• Aridoss Santhakumar, Joseph K David, Jaganathasamy Nagaraj, Malathi Mathiyazhakan, Balasubramanian Ganesh, Natesan Manikandan, V M Padmapriya, Pradeep Kumar, Shobini Rajan, and Arumugam Elangovan.
• ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, R-127, 2 Main Road, TNHB, Ayapakkam, Chennai - 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Jun 1; 23 (2): 678067-80.

BackgroundHIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is 16.5 times higher than adult HIV prevalence. With a socio-cultural context that demands marriage, a considerable proportion of MSM in India have female sexual partners and act as a bridge population. Stratified analysis of HIV risk factors among homosexual and bisexual MSM will be instrumental in identifying the high-risk MSM. We aim to identify the socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with HIV risk among homosexual and bisexual MSM.MethodsOverall, 23081 MSM were enrolled in the IBBS conducted across India between October 2014 and November 2015. Data and blood samples were collected. Chi-square test, univariate and multivariable logistic regression methods were used in data analysis.ResultsHIV prevalence was significantly higher among homosexual MSM than bisexual MSM. Older age, lesser education, being a sex worker, being married, living with a male or hijra partner, younger age at initiation of MSM behaviour, duration, injecting drugs, and having STI symptoms were associated with higher prevalence. The prevalence of new homosexual MSM was 11.4%. Nearly 75% of the bisexual MSM reported inconsistent condom usage with female partners.ConclusionInterventions for early identification of new MSM and advocacy for safe sex with alternative preventive techniques are recommended.© 2023 Santhakumar A et al.

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