Rakesh Kumar Singh, Ayantika Biswas and Santosh Kumar Sharma
Background: Forced sex is the risk factor for psychological morbidities, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Limited study on MSM is available in India and no systematic attempt has been made to know the impact of first forced sex with male and HIV. Therefore, the present study examined the prevalence of the first forced sex and its linkage with HIV infection in South India. Methods: The present study has been used data from the cross sectional survey known as Integrated Behavioural and Biological Assessment during 2009-2010. The survey was conducted in the selected districts of states, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The sample size of MSM was 3875. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Those MSM who have reported of their first forced sex with males, are found more likely to be HIV positive (34.69% vs. 29.06% and OR=1. 297, p<0.05) as compared to those MSM who did not have first forced sex with male. In Tamil Nadu, prevalence of first forced sex with male among MSM highest in Salem (57.1%) followed by Madurai (56.4%) and Dharmapuri (51.2%). In Andhra Pradesh, 23.5 % MSM have had first forced sex with male in Hyderabad followed by Guntur (16.8%), East Godavari (8.8%) and Vizag (4.0%). Conclusion: The present study has found that first forced sexual intercourse with a male is a significant risk factor for the HIV infection among MSM in South India. Therefore, there is an urgent need to control the prevalence of first forced sex and transmission of HIV infection.
