Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

176 Abstracts WePeD6368-WePeD6371

XIV International AIDS Conference

Conclusion: Emphasis on reducing high risk behavior while increasing HIV/AIDS
and condom use are of paramount importance in the control of HIV/AIDS in SW
Nigeria. Urgent attention needs to be paid to men in rural locations and those in
polygamous unions.
Presenting author: Taiwo Lawoyin, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Nigeria, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: tlawoyin @skannet.com
WePeD6368I Gay men's HIV related sexual risk behaviour in
Scotland, UK
L.M. Williamson1, G.J. Hart1, P. Flowers2, J.S. Frankis2, G.J. Der'. 'MRC
Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences
Unit, University of Glasgow, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, United Kingdom;
2Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow, United Kingdom
Background: Over the last decade, sex between men was the primary route
of HIV transmission in Scotland. Previous research found extensive sexual risk
taking among this group. Here, we examine gay men's HIV related sexual risk
behaviour, focusing on unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with casual partners.
Methods: Self-complete questionnaires were administered to men in the gay bars
of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland in January and February 1999 as part of the
evaluation of the Gay Men's Task Force sexual health intervention. 2498 men
completed questionnaires (response rate 77.5%).
Results: UAI was reported by over a third of the sample. Of these, 36% reported
this as having been with casual partners (12% of the total sample). There were no
differences in age, social class or qualification level between men reporting UAI
with casual partners and the rest of the sample. Factors associated with reporting
UAI with casual partners were more frequent visits to gay bars (p=0.001), experience of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the previous year (p<0.001), use of
genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics (p<0.001), and higher levels of HIV testing
(p=0.001). In multiple logistic regression the odds of UAI with casual partners remained significantly higher for men making frequent visits to gay bars (OR=1.26,
95% CI 1.08-1.46), men reporting STI in the previous year (OR=1.83, 95% Cl
1.25-2.69) and men reporting GUM clinic use (OR=1.56, 95% Cl 1.15-2.10) but
HIV testing was no longer a significant factor.
Conclusions: The sexual risk behaviour of gay men in Scotland has not changed
in recent years (in 1996, 11% reported UAI with casual partners). While causality cannot be implied from these data there is a significant association between
sexual health clinic use and HIV related sexual risk behaviour. The implications
of these results and the potential for further HIV prevention in this area will be
discussed.
Presenting author: Lisa Williamson, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences
Unit, University of Glasgow, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected].
uk
WePeD6369 Promiscuous incontinence (Sexual High Risk
Behavior) in post exposure period of HIV positive
patient attending the STD clinic at red light area of
MMC
R.R. Gaikwad. Medical Officer, STI Clinic, Mumbai Municipal Corporation,
Mumbai, India
Background: STI Clinic of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) is catering sex
workers and their clients in Red Light area of Mumbai since 1925. STIs are known
to enhance the risk of HIV and suggestive of sexual high risk behavior. Persistent
promiscuity indicates the high frequency transmission. STIs in pre HIV and post
HIV exposure state increase the risk of HIV transmission.
Method: All male HIV Positive Patients attending STI Clinic were counseled,
treated and followed -up during the course of their treatment over a year, were included in study. Collected DATA was processed in designed format and analyzed.
Results: Out of total enrolled patient 63% HIV Positive Patients continued to live
with sexually high risk behavior which was indicated as they repeatedly sought
treatment for various episodes of STIs. Results were summarized and expressed
in frequency distribution table.
Frequency Distribution 1-2 Episodes 3-5 Episodes >5 Episodes
Syphilis 28% 2% Nil
Acute Gonococcal Urethritis 10% 8% Nil
Chancroid 30% 4% 4%
Herpes Genitalis 28% 24% 20%
Other STDs 28% Nil Nil
Conclusion: 1. HIV infection in this patient was a result of High risk behavior,
which persists in the post HIV status too, attributing high frequency transmission.

2. STI Care need to be reinforced with efficient behavioral intervention for HIV
men seeking STI treatment
3. High priority should be aimed at changing high risk behavior.
Presenting author: Dr. Rajendra Gaikwad, 201, Sneha Apartment, Plot 221,
Sector 3, Charkop, Kandivali (W), Mumbai - 400 067., India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

WePeD6370 Social support from other HIV-positive men is
associated with mental health and sexual
transmission risk behavior among HIV-positive
men who have sex with men
D.W. Purcell1, T.A. Hart1, T.G. McWhorter2, C. Hoff 3, J.T. Parsons4. 'Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MailStop E-37, Atlanta,
Georgia 30333, United States; 2CESSI, Atlanta, United States; 3UCSF-CAPS,
San Francisco, United States; 4Hunter College of the CUNY, New York City,
United States
Background: Connectedness to and support from other HIV+ men may be important for mental health and sexual risk of HIV+ MSM.
Methods: A sample of 1168 HIV+ MSM (55% men of color) from 2 cities in the
U.S. took an A-CASI interview assessing: quantity of social support (number of
close friends and HIV+ male friends), quality of social support (connectedness to
and frequency of support from HIV+ men), mental health, and sexual transmission risk with non-main partners.
Results: HIV+ MSM reported a mean of 4.15 friends (SD=4.03) and 1.72 HIV+
friends (SD=2.11). Only 23% of men were very connected to other HIV+ men
while 28% frequently received support from HIV+ men. Loneliness was associated with less connection to, r = -0.27, p<0.001, and less frequent support
from other HIV+ men, r = -0.29, p<0.001. Depression was associated with less
frequent support, r = -0.21, p<0.001. In logistic regression, having more close
friends predicted greater likelihood of engaging in unprotected oral insertive sex
(UOI) (OR, 1.04, 95% CI, 1.01-1.07) and unprotected anal receptive sex (UAR)
(OR 1.05, 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) with HIV-negative partners, as well as having engaged in UOI (OR, 1.05, 95% CI, 1.02-1.08), and UAR with unknown serostatus
partners (OR, 1.04, 95% CI, 1.01-1.08). Connectedness (OR, 0.69, 95% CI, 0.61 -0.79) and frequency of social support (OR, 0.91, 95% CI, 0.86-0.96) predicted decreased likelihood of having engaged in UOI with unknown serostatus partners.
Connectedness also predicted decreased likelihood of unprotected anal insertive
sex (UAI) (OR, 0.85, 95% CI, 0.72-0.99) and UAR (OR, 0.83, 95% CI, 0.72-0.97)
for HIV-negative partners.
Conclusions: Improving the quality of social support from other HIV+ men may
be particularly important for improving mental health and decreasing likelihood of
HIV transmission. Future interventions should focus on increasing supportiveness
of relationships among HIV+ men as opposed to merely increasing the number
of friends.
Presenting author: David Purcell, 1600 Clifton Road, MailStop E-37, Atlanta,
Georgia 30333, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]
WePeD6371I Psychosocial predictors of risky sexual behaviors
in African American men
H.F. Myers', M. Javanbackht', M. Martinez2, S. Obediah2. 1UCLA, Los
Angeles, United States; 2Drew University, Department of Psychology, UCLA,
Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, United States
Background. This study investigated psychosocial predictors of sexual risktaking in a community sample of 503 African American men stratified by HIVserostatus and sexual orientation who were enrolled in the AAHP (Myers et. al.,
1997).
Methods. A sample of 308 HIV-seronegative and 185 HIV-seropositive African
American homosexual (n=169), heterosexual (n=250) and bisexual (n=78) men
between the ages of 18-50 were recruited from a variety of sources. A comprehensive psychosocial and behavioral interview was administered and a composite
sexual risk behavior index was computed. ANOVAs were run testing for group differences, and a series of Poisson regression analyses were run to estimate the
relative contribution of the predictors of sexual risk for the total sample, and for
each HIV and sexual orientation group separately.
Results: HIV-positive men were more likely to have a psychiatric history, to be
drug users, to report higher depression and psychological distress, but lower
chronic stress and lower social support than HIV-negative men. Also, bisexuals,
homosexuals, and HIV-negative men reported more risky sexual behaviors than
heterosexuals and HIV-positives. Overall, higher sexual risk was best predicted
by psychological distress, alcohol consumption, frequency of cocaine and marijuana use, being HIV-negative, older age, low education, and bisexual orientation.
Differences in the predictors of risk were also obtained between HIV-serostatus
and sexual orientation groups.
Conclusions: Results confirm previous findings of greater risk among men who
are bisexuals, substance abusers, low SES, and who are experiencing significant
psychological distress. Implications for and corrective and preventative interventions are discussed, and directions for future research are offered.
Presenting author: Hector F Myers, Department of Psychology, UCLA, Box
951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, United States, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: myers@ psych.ucla.edu