Abstract
Objectives
The present study compared the sexual behaviours of married and unmarried men, in Mumbai, India, who have sex with men.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis (comparing socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical data) of 88 married and 423 unmarried MSM.
Results
Even though MSM are single at younger ages, they are more likely to be married later in life and carry their risky sexual behaviours to this changed social milieu.
Conclusions
Married MSM had high-risk behaviours with both men and women; they form an important intervention group for HIV prevention. The interventions will not only reduce the transmission in the male-to-male sexual group, but will also have an effect on the male-to-female transmission of HIV.
References
Dandona R, Dandona L, Radhakrishnan S, Kumar G, Gutierrez J, Bertozzi S (2004) Barriers to condom use for anal sex among men who have sex with men in Andhra Pradesh, India. [Abstract no. WeOrC1332] Paper presented at the 15th international conference on AIDS, Thailand
Dandona L, Dandona R, Gutierrez JP, Kumar GA, McPherson S, Bertozzi SM (2005) Sex behaviour of men who have sex with men and risk of HIV in Andhra Pradesh, India. AIDS 19(6):611–619
Gurha S (1998) Social determinants of behavior/Indian Society has some of the most unique social constraints. [Abstract no. 60912]. Paper presented at the 12th international conference on AIDS, Switzerland
Hernandez AL, Lindan CP, Mathur M, Ekstrand M, Madhivanan P, Stein ES et al (2006) Sexual behavior among men who have sex with women, men, and Hijras in Mumbai, India-multiple sexual risks. AIDS Behav 10(Suppl 4):5–16
Khan M, Menon S, Kumarmangalam L (2000) The significance of married MSM in HIV/AIDS prevention. [Abstract no. WePeD4770]. Paper presented at the international conference on AIDS, South Africa
Kumar B, Ross MW (1991) Sexual behaviour and HIV infection risks in Indian homosexual men: a cross-cultural comparison. Int J STD AIDS 2(6):442–444
Nandi J, Kamat H, Bhavalkar V, Banerjee K (1994) Detection of human immunodeficiency virus antibody among homosexual men from Bombay. Sex Transm Dis 21(4):235–236
National AIDS Control Organization, India (2008) Annual HIV Sentinel Surveillance Country Report 2006. http://www.nacoonline.org/upload/NACO%20PDF/HIV%20Sentinel%20Surveillance%202006_India%20Country%20Report.pdf. Accessed 03 Apr 2010
Sengupta S, Verma K, Bhattacharya S, Banerjee A (1998) Economic, political, social and cultural determinants of high risk behavior amongst groups at heightened risk of STD/HIV infection. [abstract no.14199]. Paper presented at the 12th international conference on AIDS, Switzerland
World Health Organization, Geneva (2007) 2.5 million people in India living with HIV, according to new estimates. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr37/en/. Accessed 03 Apr 2010
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the services of the outreach workers for assistance with data collection. One of the co-authors (MSS) was funded by the CIHR-IHSPR Fellowship and CIHR-RRSPQ Public Health Training Programme for his doctoral studies at McGill University. The Humsafar Trust would like to acknowledge support from Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society. We thank Dr. Abby Lippman for her editorial suggestions in a previous version.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Setia, M.S., Sivasubramanian, M., Anand, V. et al. Married men who have sex with men: the bridge to HIV prevention in Mumbai, India. Int J Public Health 55, 687–691 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0173-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0173-0