We estimated HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men
(MSM) and transgender women in Bogotá, Colombia, and explored differences
between HIV-positive individuals who are aware and unaware of their serostatus.
In this cross-sectional 2011 study, we used
respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit 1000 MSM and transgender women, who
completed a computerized questionnaire and received an HIV test.
The RDS-adjusted prevalence was 12.1%, comparable to a previous RDS-derived estimate. Among
HIV-positive participants, 39.7% were aware of their
serostatus and 60.3% were unaware before this study.
HIV-positive-unaware individuals were more likely to report inadequate
insurance coverage, exchange sex (i.e., sexual intercourse in exchange for
money, goods, or services), and substance use than other participants.
HIV-positive-aware participants were least likely to have had condomless anal
intercourse in the previous 3 months. Regardless of awareness, HIV-positive
participants reported more violence and forced relocation experiences than
HIV-negative participants.
There is an urgent need to increase HIV detection among MSM
and transgender women in Bogotá. HIV-positive-unaware group characteristics
suggest an important role for structural, social, and individual interventions.
Below: HIV status of recruited participants by serostatus of the recruiter in respondent-driven sampling of men who have sex with men and transgender women: Bogotá, Colombia, 2011
Below: Recruitment chains for the 4 seeds in respondent-driven sampling of men who have sex with men and transgender women: Bogotá, Colombia, 2011
Full article at: http://ht.ly/SOsSV
By:
- 1Maria Cecilia Zea, Carol A. Reisen, Ana María del Río-González, Fernanda T. Biachi, and Paul J. Poppen are with George Washington University, Washington, DC. Jesus Ramirez-Valles is with the University of Illinois, Chicago.
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