Sexual Practice and Perception of HIV/AIDS Amongst MSM in Kolkata

January 8, 2010

Sexual Practice and Perception of HIV/AIDS Amongst Men who have Sex with Men in

Kolkata.

Deb S, Dutta S, Dasgupta A, Biswas B.

Department of Community Medicine, IPGMER, SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India.

Indian J Community Med. 2009 Jul;34(3):206-11.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) are a vulnerable

population and need special attention in the fight against the global pandemic

of HIV/AIDS. A study was conducted in an MSM clinic to find out to their varied

socio-demographic characteristics, their knowledge and attitude towards

HIV/AIDS, and its association with their different sexual practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross sectional study conducted in an MSM

clinic in central Kolkata.

RESULTS: A total of 108 MSM were studied over a period of six months. A majority

(25%) were students, followed by drivers (22.2%), with mean age being 22.8

years. About 13.9% of them were illiterate and 30.6% of them married.

A majority (75%) of the clients were initiated to first sexual act during

adolescence. Most (44%) of them had indulged in sexual acts with two/three

partners in the past one month.

The most common form of sexual act was receptive anal sex (83.3%). The commonest

reasons for indulging into such sexual acts with men were increased pleasure to

have sex with men and increased sexual urge (38.9% and 27.8%) while 19.4%

performed such acts in an intoxicated state.

Only 22.2% ever used condom in the last one month during sexual acts.

Their knowledge and positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS increased significantly

with increase in literacy status (P less than 0.01).

Only 36 (33.3%) knew about HIV transmission through anal route while only 35.2%

knew the correct method to use condom. Favorable sexual practices like using a

condom or having fewer partners was more among the literates than the

illiterates (P less than 0.05).

Alarmingly 44.4% felt that one should have sex without a condom if his sex

partner was extremely attractive, 88.9% felt that using a condom was not

necessary if his partner was clean and hygienic, 69.4% felt that anal sex is for

fun, so no condom is required while 43.5% felt getting HIV was a matter of bad

luck.

CONCLUSION: Proper IEC to promote condom use and promotion of safe sexual

practice among MSM is the need of the hour.

PMID: 20049297 [PubMed - in process

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