16th International AIDS Conference Toronto, Canada - August 13 - 18, 2006

SURVEILLANCE OF HIV PREVALENCE AMONG POPULATIONS OF MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN IN THAILAND, 2003-2005

Int Conf AIDS. 2006 Aug 13-18;16 Abstract No. MoAc0101

van Griensven F.¹, Varangrat A.², Naorat S.², Sinthuwattanawibool C.², McNicholl J.M.¹, Mock P.A.², Siraprapasiri T.², Jommaroeng R.³, Phanuphak P.⁴, Tappero J.W.⁵, the Thailand MSM Study Group
¹Thailand MOPH-U.S. CDC Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand; Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, ²Thailand MOPH-U.S. CDC Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand, ³Thai Red Cross Society; Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, ⁴Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand, ⁵Thailand MOPH-U.S. CDC Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand; Global AIDS Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

BACKGROUND: HIV prevalence among Thai populations of men who have sex with men is not well described. This information is important to target and inform HIV preventive interventions.

METHODS: Identical cross-sectional surveys, using venue-day-time sampling, enrolled 1,121 men from Bangkok in 2003 (response rate: 90.2%) and 2,049 from Bangkok, Chiangmai and Phuket in 2005 (response rate: 97.3%). Participants were Thai, ≥15 years old, and had had sex with another man in the past 6 months. Palmtop computer-assisted self-interviews collected demographic and behavioral data; EIA tested oral fluid for HIV infection. Our study population consisted of general men who have sex with men (MSM), male sex workers (MSW) and transgendered persons (TG).

RESULTS: 1,121 MSM enrolled in 2003; and 821 MSM, 754 MSW, and 474 TG in 2005. In Bangkok, HIV prevalence among MSM increased from 17.3% in 2003 to 28.3% in 2005; among ≤22 year olds it increased from 12.9% to 22.3% and among those older from 19.1% to 30.2% (all p<0.05). Prevalence at bar/disco’s increased from 13.0% to 23.0%, at parks from 16.9% to 29.6% and at saunas from 22.0% to 31.9% (all p<0.01). In 2005, HIV prevalence among MSM in Chiangmai was 15.3% and in Phuket 5.5%. Among MSW, HIV prevalence was 18.9% in Bangkok, 11.4% in Chiangmai and 14.4% in Phuket. HIV prevalence in TG was 11.5% in Bangkok, 17.6% in Chiangmai and 11.2% in Phuket.

CONCLUSIONS: Data show that by 2005, HIV was widespread in Thai populations of men who have sex with men. Among MSM in Bangkok, HIV prevalence increased over 50% between 2003 and 2005. In 2005, more than 20% of Bangkok MSM ≤22 years old were HIV-infected, suggesting high underlying HIV incidence. Thai populations of men who have sex with men should be considered for the implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions.

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2006-08-13
MoAc0101

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