Dandona R, Dandona L, Radhakrishnan S, Kumar GA, Gutierrez JP, Bertozzi SM; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WeOrC1332.

F.P.P. Team-Asci, Centre for Public Health Research, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, India

Background: Condom use for penetrative anal sex is one of the major strategies for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to understand the barriers to condom use by MSM in Andhra Pradesh, India, as part of a baseline assessment for an impact assessment study of HIV prevention. Methods: 3,080 MSM were contacted in 17 sites in 9 districts of the Telangana area of Andhra Pradesh state in India for participation in this study in 2003, which included confidential interview by trained interviewers regarding awareness of HIV, sexual behaviour with partners, and barriers to use of condom for anal sex. Results: 2,812 (91.3%) of the 3,080 contacted MSM participated in this study. 2,371 (84.3%) MSM were aware of HIV, 1,695 (60.3%) knew HIV was preventable, and 1,657 (58.9%) knew condom could prevent HIV. 2,572 (91.5%) MSM reported having penetrative anal sex with the last partner, of which 1,214 (47.2%) did not use condom. The major reasons for not using condom in an al sex (not mutually exclusive) among the 1,214 MSM who did not use condom were: non-availability of condom (24.6%), do not like using condoms/no satisfaction with condoms (23.7%), not aware of condoms (21.1%), not needed with regular partner (9.4%), and partner objection to condom use (7.7%). Of the 1,477 MSM who knew condom could prevent HIV and had anal sex with the last partner, 404 (27.4%) did not use condom. Conclusion These data on a relatively large sample of MSM highlight the reasons why condom was not used for penetrative anal sex in this part of India. Even among the MSM who knew that condom could prevent HIV, one-fourth did not use condom for penetrative anal sex. Information on the barriers to condom use by MSM could be used for developing strategies that not only increase awareness about safe sex but also help translate this awareness into actual use of condom for anal sex, which would contribute to more effective HIV prevention.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• Condoms, Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• India
• Interviews as Topic
• Male
• Safe Sex
• Sexual Behavior

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0039273

UI: 102283489

From Meeting Abstracts