Conference abstract
Risky behavior and access to information about HIV among men who have sex with men as determinants of condom use with occasional partners in Ukraine
Nadiya Klymenko
BACKGROUND. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are considered a high risk group for HIV transmission through unprotected anal sexual intercourses. As condom use prevents HIV transmission in this case, a study of factors associated with condom use with occasional partners among MSM was undertaken.
METHODS. The study has a case-control design nested in a cross-sectional survey among MSM conducted in Ukraine in 2007. Controls were those who used a condom during last sexual contact with occasional partner, while those who did not use it were considered cases. Independent variables included socio-demographic characteristics, other risky behaviors, and sources of information about HIV. Bivariate analysis with calculating Pearson’s chi-square and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression method were conducted.
RESULTS. Condom use with occasional partners differed significantly by regions of Ukraine. Those MSM who consumed alcohol every day had a greater risk not to use condoms. Respondents who did not receive informational materials on HIV/AIDS over the past 12 months were more likely not to use a condom. Those respondents who did not know, did not remember or gave an unclear answer to the question whether HIV testing was available for them, had a greater risk not to use condoms with occasional partners (odds ratio2,3 (95% confidence interval 1,1 - 5,0), as well as those who were unclear about the quality of condoms they got from harm reduction services.
CONCLUSIONS. The study revealed that non-use of condoms with occasional sexual partners is typical for those MSM who practice other risky behaviors including frequent alcohol use and non-use of harm reduction services, which include provision of information, condoms, and testing. Thus, HIV prevention depends not only on a crucial question, whether or not preventive services are provided, but whether or not they are used by the target group.
Abstracts (pdf) in English and Ukrainian
