Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2286 - Boystown - MSM I | ||||
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Session: 15.5: Boystown - MSM I (Symposium) on Wednesday @ 14.30-16.00 in C104 Chaired by Udi Davidovich, Kenneth Mayer Authors: Presenting Author: Dr. Hanneke de Graaf - Rutgers WPF, Netherlands |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: In the Netherlands, men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute the largest at-risk group for hiv. Two thirds of all new cases of HIV are diagnosed amongst this group. Although the number of new diagnoses of hiv in MSM appears to have stabilised, the number is still increasing amongst men younger than 25 years and those aged 55 years or older. Sexual (risk) behaviour is an underlying factor in the majority of new HIV infections. For optimal hiv prevention accurate knowledge of the sexual (risk) behaviour of MSM is essential. In this study we examined in different age groups the sexual (risk) behaviour amongst MSM including condom use and other risk-reduction strategies. | ||||
| Method / Issue: For this purpose, 825 MSM (M = 42.68 years range: 16-88) with a negative or unknown hiv-status filled out an online questionnaire with questions pertaining to demographic variables, sexual behaviour, condom use and risk-reduction strategies. Contrary to many other MSM studies, participants were recruited by means of an online research panel, instead of convenience sampling. | ||||
| Results / Comments: In the past six months, 43% of the respondents had exclusively sex with their steady partners, 41% only with casual partners and 16% with both steady and casual partners. Half of the MSM with a negative or unknown hiv-status had sex with one person, 14% with two persons and 36% had three or more sexpartners. Of those MSM who had engaged in sex with a casual partner, 24% had anal sex without a condom at least once in the past six months. No differences were found according to age. More than half of the MSM (56%) who had unprotected sex with a casual partner asked the hiv-status of their sexpartners before they had sex. Seven out of ten MSM had only unprotected anal sex with hiv-negative partners (sero-sorting). About one in six MSM used sorting according to viral load, and an equivalent share had used strategic positioning. Four out of ten MSM was familiar with PEP as a preventive medicine to reduce the risk of a hiv-infection after unprotected sex. Only a small group of MSM (14,5%) were aware of PrEP, 45% found it desirable to offer HIV medication preventively to risk-groups and 21% would consider the use of PrEP if it would be offered to them. | ||||
| Discussion: In HIV-prevention messages MSM are often treated as one (high-risk) group. The current study demonstrates, however, that many of the MSM with a negative or unknown hiv-status had one sexpartner in the past six months or had only sex with their steady partner. One in four MSM who had sex with casual partners had unprotected sex. Those who had unprotected sex with casual partners use strategies other than condom usage to reduce the likelihood of acquiring HIV. When developing prevention interventions, it is important to differentiate into risk groups and acknowledge that supplementary strategies are being used, and address the safety of these strategies. Transferring knowledge of PEP & PrEP should be an integral part of prevention. | ||||
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