Behavior and Perception of HIV Transmission Among Gay Men in Bandar Lampung; A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Bandar Lampung is the city with the highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in Lampung province, Indonesia. Gay men are one of high risk for HIV/AIDS besides prostitute and drugs abuser. Intervention to prevent HIV/AIDS to this community depends on the perception of at-risk group. To explore behavior and perception of HIV Transmission among gay men in Bandar Lampung city, Indonesia. Phenomenology approach and semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven gay men in Bandar Lampung city, Indonesia, with snowball technique sampling. The validity of this research done by member checking. Identification of gay status by their acknowledgment and information from others. Discuss the result based on The Planned Behavior Theory. High-risk behavior for HIV/AIDS committed among gay men in Bandar Lampung are condomless anal intercourse, casual sexual partner, and syringe use alternately. Their attitude toward behavior is condom use is only for pregnancy prevention, casual partner is a reasonable thing, and they will be infected if only do intercourse multiple times with HIV/AIDS positive; Subjective norm: their parents, family, and communities condemn them; Perceived behavior control: they find it difficult to quit because it has become a habit. Much high-risk behaviors committed by gay men in Bandar Lampung city. Their attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm and perceived control behavior, collectively predict they have low intention to change behavior or do some HIV/AIDS prevention.