Ritieni A, Gomez E, Ruiz J, Vargas D, Salazar M; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeC6137.
California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, United States
Background: HIV/AIDS among Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) is a concern for California (CA) and Mexico. Latinos are increasingly representing a larger proportion of new Californian MSM AIDS cases. Meanwhile movement across the California-Mexico international border is extensive. HIV prevention programs do not specifically target Latino/border MSM as data for these populations are scarce. This study assesses HIV prevalence, behavior and healthcare among MSM at the Imperial, California-Mexicali, Mexico border. Methods: A convenience sample of Latino MSM ages 18-29 are being recruited from gay-identified venues, administered a standardized survey and tested for HIV. This study is conducted by the CA AIDS Office, Project Concern International - Mexicali and local health departments, with support from Mexico's AIDS Office. Findings: Sixty-two Mexicali MSM have been interviewed. Eighty-seven percent have had unprotected sex with men. Fifty-eight percent have had sex with women, 72% of whom have had unprotected sex with their partner. Among those with a male sex partner in the past four months, 62% (29) had unprotected sex; 34% of them did so with an anonymous/exchange partner. Of those with a recent female partner, 75% (12) had unprotected sex with their partner. Three-quarters did so with an anonymous/exchange partner. Over 50% felt at little/no risk for infection; 56% has no health insurance; 26% felt their behavior change based on new messages about new HIV/AIDS treatments. Of those tested for HIV, 19% were positive. None were aware of their status. Conclusions: Unprotected sex with males and females is placing both the MSM and female populations at risk for infection. Unprotected sex with exchange/anonymous partners, low risk perception, and lack of health insurance is worrisome. HIV rates observed hitherto validate these concerns. Just as they have been critical to implementing this study, bilateral efforts are needed to appropriately address the research findings.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Biomedical Research
- California
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hispanic Americans
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Male
- Mexico
- Prevalence
- Risk-Taking
- Sexual Partners
- Unsafe Sex
Other ID:
UI: 102284056
From Meeting Abstracts