Risk behaviors and HIV infection among homosexual men in St. Petersburg


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/epidem.2023.13.3.43-8

Piskarev I.G., Yeritsyan K.Yu., Shagina A.B., Petrova V.G., Vinogradova T.N., Usacheva N.M.

1) Center for AIDS and Infectious Diseases, St. Petersburg, Russia; 2) Herzen State Pedagogical University, St. Petersburg, Russia; 3) St. Petersburg Charitable Foundation «Humanitarian Action», St. Petersburg, Russia; 4) St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
Objective. Assessment of the epidemiological significance of a group of homosexual men in the spread of HIV infection in St. Petersburg.
Materials and methods. An integrated biobehavioral study among 400 homosexual men was conducted in 2022 during outreach visits to leisure places specialized for the group and in medical clinics in St. Petersburg.
Results. HIV prevalence was 7.8%, which is comparable to previous studies among homosexual men. The incidence is estimated at 2.1%. The group is characterized by high levels of awareness about HIV infection, coverage with testing and preventive interventions, as well as self-treatment. At the same time, every fourth HIV-positive man is not informed about his status. At the same time, the homosexual group is still characterized by a wide range and high prevalence of various risky sexual practices.
Conclusion. Prevention programs for homosexual men should take into account their behavioral and cognitive characteristics, focus on gaps in awareness of specific prevention opportunities and behavior change. It is also advisable to include services in the field of mental health and addictive behavior in preventive programs.

Literature


1. В ОПАСНОСТИ: Глобальный доклад ЮНЭЙДС по СПИДу 2022. Женева: Объединенная программа Организации Объединенных Наций по ВИЧ/СПИДу. Лицензия: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/mediaasset/2022-global-aids-update summary_ru.pdf


(IN DANGER: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2022. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO). (In Russ.). https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/mediaasset/ 2022-global-aids-update_en.pdf


2. Федеральный научно-методический центр по профилактике и борьбе со СПИД. Бюллетень № 46 «ВИЧ-инфекция 2020 г.». http://www.hivrussia. info/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Byulleten-46-VICH-infektsiya-za-2020-g.-.pdf.


(Federal Scientific and Methodological Center for Combating AIDS. Bulletin № 46 «HIV Infection 2020»). (In Russ.). http://www. hivrussia.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Byulleten-46-VICH-infektsiya-za-2020-g.-.pdf


3. Плавинский С.Л., Ладная Н.Н., Баринова А.Н., Зайцева Е.Е. Эпидемиологический надзор II поколения за ВИЧ-инфекцией. Распространенность ВИЧ–инфекции и рискованного поведения среди уязвимых групп населения в 7 регионах Российской Федерации, результаты биоповеденческого исследования. 2017 г. http://www. hivrussia.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Biopovedencheskoe-issledovanie-v-7-gorodah-2017.pdf


Plavinsky S.L., Ladnaya N.N., Barinova A.N., Zaitseva E.E. (II generation epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection. The prevalence of HIV infection and risky behavior among vulnerable population groups in 7 regions of the Russian Federation, the results of a bio-behavioral study. 2017). (In Russ.). http://www.hivrussia.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/ 05/Biopovedencheskoe-issledovanie-v-7-gorodah-2017.pdf


4. Виноградова Т.Н., Петрова В.Г., Бембеева Н.А., Пискарев И.Г. Информационный бюллетень «ВИЧ-инфекция в Санкт-Петербурге по состоянию на 01.01.2023 г.». Санкт-Петербург: Санкт-Петербургский центр по профилактике и борьбе со СПИД. https://www.hiv.spb.ru/Информационный%20бюллетень%202022%20год.pdf


Vinogradova T.N., Petrova V.G., Bembeeva N.A., Piskarev I.G. (Newsletter «HIV infection in St. Petersburg as of 01.01.2023»). St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS. (Electronic resource). (In Russ.). http://www.hivrussia.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/ 05/ Byulleten-46-VICH-infektsiya-za-2020-g.-.pdf


5. Stengaard A.R., Combs L., Supervie V., Croxford S., Desai S., Sullivan A.K., et al. HIV seroprevalence in five key populations in Europe: a systematic literature review, 2009 to 2019. Eurosurveillance 2021; 26(47): 1–13. doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.47.2100044


About the Autors


Igor G. Piskarev, Head, Department of Prevention and Medical and Social Work, St-Petersburg Center for Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases, St-Petersburg, Russia; igor-doctor@mail.ru
Ksenia Yu. Eritsyan, Cand. Psychol, Sci., Researcher, Laboratory of Cognitive Research in Education, Herzen State Pedagogical University, St. Petersburg, Russia; ksenia.eritsyan@gmail.com; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4400-0593
Alesya B. Shagina, Program Manager, St. Petersburg Charitable Foundation «Humanitarian Action», St. Petersburg, Russia; sagina@haf-spb.org
Veronika G. Petrova, Methodologist, Department of Prevention and Medical and Social Work, St-Petersburg Center for Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases, St-Petersburg, Russia; veronikaepid@yandex.ru
Tatyana N. Vinogradova, Cand. Med. Sci., Chief Physician, St-Petersburg Center for Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases, St-Petersburg, Russia; vino75@mail.ru; http://orcid.org/0000–0003–1995–4755;
Nina M. Usacheva, Chief Specialist, RC «Center for Applied Sociology», St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; n.usacheva@spbu.ru; http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8722-3976


Similar Articles


Бионика Медиа