Abstract
In India men who have sex with men (MSM) are stigmatized, understudied, and at high risk for HIV. Understanding the impact of psychosocial issues on HIV risk behavior and HIV infection can help shape culturally relevant HIV prevention interventions. Peer outreach workers recruited 210 MSM in Chennai who completed an interviewer-administered psychosocial assessment battery and underwent HIV testing and counseling. More than one fifth (46/210) reported unprotected anal intercourse in the past 3 months, 8% tested positive for HIV, and 26% had previously participated in an HIV prevention intervention. In a multivariable logistic-regression model controlling for age, MSM subpopulation (kothi, panthi, or double-decker), marital status, and religion, significant predictors of any unprotected anal intercourse were being less educated (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = .54; p = .009), not having previously participated in an HIV prevention program (AOR = 3.75; p = .05), having clinically significant depression symptoms (AOR = 2.8; p = .02), and lower self-efficacy (AOR = .40; p <.0001). Significant predictors of testing positive for HIV infection were: being less educated (AOR = .53; .05) and not currently living with parent(s) (AOR = 3.71; p = .05). Given the prevalence of HIV among MSM, efforts to reach hidden subpopulations of MSM in India are still needed. Such programs for MSM in India may need to address culturally-relevant commonly cooccurring psychosocial problems to maximize chances of reducing risk for infection.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 372-383 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | AIDS Education and Prevention |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Health(social science)
Cite this
Unseen and unheard : Predictors of sexual risk behavior and HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Chennai, India. / Thomas, Beena; Mimiaga, Matthew J.; Menon, Sunil; Chandrasekaran, V.; Murugesan, P.; Swaminathan, Soumya; Mayer, Kenneth H.; Safren, Steven.
In: AIDS Education and Prevention, Vol. 21, No. 4, 08.2009, p. 372-383.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unseen and unheard
T2 - Predictors of sexual risk behavior and HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Chennai, India
AU - Thomas, Beena
AU - Mimiaga, Matthew J.
AU - Menon, Sunil
AU - Chandrasekaran, V.
AU - Murugesan, P.
AU - Swaminathan, Soumya
AU - Mayer, Kenneth H.
AU - Safren, Steven
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - In India men who have sex with men (MSM) are stigmatized, understudied, and at high risk for HIV. Understanding the impact of psychosocial issues on HIV risk behavior and HIV infection can help shape culturally relevant HIV prevention interventions. Peer outreach workers recruited 210 MSM in Chennai who completed an interviewer-administered psychosocial assessment battery and underwent HIV testing and counseling. More than one fifth (46/210) reported unprotected anal intercourse in the past 3 months, 8% tested positive for HIV, and 26% had previously participated in an HIV prevention intervention. In a multivariable logistic-regression model controlling for age, MSM subpopulation (kothi, panthi, or double-decker), marital status, and religion, significant predictors of any unprotected anal intercourse were being less educated (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = .54; p = .009), not having previously participated in an HIV prevention program (AOR = 3.75; p = .05), having clinically significant depression symptoms (AOR = 2.8; p = .02), and lower self-efficacy (AOR = .40; p <.0001). Significant predictors of testing positive for HIV infection were: being less educated (AOR = .53; .05) and not currently living with parent(s) (AOR = 3.71; p = .05). Given the prevalence of HIV among MSM, efforts to reach hidden subpopulations of MSM in India are still needed. Such programs for MSM in India may need to address culturally-relevant commonly cooccurring psychosocial problems to maximize chances of reducing risk for infection.
AB - In India men who have sex with men (MSM) are stigmatized, understudied, and at high risk for HIV. Understanding the impact of psychosocial issues on HIV risk behavior and HIV infection can help shape culturally relevant HIV prevention interventions. Peer outreach workers recruited 210 MSM in Chennai who completed an interviewer-administered psychosocial assessment battery and underwent HIV testing and counseling. More than one fifth (46/210) reported unprotected anal intercourse in the past 3 months, 8% tested positive for HIV, and 26% had previously participated in an HIV prevention intervention. In a multivariable logistic-regression model controlling for age, MSM subpopulation (kothi, panthi, or double-decker), marital status, and religion, significant predictors of any unprotected anal intercourse were being less educated (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = .54; p = .009), not having previously participated in an HIV prevention program (AOR = 3.75; p = .05), having clinically significant depression symptoms (AOR = 2.8; p = .02), and lower self-efficacy (AOR = .40; p <.0001). Significant predictors of testing positive for HIV infection were: being less educated (AOR = .53; .05) and not currently living with parent(s) (AOR = 3.71; p = .05). Given the prevalence of HIV among MSM, efforts to reach hidden subpopulations of MSM in India are still needed. Such programs for MSM in India may need to address culturally-relevant commonly cooccurring psychosocial problems to maximize chances of reducing risk for infection.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69349090869&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=69349090869&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1521/aeap.2009.21.4.372
DO - 10.1521/aeap.2009.21.4.372
M3 - Article
C2 - 19670971
AN - SCOPUS:69349090869
VL - 21
SP - 372
EP - 383
JO - AIDS Education and Prevention
JF - AIDS Education and Prevention
SN - 0899-9546
IS - 4
ER -