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Sexual partner mixing and differentials in consistent condom use among men who have sex with men in Maharashtra, India

Sexual partner mixing among men who have sex with men (MSM), based on both gender and partnership status, is an understudied theme in India. Using data from Round 2 of the Integrated Bio-behavioral Survey, this paper reports on gender and partnership status-based sexual mixing and levels of consistent condom use (CCU) among MSM in Maharashtra. A total of 689 MSM were sampled using probability-based sampling. Bivariate and regression analyses were carried out on condom use and partnership mixing. Over half (52%) of all MSM reported having only male partners while about one-third (34.5%) reported having partners of both gender. Over 70% of MSM engaged in sex with a mix of casual, regular, commercial and non-commercial partners. MSM with only male partners reported lower CCU as compared to MSM with partners of both genders (47.3% and 62%, respectively, p = 0.11). CCU levels differed significantly by status of sex partner. Overall, MSM having ‘men only’ as partners and those with partners of mixed status have greater risk behaviour in terms of low CCU. HIV prevention interventions need to focus attention on men in ‘exclusively male’ sex partnerships as well as MSM with a mix of casual, regular and commercial partners.