HIV in Indian MSM: Reasons for a concentrated epidemic & strategies for prevention

Introduction

HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been increasing in recent years around the world, particularly in Asia1. This global trend is being seen in India, with the current estimated HIV prevalence among MSM ranging between 7 and 16.5 per cent2–4. This is in comparison with the overall adult HIV prevalence estimated to be 0.31 per cent (0.25-0.39%) in 20092. This is concerning in light of recent HIV prevention intervention efforts that have been dramatically expanded across the nation, raising questions about whether additional measures are needed to arrest the spread of HIV in this population. Although findings from the Independent Impact Assessment Study2 show that the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) is steadily halting the HIV epidemic in India over the period 2007-2012, current prevention interventions for MSM in India involve mainly single dimension modalities including condom distribution, HIV education, voluntary HIV counselling and testing, and the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If the NACP's goals are to be achieved, there is a need for comprehensive, multi-layered approaches to HIV prevention that address the unique needs of Indian MSM. This article seeks to elucidate the specific challenges of providing effective HIV prevention programmes for this diverse and socially marginalized risk group.

The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS Report estimates that there are about 3.1 million MSM in India3. Indian MSM concepts of sexual identity can be varied and fluid4–8. Indian MSM include self-identified gay men (Western acculturated), kothis (men who tend to be the receptive male partner in anal and oral sex and typically have more effeminate mannerisms), panthis (men who tend to be the insertive male partner in anal and oral sex), and double deckers (men who are both receptive and insertive partners). While MSM may self-identify as kothi, the terms panthi and double-decker are generally given by kothis to their male partners based on their sexual roles6910. Since individuals may change their self-perception over time and behaviours may be situational, attributing fixed behavioural attributes to these identities is limiting. In most of these constructs, same-sex behaviour does not preclude sex with women or traditional marriage1112. Thus, here we use the term “MSM” to describe a behaviour rather than a sexual identity. The term ‘gay’ essentially has the same meanings that it does in Western countries for the educated self-identified homosexual males belonging to the middle and upper class.

This review paper aims to highlight the gaps in current HIV prevention efforts by providing insight into the patterns of Indian MSM behaviour and sexual partnerships, and the specific cultural and psychological context in which HIV risk is occurring. Understanding the distinct social forces that shape the HIV risk environment could maximize the effectiveness of prevention interventions and heighten the acceptability of these programmes by MSM. The current review does not include transgender individuals (i.e., Hijras/Aravanis) as they represent a different sexual minority group with varied HIV prevention needs.

This review is based on research publications, reports from NGOs as well as updated surveillance reports of BSS (Behavioral Sentinel Surveillance) and HSS data (HIV Sentinel Surveillance). Since 1998, HIV sentinel surveillance has been conducted annually to track the HIV epidemic in the country. To date, three rounds of Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BSS) have been conducted; two at the national level in 2001 and 2006 and one at State level (both rural and urban areas) in 2009.The authors are also informed by their own research which includes developing and implementing HIV prevention interventions for MSM in Chennai and Mumbai.

History of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among MSM in India

The estimates for the prevalence of HIV in MSM in India vary. Pockets of high HIV prevalence among MSM are identified in high prevalence States as well as in Delhi, Gujarat and West Bengal. Twenty eight districts have 5 per cent or more HIV prevalence among MSM according to the BSS 200913.

The States that have the highest mean HIV prevalence amongst MSM in 2008 are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal14. While overall HIV trends amongst this population group are stable in India; there is an increasing trend among south Indian States and Delhi.

The Government of India's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) estimates an overall HIV prevalence of 6.41 per cent among MSM, although this may be a lower-limit estimate15. For example, in Mumbai, 12 per cent of MSM seeking voluntary counselling and testing services were HIV-infected, and 18 per cent of the MSM screened in 10 clinics in Andhra Pradesh were found to be infected16–18. We found an 8 per cent prevalence in a sample of 210 MSM in Chennai recruited by peer outreach workers4. In the context of this disproportionally high level of HIV risk, it becomes extremely important to understand the socio-cultural factors that may exacerbate sexual risk among this group.

Socio-cultural norms that challenge MSM

MSM and hijras/aravanis (transgendered women or male–to–female transgendered persons) have existed in India for thousands of years. This is evident from the temple carvings in Konark and Khajarao (950-1050 AD) that depict homosexuality and various treatises existing from ancient times. Homophobia was formally codified by legal code Section 377 which, until very recently, made sexual relations between two men a criminal offense (Section 377). MSM in India, therefore, experience multiple forms of social and legal discrimination19. It is this pervasive social intolerance along with the cultural pressure for men to engage in heterosexual marital relations that have led many MSM to marry women and have children57. Many MSM engage in unprotected anal and vaginal sex with male and female sexual partners5–9171920. MSM in India may play a “bridging” role in the spread of HIV into the general public.

Knowledge on HIV, HIV testing, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevalence among MSM

The 2009 round of BSS also reported low levels of comprehensive knowledge about HIV among MSM including, 21 per cent in UP; 30 per cent in Manipur; 32 per cent in Tamil Nadu; 22 per cent in Karnataka; and 57 per cent in Andhra Pradesh13. In 2010, 39.4 per cent of MSM could correctly identify ways of preventing sexual transmission of HIV7.

In the recent United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS report the percentage of MSM who had undergone an HIV test in the past 12 months and knew their results varied widely across survey locations from 3 to 67 per cent2. In 2009, 46.3 per cent of MSM in Tamil Nadu had been tested for HIV in the last 12 months and knew the result10. The HIV prevalence in a study from Mumbai was 12.5 per cent, with 14 per cent of the men reporting STD symptoms, and only 68 per cent returning to collect all of their laboratory reports21.

Prevalence of STI among MSM in India

Only limited data are available about STI prevalence among MSM in India. A preliminary analysis of STIs among 85 MSM attending an STI clinic in Mumbai provides the following information: 4 had clinical rectal gonorrhoea (among these 2 were culture-positive and remaining 2 were smear-positive), 4 had perianal warts, 3 had gonococcal urethritis, one case each of secondary syphilis, genital molluscum contagiosum and genital scabies. The point prevalence of HIV in this population was 15 per cent and VDRL reactivity was 16 per cent22.

In a study from Chennai, analysis of 51 MSM who attended a community-based clinic over a period of three months revealed that the 13 (26%) MSM were clinically diagnosed to have one or more STIs20. The overall prevalence of gonorrhoea and/or Chlamydia amongst 513 MSM during 2008-2009, recruited from four clinics at two cities of Mumbai and Hyderabad MSM was 16.6 per cent (13.8% had gonorrhoea and 5.1% Chlamydia)23.

Sexual behaviour- unprotected anal sex, transactional sex, vaginal sex

A report from Bangalore found that 15 per cent of MSMs were full time commercial sex workers and 63 per cent reported sex for pleasure24. During 2008-2009, 513 MSM were recruited from four clinics at two cities of Mumbai and Hyderabad. On the basis of multivariate analysis, the data suggested that the association of risk factors was highest amongst MSMs who were engaged in commercial sex. Other risk factors included concurrent multiple sexual partners, low condom use during last sexual act and poor health seeking24. A study from Chennai reported that 22 per cent of MSM respondents had unprotected anal exposure and 35.9 per cent had ever paid another man for sex4.

A study conducted in Andhra Pradesh found that MSM reported high rates of unprotected anal sex with other men and women5. Behaviourally bisexual men preferred insertive anal and then vaginal sex in that order with their partners. These men may form a major bridge population between other high-risk MSM and transgender people and their regular female partners or spouses as also suggested by other studies in the past52025–27. A study among rural men from 5 different States in India also reported that 9.5 per cent of single and 3.1 per cent of married men had anal sex with other men and had greater number of male sexual partners, and found high rates of unprotected anal sex with male partners20.

Condom use in MSM with male and female partners

In 2010, condom use at the last occasion of anal sex with a male was reported by 57.6 per cent of MSM in Manipur and 48.9 per cent in Tamil Nadu10. Consistent condom use with paid male partners from BSS 2009 was low in Karnataka at 35 per cent; it was reported at 54 per cent in Tamil Nadu15. Over half of the men with female partners (53%) reported never using condoms with female spouses during vaginal sex and 38 per cent never using condoms with regular male partners during anal sex except for Karnataka10.

It has also been reported that condom use by MSM with spouses tends to be low, even more so than with male partners, which suggests that through bisexual behaviour, men could link circuits of high risk male-with-male activity with the general female population28. It has been shown that the number of cases of women infected with HIV through heterosexual transmission within marriage is increasing in India, and that the behaviour reported by the husband was an important risk factor for infection among many of these women29.

In a study from Bangalore30, among a sample of 357 men reporting same sex behaviour; 41 per cent also reported sex with a woman in the past year and 14 per cent were currently married. Condom use was very inconsistent with all male partners, while 98 per cent reported unprotected vaginal sex with their wives. These findings are consistent with other research findings from India, with the proportions of MSM currently married to women ranging from 23 to 42 per cent52231.

The frequency of bisexual behaviour among MSM, coupled with low condom use, high HIV prevalence and increased transmission efficiency of anal sex, means that the contribution of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) to the HIV epidemic, through transmission to their female partners, could be substantial30.

Psychosocial issues - Stigma, low self esteem, and depression

Studies have also revealed that stigma has been shown to contribute to negative self-images and low self-esteem, depression, increased sexual risk behaviour and/or decreased use of HIV prevention services2932–36. Engaging in unprotected sex perhaps is related to low self esteem due to marginalization and stigma. The silence and secrecy associated with institutional stigma and discrimination may provide ideal conditions for escalation of the AIDS epidemic37–39. This included stigma from health providers, employers and other service providers. These challenges pose serious obstacles to effective HIV services provision as stigma, discrimination and harassment can hinder access to HIV and sexual health services and prevention programmes. An understanding of issues around stigma and discrimination would help MSM cross the barriers associated with stigma with respect to sexual risk, disclosure issues and access to health care.

In addition, there are very limited data on the prevalence of depression among MSM in India. One study found 55 per cent of 210 participants screened in for clinical depression on a self-report measure35. Screening in for depression was associated with having had unprotected anal sex, and higher numbers of male partners. Additionally, statistically significant bivariate predictors of meeting the screen in for depressive symptoms included sexual identity (Kothi > Panthi), not being married, not having a child, family not knowing about one's MSM identity, having been paid for sex, and perceiving that one is at risk for acquiring HIV. Given the estimated level of depression among this population, a strong mental health component should be incorporated into interventions for MSM.

Age and education

The age of first sexual act among MSM has been found to be as low as 10 years19. It was also observed that 44.2 per cent had their first sexual act in the age group 15-19 yr and the mean age of first such act was only 16.6 yr40. A report from Karnataka found that of the 3643 MSM covered, 13 per cent were below 20 and 54 per cent between 21 to 30 yr. Fifty two per cent had completed high school education and 24 per cent were illiterate21. MSM who presented at the VCT clinic at the Humsafar trust, a large NGO for MSM and TG in Mumbai, had a mean age of 24.8 yr with 8 per cent being illiterate8. It has also been reported that those who are older, educated, open about their MSM sexual behaviour, were more likely to have participated in an HIV prevention intervention4. Although HIV prevention interventions typically require more than education, education is an essential component41. Are we missing the younger MSM and those who are less educated?

Perception of sexual risk

The perception of sexual risk for HIV varies among MSM, and throughout the epidemic MSM were engaged in sophisticated decision making about what they consider to be risky42. Studies have reported that the reasons for continued sexual risk taking among MSM in India include (i) perceptions that HIV is transmitted through vaginal sex and via sex workers, resulting in individuals engaging in alternate anal and oral sexual practices as a way to avoid infection, (ii) stigma and denial of same sex behaviour resulting in anonymous, single-encounter sexual relationships, and (iii) inequalities in power dynamics that arise from Indian notions of masculinity (e.g., discriminatory attitudes and exploitation of effeminate males)43–45. A study from Chennai reported that significant predictors of unprotected anal intercourse were being less educated, not having previously participated in an HIV prevention programme, having clinically significant depression symptoms and lower self efficacy4.

In another study, almost half of all men (49%) who requested an HIV test did not perceive themselves to be at any risk for HIV infection and 26 per cent indicated that they did not know if they were at risk for HIV acquisition21. Recent estimates however, report that MSM have higher perceptions of risk from 62 to 75.5 per cent4. It is hoped that this perception of risk should increase HIV testing across sites.

Substance use among MSM

As in other contexts, HIV prevention interventions among MSM in India have not yet focused on how alcohol use may increase risk, which may provide valuable insights on how best to intervene to reduce sexual risk among MSM in India.

A study from Chennai reported 28 per cent of MSM using alcohol weekly to the point of intoxication which was associated with older age, being married to a woman, weekly tobacco use and unprotected vaginal and anal sex4.

Reviews of numerous international clinical trials and studies have demonstrated the efficacy of brief alcohol interventions to reduce the overall level of alcohol consumption, change harmful drinking patterns, prevent future drinking problems, improve health and reduce health care costs46–50. HIV prevention interventions may benefit from incorporating behavioural strategies that target both alcohol use and concomitant sexual risk50–52.

Coverage of HIV prevention

A 2006 survey of the coverage of HIV interventions in 15 Asia Pacific countries estimated that targeted prevention programme reached less than 8 per cent of the estimated number of MSM, whereas 80 per cent coverage is needed to effectively reduce the incidence of HIV infections193237–53. Substantial HIV epidemics among MSM are now well documented in urban areas across Asia, with HIV prevalence rates of 30.7 per cent in Bangkok; 15.6 per cent in Maharashtra State; 12.3 per cent in New Delhi; 8.7 per cent in Phnom Penh; and 5.8 per cent in Beijing54–57.

There are ranges of coverage of HIV prevention programme estimates in India. The overall BSS showed a range of 1.8-63.4 per cent coverage10. Other estimates include: 4 per cent of 950,000 MSM in 2005; 45 per cent in 2005-06; 57 per cent in 2007 and 78 per cent in 2010129343738 NACO reported that by January 2010, 78 per cent of their targeted MSM (275,000 out of 351,000) have been reached10. In 2009, 25.8 per cent of 210 MSM in Chennai had participated in an HIV prevention programme4.

Understanding factors that could influence participation in an HIV prevention intervention is helpful for identifying Indian MSM who might have had no exposure to HIV prevention information and skills building, hence allowing researchers and prevention workers to focus efforts on individuals at greatest need.

Acceptability of HIV prevention programmes

The factors that influenced participation in HIV prevention programmes in a study conducted in Chennai were MSM who were older (OR = 1.04; P = 0.05), kothis (feminine acting/appearing and predominantly receptive partners in anal sex) compared to panthis (masculine appearing, predominantly insertive partners; OR = 5.52, P=0.0004), those with higher educational attainment (OR = 1.48, P=0.01), being open to others about having sex with other men (OR = 4.03, P=0.0001), and MSM who reported ever having been paid in exchange for sex (OR = 2.92, P=0.001)4. Findings suggest that exposure to HIV prevention interventions may be protective against engaging in unprotected anal intercourse (UAS) for some MSM in India.

A qualitative study reported that respondents related a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction with HIV prevention services that focused solely on HIV risk reduction messages58. While most acknowledged the importance of this information, participants found these messages repetitive.

HIV prevention intervention efforts among MSM have been hampered as many countries lack information on the determinants of HIV vulnerability and transmission among MSM45. These factors would be an understanding of the socio-cultural norms that challenge MSM, their complex identities, the psychosocial issues, sexual behaviour patterns, condom use and the risks around alcohol and substance use.

Other barriers to participation in HIV prevention programmes

It is known that most interventions for MSM are organized by NGOs. A study from Chennai, India, reported that nearly half the respondents who participated in an intervention indicated exposure to an MSM non governmental organization4.

It is also important to underscore the fact that MSM outreach workers themselves have fallen prey to these abuses and threats59. This is often overlooked as the responsibility for effective HIV prevention intervention programmes lies with the outreach workers who can link the HIV control programme and the MSM community. Furthermore, screening for experiences of physical abuse or threats, with triage to appropriate services, may improve HIV prevention programme effectiveness.

Organizations involved in HIV prevention interventions need the co-operation of police and other local government institutions to ensure the safety of outreach workers and MSM who may otherwise avoid programme participation due to this harassment. This requires HIV prevention programmes to understand the profile of their participants if they are to reach those with lower educational attainment, as well as those who may not be open about their status of having sex with other men. For example, kothis in India characteristically embrace effeminate behaviour in public and are, therefore, easily identified, as compared to panthis and double deckers, who may choose to remain hidden and who may not want to acknowledge their MSM identity. To curb rising HIV rates, prevention programmes need to focus efforts to include all subgroups of MSM. HIV prevention programmes to understand the profile of their participants. Kothis are easily identified as compared to panthis and double deckers.

Mental health and psychosocial problems, which both disproportionately affect MSM populations and are implicated in HIV transmission risk behaviours, also likely interfere with the uptake of HIV behavioural interventions.

How syndemics potentiate HIV risk: relevance for Indian MSM

Although many studies involving MSM have shown interconnections between psychosocial factors and HIV risk, such as substance use and high-risk sex, recent studies have focused on documentation of how these diverse psychosocial issues interact to produce elevated HIV risk behaviour among MSM, a phenomenon known as a syndemic60–63. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a syndemic is “two or more afflictions, interacting synergistically, contributing to excess burden of disease in a population”64. To address health disparities among vulnerable groups, it is necessary to understand the complex interactions between health conditions clustering together (e.g., substance abuse, depression, intimate partner violence, and HIV) and the social ecology in which these conditions exist62.

The “syndemic condition” has been documented in samples of adult and young MSM61. Using a probability sample of MSM in four major US cities, Stall et al62 found that the more psychosocial health problems an individual endorsed, the greater was their risk for both participation in sexual risk behaviours and HIV infection. Given that mental health and psychosocial problems such as depression, substance use, and violence frequently co-occur for many MSM (e.g., as syndemic conditions), what is probably needed are combination prevention efforts, or prevention “cocktails,” similar to treatment “cocktails,” that address the psychological and behavioural mechanisms that interact to produce elevated risk for HIV65. Successful prevention interventions for Indian MSM will need to address the frequent co-prevalence of traumatic life events, depression, substance use, internalized stigma, STDs and HIV, if the MSM HIV epidemic will ever be fully controlled in India.

The future of combination prevention for Indian MSM

Over the past year, studies have demonstrated the efficacy of antiretroviral chemoprophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission in South African women and in a multinational cohort of MSM have dramatically increased the opportunities for effective HIV prevention globally6667.

The use of the antiretrovirals tenofovir ± emtricitabine as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a novel biomedical HIV prevention strategy which has been shown to decrease HIV spread among MSM in 11 international sites in conjunction with risk reduction counselling in the iPrEx study. The trial included an Asian site in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but there are no sites in India for the heterosexual or MSM studies67. PrEP could be an acceptable option for high-risk MSM and Hjiras in India.

The recent trials in HIV-uninfected men and women have demonstrated that PrEP is safe and well-tolerated, but demonstration projects are needed to understand the feasibility of scaling up this biomedical intervention for specific high risk populations. However, before offering PrEP to Indian MSM or Hjiras, the feasibility of recruiting and retaining a high-risk cohort needs to be determined to understand more about their patterns of sexual risk, including sex frequency and planning behaviours, and to ascertain HIV incidence among this group.

Suggestions and recommendations

Non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations (CBOs) are the front line in HIV/AIDS prevention and service delivery through targeted interventions. Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic HIV prevention interventions have been conducted in the absence of evidence-based research. CBOs need support to evaluate interventions within at risk communities, demonstrate efficacy, and improve effectiveness research68.

Among MSM in India it appears that sexual risk taking co-occurs within a variety of other contextual factors and psychosocial problems. Both individual and structural interventions are therefore, required to assist with the particular problems in their particular contexts68.

Most HIV prevention programmes are geared towards adults and older men. MSM tend to be initiated into sex very early during their lives and therefore, early life interventions may be helpful in enabling youth to develop stable adult sexual identities. Homophobic attacks directly made against or witnessed by boys may result in their growing up to be sexual minority men, who will be at higher risk for depression, substance abuse, or revictimization, which can lead to increased levels of risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases65. Finding ways to address young boys on these multiple psychosocial and sexual conditions, so that they support HIV risk reduction, may well increase the effect size of HIV prevention interventions.

It is also important to focus on increasing condom use rates with the female partners of MSM, who are generally perceived as low risk. This may be difficult to achieve and sustain, however, because the desire for children may compete with the concern to protect partners from HIV infection. Bridging to the general population will, however, continue to contribute to the HIV epidemic unless condom use with higher-risk partners becomes more consistent.

According to the most behavioural models of health care, if the barriers to obtaining care are greater than the benefits, then it is unlikely that individuals will avail themselves of health care services69–71. Convergence of NACP III with NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) is a key strategy for ensuring decentralization of the programme as district and sub-district level public health systems are managed within a framework developed in 2005 for the health and family welfare sector. This framework set in place by the NRHM proposes to address gaps in effective health care4. This could include sensitization of health services to include MSM friendly services which could work towards destigmatization of MSM and increase HIV and STI testing to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment which is crucial for HIV/AIDS control.

Conclusions

HIV prevention for Indian MSM could benefit from conceptualization of risk from the individual to a wider consideration of psychosocial cultural and interpersonal determinants. If HIV/AIDS control programmes among MSM are going to be effective, the focus has to shift from targeting them as vectors of HIV transmission to understanding how societal intolerance enhances risk, requiring combination prevention interventions, that use new biomedical interventions aligned with culturally tailored behavioural approaches, and that consider mental health and psychosocial concerns. Interventions should incorporate a holistic framework to address the sexual health and overall well being of MSM. Addressing co-occurring psychosocial risk factors is needed to improve effect sizes of current HIV prevention interventions and allow for more effective uptake by MSM.