Dataset Information

HIV risk behaviour patterns, predictors, and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the social networks of young men who have sex with men in St Petersburg, Russia.

ABSTRACT: HIV seroconversions and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are often clustered in social networks within community populations. The present study was carried out among men who have sex with men in Russia, where a major HIV epidemic is unfolding, and where social networks have played a historically important role. In all, 38 social networks were recruited into the study, and members of all networks (n = 187) completed risk behaviour assessments and were tested for STDs. About 17% of participants had STDs, and 10% of men had syphilis. Over 64% of men had recent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), including 51% who did so with main partners, 30% who did so with casual partners, and 32% who had UAI with multiple male partners. The strongest predictor of all risk behaviour indicators and STDs was the social network, to which an individual belonged, supplemented by peer norm perceptions and intentions to practise safer sex. There was a high level of correspondence in behaviour between the social leader of a network and its other members. Social networks should be directly targeted in HIV prevention efforts.

SUBMITTER: Amirkhanian YA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1514189 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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HIV risk behaviour patterns, predictors, and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the social networks of young men who have sex with men in St Petersburg, Russia.

Amirkhanian Yuri A YA Kelly Jeffrey A JA Kirsanova Anna V AV DiFranceisco Wayne W Khoursine Roman A RA Semenov Alexander V AV Rozmanova Victoria N VN

International journal of STD & AIDS 20060101 1

HIV seroconversions and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are often clustered in social networks within community populations. The present study was carried out among men who have sex with men in Russia, where a major HIV epidemic is unfolding, and where social networks have played a historically important role. In all, 38 social networks were recruited into the study, and members of all networks (n = 187) completed risk behaviour assessments and were tested for STDs. About 17% of participant ...[more]

PMID: 16409680

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Project description:BackgroundHigh rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported, but there is little research on their STI knowledge. Our study sought to determine participants' characteristics that contribute to either high or low STI knowledge among MSM in Nairobi, Kenya.MethodsWe mobilized MSM aged ≥18 years from Nairobi into a cross-sectional study. To determine their understanding of STIs, a pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered. Knowledge score was generated by summing up the number of responses answered correctly by a participant. We dichotomized scores as "low" and "high", by splitting the group at <12 and ≥12 which was the mean.ResultsA total of 404 participants were interviewed between March and August 2020. The mean age was 25.2 (SD = 6.4) years. Majority were single (80.4%) and Christians (84.2%). All participants had some formal education ranging from primary to tertiary; the majority (92.3%) had secondary education or more. Most (64.0%) were employed and their monthly income ranged from <50->150 USD. Almost all (98.5%) were Kenyans. Of the 404 (90.6%) self-identified as male and (47.5%) reported to be exclusively top partners. Many (39.9%) reported being versatile, while those reporting to be bottom partners were, (12.6%). The last 12 months, (55.4%) of the participants reported having sex with men only and (88.6%) reported to have had multiple sexual partners. Participants scored an average of 12.2, SD 4.5. Multivariable backward elimination logistic regression revealed that participants who had tertiary education (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77), a higher income (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.22-0.75) and were engaging in vaginal sex (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.25-2.78) predicted significantly higher odds of high knowledge in the final multivariable model.ConclusionParticipant's knowledge level regarding STIs was low. We recommend health care workers to continue educating patients about STIs.

Dataset Information

HIV risk behaviour patterns, predictors, and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the social networks of young men who have sex with men in St Petersburg, Russia.

Publications

HIV risk behaviour patterns, predictors, and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the social networks of young men who have sex with men in St Petersburg, Russia.

Similar Datasets

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