Examining HIV/AIDS related risk behavior experiences of men having sex with men (MSM) in Addis Ababa

5^th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs and STIs

November 13-14, 2017 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Abebaw Minaye and Girma Tamiru

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Yonsei University, South Korea

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J AIDS Clin Res

Abstract :

The aim of this study was to explore risky sexual behaviors from experiences of MSMs in Addis Ababa, to inform the need to include these people to HIV preventive efforts in the country. Using phenomenological method I met 21 MSMs and 4 elite experts working in the area of MSM from Addis Ababa. Fifteen (15) MSMs and the 4 experts reported their experience about the topic through indepth interview. The rest 6 MSMs shared with me their lived sexual lives in group discussion. In addition, I observed these people at four different real life situations, at Khat chewing ceremony, at night clubs, at engagement and birthday ceremony (party) and in cinema halls. Furthermore, the profile of gay Ethiopians on Planet-Romeo (only gay social media) and some posts of gays in the city and forwarded comments to the posts on different social media were analyzed. Participants (MSMs) were aged between 19 and 45 years and came from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Coding, grouping and categorization was done using open code computer software. Eleven (11) men out of 21 MSM in the study saw their same-sex attraction as part of their "nature". But 10 attracted to the same sex life through peer pressure and sexual abuse by their closest people. Close to 28% of the study participants were found to be HIV positive. Almost all (21) MSMs disclosed that at least once in their life they suffered from different types of STDs and other gay related health problems. Lifetime sexual partner numbers ranged from two to more than 1000. For several men, relationships were not primarily centered on romantic feelings but instead intimately connected to economic and sexual dependence. Condom use in this community is seen as full of myths as it is parching sex and reducing sexual orgasm. Comprehensive knowledge on HIV in this community is found to be very low as it can be seen in their misconception on unprotected anal sex is not risky type of sex for HIV rather they believe vaginal sex is risky. The sexual network of these people is found very wide and highly interrelated with heterosexuals through bisexuals. Male commercial sex work is expanding and clients for such MCSW are gays, married bisexuals, university students, foreigners and all types of people from all walks of life irrespective of age, ethnic group, religion, academic background and social status. Several informants felt they are in psychological stress related living in a highly homophobic society. This study contextualizes risky sexual relationships among MSM in Addis Ababa and highlights the extent to which HIV prevention activities in the city need to consider MSM in the city so as to save the MSM in particular and the sexual majority in general.