title: Male sex workers: are we ignoring a risk group in Mumbai, India?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male sex workers (MSWs) have recently been recognized as an important risk group for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although there are global studies on MSWs, few such studies describe the behavioral patterns and STIs among this population in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  MSWs were evaluated at the Humsafar trust, a community based organization situated in suburban Mumbai, India. We report on the demographics, sexual behaviors, and STIs including HIV of these sex workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 75 MSWs, 24 were men and 51 were transgenders. The mean age of the group was 23.3 (+ 4.9) years. About 15% were married or lived with a permanent partner. Of these individuals, 85% reported sex work as a main source of income and 15% as an additional source. All the individuals reported anal sex (87% anal receptive sex and 13% anal insertive sex). About 13% of MSWs had never used a condom. The HIV prevalence was 33% (17% in men vs 41% in transgenders, P = 0.04). The STI prevalence was 60% (58% in men vs 61% in transgenders, P = 0.8). Syphilis was the most common STI (28%) in these MSWs. HIV was associated with being a transgender (41 vs 17%, P = 0.04), age > 26 years (57 vs 28%, P = 0.04), more than one year of sex work (38 vs 8%, P = 0.05), and income P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MSWs have high-risk behaviors, low consistent condom use, and high STI/HIV infections. These groups should be the focus of intensive public health interventions aimed at reduction of risky sexual practices, and STI/HIV prevention and care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, LTM Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.forename: Maninder Singh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Setia
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Row-Kavi
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Hemangi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jerajani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult