Sexual risk behaviour and its determinants among men who have sex with men in Catalonia, Spain

To evaluate the prevalence of sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Catalonia and to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, and behavioural factors associated with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with casual partners a convenience sample of 850 MSM was recruited in 2006. An anonymous questionnaire was used to explore risk behaviours during the previous 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to examine the variables associated with UAI. Mean age was 41 years and 20.4% were immigrants. Among those with casual partners (91.7% of all respondents), 31.4% had UAI. The multivariate analysis revealed that the likelihood of UAI was higher in men who were HIV-positive (OR: 1.77), used more than four drugs before sex (OR: 4.90 for +6), were not from Spain (OR: 2.10 for Latin American; OR: 1.86 for other immigrants), had more than 20 sexual partners (OR: 1.56), met casual sex partners on the Internet (OR:1.45) and presented a high level of internalised homophobia (OR: 2.40). HIV/STI prevention programmes for MSM in Catalonia should incorporate activities that strengthen self-esteem, take into account the impact of internalised homophobia, and adapt to the sociocultural reality of immigrants. Furthermore, these programmes should also address substance abuse and alert HIV-positive men about the risk of HIV re-infection and transmission of other STI.

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The Context of Sexual Risk Behaviour Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Seeking PrEP, and the Impact of PrEP on Sexual Behaviour

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-018-2300-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 1708-1720 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mitzy Gafos ◽

Rob Horne ◽

Will Nutland ◽

Gill Bell ◽

Caroline Rae ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Risk ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Impact

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Hepatitis B vaccination and changes in sexual risk behaviour among men who have sex with men in Amsterdam

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268808000976 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 137 (4) ◽

pp. 504-512 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. XIRIDOU ◽

J. WALLINGA ◽

N. DUKERS-MUIJERS ◽

R. COUTINHO

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Sex With Men ◽

The Impact

SUMMARYThe impact of hepatitis B vaccination in men having sex with men in Amsterdam has been marginal until now, possibly because of increases in sexual risk behaviour counterbalancing the effect of vaccination. A mathematical model is used to describe the hepatitis B epidemic. The model shows that, with the current vaccination coverage, the decrease in incidence is small in the beginning. However, the number of infections prevented per vaccine administered rises over time. Nevertheless, increased risk behaviour reduces the benefit of vaccination. Targeting high-risk men is more successful in reducing and containing the epidemic than targeting low-risk men. In conclusion, the vaccination campaign is effective and should be intensified. High-risk men should be targeted for vaccination and for risk reduction.

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Screening HIV-positive men who have sex with men for hepatitis C re-infection risk: is a single question on condom-use enough? A sensitivity analysis

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-019-4456-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patrizia Künzler-Heule ◽

◽

Sandra Engberg ◽

Manuel Battegay ◽

Axel J. Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Use ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Anal Intercourse ◽

The Other ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Condomless Anal Intercourse ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common in men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV. The Swiss HCVree Trial targeted a micro-elimination by using a treat and counsel strategy. Self-reported condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners was used as the selection criterion for participation in a counselling intervention designed to prevent HCV re-infection. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of this criterion to identify men who engaged in other sexual risk behaviours associated with HCV re-infection. Methods Men who disclosed their sexual and drug- use behaviours during the prior 6 months, at study baseline, were included in the current study. Using a descriptive comparative study design, we explored self-reported sexual and drug-use risk behaviours, compared the odds of reporting each behaviour in men who reported and denied condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners during the prior year and calculated the sensitivity/specificity (95% CI) of the screening question in relation to the other at-risk behaviours. Results Seventy-two (61%) of the 118 men meeting eligibity criteria reported condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners during the prior year. Many also engaged in other potential HCV transmission risk behaviours, e.g., 52 (44%) had used drugs. In participants disclosing drug use, 44 (37%) reported sexualised drug use and 17 (14%) injected drugs. Unadjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for two well-known risk behaviours were 2.02 (0.80, 5.62) for fisting and 5.66 (1.49, 37.12) for injecting drug use. The odds ratio for sexualised drug use - a potential mediator for increased sexual risk taking - was 5.90 (2.44, 16.05). Condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners showed varying sensitivity in relation to the other risk behaviours examined (66.7–88.2%). Conclusions Although condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners was fairly sensitive in detecting other HCV relevant risk behaviours, using it as the only screening criterion could lead to missing a proportion of HIV-positive men at risk for HCV re-infection due to other behaviours. This work also points to the importance of providing access to behavioral interventions addressing other sexual and drug use practices as part of HCV treatment. Trial registration Clinical Trial Number: NCT02785666, 30.05.2016.

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Sexual risk behaviours and HIV-1 prevalence among urban men who have sex with men in Cape Town, South Africa

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh09090 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 149 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Earl Burrell ◽

Daniella Mark ◽

Robert Grant ◽

Robin Wood ◽

Linda-Gail Bekker

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Cape Town ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv 1

Background: Distinct homosexual and heterosexual HIV epidemics have previously been recognised in South Africa. However, linked HIV prevalence and self-reported sexual risk behaviour data have not been reported for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Cape Town since 1986. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous, venue-based HIV risk behaviour and prevalence study of 542 self-identified MSM in greater Cape Town using a self-administered risk questionnaire and the OraSure® testing device to asses HIV-1 prevalence. Results: This sample had an overall HIV prevalence of 10.4% (56/539). We found that self-identifying as gay, homosexual or queer (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–20.0) and reporting ever having had a sexually transmissible infection diagnosis (AOR 4.3, 95% CI: 2.3–8.3) were significantly predictive of testing HIV-1 positive, while reporting unprotected anal intercourse with a known HIV-negative partner (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) was significantly protective. Conclusion: These data suggest a mature epidemic with consistent high-risk taking among MSM in Cape Town, and significant associations of select self-reported risk behaviours and HIV-1 serostatus. There is a need for continued and robust HIV surveillance along with detailed risk behaviour trends over time to inform the development of targeted risk-reduction interventions for this population.

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