Erschienen in:
15.06.2016 | S.I. : Capacity for Community LMI Country MSM
HIV and STIs Among MSM in Tajikistan: Laboratory-Confirmed Diagnoses and Self-Reported Testing Behaviors
verfasst von:
Kiromiddin Gulov, Robert W. S. Coulter, Derrick D. Matthews, Mudia Uzzi, Ron Stall
Erschienen in:
AIDS and Behavior
|
Sonderheft 3/2016
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Abstract
Little is known about the prevalence and associations of HIV/STI diagnoses and testing behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tajikistan. A non-governmental organization conducted a cross-sectional study of MSM (n = 502) assessing laboratory-confirmed HIV/STI diagnoses, HIV/STI testing behavior in the past 6 months, sociodemographics, HIV/STI risk factors, and victimization/discrimination. Overall, 2.6 % were diagnosed with HIV, 2.2 % with syphilis, 17.6 % with chlamydia, and 56.0 % with herpes. Recent testing rates were low for HIV (35.9 %) and STIs (14.1 %). Compared to MSM who completed university, MSM with a high school education or less had lower odds of recent HIV and STI testing; however, victimization and healthcare discrimination were associated with greater odds of recent STI testing. Given the low HIV prevalence, there is a window of opportunity to extinguish the epidemic before it worsens. Non-governmental organizations are indispensable for expanding testing strategies because they can efficiently reach MSM in Tajikistan.