title: Hepatitis B infection and association with other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Peru.
abstract: To assess the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru, we evaluated the prevalence and associated risk factors for HBV serologic markers among participants of a HIV sentinel surveillance conducted in 2002-2003. The standardized prevalences for total antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were 20.2% and 2.8%, respectively. Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection had significantly higher anti-HBc (44.3% versus 19.3%) and HBsAg (9.5% versus 2.3%) prevalences than uninfected men. Increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.06), versatile sexual role (AOR = 1.59), sex in exchange for money/gifts (AOR = 1.58), syphilis (AOR = 1.74), HIV-1 infection (AOR = 1.64), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2, AOR = 2.77) infection were independently associated with anti-HBc positivity, whereas only HIV-1 infection (AOR = 3.51) and generalized lymph node enlargement (AOR = 3.72) were associated with HBsAg positivity. Pre-existing HBV infection is very common among Peruvian MSM and was correlated with sexual risk factors. MSM in Peru constitute a target population for further HBV preventive and treatment interventions.
authors.affiliation: Asociacion Civil Impacta Salud y Educacion, Lima, Peru. jrlama@impactaperu.org
authors.forename: Javier R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lama
authors.forename: Hellen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Agurto
authors.forename: Juan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Guanira
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganoza
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casapia
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.forename: Abner
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zamalloa
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez-Ognio
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabezas
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010568:Peru; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D047568:Unsafe Sex