Suchergebnisse

International audience ; There has been a large influx of Central and East European (CEE) migrants to the UK following the expansion of the European Union. This paper examines the factors associated with GUM clinic attendance and STI diagnosis among CEE migrants in London. We conducted a survey of sexual behaviour among CEE migrants attending two central London GUM clinics (n=299) and community venues in London (n=2276). Routinely-collected clinic data were also analysed. CEE migrants made up 2.9% of male and 7.0% of female attendees at the clinics. Half of the women attending sessions for female sex workers were from CEE countries and paying for sex was widely reported by men. Women were more likely than men to have attended a GUM clinic in the UK (7.6% vs 4.5%, p=0.002). GUM survey respondents were more likely than community survey respondents to report one or more new sexual partners in the past year (women: 67.9% vs 28.3%, p<0.001; men: 75.6% vs 45.1%, p<0.001) and homosexual partnership(s) in the past five years (men: 54.3% vs 1.8%, p<0.001); but were less likely to report assortative heterosexual mixing (women: 25.9% vs 74.2%, p<0.001; men: 56.5% vs 76.3%, p<0.001). CEE patients make up a notable proportion of patients attending two central London GUM clinics. Higher numbers of sexual partners, homosexual partnerships and sexual mixing with people from outside the country of origin are associated with GUM clinic attendance. Heterosexual CEE men report behaviours associated with HIV/STI acquisition but appear to be under-utilizing GUM services.

Abstract Background Following the expansion of the European Union, there has been a large influx of Central and East European (CEE) migrants to the UK. CEE men who have sex with men (MSM) represent a small minority within this population that are none-the-less important to capture in sexual health research among the CEE migrant community. This paper examines the feasibility of recruiting CEE MSM for a survey of sexual behaviour in London using respondent driven sampling (RDS), via gay websites and in GUM clinics. Methods We sought CEE MSM to start RDS chain referral among GUM clinic attendees, our personal contacts and at gay events and venues in central London. We recruited CEE MSM (n = 485) via two popular websites for gay men in Britain (March-May 2009) and at two central London GUM clinics (n = 51) (July 2008-March 2009). Results We found seventeen men who knew other CEE MSM in London and agreed to recruit contacts into the study. These men recruited only three men into the study, none of whom recruited any further respondents, and RDS was abandoned after 7 months (July 2008-January 2009). Half of the men that we approached to participate in RDS did not know any other CEE MSM in London. Men who agreed to recruit contacts for RDS were rather more likely to have been in the UK for more than one year (94.1% vs 70.0%, p = 0.052). Men recruited through gay websites and from GUM clinics were similar. Conclusions The Internet was the most successful method for collecting data on sexual risk behaviour among CEE MSM in London. CEE MSM in London were not well networked. RDS may also have failed because they did not fully understand the procedure and/or the financial incentive was not sufficient motivation to take part.

International audience ; Since May 2004, ten Central and East European (CEE) countries have joined the European Union. While HIV rates remain low among men who have sex with men (MSM) in CEE countries, there is no research on the sexual behaviour of CEE MSM in the UK. CEE MSM living in the UK (n=691) were recruited for an online questionnaire via two popular MSM websites. The majority of men had arrived in the UK since May 2004. A previous STI diagnosis was reported by 30.7% and 4.8% reported being HIV-positive, the majority diagnosed in the UK. Unprotected anal intercourse with a casual partner of unknown or discordant HIV status was reported by 22.8%. Men who had been in the UK for longer (>5 years vs 10 partners, p<0.001) and were less likely to report their most recent partner was from their home country (14.9% vs 33.6%, p<0.001). Among migrant CEE MSM living in London, 15.4% had been paid for sex in the UK and 41.5% had taken recreational drugs in the past year. CEE MSM in the UK are at risk for acquisition and transmission of STIs and HIV through UAI with non-concordant casual partners. Sexual mixing with men from other countries, commercial sex and increased partner numbers may introduce additional risk. This has important implications for cross-border transmission of infections between the UK and CEE countries.