Polydrug Use, Sexual Risk, and HIV Testing Among Cisgender Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men and Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals Who Have Sex With Men in Kazakhstan
Yong Gun Lee, Gulnara Zhakupova, Vitaliy Vinogradov, Emily Allen Paine, Caitlin I. Laughney, Kelsey G. Reeder, Alissa Davis, Timothy Hunt, Gaukhar Mergenova, Sholpan Primbetova, Assel Terlikbayeva, Elwin Wu
Abstract
This study examined substance use and sexual risk correlates of HIV testing among cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men (MSM) and transgender and nonbinary individuals (TSM) who have sex with men in Kazakhstan. We analyzed baseline data from an HIV prevention trial collected prior to intervention deployment (N = 304). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that lifetime HIV testing was positively associated with poly-drug use (AOR = 4.4, 95% CI [2.0, 9.9]) and negatively with sexual risk (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI [0.2, 1.0]). Similarly, recent HIV testing was positively associated with polydrug use (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI [1.4, 5.2]) and negatively with sexual risk (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI [0.3, 0.9]). Current HIV testing was negatively associated with sexual risk (AOR = 0.6, 95% CI [0.3. 0.9]). Findings support the value of integrating drug treatment with HIV testing among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan.