Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Self-reported condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners was used as the selection criterion for participation in a counselling intervention designed to prevent HCV re-infection. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of this criterion to identify men who engaged in other sexual risk behaviours associated with HCV re-infection.
Men who disclosed their sexual and drug- use behaviours during the prior 6 months, at study baseline, were included in the current study. Many also engaged in other potential HCV transmission risk behaviours, e. The odds ratio for sexualised drug use - a potential mediator for increased sexual risk taking - was 5. Condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners showed varying sensitivity in relation to the other risk behaviours examined Although condomless anal intercourse with non-steady partners was fairly sensitive in detecting other HCV relevant risk behaviours, using it as the only screening criterion could lead to missing a proportion of HIV-positive men at risk for HCV re-infection due to other behaviours.
This work also points to the importance of providing access to behavioral interventions addressing other sexual and drug use practices as part of HCV treatment. However, the population of MSM with HIV frequently present with HCV re- infections and current evidence shows that sexual transmission is one important source of re- infection [ 5 ].
Addressing sexual risk behaviour should become an essential component of HCV medical treatment [ 6 ]. In MSM, several sexual behaviours have been described as potentially risky, for example mucosally traumatic sexual behaviours including condomless anal intercourse CAI , receptive fisting, rectal bleeding, anal douching, sharing of sex toys and group sex activities; nasally applied drugs; injection drug use and drug use in combination with sex [ 7 β 9 ].
Still, to-date, it remains controversial which risk behaviours are the most important ones regarding HCV transmission in MSM with HIV, and should subsequently constitute the most important targets for preventive efforts [ 10 ]. An E-health assisted behavioural counselling intervention with nurses as counselors was developed and implemented with the aim to reduce sexual risk taking. Condomless anal intercourse was the only risk behaviour for which SHCS data was available [ 12 ] at the time of intervention development.
