Religion and HIV Risk Among Male Market Vendors in Kazakhstan

• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00929-0
• Publication Date: 2019-10-11T16:03:28Z
• Authors: Stacey A. Shaw; Gaukhar Mergenova; Nabila El-Bassel
• Keywords: Male; Religion; Transients and Migrants; 03 medical and health sciences; Risk-Taking; Unsafe Sex; Sexual Behavior; Humans; HIV Infections; 0305 other medical science; Kazakhstan

This study examines associations between religion and sexual HIV risk among 1342 male migrant and non-migrant market vendors in Kazakhstan. In the multivariate analysis, religious influence was associated with a lower likelihood of having multiple partners. Regular attendance was associated with a lower likelihood of having anal sex with a male partner, but with increased likelihood of having multiple partners. Spending time socially with friends at a mosque or church was associated with lower risk of anal sex with a male partner and lower risk of unprotected sex.