Table 1 Characteristics of the participants.
Variables | Numbers (n = 842) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
Socio-demographic factors | ||
Age | ||
Mean ± SD | 27.6 ± 7.1 | |
Less than 25 | 309 | 36.7 |
25 and above | 533 | 63.3 |
Educational level | ||
Less than high school/Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL) | 455 | 54.1 |
High school/PCL and above | 387 | 45.9 |
Sexual orientation | ||
Gay | 326 | 38.7 |
Bisexual | 256 | 30.4 |
Others | 260 | 30.9 |
Ethnicity | ||
Dalit | 79 | 9.4 |
Janajati | 349 | 41.5 |
Madhesi | 153 | 18.2 |
Brahmin/Chhetri | 251 | 29.8 |
Others | 10 | 1.2 |
Relationship status | ||
In a relationship | 310 | 36.8 |
Single | 532 | 63.2 |
Psychological and related behaviors | ||
Depressive symptoms | ||
Yes | 188 | 22.3 |
No | 654 | 77.7 |
Seen mental health providers in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 251 | 29.8 |
No, but I needed | 294 | 34.9 |
No, because I didn’t need | 297 | 35.3 |
Social support | ||
Poor | 542 | 64.4 |
Moderate | 252 | 29.9 |
Strong | 48 | 5.7 |
Sexual and health-related behaviors | ||
Ever tested HIV | ||
Yes | 688 | 81.7 |
No | 154 | 18.3 |
Tested HIV in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 588 | 69.8 |
No | 254 | 30.2 |
Current HIV status (n = 688) | ||
Positive | 85 | 12.3 |
Negative | 568 | 82.6 |
Don’t know | 35 | 5.1 |
Anal sex in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 611 | 72.6 |
No | 231 | 27.4 |
Condomless sex in the last 12 months (n = 611) | ||
Yes | 356 | 58.3 |
No | 255 | 41.7 |
Multiple sexual partners in the last 12 months (n = 611) | ||
Yes | 556 | 91.0 |
No | 55 | 9.0 |
Involvement in party or group sex in the last 12 months (n = 611) | ||
Yes | 331 | 54.2 |
No | 280 | 45.8 |
Engagement in sex work in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 248 | 29.5 |
No | 594 | 70.5 |
Smoking in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 143 | 17.0 |
No | 699 | 83.0 |
Smartphone use and internet access | ||
Smartphone use | ||
Yes | 642 | 76.3 |
No | 200 | 23.7 |
Daily internet access | ||
Yes | 645 | 76.6 |
No | 197 | 23.4 |
Chemsex practices | ||
Ever engaged in chemsex | ||
Yes | 208 | 24.7 |
No | 634 | 75.3 |
Chemsex Involvement in the last 12 months | ||
Yes | 161 | 19.1 |
No | 681 | 80.9 |
