Coverage of HIV prevention services for men who have sex with men in Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: Coverage with evidence-based prevention services is an essential component of the response to HIV.

Objective: Evaluate the coverage of HIV prevention services for men who have sex with men in Cuba.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the cities most severely affected by the HIV epidemic in Cuba. The study was structured into two stages: field data collection through a survey and analysis of data obtained from the program to triangulate the information. Results were expressed as frequencies and proportions.

Results: A total 757 men who have sex with men were surveyed, of whom 87.3% were HIV non-reactive, 9.1% were reactive and 3.5% did not have the information. All the respondents reported having participated in HIV prevention activities, 77.4% had taken the HIV test in the 12 months preceding the survey, and 66.5% expressed their satisfaction with prevention activities. Conversely, according to the data obtained from the program, 93.9% of the men living in the cities selected had had access to prevention services and 53.8% to HIV tests.

Conclusions: Coverage of HIV prevention services was high. Despite the high coverage observed, analysis of the data collected suggests that the measure is based on contacts, not in persons reached, and the coverage monitoring defined is limited to behavioral interventions and basic products.