Application of the "syndemics" theory to explain unprotected sex and transactional sex: A cross- sectional study in men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and non-MSM in Colombia / Aplicación de la teoría de la "sindemia" para entender el sexo sin protección y el sexo comercial: un estudio transversal en hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), mujeres transexuales y hombres que no tienen sexo con hombres en Colombia
We enrolled a total of 812 males (54.7% men who have sex with men, MSM; 7.3% transgenderwomen, and 38% non-MSM). The participants were recruited from neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status through free HIV-counseling and -testing campaigns. We performed Poisson regression analysis to test the associations and interactions between the four psychosocial conditions and unprotected sex with regular, occasional, and transactional partners. To test the "syndemic" model, we assessed additive and multiplicative interactions.
Results:
The prevalence of any psychosocial condition was 94.9% in transgenderwomen, 60.1% in MSM, and 72.2% in non-MSM. A higher likelihood of transactional sex was associated in MSM (prevalence ratio (PR)=7.41, p<0.001) and non-MSM (PR=2.18, p< 0.001) with three or all four conditions compared to those with one condition. Additive interactions were present for all combinations of psychosocial problems on transactional sex in MSM. No cumulative effect or additive interaction was observed in transgenderwomen.
Conclusions:
Our study highlights the need for bundled mental health programs addressing childhood sexual abuse, illicit drug use, and frequent alcohol use with other HIV prevention programs.