E-Paper
20 per cent of Mumbai's gay are HIV-positive
A study found that while 92% of men knew about condoms, only 12 to 16% used condoms during oral sex.
As many as 17 to 20 per cent of gay men in this city are HIV-positive, a startling survey by the Humsafar Trust and the Indian Market Research Bureau has revealed.
However, these numbers have remained stable in the last four years, the survey by the marketing research group and the Mumbai-based organisation of gay people added.
The first-of-its-kind study was conducted among 240 homosexual men in the city.
The study found that while 92 per cent of the men knew where to get condoms, only 12 to 16 per cent used condoms during oral sex with a man.
The study further showed that 27 per cent of gay men were married and 47 per cent reported that they had had sex with a female partner in the last month.
Said Ashok Row Kavi, founder of the Humsafar Trust: "There is need to bring married men who have sex with men (MSM) into the fold of healthy sexual behaviour. A change in perception of condom usage is needed.
"The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of people towards HIV and AIDS," said Vivek Anand, Humsafar chief.
"It also attempted to assess the sexual behaviour and practices of the community, which will help in preparing intervention programmes."
Anand said previous awareness campaigns had been successful.
"In the first study carried out in 2000, most of the gay men reported at least 11 partners in a month, which has come down to four in 2004."
The recent study also threw up some other facts -- 70 percent of gay men were born and brought up in Mumbai; 60 percent work in private offices or Government organisations; 17 per cent were self-employed, eight per cent were students and three percent were commercial sex workers.
Moreover, 92 per cent met sexual partners at cruising sites and 56 per cent through friends; 69 per cent met their partners at public toilets, 81 per cent at local railway stations and 70 per cent had sex at a friend's place.
The study further showed that 96 per cent and over 98 per cent knew that the HIV virus could be transmitted through sex without condoms.
However, condom usage was low.
