Assessment of risk factors for HIV infection among men who have sex with men in the metropolitan area of Campinas City, Brazil, using respondent-driven sampling

The Population Council, in collaboration with the Brazil Ministry of Health, the Municipal Program of STD/AIDS of Campinas, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Global AIDS Program/Brazil, conducted a study to characterize the sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with subgroups of MSM who are most at risk for HIV infection. This research is the first Brazilian study to provide population-based estimates for HIV, syphilis, and HIV-related risk behaviors using an innovative sampling technique to reach members of the target population. Our data suggest the importance for HIV prevention programs to address not only sexual risk reduction, but also other social and cultural factors such as their vulnerability to homophobic violence, social construction of sexual identity, and social norms regarding sexuality and condom use within their social networks. The findings from this study clearly indicate the importance of the population of MSM in the HIV epidemic and the need for targeted interventions, particularly for the risky sub-populations in Campinas