Results

1. FAQ IT! : A venue based HIV prevalence study among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Flanders, Belgium W Vanden Berghe 1, C Nöstlinger1 ,A Buvé1 ,G Beelaert ², K Fransen ², M Laga 1 1Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), HIV/STI Epidemiology and Control Unit , Antwerp, Belgium ²Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), AIDS Reference Lab, Antwerp, Belgium Funding : Flemish government /ITM funding • Introduction and background • Rising HIV diagnoses among MSM in most Western countries • A need for more targeted HIV prevalence estimations among MSM • Evidence-base for prevention efforts • Research objectives • HIV prevalence estimates in different venues where MSM meet • HIV/STI testing behaviour • Frequency of sexual risk behaviour • Methods • Study design and procedures • Time-space sampling • Selection of three types of venues: • N1 = Cruising bars and sauna’s (n=4) • N2 = (Dance) Clubs where sexual contact is not possible (n=2) • N3 = Party’s, clubs targeting younger MSM (<25 years old) (n=3) • Data collection was carried out between 10/2009 – 03/2010 by PI and volunteers from the MSM community • The study was approved by the ethics committee of ITM and Antwerp University hospital • Voluntary participation after obtaining informed consent • Biological sampling • Interviewer-assisted fingerprick • Amount of blood on filterpaper • Analysis by ITM lab : tested for HIV anti-bodies (confirmed) + • A linked self-administered anonymous questionnaire • Socio-demographical background • Sexual behaviour (last 12 months /last encounter) • Drug and alcohol use • HIV/STI testing history and behaviour Statistical analysis Data analysis was performed using SPPS 16.0. Results HIV prevalence estimations (based on biological data): Table 1: sample/socio-demographic/health characteriSTIcs according to subsample • HIV/STI testing behaviour: • Ever tested : Over 90% was for HIV, over 80 % for STI’s • Tested during the last 12 months : About 50% was tested for HIV, about 60% for STI’s • Condom use at last sexual encounter: • 2 in 3 of MSM in a steady relationship and 3 in 4 with casual partnersused a condom during the last encounter • 55,9% of HIV + MSM did not use a condom during the last encounter with casual partners • Study limitations • Results are not representative of the general population of MSM in Flanders • Behavioural data are self-reported and voluntary participation may have biased study results • Conclusions • The HIV prevalence in Flemish MSM venues range from 14,5% in cruising bars/sauna’s, to 4,9 in gay (dancing) clubs, to 1.8% at events/party’s for younger MSM • 14,3 % of HIV + MSM is unaware of their status • High rates of HIV/STI testing and condom use in the general MSM population • Less condom use among HIV + MSM • Venues where HIV prevalence is high => more STI’s and drug use • These results already form the basis for new targeted interventions and a baseline for future evaluation research Acknowledgements: Our volunteers !!! Sensoa (www.sensoa.be) Çavaria(www.cavaria.be) Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, BelgiumTel. +32-3-247.07.12 Fax. +32-3-247.65.32www.itg.be Contact: wvandenberghe@itg.be