AIDS 2010 Abstract - HIV, STD and risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in El Salvador

HIV, STD and risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in El Salvador

J. Creswell¹, M.E. Guardado², J. Armero³, G. Paz-Bailey⁴

¹World Health Organization, Tuberculosis, Geneva, Switzerland, ²Del Valle University of Guatemala, Center for Health Studies, Guatemala, Guatemala, ³Ministry of Health of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador, ⁴Del Valle University of Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala

Background: A behavioral surveillance survey done in 2002 in El Salvador, surveyed a convenience sample of men who have sex with men (MSM), and reported an HIV prevalence of 15.3%. We present findings from the second behavioral surveillance survey done in 2008 using a different sample methodology.
Methods: We used audio computer assisted interviews to survey MSM participants in San Salvador. Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) was used to recruit participants. The target sample size was 600 MSM. Blood was tested for HIV (Determine and Oraquick), syphilis (Rapid Plasma Reagin and Treponema Pallidum Aglutination Particles) and herpes serology (HSV-2 Herpes Select). Data collection was conducted from March through September 2008. The BED IgG capture-ezyme immunoassay was used among HIV positive specimens to distinguish recent HIV infections (infection < 6 months). Annualized HIV incidence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, assuming a window period for the assay of 155 days, and was corrected for assay misclassification using a local correction factor for derived assay misclassification from this study.
Results: We enrolled a total of 624 participants. The HIV prevalence was 10.8% (95% CI: 7.4-14.7) among MSM. HIV incidence was 7.0%, (95% CI: 3.7, 10.3). Active syphilis prevalence was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.6-8.9). HSV-2 sero-prevalence was 46.8% (95% CI: 40.0-53.3). Reported condom use with last casual partner was 64.2 (95% CI: 56.8-73.3).
Conclusions: This is the first survey using RDS and ACASI in El Salvador. HIV prevalence was moderate. We found high rates of HSV-2 seropositivity and active syphilis, this may increase the vulnerability of this population to HIV in the future. New intervention strategies should include condom promotion programs.