HIV, STI and Behavioral Risk Among Men Who have Sex with Men in a Setting of Elevated HIV Prevalence Along Ecuador’s Pacific Coast

• Published in: AIDS and behavior 2015-09, Vol.19 (9), p.1609-1618
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Gómez, Amaya, Jacobson, Jerry O., Montoya, Orlando, Magallanes, Demetrio, Bajaña, Wilson, Aviles, Oscar, Esparza, Tito, Soria, Efrain, González, Manuel A., Morales-Miranda, Sonia, Tobar, Rodrigo, Riera, Celia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS; Behavior; Blood diseases; Condoms; Data collection; Ecuador - epidemiology; Health Psychology; Health risks; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B virus; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Logistic Models; Male; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Original Paper; Prevalence; Prevention; Probability; Prostitution; Provinces; Public Health; Recruitment; Risk; Risk factors; Risk taking; Sex; Sex Work; Sexual behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Socioeconomic Factors; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; STD; Syphilis; Syphilis - epidemiology; Trends; Treponema pallidum; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-014-0956-z

We assessed HIV and STI prevalence, risk behaviors and factors associated with HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 400 MSM in 2011–2012. Participants completed a computer-assisted self-interview and provided blood samples. Statistical analysis accounted for differential probability of selection and for recruitment patterns. HIV prevalence was 11.3 %, HSV-2 30.2 %, active syphilis 6.9 % and hepatitis B 1.2 %. In the previous 12 months, 84 % of MSM reported casual male sex partners and 25 % sex work. Only 48 % of MSM consistently used condoms with male partners and 54 % had ever been tested for HIV. Of 17 % of MSM reporting a female partner, consistent condom use was 6 %. HIV infection was associated with age 25 or older, active syphilis and homosexual self-identification. Findings suggest continuing HIV risk and a need to strengthen prevention and testing among MSM.