Perceptions, attitudes, and practices of men who have sex with men regarding blood donation

• Grant number: 18/19146-9
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: June 01, 2019 - May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Edson Zangiacomi Martinez
• Grantee: Edson Zangiacomi Martinez
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Brian Custer
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/12112-4 - Perceptions, attitudes, and practices of men who have sex with men regarding blood donation, BP.TT

Abstract

Background: The definitive or temporary deferral of MSM for blood donation is on the current discussion agenda in most countries. Since 2004 the Brazilian blood donation regulation establishes 12-month celibacy to men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite the scientific evidence that the MSM sexual practice can be associated with an increased risk of infection by sexually transmitted infections the temporary deferral of MSM for blood donation in Brazil has generated discussions, mainly due to the social pressures of groups of promotion and defense of citizenship and human rights, which allege this deferral as a biased and discriminatory policy. As far as we know, no Brazilian study was conducted investigating the population of MSM outside blood banks, highlighting the total lack of evidence on the epidemiological profile, perceptions, attitudes and practices of MSM in the context of blood donation to support current discussions. Objectives: To evaluate perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation and current norms of blood services regulations among MSM users of Voluntary Counselling and Testing centers (VCT) in Ribeirão Preto - SP, and among MSM members of LGBTQ communities. Methods: Two studies will be conducted. The first will be a cross-sectional study to be conducted with users of two VCTs of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, responsible for more than 60% of the city's attendance. In this study all users will be interviewed, even those who are not MSM, in order to compare the perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding blood donation and current regulations among MSM and non-MSM. Study 2 will be carried out with MSM members of LGBTQ communities (web survey), whose data collection will be carried out in three large LGBTQ communities of Facebook. Both data collections will be carried out by means of an electronic self-completion questionnaire, to be made available on a tablet (study1) or via online link (study 2), using the REDCap data capture tool. The data will be analyzed through logistic regression models to study the association between (dependent) variables (a) donation practice (donor / non donor), (b) use of blood bank for tests (yes / no) , and the independent variables: age, marital status, religion, pattern of alcohol and drug consumption, social class, among other. The variables related to perceptions and attitudes will be associated to the MSM / non-MSM condition and other variables using logistic regression models or politomic regression models. (AU)