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Abstract
Where gay men meet their casual sex partners: implications for targeting HIV prevention
G J Bolding1, L Sherr1, J Elford2
1Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom; 2City University, London, United Kingdom
Background: Health promotion work that targets gay men at risk of HIV infection through their sexual behaviour needs to identify where to access these men. The current study examined where London gay men meet their casual sex partners and whether particular venues are associated with high risk sexual practices.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 789 gay/bisexual men attending one of seven central London gyms in February 2001 (HIV positive 16%, HIV negative 59%, never tested for HIV 25%) regarding where they met their sexual partners in the previous 3 months and whether they engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour with these men.
Results: More than three-quarters (77.4%) of the men surveyed had met a sexual partner in the previous 3 months. Of these, more than half had met a sexual partner in a bar/club (61%) or sauna (52%). Overall 84% of men said they had met a sexual partner at a bar, club or sauna compared with a quarter who had met a sexual partner in a backroom (29%), through the Internet (26%), at a private party (25%) or an outdoor cruising area (22%). HIV positive men were more likely than HIV negative or never tested men to have met sexual partners in backrooms (32% v 21%, p=0.01) or on the Internet (29% v 18%, p=0.002). A similar pattern was seen among men who reported high-risk sexual behaviour i.e., unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a partner of unknown or discordant HIV status.
Conclusion: HIV prevention initiatives should continue to target bars, clubs and saunas, where most men meet their sexual partners, as well as backrooms, cruising areas and newer risk environments such as the Internet.
The XIV International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
D11186
Suggested Citation
" G J Bolding , , et al.
Where gay men meet their casual sex partners: implications for targeting HIV prevention
.
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The XIV International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
D11186"
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