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Exploring the Venue’s Role in Risky Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men: An Event-Level Analysis from a National Online Survey in the U.S.

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Abstract

Venue-based characteristics (e.g., alcohol in bars, anonymous chat online, dark/quiet spaces in bathhouses) can impact how men who have sex with men (MSM) negotiate sex and HIV-associated risk behavior. We sought to determine the association between HIV-associated risk factors and the venues where MSM met their most recent new (first-time) male sex partner, using data from a 2004 to 2005 national online anonymous survey of MSM in the U.S. (n = 2,865). Most men (62%) met their partner through the Internet. Among those reporting anal sex during their last encounter (n = 1,550), half had not used a condom. In multivariate modeling, and among men reporting anal sex during their last encounter, venue where partner was met was not significantly associated with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Nevertheless, venue was related to other factors that contextualized men’s sexual encounters. For example, HIV status disclosure was lowest among men who met their most recent partner in a park, outdoors, or other public place and highest among men who met their most recent partner online. Alcohol use prior to/during the last sexual encounter was highest among men who met their most recent partner in a bathhouse or a bar/club/party/event. These data suggest it is possible to reach men online who seek sex in many different venues, thus potentially broadening the impact of prevention messages delivered in virtual environments. Although not associated with UAI, venues are connected to social-behavioral facets of corresponding sexual encounters, and may be important arenas for differential HIV and STI education, treatment, and prevention.

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Acknowledgments

The Viagra, Drug Use and HIV Transmission in Men study was funded by an independent medical grant from Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer had no further role in the production of this article and the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of Pfizer, Inc. Christian Grov was supported, in part, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Sciences training in Drug Abuse Research program sponsored by Public Health Solutions and the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI) with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA-T32 DA07233). NIDA played no role in the production of this article and do not necessarily endorse its findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA

    Christian Grov

  2. Program in Public Health, The Graduate of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Christian Grov

  3. Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), New York, NY, USA

    Christian Grov

  4. Public Health Solutions, New York, NY, USA

    Sabina Hirshfield & Mary Ann Chiasson

  5. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Robert H. Remien

  6. Local Initiatives Support Corporation, New York, NY, USA

    Mike Humberstone

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  1. Christian Grov
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Correspondence to Christian Grov.

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Grov, C., Hirshfield, S., Remien, R.H. et al. Exploring the Venue’s Role in Risky Sexual Behavior Among Gay and Bisexual Men: An Event-Level Analysis from a National Online Survey in the U.S.. Arch Sex Behav 42, 291–302 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9854-x

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