Sexual behaviour of adolescent boys -- a cause for concern

Indian men's use of commercial sex workers: prevalence, condom use, and related gender attitudes

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Commercial sex represents a critical context for HIV transmission within India and elsewhere. Despite research and programmatic attention to commercial sex workers (CSWs), less is known concerning the male CSW clients considered a bridge population for HIV transmission to the general population and thought to drive demand for the sex trafficking of women and girls. The current study assesses the prevalence of past year CSW contact, condom nonuse therein, and associations with demographic characteristics and gendered attitudes among a national sample of Indian men.

METHODS

The nationally representative Indian National Family Health Survey-3 was conducted across all Indian states in 2005-2006; the current sample was limited to 46,961 sexually active men. Analyses calculated the prevalence of past year CSW contact and inconsistent condom use; adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of demographic characteristics, sexual entitlement and justification of wife abuse with past year CSW contact, and inconsistent condom use.

RESULTS

Approximately 1 in 100 Indian men (0.9%) reported past year CSW contact; over half of such men reported inconsistent condom use with CSWs. CSW contact was most common among men ages 15-24 (3.6%) and never married men (9.9%). Men's CSW contact related to higher levels of sexual entitlement (adjusted odds ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.24 to 2.17) and justification of violence against wives (adjusted odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 1.93).

CONCLUSIONS

Men's past year CSW contact was concentrated among young and unmarried Indian men; condom nonuse with CSWs was common. Traditional gender ideologies seemed to support men's CSW contact, bolstering consideration of this behavior as a gendered form of HIV risk. Findings provide direction for interventions to reduce men's CSW contact in the Indian context by describing high-risk subpopulations and indicating that gender ideologies should be addressed.

HIV prevalence and predictors among rescued sex-trafficked women and girls in Mumbai, India

OBJECTIVE

Despite the rapid spread of India's HIV epidemic through commercial sex and the large numbers of minor girls trafficked to India for sex work each year, little HIV research has been conducted among victims of sex trafficking. The present study examines the prevalence and predictors of HIV infection among sex-trafficked women and girls rescued from brothels in Mumbai, India.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Case records and HIV testing results of sex-trafficked women and girls (N = 175) were reviewed. HIV prevalence and HIV risk were assessed based on demographics and exposure to sex work.

RESULTS

Approximately one quarter (22.9%) of trafficked individuals tested positive for HIV. The mean age at trafficking was marginally younger for women and girls infected with HIV (15.9 years) as compared to those not infected (17.2 years; P = 0.06). Girls trafficked as minors reported longer periods of brothel confinement as compared to those trafficked at older ages (18.5 vs. 9.6 months; P = 0.007). Among Indian victims, those trafficked from the states of Karnataka or Maharashtra were more likely than those trafficked from West Bengal to be HIV-positive (odds ratio [OR] = 7.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.23 to 24.21). Longer duration in brothels was associated with greater likelihood of HIV infection; a 3% to 4% increased risk for HIV was observed for each additional month of brothel captivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings demonstrate the need for increased attention to HIV among young victims of sex trafficking in research and practice, and to the rescue of sex trafficking victims as a form of HIV prevention.

Psychosocial factors and sexual dysfunctions: a descriptive study in Turkish males

The study of human sexuality has dramatically changed in the last decade. The conceptualization of sexual dysfunction developed in the West is now mushrooming in different parts of the world and there is a dearth of research on characteristics of patients seeking treatment for sexual dysfunction in non-Western countries. This paper describes the demographic characteristics, related factors, and clinical symptomatology of 40 male patients with various sexual dysfunctions attending the psychiatric out-patient clinic of Cukurova University, Turkey. Turkey's population is predominantly Muslim and the country unites Europe and Asia, showing the cultural characteristics of both continents. Our results suggest that the patterns of manifestation are similar to those reported elsewhere with the exception of premarital patterns of sexuality.

Determinants of HIV risk among Indian truck drivers

Although there are very high levels of HIV risk sexual behavior in India, there has been little research on the determinants of this behavior, the psychosocial correlates of condom use, or the potential for effective behavior change interventions. The present research used the information-motivation-behavioral skills model of HIV risk behavior to explore these issues in a sample of Indian truck drivers, a population that comprises an important vector of HIV transmission. This paper presents correlational data on the predictors of HIV risk and preventive behavior in a sample of truck drivers in Chennai, India. The data were collected via detailed individual structured interviews with 300 Indian truck drivers. Results indicated that Indian truck drivers had substantial deficits with respect to HIV prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills. Consistent with the IMB model, these deficits were often found to be predictive of HIV risk and preventive behavior. The implications of these findings for future intervention are discussed.