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A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Correlates of HIV Testing Practices Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Mongolia

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Abstract

This study analyzed patterns and associations of HIV testing including sexual practices, HIV related knowledge, and human rights contexts among MSM in Mongolia. 313 participants were accrued using respondent-driven sampling and administered a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics are presented with crude and adjusted-point estimates with confidence intervals (95 % CI); and logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with HIV testing in the last 12 months. RDS-adjustment demonstrated that 48.9 % (95 % CI = 36.7–58.3) of MSM had an HIV test in the past 12 months. Logistic regression revealed that experience of a human rights violation, enacted (OR = 0.50, 95 % CI = 0.26–0.97) or perceived (OR = 0.56, 95 % CI = 0.26–0.97), was inversely associated with a recent HIV test. Higher level of education (OR = 1.84, 95 % CI = 1.14–2.99), knowledge that anal sex is highest risk for HIV infection (OR = 4.54, 95 % CI = 2.41–8.56), and having 5 or more male sexual partners (OR = 1.82, 95 % CI = 1.00–3.30), were positively associated with a recent HIV test. MSM in Mongolia are at high risk for HIV infection and coverage of HIV testing is suboptimal. Understanding the variable sexual risk practices and barriers to HIV testing are vital to designing effective and relevant HIV-status dependent HIV intervention services.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from UNAIDS to UNAIDS Mongolia. The Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health provided support for the effort of the investigators and students. The authors acknowledge Dorjkand Nergui of UNAIDS; Fulbright Fellows John Macom and Miraya Jun; Sarachuluun Otgon of the Mongolian School of Public Health; Susan Sherman and Shruti Mehta of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and the study participants and MSM community in Mongolia, without whom this work would not have been possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, E 7146, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Faiza Yasin, Krystal Mason & Stefan Baral

  2. Mongolian Public Health Professionals’ Association, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Altanchimeg Delegchoimbol

  3. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada

    Naranchimeg Jamiyanjamts

  4. Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Tugsdelger Sovd

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  1. Faiza Yasin
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  2. Altanchimeg Delegchoimbol
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  6. Stefan Baral
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Correspondence to Stefan Baral.

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Yasin, F., Delegchoimbol, A., Jamiyanjamts, N. et al. A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Correlates of HIV Testing Practices Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Mongolia. AIDS Behav 17, 1378–1385 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0412-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0412-5

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