Sexual Practices and HIV Prevalence amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men at a Community-Based Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre in Malaysia

K C Koh,K Kanagalingam,A Kamarulzaman,F T Tai

doi:10.5402/2013/247545

K C Koh, K Kanagalingam + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5402/2013/247545

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Abstract

We describe the sexual practices and condom usage of men who have sex with men (MSM) at a community-based anonymous voluntary counseling and testing centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This study is a first for Malaysia in this context. 433 MSM clients disclosed their sexual practices and condom use in the preceding 6 months using a self-reported questionnaire during pre-HIV test counseling at the centre. The mean age was 29.7 years, and 356 were homosexuals while 77 were bisexuals. Forty tested HIV positive (9.2%). 387 (94.9%) of 408 clients had anal sex, 395 (97.8%) of 404 clients had oral sex, while 43 (18.4%) of 233 clients had vaginal sex which revealed that even men who identified themselves as homosexuals do practice vaginal sex. Having multiple sexual partners is common (mean 11.6 partners per client). 259 (59.8%) had unprotected sex within the last 6 months. Consistent condom use rates during vaginal, anal, and oral sex were 20%, 23.5%, and 1.3%, respectively. The odds ratio of testing HIV positive with inconsistent condom use during anal sex was 3.7 (). Clients who used condoms inconsistently during anal sex are more likely to be HIV positive.

Highlights

IntroductionMen who have sex with men (MSM) are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves. e term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists in order to study the spread of disease among men who have sex with men, regardless of identity
We describe the sexual practices and condom usage of men who have sex with men (MSM) at a community-based anonymous voluntary counseling and testing centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. is study is a rst for Malaysia in this context
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves. e term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists in order to study the spread of disease among men who have sex with men, regardless of identity

Summary

Introduction

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves. e term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists in order to study the spread of disease among men who have sex with men, regardless of identity. While the HIV epidemic seems to have stabilized at low levels in the general population or even declined globally over the last few years, amongst the MSM community, there is evidence of resurgence of HIV infection in the Western world as well as countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America [2,3,4,5,6,7]. A survey using venue-day-time sampling by Kanter et al [12] reported that MSM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have low ISRN Infectious Diseases knowledge of HIV transmission and engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour. We describe the prevalence of condom use during sexual intercourse, sexual habits, and HIV prevalence amongst MSM clients who sought HIV testing services at a community-based anonymous voluntary counseling and testing centre (VCT) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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