BSS among MSM population in Serbia in 2006

1
BSS among MSM population in Serbia in 2006

• Daniel Meskovic,
• NGO Safe Pulse of Youth
• Serbia

2
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

• What is the estimated size of MSM population in
  Belgrade and Novi Sad?
• What is the prevalence of HIV and related risky
  behavior in all five towns?
• Is the pattern of risky behavior in those towns
  associated with some predictor variables such as
  age, town where people live, level of their
  education, level of their knowledge on HIV/AIDS,
  attitudes toward HIV infection

3

• This research tends to provide baseline
  measurements of key behavioral and sero -
  prevalence indicators for MSM population in
  Serbia, including associations between risk
  behaviors and some characteristics of
  populations.
• Additionally, through the research the national
  capacities will be strengthen to regularly
  maintain surveillance as a part of the National
  ME Plan

4
SO FAR DATA

• TWO RARs AMONG MSM ADOLESCENTS
• Among the 156 MSM tested in VCCT centers in 2003
  in the whole Serbia there were found 5 newly
  diagnosed HIV cases (3,2) and in 2004 out of 277
  tested 24 MSM were newly registered as HIV
  positive (8,7). In addition, among 90 newly
  diagnosed HIV positive people in Serbia in 2005,
  there are 38 (42) from MSM population

5

• Needs for standardized, routinely repeated
  Behavior Surveillance Survey (BSS)

6

• Descriptive study in the first phase tends to
  explore
• Estimated size of MSM population in 5 sentinel
  sites in Serbia in 2006
• Prevalence of HIV and related risky behavior in
  that population
• Observational cross-sectional study in the
  second phase tends to explore
• Is the pattern of risky behavior (defined with
  the set of outcome variables) associated with
  some predictor variables such as age, town where
  people live, level of their education, level of
  their knowledge on HIV/AIDS, attitudes toward HIV
  infection and HIV status

7
SIZE ESTIMATION

• The size estimation of MSM population is based on
  multiplier technique (where the multiplier factor
  is the number of interviewed people reported
  having been tested on HIV in a certain VCT sites
  during the defined period of time January 1st
  2005 till December 31st 2005 and January 1st 2006
  till June 30th 2006
• Capture/recapture in Belgrade

8
STUDY POPULATION

• Target population MSM population
•  
• Accessible population MSM individuals in Serbia,
  with following characteristics
• Are of age 15-49 years old
• Have had sexual intercourse with the same sex
  partners during the last 6 months at least.
• Have lived in defined towns in Serbia for the
  last 6 months or more,
• Have come out with their sexuality (openly
  express their sexuality) and consequently of that
  might be contacted by another peers in order to
  be examined.
•  
• Study population Subset of accessible population
  that is recruited by RDS and examined in July,
  2006 in five towns in Serbia (Belgrade, Novi Sad,
  Nis, Kragujevac, Sabac)

9
STUDY POPULATION (2)

• Inclusion criteria
• have had a sexual intercourse(oral, anal or just
  petting) with the same sex partner during the
  last 6 months at least
• aged 15 till 49 years old
• came out with their sexuality so might be
  contacted by their peers
• have been living in the targeted towns for the
  last six months or more
• available for being contacted in defined 5 towns
  in July, 2006
•  
• Exclusion criteria
• havent had a sexual intercourse(oral, anal or
  just petting) with the same sex partner during
  the last 6 months at least
• havent lived in the targeted towns for the last
  six months
• arent of age 15 till 49 years old

10
STUDY POPULATION (2)

• SAMPLING
• RESPONDENT DRIVEN SAMPLING (RDS) IN 5 TOWNS IN
  SERBIA

11
Some key findings