HIV news from aidsmap.com

Scale-up of online HIV and STI self-sampling hasn’t led to more equitable outcomes in England
While clinic-based testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in England has gone down, there’s been a shift towards online self-sampling, with an increase across population groups. However, recent research shows that this increase has been uneven, with gay and bisexual men more likely to access self-sampling and straight men, people of colour and those from more deprived areas less likely to do so.
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Integrase inhibitors reduce heart risks in people with HIV in the US
Taking an integrase inhibitor as part of an HIV treatment regimen significantly reduced the risk of a major cardiovascular event or coronary artery disease when compared to other forms of HIV treatment, a study in people with HIV in the United States has found. The study took place in a cohort of people with HIV who may reflect the reality of HIV care in the United States – racially and ethnically diverse with a history of variable access to health care.
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Gender-focused training for HIV providers reduces stigma but implementation proves challenging
“You have to take time with the patient, listen to them, all their stories and baggage…I don’t think we have that environment here. When you have a long line of clients, you aren’t going to give everyone 30 minutes [to] 1 hour listening to all their problems and challenges.” A gender-sensitivity training programme for HIV healthcare providers in Uganda reduced stigma among clients but failed to improve treatment adherence or satisfaction with care, according to a pilot study published in PLOS Global Public Health.
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