HIV prevalence and awareness of positive serostatus among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Bogotá, Colombia

M.C. Zea, C.A. Reisen, A.M. Del Río-González, F.T. Bianchi, J. Ramirez-Valles and P.J. Poppen

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, issue 8, 1588-1595

Abstract: Objectives. 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. Methods. 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. Results. The RDS-adjusted prevalence was 12.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.7, 15.8), comparable to a previous RDS-derived estimate. Among HIV-positive participants, 39.7% (95% CI = 25.0, 54.8) were aware of their serostatus and 60.3% (95% CI = 45.2, 75.5) 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. Conclusions. 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. © 2015, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; Colombia; cross-sectional study; female; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; homosexuality; human; male; middle aged; psychology; questionnaire; sexual behavior; statistics and numerical data; transgender; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Colombia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sexual Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transgender Persons; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302307_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302307

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