| Title | Being Unaware of Being HIV-Infected is Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Peru. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2013 |
| Authors | Vagenas, Panagiotis, Kaysia T. Ludford, Pedro Gonzales, Jesus Peinado, Cesar Cabezas, Fernando Gonzales, Javier R. Lama, Jorge Sanchez, and Frederick L. Altice |
| Corporate Authors | for the Peruvian HIV Sentinel Surveillance Working Group |
| Journal | AIDS and behavior |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 120-7 |
| Date Published | 2013 May 14 |
| ISSN | 1573-3254 |
| Abstract | This study compared the correlates of HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) with newly diagnosed versus previously known HIV infection among 5,148 MSM recruited using modified snowball sampling in 5 Peruvian cities. Participants, if age ≥18 years and reporting sex with a male in the previous 12 months, underwent standardized computer-assisted risk assessments and HIV and syphilis testing. Overall, 420 (8.2 %) participants tested HIV seropositive, most of whom (89.8 %) were unaware of their HIV status. Compared to those who knew themselves to be HIV-infected, multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that unprotected anal intercourse at last encounter [AOR = 2.84 (95 % CI 1.09-7.40)] and having an alcohol use disorder (AUD) [AOR = 2.14 (95 % CI 1.01-5.54)] were independently associated with a newly diagnosed HIV infection. Being unaware of being HIV-infected was associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and AUDs, both of which are amenable to behavioral and medication-assisted therapy interventions. |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10461-013-0504-2 |
| Alternate Journal | AIDS Behav |
