AEGiS-13IAC: HIV Sentinel Surveillance for Men who have Sex with Men in Peru.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV Sentinel Surveillance for Men who have Sex with Men in Peru.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrC717)

Jorge S, Russell K, Carcamo C, Negrete M, Paredes A, Galvan R, Chiappe M
S. Jorge, Peruvian STD/AIDS Control Program, Ernesto Montagne 114, Aurora - Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru, Tel.: +51 1 447 2697, Fax: +51 1 332 2295, E-mail: jsanchez@minsa.gob.pe

ISSUES: The HIV epidemic in Peru is almost exclusively sexually driven, and 48% of all AIDS cases reported in the country through December 1999 correspond to Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). Previous studies in Lima show that this population has a high prevalence; however no data is available for MSM in other cities of Peru.

DESCRIPTION: Core groups are a priority for the Peruvian National HIV and STD Control Program. In 1998 the National Program decided to perform an HIV sentinel surveillance study for MSM in 5 STD reference centers in Lima, and 6 in other cities of Peru. After a counseling session, a voluntary HIV test was offered to MSM seeking STD screening at the centers during one year in Lima and two months elsewhere. A risk behavior questionnaire was applied to all consenting men, and test results were given after a post-test counseling session. HIV testing was offered regardless of declared knowledge of HIV status to reduce participation bias. Sera for HIV testing was obtained from 4858 MSM in Lima and 1411 in other cities. HIV prevalence for MSM in Lima was 12.2%. Prevalences for other cities were higher in Amazonian cities (14.5% and 7.5% for Iquitos and Pucallpa respectively) compared to coastal cities (5.3%, 3.4% and 2.7% for Sullana, Tacna and Chiclayo), and was the lowest for Cusco, an Andean city (1.4%). Questionnaire data showed significant differences in prevalences associated to sub-categories among MSM, with high rates for transvestites (34.8%), a category frequently involved in commercial sex. Declared consistent condom use with casual partner, although rare in this sample (12.4%), was not associated with HIV infection. Conversely, recent (>12 months) sex with females was declared by 46% of participants.

CONCLUSION: HIV prevalence for MSM in Peru remains high. This, along with the low frequency of consistent condom use and the role of bisexuals as a bridging populations emphasize the need for interventions targeted to MSM.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, HIV Infections, Sentinel Surveillance, Safe Sex, Prevalence, Coitus, Bisexuality, Risk-Taking, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Seroprevalence, Peru, Human, Male, Female
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ThOrC717