An assessment of stigma and human right violations among men who have sex with men in Abuja, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There have been several barriers in effectively engaging men who have sex with men for STI/HIV prevention and treatment programming in Nigeria including social stigma, policies, and laws criminalizing same-sex practices. The objective of this study was to describe the human rights context for MSM in Abuja and characterize factors associated with having had a genital ulcer disease in the previous 12 months, a health outcome associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition and transmission. METHODS: A convenience sample of 297 men reporting ever having had anal intercourse with another man participated in the study in 2008. A structured survey instrument including sexual risk behaviour for STI/HIV, disclosure of sexual orientation, perceived and enacted human rights violations were performed. Descriptive and inferential data analyses were conducted using Stata11 software. RESULTS: 36% reported having been discriminated due to sexual orientation and 17% reported being afraid to walk the streets of their community. Enacted rights violations included 41% having been blackmailed, 36% been beaten, 13% been denied housing, and 11% been jailed due to sexual orientation. Having been blackmailed due to sexual orientation (aOR 3.40, 95%CI: 1.35-8.56) was significantly associated with reporting having had a genital ulcer in the last 12 months. Having been beaten due to sexual orientation (aOR 2.36, 95%CI:0.96-5.82) was moderately significantly associated with reporting having had a genital ulcer in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of experienced stigma, discrimination and human rights violations among MSM in Abuja was reported, constituting structural risks that are linked to sexual risk behaviour for STI/HIV. Given data on the high prevalence and incidence of HIV among MSM in Abuja, these findings reinforce the need for structural interventions to mediate access to STI/HIV prevention and treatment services.

Associations of consistent condom use among men who have sex with men in Abuja, Nigeria.

The objective of the study was to characterize factors associated with consistent condom use among men who had sex with men (MSM) in Abuja, Nigeria. A convenience sample consisting of 297 MSM was recruited during 2008 using a combination of peer referral and venue-based sampling. Descriptive statistics with chi square and t-test were used for demographic, sexual identity, and practices variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with consistent condom use with male partners in the past 6 months. Approximately more than half (53%, n=155/290) reported always using condoms with male partner in the past 6 months and 43% (n=95/219) reported always using condoms with female partners in the past 6 months. In all, 11% (n=16/144) reported always engaging in safe sex defined as always using condoms with both male and female partners and always using a water-based condom compatible lubricant with male partners in the past 6 months. Independent associations with consistent condom use with male partners in the past 6 months were knowledge of at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be transmitted through unprotected anal intercourse (OR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.27-4.83, p<0.01) and having been tested for HIV (OR 2.40, 95% CI: 1.27-4.54, p<0.01). MSM who had been HIV tested at least once were more likely to use condoms consistently during anal intercourse in multivariate analyses. In addition, STI knowledge was also associated with consistent condom use during anal intercourse implying that interventions targeting high-risk practices are effective as HIV prevention for this high-risk group. Future directions include intervention research to determine the appropriate package of services for MSM in Nigeria. In addition, implementation science evaluations of how best to operationalize combination HIV prevention interventions for MSM given the criminalization and stigmatization of same-sex practices are crucial.