HIV Status and High Risk Behavior of Men having Sex with Men

Abstract

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) of HIV is important intervention for the prevention of HIV infection. Aim of this study was to find out HIV status and high risk behavior of men having sex with men. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among men having sex with men (MSM) by administering structured questionnaires. The number of risk factors in a single individual ranged from one to seven out of eight. The mean risk factor was 3.38, with standard deviation 1.3. More than half (55.33%) of them perceived at low risk, 33% perceived themselves at high risk. Regarding HIV status of respondents, 8% were found to be positive. In the past 30 days the respondents had large number of sex partners; majorities of them 90% and 87.3% had 0-20 regular and casual sex partners but 9.8% of MSM had 21-40 regular sex partners and 2.9% had 81-100 casual sex partners respectively. Among the MSM 46.6% were commercial sex worker, 35% were sex drives and 18.4% were intravenous drug user. Majority of them (59.8%) always used condom but 21.56% used sometime only. Some respondents (3.9%) had sign of STIs and 5.8 % had accident of needle injured. There are higher chances for transmission of HIV and other STDS among MSM. The role of VCT centre should be strengthen to awareness raising, isolate HIV positive cases treat them with antiretroviral drugs and counseling them to behavior change.

Key words: HIV, MSM, Risk factor