Prevalence and risk factors associated with HIV infection among men having sex with men in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

AIDS Behav. 2008 May;12(3):476-82. doi: 10.1007/s10461-007-9267-y. Epub 2007 Jun 27.

Abstract

To learn more about risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam and their prevalence of HIV, we conducted a study among MSM in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to determine HIV-1 prevalence and behaviors associated with infection. This consisted of formative (35 MSM) and cross-sectional (600 MSM) studies at 72 sites, including 75 transvestites, 55 bisexuals, 10 sex workers, and 460 other MSM. Only 5.3% cohabited with a wife/girlfriend, but 30% reported ever having sex with a female. Prevalence of HIV was 8%, ranging from 33% in sex workers to 7% among transvestites and other MSM. Injecting drugs, selling sex, being 20-40 years old, having less than 6 years of education, and having more than five male anal sex partners in the past month were associated with being HIV-infected. MSM are an HIV bridge group, and should be included in sentinel surveillance. Targeted interventions should be implemented.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Catchment Area, Health
  • Child
  • Coitus*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vietnam / epidemiology