P2-S6.15 Investigating the critical programme components of HIV prevention programme among MSM-Ts in Bangalore, Karnataka

Abstract

Conclusions Gay men who report early FAI are at higher risk of HIV than those who report later FAI, and are more likely to have recently engaged in risky sexual behaviour. Discussion will focus on explaining these patterns and why health service providers need to pay attention to age at FAI. Participants (n¼12 at time of analysis) completed a series of selfadministered questionnaires and semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Baseline qualitative interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed. A thematic analysis, informed by a social organization of knowledge perspective, was conducted. Results Three interrelated domains of risk assessment emerged from the interviews. First, we explicate how men calculated the epidemiological or sexual risks of transmitting HIV before and after their diagnosis, and how such an assessment informed their sexual behaviours. Second, men described a myriad of experienced and perceived social risks, such as stigma and rejection, associated with the disclosure of their HIV-status to their family, friends, colleagues and intimate partners. Third, men identified potential problems with technologies of status notification which create a set of institutional risks related to the processes by which patients learn of their HIV-positive status. The relationship between these textuallymediated fields of risk is examined. Conclusion A stratified conception of risk allows us to understand the everyday situations in which people assess HIV-related 'dangers' in their social and sexual lives. This formative research has important implications for educational campaigns on HIV transmission risk assessment for both HIV negative and positive gay men. This work can also inform counselling and support services to address how disclosure risks are negotiated during an early or acute HIV diagnosis. Important implications for clinical and public health practices, including how and when people are given their HIV diagnosis, are raised. Introduction Timely uptake of clinical services by highly mobile MSM is pre-requisite to halt and reverse STI prevalence among communities in India. It is imperative to understand risk behaviour and vulnerable factors that lead to the spread of STI among communities. A study was undertaken to understand the sexual behaviour, vulnerabilities, among MSM attending STI clinic of the CBO at Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu, India. Method In the study 69 (72%) clinic attendees for a period of 9 months were followed up and interviewed at the STI clinic within the project. Consent and commitment was taken from the clinical attendees to be enrolled in the study. The project counsellor administered the questionnaire followed by clinical examination by the project Clinical provider. Results Among the 69 MSM, 75.3%were 20e30 years & 11%were 31e40 years, 4.3% were above 50 years. Majority were from lower socioeconomic strata of the society and consisted of illiterate people also. 10% were uneducated, 27% Graduates and 44% had 5e10th grade education. About one-third (23.2 %)...