title: Relationship between exposure to the Avahan intervention and levels of reported condom use among men who have sex with men in southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Avahan intervention promotes consistent (100%) condom use amongst men who have sex with men in southern India. We assessed how condom use varies with intervention exposure for men who have sex with men in Bangalore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported condom use and intervention exposure data were derived from a cross-sectional survey. Consistent condom use and condom use at last sex act with all, main, and casual male sex partners were assessed. Binary and continuous variables reflecting intervention exposure (including contact(s) with intervention staff, receiving condoms and seeing condom demonstrations) were used. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess the relationship between condom use with each type of partner and each exposure variable independently, controlling for socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with condom use or intervention exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Condom use with all partners was higher among those who had ever been contacted by, received condoms from, or seen a condom demonstration by intervention staff (adjusted odds ratio >2, p < 0.02 for all). Consistent condom use with all types of partner increased with the number of condom demonstrations seen in the last month (adjusted odds ratio = 2.1 per demonstration, p < 0.025), while condom use at last sex act with a casual (but not main) partner increased with the number of condoms received from the intervention (adjusted odds ratio = 1.4 per condom, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct contact with Avahan program staff is associated with increased reported condom use among men who have sex with men in Bangalore. Reported consistent condom use and condom use at last sex act are associated with contacts involving demonstrations of correct condom use, and with receiving condoms, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Kate.Mitchell@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.forename: Banadakoppa M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Reynold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Shajy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isac
authors.forename: Holly J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Prudden
authors.forename: Kathleen N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Deering
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lowndes
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boily
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alary
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vickerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data