HIV, hepatitis B/C and syphilis prevalence and risk behaviors among gay, transsexuals and men who have sex with men, Dominican Republic

Abstract

This study investigated HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) and syphilis prevalence and associated behavioural correlates to HIV infection among gay, transsexuals and men who have sex with men (GTMSM) in the Dominican Republic using respondent-driven sampling. Eligible men were aged ≥15 years, reported engaging in anal/oral sex with another man within the past six months and living in one of the four cities sampled. GTMSM were recruited in Santo Domingo (n = 510), Barahona (n = 281), La Altagracia (n = 270) and Santiago (n = 327). HIV seroprevalence ranged from 5.1% to 7.6%. HBV ranged from 0.6% to 3.5%, HCV from 0.8% to 6.9% and syphilis from 3.5% to 6.9%. GTM practice numerous risky sexual behaviours including having multiple sex partners and practising inconsistent condom use with male and female, including transactional, sex partners. Although we found lower HIV prevalence compared with previous studies, the high level of extremely risky sexual behaviours practised by GTM in the Dominican Republic will most likely result in increases in HIV and other infections if action is not taken to scale-up effective prevention programmes for this population.

Keywords: Dominican Republic; HIV/AIDS; gays; hepatitis; men who have sex with men; respondent-driven sampling; syphilis; transsexuals.