AIDS safer sex practice of young russian gays in St.Petersburg.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrE1243)
Koukharski AA, Kelly JA Gay Rights Krilija Center, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
Russia is experiencing one of the sharpest increases in HIV and STD incidence in the world. Due to this the research of risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) is very actual. The St. Petersburg Gay and Lesbian Rights "Krilija" Center in association with the Medical College of Wisconsin held a sociological survey in gay-identified clubs of the city over 10 sampling periods a year ago. Financial support to the Project was given by the World AIDS Foundation. 434 young MSM were surveyed and completed questionnaires about their sexual practicies, AIDS risk knowledge, safer sex attitudes, perceived safer sex norms and fatalism. Most MSM were bisexual; 79% had female partners in their lives and 37% in the past 3 months. STD treatment was reported by 32% of the men, 23% had sold sex to gain money and knowledge about critical HIV risk reduction steps was low. 38% of the respondents had unprotected anal sex in the past 3 months, consistent condom use was reported by only 30% of men and 37% of participants' most recent anal intercourse occasions were unprotected. HIV prevention interventions for Russian MSM are critically needed. Factors predicting risk were consistent with those found among MSM in other countries early in the HIV epidemic. However, unique cultural factors, including frequent bisexual behavior, the newness of Russia's openly gay communities, Russia's economic circumstances and lack of community experience dealing with AIDS, require HIV prevention program tailoring.
Keywords: AEGIS, Safe Sex, Homosexuality, Male, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Bisexuality, Risk-Taking, HIV Infections, Sex Behavior, HIV, Incidence, Homosexuality, HIV Seropositivity, Questionnaires, Coitus, Data Collection, Russia, Wisconsin, Human, Male, Female
