Do We Practice what we Preach? : Prevalence and Correlates of Sexual Activity among Youth involved with NGO-based Peer HIV Prevention in Delhi, India

Background: In India's National AIDS Control Program (NACP, III), the role of NGOs in the country's HIV/AIDS response has catapulted, as has the role of young people therein. Notwithstanding, the sexual risk behaviors of youth affiliated with these NGOs are understudied.

Methods: A diversity sample of fifteen NGOs involved with implementing targeted interventions and/or HIV/AIDS-related advocacy in Delhi, India was recruited in 2007. Within each NGO, quantitative surveys were administered to consenting youth aged 18-25 involved with HIV/AIDS programming (N=145, 46% females). Multivariate logistic regression controlling for socio-demographics, knowledge, stigma, and media exposure determined the prevalence and correlates of sexual activity.

Results: Almost a third of participants reported being sexually active, of which half reported using condoms every time and 10% reported never using condoms. Sexually activity was significantly lower among unmarried youth as compared to married youth (28.2% vs. 61.9%,c2(1): 9.19, p=0.002); condom use was not significantly different across sexually active unmarried and married youth (c2(3): 4.51, p=0.21). Multivariate logistic regression shows that being sexually active was associated with age (OR: 1.45, p=0.001), education (OR: 0.57, p=0.009), knowing a sexually active unmarried person (OR: 2.80, p=0.06) and exposure to HIV messaging on television (OR: 18.2, p=0.001).

Conclusion: Further research is needed to explain why consistent condom use is practiced among only half of sexually active NGO youth, especially the unmarried. Peer norms and television programming affect sexual behavior, suggesting that programmers should be recipients of the very interventions they implement, potentially in the course of training.