Risk factors associated with high HIV Seroincidence in Men having sex with Men (MSM) from Buenos Aires City.

PANDO MA; SEGURA M; MARONE R; BIBINI M; SOSA ESTANI S; OLSON JG; SANCHEZ J; WEISSENBACHER M; AVILA MM

Bangkok

Conferencia; XV International AIDS Conference; 2004

IAS

Introduction: MSM were one of the most at risk population since the beginning of the HIV epidemic in Argentina. A seroprevalence study from our laboratory detected 14% prevalence among MSM in 2000. In order to better understand the current HIV epidemic, a seroincidence study was carried out from 2000 to 2003. Patients and methods: MSM who attended a MSM NGO, during 2000-2002 to receive STIs counseling and HIV testing and then returned in 2003, were included. Informed consent and a questionnaire on socio-epidemiological data were confidentially obtained in each interview. Blood was collected for determination of HIV infection by serologic testing. Results: 215 MSM who attended in 2003, had a previous HIV negative serology during 2000-2002.  5.1% (11/215) of them tested HIV positive. 48.8 % MSM (105/215) had a previous HIV negative diagnosis in 2000, 31.2% (67/215) in 2001 and 20% (43/215) in 2002. The HIV cumulative incidence for each year was: 4.8% (5/105) for 2000-2003, 6% (4/67) for 2001-2003 and 4.6% (2/43) for 2002-2003.  Risk factors analysis showed that low education level and being unemployed was significantly associated with HIV seroconversion.  No significant but relevant differences in irregular use of condom in both, oral sex (81.8% vs. 62.3%) and anal sex (45.5% vs 36.8%), was seen for HIV seroconverters as compared with HIV negative individuals. Previous STIs (54.5% vs 27%) and more than six sex partners (63.6% vs 38.2%) were more likely declared in seroconverters. Discussion and Conclusions: The results observed in this study identify a MSM population which is at high-risk of contracting HIV infection. The economic upheaval that is currently undergoing in Argentina, is often accompanied by widespread unemployment and less education level. These are factors that lead to HIV spread in all populations, including MSM. Data obtained in these studies allow us to assess trends in HIV infection and establish effective prevention programs to curtail the HIV epidemic.