HIV infection prevalence and risk behavior among key population groups in Moscow and St. Petersburg: results of an integrated biobehavioral study
Objective. Assessment of HIV prevalence and risk behaviors associated with HIV infection among key populations—injected drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), and men who have sex with men (MSM)—in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in 2023.Ladnaia N.N., Kirzhanova V.V., Ezhova L.V., Bogomyagkova E.S., Melnik I.N., Dugin S.G.
Materials and methods. A total of 2,203 individuals, recruited using the respondent-driven sampling method, completed questionnaires and HIV antibody testing. Data were analyzed using RDS-Analyst software.
Results. The HIV prevalence among IDUs was 27.4% in Moscow and 55.0% in St. Petersburg, among MSM — 31.0 and 17.3%, and among CSWs — 2.3 and 5.4%, respectively. Only 43.8–46.9% of IDUs in Moscow and St. Petersburg reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Among MSM, 62.8 to 66.8% used a condom during their last anal sex with a man. Almost all (99.8–100%) CSWs reported using a condom during their last commercial sex, but only 47.9–52.1% used a condom during their last sexual intercourse with a regular partner. The majority (94.3–95.6%) of IDUs reported using a sterile needle and syringe the last time they injected drugs, but 3.2–19.3% used other non-sterile equipment, and 12.6–13.7% injected drugs with a pre-filled syringe. 32.8–52.4% of MSM and 17.2–33.2% of CSWs reported ever using drugs for non-medical purposes. Chemsex practices are actively spreading among MSM, with one in ten MSM (9.9–10.9%) having practiced it.
Conclusion. High HIV prevalence among key populations and the prevalence of risky behaviors are confirmed, indicating the need to expand prevention programs.
Keywords
HIV infection
injecting drug users
comercial sex workers
men who have sex with men
epidemiological surveillance
Russian Federation
References
1. AIDS, crisis and the power to transform: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025. UNAIDS, Geneva, 2025. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/ documents/2025/2025-global-aids-update
2. Ладная Н.Н., Покровский В.В., Соколова Е.В., Чекрыжова Д.Г., Киржанова В.В. Распространение инфекции, вызываемой вирусом иммунного дефицита человека, на территориях Российской Федерации в 2021 г. Эпидемиол. инфекц. болезни. Актуал. вопр. 2022; 12(3): 12–18. [Ladnaia N.N., Pokrovsky V.V., Sokolova E.V., Chekryzhova D.G., Kirzhanova V.V. Prevalence of human immune deficiency virus infection in the territories of the Russian Federation in 2021. Epidemiоlоgy and infectious diseases. Сurrent items 2022; 12(3): 12–18. (In Russ.)]. DOI: 10.18565/epidem.2022.12.3.12-8
3. Плавинский С.Л., Ладная Н.Н., Баринова А.Н., Зайцева Е.Е. Распространенность ВИЧ-инфекции и рискованного поведения среди уязвимых групп населения в 7 регионах Российской Федерации. Результаты биоповеденческого исследования 2017 г. М., 2018. 136 с. [Plavinskiy S.L., Ladnaia N.N., Zaytseva E.E., Barinova A.N. Prevalence of HIV infection and risky behavior among vulnerable groups in 7 regions of Russian Federation Results of bio-behavioral study 2017. Moscow, 2018. 138 р. (In Russ.)].
4. Плавинский С.Л., Ладная Н.Н., Зайцева Е.Е., Баринова А.Н. Пораженность ВИЧ-инфекцией среди уязвимых групп населения в России – результаты интегрированного биоповеденческого исследования в 2017 г. Журнал микробиологии, эпидемиологии и иммунобиологии 2018; (6): 10–18. [Plavinskiy S.L., Ladnaya N.N., Zaytseva E.E., Barinova A.N. Prevalence of HIV infection among vulnerable groups in Russia – results of the integrated bio-behavioral study in 2017. Journal of microbiology, epidemiology and immunobiology 2018; (6): 10–18 (In Russ.)]. DOI: 10.36233/0372-9311-2018-6-10-18
5. Ладная Н.Н., Покровский В.В. Эпидемическая ситуация по инфекции, вызываемой ВИЧ, в России в 2024 г. Эпидемиол. инфекц. болезни. Актуал. вопр. 2025; 15(3): 13–18. [Ladnaia N.N., Pokrovsky V.V. The epidemic situation of HIV infection in Russia in 2024. Epidemiоlоgy and infectious diseases. Сurrent items 2025; 15(3): 13–18. (In Russ.)]. DOI: 10.18565/epidem.2025.15.3.13-18
6. Heckathorn D.D. Respondent-Driven Sampling: A New Approach to the Study of Hidden Populations. Social Problems 1997; 44(2): 174-199. DOI: 10.2307/3096941
7. Spreen M., Zwaagstra R. Personal network sampling, outdegree analysis and multilevel analysis: Introducing the network concept in studies of hidden population. Int. Sociol. 1994; (9): 475–491. DOI: 10.1177/026858094009004006
8. Malekinejad M., Johnston L.G., Kendall C., Kerr L.R.F.S., Rifkin M.R., Rutherford G. Using Respondent-Driven Sampling Methodology for HIV Biological and Behavioral Surveillance in International Settings: A Systematic Review. AIDS Behav. 2008; 12(S1): 105–130. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9421-1
9. Stuart D. A chemsex crucible: the context and the controversy. J. Fam. Plann. Reprod. Health Care 2016; 42(4): 295–296. DOI: 10.1136/jfprhc-2016-101603
About the Authors
Natalia N. Ladnaia, Cand. Biol. Sci., Senior Researcher, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; n.ladnaya@hiv-russia.ru; htpp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2994-151XValentina V. Kirzhanova, MD, Leading Researcher, Department of Organization of Preventive Care in Narcology, National Scientific Center for Narcology – Branch of the V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology, Ministry of Health of the Russia, Moscow, Russia; Kirzhanova.V@serbsky.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-1409
Lyubov V. Ezhova, Sociologist, St. Petersburg Charitable Foundation «Humanitarian Action», Saint Petersburg, Russia; lve17may@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2189-9244
Elena S. Bogomyagkova, Cand. Sociol. Sci., Associate Professor, Department of Theory and History of Sociology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia; e.bogomyagkova@spbu.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6514-2881
Ilya N. Melnik, Cand. Sociol. Sci., General Director, Social Information Agency, Saint Petersburg, Russia; ilmelnik@yandex.ru; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6609-7663
Sergey G. Dugin, General Director, Saint Petersburg Charitable Foundation «Humanitarian Action», Saint Petersburg, Russia; sergey@haf-spb.org; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6150-2771
Similar Articles
