HIV and STI behavioural surveillance among men who have sex with men in Europe

Abstract

This paper describes behavioural surveillance for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Europe, focusing on the methods and indicators used. In August 2008, questionnaires were sent to European Union Member States and European Free Trade Association countries seeking information on behavioural surveillance activities among eight population groups including MSM. Thirty-one countries were invited to take part in the survey and 27 returned a questionnaire on MSM. Of these 27 countries, 14 reported that there was a system of behavioural surveillance among MSM in their country while another four countries had conducted behavioural surveys of some kind in this subpopulation. In the absence of a sampling frame, all European countries used convenience samples for behavioural surveillance among MSM. Most European countries used the Internet for recruiting and surveying MSM for behavioural surveillance reflecting increasing use of the Internet by MSM for meeting sexual partners. While there was a general consensus about the main behavioural indicators (unprotected anal intercourse, condom use, number of partners, HIV testing), there was considerable diversity between countries in the specific indicators used. We suggest that European countries reach an agreement on a core set of indicators. In addition we recommend that the process of harmonising HIV and STI behavioural surveillance among MSM in Europe continues.

Changes in Gay Men’s Participation in Gay Community Life: Implications for HIV Surveillance and Research

“…Gay community organisations, venues and events have played a significant role as the access points for HIV behavioural surveillance, education and prevention [13]. Indeed, most HIV behavioural surveillance studies in developed countries, including Australasia, Europe and Northern America, have relied on community-based convenience sampling as the main approach to reach gay men and other MSM [11][12][13][14].…”

Mapping HIV-related behavioural surveillance among injecting drug users in Europe, 2008

“…A further two countries had undertaken one-off behavioural surveys; and in one of these countries, these surveys resulted in an informal surveillance structure. More countries had behavioural surveillance studies for IDUs than for any of the other population groups: 14 countries for MSM; 13 for the general population; 13 for young people (youth); nine for people living with HIV/AIDS; nine for clients of STI clinics; six for sex workers; and three for migrant populations [16,17,19]. A number of these countries have, or have had, more than one behavioural surveillance study among IDUs.…”

Re-Emergence of HIV Infection and Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…As a consequence, a number of European countries have conducted behavioural surveys among MSM to monitor HIV and STIs risk in this population ; behavioural surveillance provides important information for planning and evaluating prevention interventions (Elford et al, 2009). In Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2007), the United States (CDC, 2007) and Australia (National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, 2007) MSM represent the risk group diagnosed most frequently with HIV infection.…”