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HIV, Hepatitis C, and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male Sex Workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Abstract

There is little data on the burden of HIV and other infections that affect male sex workers (MSW) in Vietnam. We conducted behavioral and biological sexual health surveys with 300 MSW in Ho Chi Minh City. Generalized estimating equation models were built to assess factors associated with HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Of 300 MSW, 19 (6.3 %) were diagnosed seropositive for HIV, 11 (3.7 %) had hepatitis C, and 26 (8.7 %) had at least one prevalent STI. In a multivariable model, opiate use was significantly associated with HIV infection (aOR 6.46, 95 % CI 1.28–32.7) and hepatitis C (aOR = 19.6, 95 % CI 2.35–163.6). Alcohol dependency was associated with increased odds of hepatitis C (aOR = 4.79, 95 % CI 1.02–22.5) and decreased odds of other STI (aOR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.10–0.97). These findings suggest that MSW in Vietnam would benefit from regular HIV and STI testing, as well as linkage to care and substance use rehabilitation services.

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Funding

This study was conducted with the support of a pilot Grant from Harvard Catalyst – the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (PIs: DJC and MJM). CEO is supported by a National Institute of Drug Abuse T32 NRSA Grant (T32 DA0131911; PI: Flanigan) and by a Harvard Global Health Institute Fellowship.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. SEARCH, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, 104 Rajdamri Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

      Donn J. Colby

    2. Center for Applied Research on Men and Health, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

      Donn J. Colby

    3. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

      Catherine E. Oldenburg, Katie B. Biello & Matthew J. Mimiaga

    4. The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, USA

      Catherine E. Oldenburg, Elizabeth F. Closson, Katie B. Biello, Kenneth H. Mayer & Matthew J. Mimiaga

    5. Harvard Medical School AIDS Initiative in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

      Thi Nguyen

    6. Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

      Kenneth H. Mayer

    7. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

      Kenneth H. Mayer

    8. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

      Matthew J. Mimiaga

    Authors
    1. Donn J. Colby
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    2. Catherine E. Oldenburg
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    3. Thi Nguyen
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    4. Elizabeth F. Closson
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    5. Katie B. Biello
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    6. Kenneth H. Mayer
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    7. Matthew J. Mimiaga
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    Correspondence to Donn J. Colby.

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    The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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    Donn J. Colby and Catherine E. Oldenburg have contributed equally to the manuscript.

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    Colby, D.J., Oldenburg, C.E., Nguyen, T. et al. HIV, Hepatitis C, and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male Sex Workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. AIDS Behav 20, 768–775 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1247-z

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1247-z

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