Abad Neetu, Malik Tasneem, Ariyarajah Archchun, Ongpin Patricia, Hogben Matthew, McDonald Suzanna L R, Marrinan Jaclyn, Massaquoi Thomas, Thorson Anna, Ervin Elizabeth, Bernstein Kyle, Ross Christine, Liu William J, Kroeger Karen, Durski Kara N, Broutet Nathalie, Knust Barbara, Deen Gibrilla F
Social & Behavioral Research and Evaluation Branch, Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, & TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Office of Global Activities, Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, & TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Sep 11;11(9):e0005827. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005827. eCollection 2017 Sep.
During the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic, the public health community had concerns that sexual transmission of the Ebola virus (EBOV) from EVD survivors was a risk, due to EBOV persistence in body fluids of EVD survivors, particularly semen. The Sierra Leone Ebola Virus Persistence Study was initiated to investigate this risk by assessing EBOV persistence in numerous body fluids of EVD survivors and providing risk reduction counseling based on test results for semen, vaginal fluid, menstrual blood, urine, rectal fluid, sweat, tears, saliva, and breast milk. This publication describes implementation of the counseling protocol and the key lessons learned.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The Ebola Virus Persistence Risk Reduction Behavioral Counseling Protocol was developed from a framework used to prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The framework helped to identify barriers to risk reduction and facilitated the development of a personalized risk-reduction plan, particularly around condom use and abstinence. Pre-test and post-test counseling sessions included risk reduction guidance, and post-test counseling was based on the participants' individual test results. The behavioral counseling protocol enabled study staff to translate the study's body fluid test results into individualized information for study participants.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The Ebola Virus Persistence Risk Reduction Behavioral Counseling Protocol provided guidance to mitigate the risk of EBOV transmission from EVD survivors. It has since been shared with and adapted by other EVD survivor body fluid testing programs and studies in Ebola-affected countries.
在2014 - 2016年西非埃博拉病毒病（EVD）疫情期间，公共卫生界担心埃博拉病毒（EBOV）在埃博拉病毒病幸存者体内持续存在，尤其是在精液中，因而存在从幸存者发生性传播的风险。启动了塞拉利昂埃博拉病毒持续存在研究，通过评估埃博拉病毒在埃博拉病毒病幸存者多种体液中的持续存在情况，并根据精液、阴道分泌物、经血、尿液、直肠分泌物、汗液、眼泪、唾液和母乳的检测结果提供降低风险咨询，来调查这一风险。本出版物描述了咨询方案的实施情况以及所汲取的主要经验教训。
方法/主要发现：埃博拉病毒持续存在降低风险行为咨询方案是根据用于预防艾滋病毒和其他性传播感染传播的框架制定的。该框架有助于确定降低风险的障碍，并促进制定个性化的降低风险计划，特别是围绕避孕套使用和禁欲方面。检测前和检测后的咨询会议包括降低风险指导，检测后的咨询基于参与者的个人检测结果。行为咨询方案使研究人员能够将研究的体液检测结果转化为针对研究参与者的个性化信息。
结论/意义：埃博拉病毒持续存在降低风险行为咨询方案为降低埃博拉病毒病幸存者传播埃博拉病毒的风险提供了指导。此后，该方案已与受埃博拉影响国家的其他埃博拉病毒病幸存者体液检测项目和研究分享并进行了调整。
