Attitudes to and Understanding of Risk of Acquisition of HIV Over Time: Design and Methods for an Internet-based Prospective Cohort Study Among UK Men Who Have Sex With Men (the AURAH2 Study).
BACKGROUND
The annual number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) has risen in the United Kingdom and, of those who are HIV positive, the proportion undiagnosed is high.


OBJECTIVE
The prospective AURAH2 study aims to assess factors associated with HIV acquisition among MSM in the United Kingdom and to investigate changes over time within individuals in sexual behavior and HIV-testing practices.


METHODS
AURAH2 is a prospective study among MSM without diagnosed HIV, aiming to recruit up to 1000 sexually active MSM attending sexual health clinics in London and Brighton in the United Kingdom. Participants complete an initial paper-based questionnaire, followed by online follow-up questionnaires every 4 months collecting sociodemographic, health and behavioral data, including sexual behavior, recreational and other drug use, HIV testing practices, and pre-exposure prophylaxis use, over a planned 3-year period.


RESULTS
The study is ongoing.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from AURAH2 study will provide important insight into established and emerging risk behaviors that may be associated with acquisition of HIV in MSM in the United Kingdom, changes over time within individuals in sexual behavior, and information on HIV testing practices. These data will be crucial to inform future HIV prevention strategies.
Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom. j.sewell@ucl.ac.uk.
Janey
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7148-2391
J
Sewell
Andrew
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1386-0627
A
Speakman
Andrew N
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2384-4807
AN
Phillips
Valentina
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0700-105X
V
Cambiano
Fiona C
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6851-5471
FC
Lampe
Richard
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9572-193X
R
Gilson
David
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6857-7920
D
Asboe
Nneka
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2616-6394
N
Nwokolo
Amanda
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4632-2035
A
Clarke
Ali
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4454-2541
A
Ogilvy
Simon
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3537-2432
S
Collins
Alison J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8817-4651
AJ
Rodger
HIV infection; HIV negative; HIV self-testing; HIV testing; HIV transmission; chemsex; health and well-being; men who have sex with men; pre-exposure prophylaxis; recreational drug use; sexual risk behaviour; study design