Russian Federation (2006): HIV/AIDS TRaC Study among Men who have Sex with Men First Round

The objective of this study was to gather quantitative information regarding sexuality-related behaviors and determinants among men who have sex with men in Russia, from a wide sample of men. The primary areas of interest were sexual relationships, condom use and related determinants, and health service utilization for HIV and STI testing. The survey was implemented on the internet. This method was chosen on the basis of a review of different methodologies used to reach MSM populations in different countries and on the positive experience with such research conducted among MSM in the United Kingdom by Sigma Research and PSI Romania (further details are provided in the Methodology section, Annex 2). The findings cannot be generalized to all men who have sex with men in Russia due to the obvious self-selection bias of the respondents. Only men who have access to the internet and chose to respond were surveyed. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this method has been used with success elsewhere in gathering important information among MSM. Responses in this survey came from nearly all regions of the Russian Federation (with the largest share from Moscow city and Moscow Oblast); this is the first study of its kind with a sample size of over 3,600 among this population in Russia.