Tamil Nadu: HIV among MSM on the rise

[Guest guest]

HIV among MSM on the rise

Bishwanath Ghosh, TNN, Mar 22, 2010,

CHENNAI: While there has been an overall decline in the prevalence of HIV

infection in Tamil Nadu, the prevalence of infection among men who have sex with

men (MSM) are on the rise.

This is demonstrated not only by the latest figures of the National Aids Control

Organisation which show the prevalence in Tamil Nadu dropping from 0.5% in 2003

to 0.25% in 2007 in the case of general population and rising from 4% to 7% in

the case of MSM but also by the findings of a survey conducted by Y R Gaitonde

Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE). The survey, comprising a

sample of 721 MSM from 18 different cities in the state, found 9% of MSM to be

HIV-infected.

" The sustained campaign by the government about the use of condoms and its

various awareness programmes for sex workers (the prevalence of HIV among them

decreased from 9% in 2003 to 4.7% in 2007) and truck drivers have clearly shown

results. But things remain unchanged as far as MSM and drug users are

concerned, " says Dr Sunil Suhas , senior medical officer and

epidemiologist at YRGCARE, who presented the data at the 16th Conference on

Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal last year.

" MSM remain a hidden population in India primarily due to Section 377 of the

IPC, which has historically criminalised sex between men, and also the societal

and family pressures to marry.

Hence, there is very little community-level data of HIV among MSM. So we used a

technique called peer-driven recruitment, which uses MSM to recruit other MSM to

arrive at the study sample, " says Dr .

The study also documented the existence of HIV epidemics among MSM in many

smaller cities such as Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin, which are

usually not included in the planning of interventions targeted at MSM.

Also, more interesting was the finding that the prevalence of HIV and sexually

transmitted infections among MSM who were married is double compared to MSM who

were not married.

" About 35% of our sample of MSM were married. The higher prevalence of HIV

infection among MSM who were married could partially be explained by their

nature to keep their same sex practices even more hidden. Consequently, they

ended up having more male partners, which has been shown by many studies to be a

strong risk factor for HIV infection, " explains Dr .

Sahodaran, an organisation that works with MSM, conducted a similary survey

recently in association with the Tuberculosis Research Centre in Chetpet and

found that 8% of MSM in Chennai were HIV infected.

But Sunil Menon, who runs Sahodaran, says there is no tangible evidence to back

such figures because the gay community still remains hidden. " Maybe the figure

is shown rising just because more people are testing now than they did before.

So there is no way of saying whether the prevalence is increasing, decreasing or

remains the same, " says Menon.

Says Dr , " The current phase of the National AIDS Control Programme has

initiatives targeting MSM. Only time will tell the effectiveness of these

programmes but the government needs to be applauded for the fact that it

recognizes HIV among MSM as an issue and is taking steps to address it. However,

it is equally important to address issues related to the families (wives and

children) of these marginalised populations who are also being placed at risk

via their spouses' behaviors. "

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HIV-among-MSM-on-the-rise/articl\

eshow/5709761.cms