OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine the extent to which HIV-positive gay men in London intentionally seek unprotected anal intercourse ("barebacking") and the contribution this makes to total sexual risk. STUDY DESIGN: In 2002 to 2003, HIV-positive gay men surveyed in an HIV outpatient clinic or on the Internet were asked whether they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom in the previous 12 months. RESULTS: Of 481 men in the clinic, 59 (12.3%) said they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom, 34 (7.1%) only with another HIV-positive man and 25 (5.2%) with a man of unknown or discordant HIV status. Overall, 85 men reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a casual partner of unknown or discordant HIV status; 20 (23.5%) had intentionally looked for UAI with such a partner, whereas the remaining 65 (76.5%) had not. Of 66 men surveyed on the Internet, 32 (48.5%) said they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom. CONCLUSION: Although barebackers made a disproportionate contribution to sexual risk, three-fourths of high-risk sex reported by HIV-positive gay men in London was not intentional. The Internet sample overestimated the prevalence of barebacking among HIV-positive gay men because of sampling bias.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine the extent to which HIV-positive gay men in London intentionally seek unprotected anal intercourse ("barebacking") and the contribution this makes to total sexual risk. STUDY DESIGN: In 2002 to 2003, HIV-positive gay men surveyed in an HIV outpatient clinic or on the Internet were asked whether they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom in the previous 12 months. RESULTS: Of 481 men in the clinic, 59 (12.3%) said they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom, 34 (7.1%) only with another HIV-positive man and 25 (5.2%) with a man of unknown or discordant HIV status. Overall, 85 men reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a casual partner of unknown or discordant HIV status; 20 (23.5%) had intentionally looked for UAI with such a partner, whereas the remaining 65 (76.5%) had not. Of 66 men surveyed on the Internet, 32 (48.5%) said they had intentionally looked for anal sex without a condom. CONCLUSION: Although barebackers made a disproportionate contribution to sexual risk, three-fourths of high-risk sex reported by HIV-positive gay men in London was not intentional. The Internet sample overestimated the prevalence of barebacking among HIV-positive gay men because of sampling bias.
Authors: Chris Beyrer; Stefan D Baral; Frits van Griensven; Steven M Goodreau; Suwat Chariyalertsak; Andrea L Wirtz; Ron Brookmeyer Journal: Lancet Date: 2012-07-20 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Marina Daskalopoulou; Alison J Rodger; Andrew N Phillips; Lorraine Sherr; Jonathan Elford; Jeffrey McDonnell; Simon Edwards; Nicky Perry; Ed Wilkins; Simon Collins; Anne M Johnson; William J Burman; Andrew Speakman; Fiona C Lampe Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2017-07-05 Impact factor: 3.519