15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. TuOrC1200)

Lippman SA, Pulerwitz J, Reingold A, Chinaglia M, Ogura C, Hubbard A, van Dam J, Diaz J
Population Council, Campinas, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Mobile populations such as truck drivers may be vulnerable to HIV infection. Qualitative research indicates that movement away from protective social networks may result in more readiness to engage in riskier sexual behaviors, including relations with multiple partners. There is sparse quantitative data from large samples to further elucidate the relationship.

METHODS: A systematic sample of 1775 male truck drivers was interviewed at the Brazilian customs stations of Uruguaiana (n=996) and Foz do Iguacu (n=779) from March to July 2003. Participants responded to a series of socio-demographic and behavioral questions, including measures of mobility and number and type of sexual partnerships over the last 6 months, including principal, occasional and commercial partners.

RESULTS: 95% of truckers reported having principle partners and 46% had any non-regular (commercial or occasional) partner in the last 6 months (32% had a commercial partner, 24% had an occasional partner). Surveyed truck drivers spent a mean of 6.8 nights at home in the last month, with 30% averaging trips of 2 weeks duration or more. After controlling for marital status, age, and country of residence, men whose truck routes were 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks or more than 4 weeks long were significantly more likely to report having commercial sex partners (adjusted OR = 1.5, 1.8, and 2.2 respectively) than men with trips of less than 1 week of duration. Holding the same variables constant, for every night spent at home in the last month, there was a.02 decreased odds of having had a commercial sex partner (p<.01) and the mean number of commercial sex partners in the last 6 months went down.09 (p<.05). Reporting of occasional partnerships was not significantly related to time away from home.

CONCLUSIONS: Truckers with longer routes and who spent more nights away per month were more likely to report having had commercial partners and in greater numbers. Mobility facilitates contact with a greater number of sexual partners and is therefore a source of vulnerability to HIV infection.

040711
TuOrC1200

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