HIV, syphilis and sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men in Agadir and Marrakesh, Morocco

Abstract

Objective

To collect baseline measurements of HIV and syphilis prevalence and sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Agadir and Marrakech, Morocco, and provide strategic information to improve outreach programmes.

Methods and Design

Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit men who reported having anal sex with another man in the last 6 months, aged 18 years and older and living in either Agadir or Marrakech for the past 6 months, regardless of nationality. Data were analysed with the multiplicity estimator using respondent-driven sampling analysis tool V.6.0.

Results

323 MSM in Agadir and 346 in Marrakech were recruited into the survey. Most MSM in both cities reported being < 25 years, being unemployed, bisexual and in a couple with both a man and a woman. Most reported selling sex and having sex with women. HIV prevalence was 5.6% in Agadir and 2.8% in Marrakesh; syphilis was 7.0% in Agadir and 10.8% in Marrakesh. Among MSM who tested positive for HIV, 31.6% in Agadir and 56.4% in Marrakesh were co-infected with syphilis.

Conclusions

HIV and syphilis findings coupled with high risk activities indicate the need for expanding programmes targeting MSM throughout Morocco. Selling sex and sex with women may be a strategy to cope with extreme stigma towards MSM. Criminalisation and discrimination of MSM in Morocco underscores the urgent need for long-term and sustainable risk reduction through legal reforms and promotion and protection of human rights.

Introduction

HIV prevalence in Morocco is estimated at 0.15% among the general population. In the few published men who have sex with men (MSM) studies conducted to date in the five countries comprising North Africa, HIV prevalence was found to range from 1.4% to 6.2% in Egypt and 0% to 9% in Morocco.^{1 2} Incidence of HIV in MSM in Morocco is estimated to be 1.04% and HIV prevalence is projected to reach as high as 11.1%.¹ Recent surveys conducted in other Middle East and North African (MENA) countries have found that MSM engage in numerous high risk behaviours, including multiple sexual partnerships, commercial sex and unprotected anal intercourse.^{2 3} Additionally, MSM have reported being married or engaging in sexual intercourse with women, highlighting the possible transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to female sex partners.^{3 4} Male-to-male sex in Morocco is illegal and punishable by imprisonment and fines. This paper presents findings from a biobehavioural survey conducted among MSM in Agadir and Marrakesh, Morocco to provide information and establish baseline measurements of HIV and syphilis prevalence and sexual risk behaviours.

Methods

MSM were sampled using respondent-driven sampling, a peer-to-peer recruitment method.^{5 6} The survey began with 10 participants in Agadir and 8 in Marrakesh, identified through outreach workers. Eligible men underwent consent, completed a face-to-face interview in Arabic, and provided blood specimens for HIV and syphilis testing. Upon completing the survey process, participants received up to three uniquely coded coupons to use in recruiting their peers. Respondents were compensated the equivalent of US$7 for completing the survey and US$3.50 for each eligible recruit who enrolled in the survey. To ensure anonymity, respondents’ questionnaires and biological tests were identified using a unique number provided on the recruitment coupons. The Morocco Faculty of Medicine ethics committee approved the protocol.

Laboratory procedures

HIV samples were tested using ELISA. Reactive specimens were assessed using a western blot confirmatory test. ELISA and western blot discordant cases were tested again using a molecular biology tool polymerase chain reaction. Syphilis was tested using Treponema pallidum hemaglutination assay (TPHA) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) tests (Omega Diagnostics Limited, Scotland, UK)—reactive serological TPHA and VDRL tests are presented (Table 1).

Statistical analysis

Population proportions and 95% CIs were derived with the respondent-driven sampling analysis tool V.6.0 using the multiplicity estimator.⁶

Results

Three hundred and twenty-three MSM in Agadir and 346 in Marrakech enrolled in the survey. A maximum number of 12 waves was reached in the Agadir sample and 23 waves in the Marrakesh sample. Most MSM in both cities reported being <25 years, attending secondary school, being unemployed, single, bisexual and in a couple with a man and a woman (table 1). High percentages of men in both cities reported receiving money for sex; lower percentages reported paying for sex. High percentages of MSM in both cities reported ever having sex with a female partner, among which most reported having had multiple female sex partners in the past 6 months. Although condom use was inconsistent with all partner types, it was especially low in Marrakesh. MSM in Agadir had a higher HIV prevalence, but lower syphilis prevalence, compared with MSM in Marrakesh. Co-infection with HIV and syphilis was 31.6% in Agadir and 56.4% in Marrakesh.

Table 1.

Sociodemographic characteristics, sexual risk and infection status of men who have sex with men, Morocco, 2010–2011

	Agadir (N=323)			Marrakech (N=346)
	N	%	95% CI	N	%	95% CI
Age (years)
≤24	235	78.2	71.8 to 83.8	228	75.6	68.7 to 81.5
25+	88	21.8	16.2 to 28.2	117	24.4	18.3 to 31.4
Current education level
None/Koranic	16	8.3	4.1 to 15.2	33	10.3	6.0 to 15.1
Primary	80	21.0	14.7 to 27.4	100	24.8	19.3 to 30.9
Secondary/professional	198	61.9	52.5 to 68.2	206	64.3	57.0 to 71.1
College/> secondary	29	8.7	4.5 to 15.7	6	0.7	0.2 to 1.4
Current employment status
None	163	50.6	42.3 to 59.1	189	55.0	46.6 to 63.6
Employed	74	21.9	15.8 to 28.8	78	18.5	13.4 to 24.2
Student	86	27.5	20.2 to 35.3	79	26.5	18.5 to 34.7
Marital status
Single	308	96.2	93.4 to 98.4	330	97.2	94.7 to 99.0
Married	13	3.5	1.3 to 6.2	5	0.9	0 to 2.5
Divorced	2	0.3	0 to 0.8	10	2.0	0.5 to 4.0
Sexual orientation
None	13	1.9	0.9 to 3.5	–	–	–
Homosexual/gay	102	25.1	18.0 to 32.8	88	21.0	14.2 to 28.3
Bisexual	182	67.3	59.0 to 74.3	224	69.8	62.8 to 76.6
Heterosexual	7	3.0	1.0 to 5.7	32	8.8	5.5 to 13.0
Transsexual	4	2.3	0 to 6.6	1	0.4	0 to 1.0
Other	2	0.5	0 to 1.3	–	–	–
Current type of relationship
Not in a stable relationship	61	15.8	10.9 to 20.9	85	25.3	18.8 to 32.7
As a couple with a man	57	25.2	18.0 to 32.7	89	27.8	20.7 to 34.3
As a couple with a woman	26	7.6	4.3 to 11.6	46	12.3	8.3 to 17.6
As a couple with a man and woman	178	51.5	43.9 to 59.1	124	34.5	27.6 to 41.5
Paid money or goods for sex (past 6 months)
Yes	52	17.3	11.5 to 23.4	50	13.8	8.9 to 19.7
No	270	82.7	76.6 to 88.5	290	86.2	80.3 to 91.1
Received money or goods for sex in past 6 months
Yes	214	64.7	58.1 to 72.1	234	65.6	57.6 to 72.9
No	108	35.3	27.9 to 41.9	109	34.4	27.1 to 42.4
Condom use—last anal sex with male commercial sex partner
Yes	125	59.0	42.4 to 69.0	93	31.3	21.0 to 44.8
No	82	41.0	31.0 to 57.6	154	68.7	55.2 to 79.1
Anal sex—occasional male sex partners (past 6 months)
Yes	245	78.0	71.0 to 83.8	179	52.7	44.1 to 60.0
No	77	22.0	16.2 to 29.0	165	47.3	40.0 to 55.9
Condom use—last anal sex with occasional male sex partner
Yes	117	49.3	35.0 to 61.1	62	37.1	22.6 to 56.5
No	94	50.0	38.3 to 64.3	110	62.9	43.5 to 77.5
Anal sex—regular male sex partners (past 6 months)
Yes	158	44.0	37.0 to 51.3	114	32.2	24.9 to 39.0
No	165	56.0	48.7 to 63.0	232	67.8	61.0 to 75.2
Condom use—last anal sex with regular male sex partner
Yes	106	46.5	35.9 to 62.5	50	40.9	17.7 to 62.1
No	93	53.5	37.5 to 64.1	73	59.1	37.9 to 82.3
Ever had sex with a woman
Yes	224	80.9	74.5 to 85.7	282	83.0	75.9 to 89.2
No	99	19.1	13.3 to 25.5	62	17.0	10.8 to 24.1
Number of female sex partners (past 6 months)
0	6	1.2	0 to 2.5	34	11.3	5.2 to 17.6
1	42	19.0	9.0 to 25.3	68	24.0	15.8 to 30.2
2–4	73	35.4	28.6 to 48.8	95	36.1	28.2 to 45.5
≥5	100	44.3	34.3 to 54.2	87	28.6	22.5 to 37.8
Condom use—last sex with female sex partner
Yes	109	47.2	32.5 to 54.9	75	29.2	19.8 to 37.2
No	107	52.8	45.1 to 67.5	175	70.8	62.8 to 80.2
HIV status
Negative	303	94.4	90.3 to 97.7	332	97.2	95.0 to 99.1
Positive	19	5.6	2.3 to 9.8	14	2.8	0.9 to 5.0
Syphilis status
Negative	285	93.0	89.6 to 96.1	304	89.2	83.9 to 94.7
Positive	37	7.0	4.0 to 10.4	36	10.8	5.3 to 16.1

Discussion

This is the first biobehavioural survey among MSM in Morocco and provides essential baseline data for understanding HIV risk patterns and trends. HIV prevalence in Agadir and Marrakesh was higher than that found in institutional studies of fairly large sample sizes (n=1147 in 2008; 1216 in 2009) of MSM testing at voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centres across Morocco (1.2% in 2008; 2.2% in 2009).⁷ Currently, VCT programmes in Morocco do not focus on people at high risk for HIV infection and there are limited health services specially designed to meet the needs of MSM. Syphilis prevalence was around 10% in both cities and a sizeable percentage of MSM in Marrakesh who tested positive for HIV were co-infected with syphilis. STIs, especially those that result in genital ulcers, are easily transmitted to sexual partners and associated with increased sexual HIV transmission. STI screening, including periodic testing for some asymptomatic urethral and rectal infections such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, should be included in all HIV testing of MSM.⁸

MSM in Agadir and Marrakesh practice numerous risky sexual behaviours, have multiple male partner types and do not use condoms consistently. This survey reaffirms some common and alarming facts found in other MENA countries, namely, that MSM commonly practice sex with women, are self-described as bisexual and are in a ‘couple’ with a woman (as well as with a man) as a means of coping with their same sex preference (eg, ‘I am not homosexual as I am having sex with women’) in an extremely stigmatising environment.⁹ Outreach efforts and policy changes, including decriminalising homosexuality and reducing stigma associated with male-to-male sex, must be developed to address the self-esteem and sexual health needs of these men and their female and male partners.

Equally alarming is the finding, also consistent throughout the MENA region,⁹ that a high percentage of MSM reported having received money or goods for sex in the past 6 months. The majority of MSM reported being either unemployed or students, indicating that selling sex is a means to generate extra income. The finding that most men in both cities self identified as bisexual and around half who reported selling sex also had a female partner in the last 6 months may serve as a justification or coping mechanism for engaging in sex with men (eg, ‘I have sex with men only for money, so I am not homosexual, this is a commercial transaction’).

Given that male-to-male sex is criminalised and stigmatised, it is possible that we missed some isolated networks. For instance, the samples may have under-represented older, employed and/or extremely hidden MSM who may have been more reluctant to participate due to stigma, fear of being recognised or just not having the time. However, sample convergence was attained for all variables analysed here and the sample size was in excess of that calculated (equivalent to a design effect of almost 3) indicating ample statistical power for our analyses. In addition, the survey was conducted at an non-governmental organization that was known by respondents to provide HIV and other services and socially desirable responses may have been more prevalent than if the study were conducted in an objective setting. These findings illustrate the need to support enhanced packages for prevention, care and treatment of HIV infection provided in settings that are easily accessed by and comfortable to MSM. The current criminalisation and discrimination of MSM in Morocco underscores the urgent need for long-term and sustainable risk reduction through legal reforms and promotion and protection of human rights. Future rounds of biobehavioural surveys (as well as baseline surveys in other affected cities in Morocco), using the same sampling method, are needed to monitor HIV trends and assess progress.

Key messages.

• The findings that 3% of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Marrakesh and 6% in Agadir are HIV positive, coupled with MSM having multiple male anal sex partner types and inconsistent condom use, demonstrates an urgent need to scale up services targeting this population.

• MSM are having unprotected sex with women, indicating further potential spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to the wider population.

• MSM reported receiving money or goods for sex which may be a means of earning extra income and/or avoiding being ‘homosexual’ or ‘gay’.

• High criminalisation and discrimination of MSM in Morocco, underscores the urgent need for long-term and sustainable risk reduction through legal reforms and promotion and protection of human rights.