Shajy Isac, Purnima Parmar, Carl Boodman, Shishram Ola, Reynold Washington, J. K. Mishra, Parveen Kumar, Marissa Becker

ABSTRACT

Introduction

In India, the HIV epidemic is concentrated among Key Populations (KPs), such as men who have sex with men (MSM), who bear a disproportionate burden of HIV disease. Conventional targeted interventions (TI) mitigate HIV transmission among MSM by focusing on physical hotspots. As increasingly, there is a shift within India’s MSM community to connect with sex partners online, novel approaches are needed to map virtual platforms where sexual networks are formed. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of MSM in Delhi using virtual platforms to connect for sex and to describe patterns of their use.

Methods

The study was conducted in the state of Delhi among MSM over 18 years of age who used virtual platforms to look for sexual partners. Virtual platforms were identified through community consultations. Size estimation was carried out by enumerating the number of online users, accounting for duplication across sites and time and based on interviews with 565 MSM.

Results

28,058 MSM (95% CI: range 26,455–29,817) use virtual sites to find sexual partners. We listed 14 MSM specific virtual sites, 14 general virtual sites, 19 social networking pages and 112 messenger groups, all used by MSM. Five virtual sites met feasibility criteria to be included in the virtual mapping. Of the MSM on these sites, 81% used them at night and 94% used them on Sundays, making these the peak time and day of use. Only 16% of users were aware of organizations providing HIV services and 7% were contacted by peer educators in the preceding three months. Two-fifths (42%) also visited a physical location to connect with sexual partners in the month prior to the study.

Discussion

TI programs that focus on physical hotspots do not reach the majority of MSM who use virtual sites. MSM active on virtual sites have a low awareness of HIV services. Virtual mapping and programmatic interventions to include them must be incorporated into current public health interventions to reach MSM at risk of HIV.

Read More
SHARE:

Recent Post

15 Years of Journey – Technical Assistance to implement Targeted Interventions for HIV Prevention

IHAT has compiled this ‘15 Years of Journey of IHAT’ report for technical assistance in implementing TIs for HIV prevention. IHAT implemented a project for 15 years in Karnataka (since 2007) and seven years in Delhi (since 2014) to support the quality implementation of the national HIV program.

HIV Intervention in Spas and Massage Parlours in Delhi

With the evolution of sex work patterns, newer physical places like Spas and Massage Parlours are emerging as new venues for sex work. The traditional peer-educator based Targeted Interventions reach out to the Key Population at geographical hotspots. However, these new venues are often unreached. DL TSU, in collaboration with DSACS, identified this implementation gap and supported DSACS to design this intervention to reach out and provide HIV services to the FSWs and MSMs who engage in sex work through Spas and Massage Parlours in Delhi.

The Network Operator Approach strengthens the outreach of HIV services for Female Sex Workers in Delhi

The expansion of mobile technology and use of mobile phones have led to changes in the patterns of sex work solicitation among female sex workers (FSWs). FSWs have also increased their dependence on mediators termed ‘Network Operators’ (NWOs) for client solicitation. This Implementation Brief describes the NWO approach that the Targeted Interventions in Delhi adopted in order to reach out and facilitate linkage to HIV services for this hidden FSW population. The DL TSU technically supported the DSACS to design, train implementers and evaluate this strategy.