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Informal confidential voting interviewing in a sexual risk assessment of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders (hijra) in Bangalore, India
  1. Anna Elizabeth Phillips1,
  2. John Molitor1,
  3. Marie Claude Boily1,
  4. Catherine M Lowndes2,
  5. Kaveri Gurav3,
  6. James Blanchard4,
  7. Michel Alary5
  1. 1Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, UK
  2. 2Health Protection Agency—Centre for Infections, Department of HIV and STIs, London, UK
  3. 3Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  4. 4Community Health Sciences and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
  5. 5Unité de Recherche en Santé des Populations (URESP), Centre de Recherche FRSQ du CHA universitaire de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement 1050, Chemin de Sainte Foy, Québec
  1. Correspondence to Dr Anna Elizabeth Phillips, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK; A.phillips05{at}imperial.ac.uk

Abstract

Objective The accuracy of self-reporting sensitive sexual risk behaviours is highly susceptible to misreporting. Informal confidential voting interviews (ICVIs) may minimise social desirability bias by increasing the privacy of the interview setting. The objective was to investigate determinants of risky behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM) and ‘hijra’ (transgenders) reported through two interviewing tools: ICVIs and face-to-face interviews (FTFIs).

Methods Cluster random sampling was used to recruit MSM in 85 cruising sites in Bangalore, including eight hammams (bath houses) and 77 public locations where MSM and hijra cruise for sex. Individuals were randomly allocated to one of the data collection methods(5 : 2 FTFI : ICVI). Data were analysed using standard regression and a profile regression approach that associates clusters of behaviours with our outcome (FTFI vs ICVI).

Results A total of 372 MSM and hijra were interviewed for the FTFIs and 153 respondents completed ICVIs. Participants were more likely to report injecting drug use (4% vs 1%; p=0.008) and paying to have sex with a female sex worker (FSW) in the last year (28% vs 8%; p=0.001) in the ICVIs. There were no differences to questions on sociodemographics, sexual debut with another male, non-condom use (12% vs 14%), ever selling sex to men (58% vs 56%), current female partner (26% vs 20%) and non-condom use with a main female partner (17% vs 19%).

Conclusions The significant differences between interview modes for certain outcomes, such as intravenous drug use and sex with a FSW, demonstrate how certain behaviour is stigmatised among the MSM community. Nevertheless, the lack of effect of the interviewing tool in other outcomes may indicate either less reporting bias in reporting this behaviour or environmental factors such as the interviewers not adequately screening themselves from the respondent or a potential disadvantage of using other MSM as interviewers.

  • HIV
  • Homosexuality
  • Behavioural Science
  • India

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