Prevalence & Correlates of HIV among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Tijuana, Mexico

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in developing countries such as Mexico have received relatively little research attention. In Tijuana, Mexico, a border city experiencing a dynamic HIV epidemic, data on MSM are over a decade old. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence and examine correlates of HIV infection among MSM in this city.

A total of 33 MSM tested positive for HIV, yielding an RDS-adjusted estimated 20% prevalence. Of those who tested positive, 89% were previously unaware of their HIV status. An estimated 36% had been tested for HIV in the past year, and 30% were estimated to have ever used methamphetamine. Independent correlates of being infected with HIV were methamphetamine use and active syphilis infection.

Our data indicate that MSM are a key sub-population in Tijuana at higher risk for HIV. Tijuana would also appear to have the highest proportion among upper-middle-income countries of HIV-positive MSM who are unknowingly infected. More HIV prevention research on MSM is urgently needed in Tijuana.

Via: http://ht.ly/S777C 

By: Eileen V Pitpitan,*,1 David Goodman-Meza,*,1 Jose Luis Burgos,1 Daniela Abramovitz,1 Claudia V Chavarin,2 Karla Torres,3 Steffanie A Strathdee,1 and Thomas L Patterson§,2

²Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

³

1Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

2Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

3Agencia Familiar Binacional, A.C., Tijuana, Mexico

1Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

1Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA