title: HIV, hepatitis and syphilis prevalence and correlates of condom use during anal sex among men who have sex with men in the Republic of Moldova.
abstract: Limited data on HIV prevalence and related risks among men who have sex with men (MSM) exist in the Republic of Moldova. In Chisinau and Balti, 188 and 209, respectively, men who reported having anal or oral sex in the last six months with another man, aged ≥16 years were recruited into a study in 2010 using respondent-driven sampling methods. MSM reported having multiple male and female partners and inconsistent condom use. In Chisinau, 2% of MSM were HIV seropositive, 3.7% had antibodies to hepatitis C (HCV), 5.7% had antibodies to hepatitis B (HBV) and 12.1% had syphilis. In Balti, less than 1% of MSM were HIV seropositive, 1.2% had antibodies to HCV, 3.2% had antibodies to HBV and only 0.5% had syphilis. MSM who used a condom at last anal sex with a man were less likely to reside in Chisinau, to have casual sex partners and to have had an HIV test in the last year and were more likely to know where to get an HIV test. Although HIV prevalence was low, MSM practice a number of risky sexual behaviours that may heighten the risk of further HIV transmission in this population and to the wider population.
authors: UNAIDS Regional Support Team, Moscow, Russia.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zohrabyan
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Johnston
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Scutelniciuc
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Iovita
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Todirascu
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Costin
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Plesca
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cotelnic-Harea
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Ionascu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006306:Health Surveys; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008966:Moldova / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Moldova; hepatitis; high-risk sexual behaviour; men who have sex with men; respondent-driven sampling; sexually transmitted infections