Men having sex with men serosorting with casual partners: who, how much, and what risk factors in Switzerland, 2007-2009

BMC Public Health

Françoise Dubois-Arber¹  André Jeannin¹  Stéphanie Lociciro¹ 

[1] Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Biopôle 2, Route de la Corniche 10, 1010 Lausanne, Switzerland

关键词: Switzerland;    HIV;    Serosorting;    Men who have sex with men;    Sexual risk behaviour;   

Others  :  1161794
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-839

 received in 2013-02-20, accepted in 2013-09-04,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Serosorting is practiced by men who have sex with men (MSM) to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. This study evaluates the prevalence of serosorting with casual partners, and analyses the characteristics and estimated numbers of serosorters in Switzerland 2007-2009.

Methods

Data were extracted from cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009 among self-selected MSM recruited online, through gay newspapers, and through gay organizations. Nested models were fitted to ascertain the appropriateness of pooling the datasets. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on pooled data to determine the association between serosorting and demographic, lifestyle-related, and health-related factors. Extrapolations were performed by applying proportions of various types of serosorters to Swiss population data collected in 2007.

Results

A significant and stable number of MSM (approximately 39% in 2007 and 2009) intentionally engage in serosorting with casual partners in Switzerland. Variables significantly associated with serosorting were: gay organization membership (aOR = 1.67), frequent internet use for sexual encounters (aOR = 1.71), having had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at any time in the past 12 months (aOR = 1.70), HIV-positive status (aOR = 0.52), regularly frequenting sex-on-premises venues (aOR = 0.42), and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with partners of different or unknown HIV status in the past 12 months (aOR = 0.22). Approximately one-fifth of serosorters declared HIV negativity without being tested in the past 12 months; 15.8% reported not knowing their own HIV status.

Conclusion

The particular risk profile of serosorters having UAI with casual partners (multiple partners, STI history, and inadequate testing frequency) requires specific preventive interventions tailored to HIV status.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Lociciro et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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