HIV prevalence, sexual risk behaviour and sexual mixing patterns among migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Objective: To study (1) HIV prevalence; (2) sexual risk behaviour; (3) sexu al mixing patterns; (4) determinants of disassortative (between-group) mixi ng among migrant groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and to gain insight i nto the potential for heterosexual spread of HIV/sexually transmitted disea ses. Design: Cross-sectional study among 1660 Surinamese, Antilleans and sub-Sah aran Africans, mainly recruited on the streets. Methods: Saliva was tested for HIV and questions were asked about sociodemo graphic characteristics, sexual behaviour and the ethnicity of sexual partn ers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find predictors for disassortative mixing. Results: HIV prevalence was 1.1% (95% confidence interval: 0.6-1.7). Compar ed with the Dutch population in general, our study group reported having mu ltiple partners, concurrent partnerships and a history of sexually transmit ted diseases much more frequently. Sex in the country of origin during a vi sit occurred frequently and there was a considerable degree of sexual mixin g between different ethnic groups in the Netherlands. For men, disassortati ve mixing was associated with hard drug use, recent immigration, a high num ber of partners, being from Nigerian or Hindu-Surinamese origin, a recent s exually transmitted disease and, for steady relationships, consistent condo m use. For women, determinants included: hard drug use, low income, being a -religious and, for Antillean and Ghanaian women, consistent condom use. Conclusion: Our data suggest a potential for heterosexual spread of sexuall y transmitted diseases within and between ethnic groups in the Netherlands. The potential for HIV spread is however limited by the low HIV prevalence at present among these groups. This situation may change when HIV prevalenc e increases in the countries of origin, as bridges exist between those coun tries and the Netherlands. Culturally appropriate AIDS prevention programme s remain important for these groups. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins .