Risk behaviour and HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in a multiethnic society: a venue-based study in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

This research aimed to determine HIV prevalence, risk behaviour and knowledge of transmission methods among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Venue-day-time sampling (VDTS) was applied to identify venues where men congregate to solicit sex from other men. Participants recruited from clubs, massage parlours, saunas and one park self-completed a computerized behavioural questionnaire, were administered an oral rapid HIV test and given the opportunity to return later to receive full counselling and learn their HIV status. A total of 517 men were enrolled into the study. The majority were Malays (47.0%) and Chinese (43.7%). Twenty tested HIV positive (3.9%). Significant predictors of HIV infection included having unprotected anal sex with a casual partner (44.9% of participants, odds ratio [OR] = 2.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-7.90; P = 0.027), having unprotected receptive anal sex (27.9%, OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.10-6.54; P = 0.030) and having group sex (33.3%, OR = 3.95; 95% CI 1.55-10.09; P = 0.004). One in five participants (20.1% and 19.5%) did not believe that HIV could be transmitted through insertive or receptive anal sex, respectively. Risk behaviour is high and knowledge of HIV transmission methods was low among MSM in Kuala Lumpur. Future prevention efforts should focus on providing risk reduction education to this community.

HIV and Risk Behaviour among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Slovakia (2008-2009)

“…Risk practices of MSM in our study did not correspond with their relatively satisfactory knowledge of HIV prevention. Similarly, risk behaviour was high and knowledge of HIV transmission methods was low among MSM in Kuala Lumpur (28) as well as in Heilongjiang province in China, where the prevalence of HIV infection was found to be low among MSM, and the fact that the risk behaviours were frequent in the population was alarming (29).…”

HIV infection among men who have sex with men in East and South-East Asia - time for action

“…5 Data from the Pink Triangle (PT) Foundation, the only MSM community-based organisation in Malaysia, reveal that HIV infection among MSM has been rising since 2002. 21 As is the case in other countries, many MSM are not aware of their serostatus and many are diagnosed only when they develop AIDS.…”

“…In a recent behavioural survey, Malay MSM reported poorer knowledge in HIV transmission and were more likely to have engaged in unprotected sex with a casual partner in the past 6 months compared with Chinese MSM. 5 …”

“…1 For the past 5 years, alarming rates in HIV infection have been observed among men who have sex with men (MSM) across urban areas in many Asian countries, 2,3 with the HIV prevalence rates ranging from 30.8% in Bangkok, 3 3.2% in Singapore, 4 4% in Malaysia, 5 5.7% in Tokyo, 6 8.5% in Taiwan, 7 4.3% in Hong Kong, 8 12.5% in Chongqing (China) 9 and to 4.8% in Beijing. 10 Although HIV surveillance among MSM in these countries remains patchy and incomplete, recent epidemiological studies have consistently shown that HIV infections among MSM are increasing, a trend that has also been observed in MSM in other parts of the world.…”

Sexual Practices and HIV Prevalence amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men at a Community-Based Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre in Malaysia

“…A survey using venue-day-time sampling by Kanter et al [12] reported that MSM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have low knowledge of HIV transmission and engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour. We describe the prevalence of condom use during sexual intercourse, sexual habits, and HIV prevalence amongst MSM clients who sought HIV testing services at a community-based anonymous voluntary counseling and testing centre (VCT) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.…”