Abstract
We postulated that the growing popularity of circuit parties may play a role in the escalating HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Asia. The present study is the first to characterize the sociodemographic and HIV-related behavioral factors of circuit party attendees living in Asia. We analyzed a subset of data from the Asia Internet MSM Sex Survey conducted from January 1 to February 28, 2010. Inclusion criteria included: being biologically male, aged 18 years or above, self-reported sex with another man, and reported international travel in the past 6 months (N = 6,094). From our multivariable logistic regression model, participants’ resident country with low HIV prevalence (among MSM) (AOR 1.59, 95 % CI 1.27–2.00) and country of destination with high HIV prevalence were independently associated with higher odds of circuit party attendance (AOR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.14–1.53) during international travel. Statistical interaction indicated circuit party attendees were likely to have traveled from low HIV prevalence (among MSM) countries to high HIV prevalence countries (AOR 1.40, 95 % CI 1.20–1.64). Other independent correlates included unprotected anal sex with a male casual sex partner and recreational drug use during travel. HIV and STI prevention focusing on circuit party attendees may have a pivotal role on the spread of the HIV epidemics among MSM in Asia.
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CW and TG were supported by grants from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (CW: R00MH093201; TG: MH085567). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Cheung, D.H., Lim, S.H., Guadamuz, T.E. et al. The Potential Role of Circuit Parties in the Spread of HIV Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Asia: A Call for Targeted Prevention. Arch Sex Behav 44, 389–397 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0339-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0339-6