HIV-related sexual risk taking among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in Zagreb, Croatia.
Croatia has a low-level HIV epidemic and, as in a number of other Central and Southeastern European countries, sex between men accounts for most HIV infections. This study examines sexual behavior and the correlates of condom use in a snowball sample of 342 HIV non-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zagreb. The median age of participants in the sample was 27 years. The majority of participants (81%) reported using condom at last anal sex with casual partner and 56% claimed to have used condoms consistently at anal sex with casual partners in the last 12 months. HIV risk self-assessment and number of sexual partners were significantly correlated with condom use at last anal sex with casual partner. Self-assessed HIV-risk and heterosexual activity were found associated with consistent condom use at anal sex with casual partners. To sustain a low-level HIV epidemic, targeted intervention among young MSM is needed in Croatia.
Stulhofer
Aleksandar
A
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia. astulhof@ffzg.hr
Baćak
Valerio
V
Bozicević
Ivana
I
Begovac
Josip
J
D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires