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Table 3 Descriptive statistics (demographics, sexual behaviors, condom use, exposure to the program, and STIs, including HIV) of 653 and 652 HR-MSM/TG, respectively, in rounds 1 and 2 of IBBA, Maharashtra, India a

From: Increase in condom use and decline in prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among high-risk men who have sex with men and transgender persons in Maharashtra, India: Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative

Variables

 

Round 1 (N = 653)%

Round 2 (N = 652)%

p value

A. Socio-demographic profile

Age ( years )

18–24

62.0

46.4

0.02

25–29

22.6

35.3

30–34

11.6

10.5

35–39

2.1

4.9

≥ 40

1.8

2.8

Literacy status

Literate (can read and write)

89.4

96.4

0.01

Illiterate

10.6

3.6

Marital status

Ever married

18.1

23.1

0.26

Never married

81.9

76.9

Main occupation

Unemployed/student

17.9

17.4

0.09

Self-employed/business/trade

22.6

29.0

Non-agricultural/agricultural labor

1.7

2.4

Service (government/private)

43.5

45.3

Sex work

11.3

3.8

Others (massagers/transport workers)

3.0

2.2

Lives locally

Yes

65.7

83.2

0.02

No

34.3

16.8

B. Sexual behaviors

Age at first sexual exposure

< 15 years

32.0

33.3

0.83

≥ 15 years

68.0

66.7

Had sex outside the current area of residence

Yes

23.2

33.3

0.04

No

76.8

66.7

Types of sexual partners ( ever )

Had regular male partner(s)

53.6

59.4

0.35

Had paying male partner(s)

43.2

43.0

0.97

Had paid male partner(s)

29.9

8.6

< 0.001

Had other non-commercial male/transgender partner(s)

51.3

71.9

< 0.001

Had regular female partner(s)

32.2

37.3

0.36

Self - reported sexual identity a

Kothi

27.5

39.0

< 0.001

Panthi

43.3

15.4

AC/DC or double decker

16.0

9.7

Bisexual

6.6

33.6

Hijra

6.6

2.3

C. Condom use

Condom use during the last sex act

With regular male partner

65.9

91.3

< 0.001

With paying male partner

81.0

98.3

< 0.001

With paid male/hijra partner

84.8

57.7

0.01

With other non-commercial male/hijra partner

82.2

80.3

0.75

Consistent condom use

With regular male partner(s)

51.6

62.0

0.23

With paid male/hijra partner(s)

75.6

44.4

0.06

With other non-commercial male/hijra partner(s)

60.2

68.7

0.37

D. Exposure to the Avahan program interventions

 

Contacted by Avahan peer educator/outreach worker

52.6

50.3

0.72

Visited Avahan-supported clinic

28.3

46.3

0.005

Received condoms from peer educator/outreach worker

56.7

49.9

0.28

Exposed to Avahan interventionb

60.3

57.7

0.71

E. Sexually transmitted infections (including HIV)

Type of infections

Reactive Syphilis Serology - Yes†

8.8

1.1

< 0.001

Syphilis titre ≥ 1:8††

3.8

0.2

< 0.001

Chlamydia infection – Yes

3.7

1.1

0.20

Neisseria gonorrhoea infection - Yes

0.3

0.0

0.10

HIV-1 infection – Yes

12.3

6.3

0.16

  1. a = All the proportions shown are weighted.
  2. † = Any person reactive on RPR and TPHA.
  3. †† = The titre obtained on RPR was used to measure this variable.
  4. a Kothis are self-identified MSM who are generally feminine and receptive partners during anal sex; panthis are those who are masculine and insertive partners. The term ‘double-decker’ (also called ‘AC/DC’ in some study sites) refers to those men who are both insertive and receptive partners in anal sex. Even though hijras belong to a distinct socio-cultural group and can actually be regarded as male-to-female transgender people, they are included under the ‘MSM’ umbrella in this study.
  5. bDefined as exposure to any one of the following: ever contacted by Avahan peer educator, ever visited Avahan program clinic, and ever received condoms from peer educators.