title: Predictors of HIV Risk Behaviors Among a National Sample of Russian Men Who Have Sex with Men.
abstract: Russia has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world and is at the point of transitioning from injection drug use to sexual transmissions. We sought to identify factors associated with unprotected sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Russia, separately for Moscow, St. Petersburg and the rest of the country. Multivariable data from a national cross-sectional study (n = 5035) demonstrate that significant correlates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a non-steady partner across all areas were visiting sex-related venues (AOR range 1.35-1.96) and access to condoms (AOR range 0.37-0.52). In Moscow and St. Petersburg, being HIV-positive was correlated with UAI (AOR 2.13 and 2.69). The dynamics of the HIV epidemic among MSM in Russia appear to be both similar, and different, across various areas and factors associated with unprotected sex should be seen as part of an environment of exogenous factors impacting MSM's sexual behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Knowledge Center for the Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, 0403, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. rigmor.berg@fhi.no.|Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Tromso, Norway. rigmor.berg@fhi.no.
authors.forename: Rigmor C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Tromso, Norway.
authors.forename: Vegard
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skogen
authors.affiliation: Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, Open Health Institute, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Nailya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vinogradova
authors.affiliation: Charity Foundation, LaSky Network, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Andrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beloglazov
authors.affiliation: Charity Foundation, LaSky Network, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazantseva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058872:Epidemics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: HIV; MSM; Risk; Russia