; GRINSZTEJN, Beatriz; KALLAS, Esper G.Background: Oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been established as a pivotal strategy in HIV prevention. However, bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are also highly prevalent. Although the presence of STI-related mucosal lesions is a known risk factor for HIV acquisition, the potential increase in risk associated with asymptomatic STIs is not completely understood. Recent data demonstrated higher T-cell activation is a risk factor for sexually acquired HIV-1 infection. We examined the effect of asymptomatic C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae anorectal infection on systemic immune activation, potentially increasing the risk of HIV acquisition. Methods: We analyzed samples from participants of PrEP Brasil, a demonstration study of daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate HIV PrEP among healthy MSM, for T-cell activation by flow cytometry. We included 34 asymptomatic participants with anorectal swab for C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae infection, whereas negative for other STIs, and 35 controls. Results: We found a higher frequency of human leukocyte antigen DR(+)CD3(+)CD8(+)T cells (1.5 vs. 0.9%, P<0.005) and with memory phenotype in the group with asymptomatic C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae infection. Exhaustion and senescence markers were also significant higher in this group. No difference was observed in the soluble CD14 levels. Conclusion: Our findings suggest asymptomatic anorectal C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae increase systemic immune activation, potentially increasing the risk of HIV acquisition. Regular screening and treatment of asymptomatic STIs should be explored as adjuvant tools for HIV prevention.
- Beyond HIV prevention: Assessment of the benefits of pre-exposure prophylaxis for sexual quality of life(2024) BERTEVELLO, Daniel A.; VASCONCELOS, Ricardo; CERQUEIRA, Natalia B.; FREITAS, Angela C.; CUNHA, Ana; I, Vivian Avelino-SilvaBackground: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may favor sexual satisfaction by reducing the fear of HIV and promoting less restrictive sexual practices. These benefits may be even higher among PrEP users with mental health issues. Methods: We invited adult PrEP users to answer a questionnaire including demographics, questions on the sexual experience compared to the period before PrEP use, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Factors associated with improvements in the sexual experience were investigated using modified Poisson models. Results: We included 221 participants; most were white males. A large percentage of participants reported improvements in quality of sex after PrEP initiation; the composite outcome ""PrEP-associated improvement in the quality of sex"" was observed in 92 (42%), whereas the outcome ""PrEP-associated improvement in the fear of HIV acquisition"" was observed in 120 participants (54%). Demographics and depression/anxiety were not significantly associated with the outcomes. Conclusion: PrEP has positive effects beyond HIV prevention, improving several aspects of sexual quality of life. These benefits are valid incentives for PrEP use and prescription.