AEGiS-13IAC: Anal sex and sexual orientation, co-factor in HIV/AIDS transmission: From mildy to wildy effeminate men in the Philippines.

13th International AIDS Conference

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

Anal sex and sexual orientation, co-factor in HIV/AIDS transmission: From mildy to wildy effeminate men in the Philippines.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrD687)

Imperial R, Hernandez L
R. Imperial, University of the Philippines Manila, College Of Arts And Sciences, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines, Tel.: +63 2 526 58 59, Fax: +63 2 526 91 65, E-mail: reyimp@mail.upm.edu.ph

ISSUES: While the Philippines currently maintains a low HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, epidemiological studies have shown that it is possible to spread to the general population at increased rates from among identified vulnerable groups - monogamous females and men who have sex with men. This has been shown by the fact that the principal mode of transmission in the country is hetero-homosexual intercourse. This study intends to document the observation that once the infection gains a foothold among MSM, it can swiftly spread to their partner - lovers, wives, children and others. While several studies have been conducted on MSM, the correlation between anal sex and sexual intercourse of the spread of the disease has not been studied.

DESCRIPTION: A two-stage cluster sampling was used to determine the number of male sex workers who participated in the study. A total of 327 sex workers who admitted engaging in anal sex were included in the study. The ages of participants ranged 13.6 to 36 years old with a mean age of 20.5 (SD = 3.8). Most, 82.6% were single and a few 4.1 were married. Most of the respondents self-identified as heterosexual, 80.2%; bisexual, 18.5% and homosexual 1.3%. A total of 37.7% reported to have engaged in anal intercourse with theur male clients or partners during the last two months. Of this, 31.4% was insertive and 1.8% were receptive.

CONCLUSION: The results showed using univariate logistic that there was a significant association between sexual orientation and anal sex (p-value>0.001) but only marginally significant in the multivariate (p-value > 0.05). The study showed that male sex workers while largely involved in homosexual relations maintain their "masculine role" as anal insertors. Most of the respondents did not engage in receptive anal sex as they believe this makes them homosexuals.

Keywords: AEGIS, Sex Behavior, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Bisexuality, HIV Seropositivity, Homosexuality, Heterosexuality, Prostitution, Data Collection, Coitus, Prevalence, Philippines, Epidemiologic Studies, Greece, Human, Male, Female, Child, transmission
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ThOrD687