title: Prevalence and correlates of HIV among men who have sex with men in Tijuana, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Men who have sex with men (MSM) in developing countries such as Mexico have received relatively little research attention. In Tijuana, Mexico, a border city experiencing a dynamic HIV epidemic, data on MSM are over a decade old. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence and examine correlates of HIV infection among MSM in this city.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 191 MSM recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in 2012. Biological males over the age of 18 who resided in Tijuana and reported sex with a male in the past year were included. Participants underwent interviewer-administered surveys and rapid tests for HIV and syphilis with confirmation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 MSM tested positive for HIV, yielding an RDS-adjusted estimated 20% prevalence. Of those who tested positive, 89% were previously unaware of their HIV status. An estimated 36% (95% CI: 26.4-46.5) had been tested for HIV in the past year, and 30% (95% CI: 19.0-40.0) were estimated to have ever used methamphetamine. Independent correlates of being infected with HIV were methamphetamine use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.24, p = 0.045, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.92) and active syphilis infection (OR = 4.33, p = 0.01, 95% CI: 1.42, 13.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that MSM are a key sub-population in Tijuana at higher risk for HIV. Tijuana would also appear to have the highest proportion among upper-middle-income countries of HIV-positive MSM who are unknowingly infected. More HIV prevention research on MSM is urgently needed in Tijuana.
authors: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Eileen V
authors: EV
authors: Pitpitan
authors: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Goodman-Meza
authors: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Jose Luis
authors: JL
authors: Burgos
authors: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Abramovitz
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Claudia V
authors: CV
authors: Chavarin
authors: Agencia Familiar Binacional, A.C., Tijuana, Mexico.
authors: Karla
authors: K
authors: Torres
authors: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Steffanie A
authors: SA
authors: Strathdee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; tpatterson@ucsd.edu.
authors: Thomas L
authors: TL
authors: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: HIV prevalence; US–Mexico border; correlates of HIV infection; global public health; men who have sex with men; respondent-driven sampling