Correlates of unprotected anal sex among men who have sex with men in Tijuana, Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Although men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in Mexico, data on current risk behaviors in this population are lacking. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in a sample of 260 MSM in Tijuana, Mexico.


METHODS
In June 2010, men attending a gay pride celebration were invited to complete a sexual risk survey. Men who reported UAI with a male partner in the past year were compared with men who reported only protected anal sex during the same period.


RESULTS
Mean age of participants was 29.7; 54% had a high school diploma or less; and 43% were unemployed. In the past year, 55% had been tested for HIV, 21% reported using illicit drugs before or during sex, and 94% had sex only with men. Overall, 50% reported having UAI with another male in the past year. Factors independently associated with UAI in the past year were unemployment (AOR = 1.87), attending adult movie theaters (AOR = 2.21), using illicit drugs before or during sex (AOR = 2.43), and not having a recent HIV test (AOR = 1.85).


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to promote HIV testing and condom use among men who have sex with men may want to consider venue-specific approaches, as well as focus on drug-use issues in the context of unsafe sex.
National Center for the Prevention of HIV & AIDS (CENSIDA), Mexico City, Mexico.
Sergio
S
Barrón-Limón
Shirley J
SJ
Semple
Steffanie A
SA
Strathdee
Remedios
R
Lozada
Adriana
A
Vargas-Ojeda
Thomas L
TL
Patterson
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs