title: Evolving understanding of the epidemiology of HIV and prevention needs among men who have sex with men in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
abstract: This study describes HIV and syphilis bio-behavioral survey conducted among 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited via respondent-driven sampling (RDS) between January 4 and February 1, 2012 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Participants were administered a structured questionnaire and data were analyzed with RDS-network program in STATA. Of 196 participants who agreed to be tested for HIV and syphilis, 21 (10.7 %; weighted 7.5; 95 % CI: 4.9, 11.4) and 8 (4.1 %; weighted 3.4; 95 % CI: 1.7, 6.7) were positive for HIV and syphilis, respectively. Exposure to HIV prevention programs in the last 12 months was reported by 51.8 % (weighted 33.6; 95 % CI: 27.6, 40.1) of participants. This study found high HIV prevalence and limited uptake of HIV prevention services among MSM in Mongolia. Given the concentrated HIV epidemic among MSM in Mongolia, HIV prevention, treatment and care services should focus on MSM as the population group most affected by HIV.
authors.affiliation: Global Fund Supported Projects on HIV/AIDS and TB, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Iliza
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azyei
authors.forename: Bulbul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aumakhan
authors.forename: Baigalmaa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jantsansengee
authors.forename: Sergelen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munkhbaatar
authors.forename: Erdenetuya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gombo
authors.forename: Unenchimeg
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Puntsag
authors.forename: Davaalkham
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jagdagsuren
authors.forename: Sosthenes
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ketende
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stromdahl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baral
authors.forename: Tugsdelger
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sovd
authors.forename: Oyunbileg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amindavaa
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*