title: HIV, hepatitis B/C and syphilis prevalence and risk behaviors among gay, transsexuals and men who have sex with men, Dominican Republic.
abstract: This study investigated HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) and syphilis prevalence and associated behavioural correlates to HIV infection among gay, transsexuals and men who have sex with men (GTMSM) in the Dominican Republic using respondent-driven sampling. Eligible men were aged ≥15 years, reported engaging in anal/oral sex with another man within the past six months and living in one of the four cities sampled. GTMSM were recruited in Santo Domingo (n = 510), Barahona (n = 281), La Altagracia (n = 270) and Santiago (n = 327). HIV seroprevalence ranged from 5.1% to 7.6%. HBV ranged from 0.6% to 3.5%, HCV from 0.8% to 6.9% and syphilis from 3.5% to 6.9%. GTM practice numerous risky sexual behaviours including having multiple sex partners and practising inconsistent condom use with male and female, including transactional, sex partners. Although we found lower HIV prevalence compared with previous studies, the high level of extremely risky sexual behaviours practised by GTM in the Dominican Republic will most likely result in increases in HIV and other infections if action is not taken to scale-up effective prevention programmes for this population.
authors: Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Center for Global Health Equity, New Orleans, LA, USA. lsjohnston.global@gmail.com
authors: L G
authors: LG
authors: Johnston
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Vaillant
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Dolores
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Vales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dominican Republic; HIV/AIDS; gays; hepatitis; men who have sex with men; respondent-driven sampling; syphilis; transsexuals