Socio-sexual behaviour of hijras of Lahore.

OBJECTIVE To assess risk behaviours including number and type of sex partners, condom use, knowledge of STIs and HIV/AIDS among hijras (eunuch) of Lahore. METHODS Two hundred hijras were recruited through Respondent Driven Sampling and interviewed by a team of experienced interviewers. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 29.2 +/- 6.3 years (Range 18-55). More than two third (68.5%) were illiterate; 23% were married. Among married, 89% were married to women and had 1 to 7 children. Sixty percent had taken some hard drug (Cocaine, Heroin, Morphine and Amphetamine) during the last 12 months and 3% had injected drugs. Eight percent had sex with a woman during the last year. During the last one week, 82% respondents had 1-21 new clients and 69.5% never used condom; 21.5% had oral sex with new clients. During the same period, 72% respondents had 1-12 regular clients and 71.5% of them never used condom while 7% respondents had 1-5 non-paying partners. During the last one month, five hijras had paid women to have vaginal sex. Nineteen hijras paid another man to have sex with them. Only 27.1% were not aware of any symptom of sexually transmitted Infections. Majority of the hijras (81.5%) were familiar with HIV/AIDS. However knowledge about its mode of transmission was faulty. CONCLUSION Due to low level of accurate knowledge regarding STI/HIV and pernicious risk behaviours, hijras may become a potent source of HIV transmission, if necessary remedial measures are not taken.