Recorded presentation

Sheri Lippman, MPH¹, Julie Pulerwitz, ScD², Art Reingold, MD³, Magda Chinaglia, MD, PhD¹, Cristina Ogura, BA¹, Johannes Van Dam, MD MPH⁴, and Juan Díaz, MD, PhD¹. (1) The Population Council, Brazil, Rua Dr. Ruy Vicente de Mello, 1047, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, 13084-050, Brazil, (2) Horizons project, PATH, 4301 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 280, Washington DC, DC 20008, (202) 237-9400, jpulerwitz@pcdc.org, (3) Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, MC 7360, Berkeley, CA 94720, (4) HORIZONS, HORIZONS/Population Council, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suit 280, Washington DC, WA 20008

Mobile populations, such as truck drivers, are vulnerable to STI /HIV infection as their mobility leads to opportunities to develop multiple sexual contacts and limits their access to health-related services. However, few empirical studies have explored the amount of HIV risk related to mobility. We conducted a survey to understand the sexual partnerships of truck drivers and the links between movement and HIV/AIDS risk. A systematic sample of 1775 male truck drivers was interviewed at the Brazilian customs stations of Uruguaiana (n=996) and Foz do Iguaçu (n=779) from March to July 2003. Participants responded to socio-demographic and behavioral questions, including mobility and condom use items. 95% of truckers reported having principle partners and 46% had a commercial or occasional partner in the last six months. Consistent condom use was reported at 9%, 68%, and 93% for regular, occasional and commercial partners, respectively. After controlling for marital status, age, and country of residence, men whose truck routes were 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks or more than 4 weeks long were significantly more likely to report having commercial sex partners (adjusted OR = 1.5, 1.8, and 2.2, respectively) than men with trips of less than 1 week of duration. Because 42% of married and 65% of cohabitating men report having non-regular sex partners over the last six months, programs should encourage universal condom use. The significant relationship between long trips and having commercial partners indicates that issues of mobility must be factored into HIV prevention programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of sexual partnerships and risk behaviors and identify factors contributing to HIV susceptibility in an international, mobile population
• Discuss characteristics of mobility and their contribution to STI/HIV vulnerability in an international context.
• Determine how survey research can be utilized to shape HIV prevention programming for vulnerable populations, such as truck drivers.

Keywords: Behavioral Research, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation