Gregory Phillips1, Christian Grov2, Brian Mustanski1. 1. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, 625N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. 2. Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY), 2900 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 11210, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the group most affected by the HIV epidemic in the United States. At least one-quarter of MSM report engagement in group sex events (GSEs), which can pose a risk for HIV transmission and acquisition. In this study, identification of event-level correlates of sexual and drug use behaviours at GSEs was sought to better inform prevention activities. METHODS: For this study, participants were recruited via banner and pop-up advertisements placed on a geosocial networking mobile phone application that MSM use to meet men. RESULTS: Of the 1997 individuals who completed the study screener, 36.0% reported participating in at least one GSE in the prior year. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, attendance at a GSE in the past year was significantly associated with older age, full/part time employment and being HIV positive. Of the men who attended a GSE, more than half reported condomless anal sex (CAS) with at least one of their partners (insertive: 57.7%; receptive: 56.3%). MSM who indicated drug use had significantly higher odds of having insertive CAS [odds ratio (OR)=2.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37-4.39] and receptive CAS (OR=3.60; 95% CI: 1.96-6.63) at their last GSE. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of HIV-positive MSM engaging in group sex, coupled with their greater odds of CAS, poses a significant risk for HIV/STI transmission within the group sex setting. More research is needed to determine patterns of condom use at these events and whether seroadaptive behaviours are driving CAS.
BACKGROUND:Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the group most affected by the HIV epidemic in the United States. At least one-quarter of MSM report engagement in group sex events (GSEs), which can pose a risk for HIV transmission and acquisition. In this study, identification of event-level correlates of sexual and drug use behaviours at GSEs was sought to better inform prevention activities. METHODS: For this study, participants were recruited via banner and pop-up advertisements placed on a geosocial networking mobile phone application that MSM use to meet men. RESULTS: Of the 1997 individuals who completed the study screener, 36.0% reported participating in at least one GSE in the prior year. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, attendance at a GSE in the past year was significantly associated with older age, full/part time employment and being HIV positive. Of the men who attended a GSE, more than half reported condomless anal sex (CAS) with at least one of their partners (insertive: 57.7%; receptive: 56.3%). MSM who indicated drug use had significantly higher odds of having insertive CAS [odds ratio (OR)=2.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37-4.39] and receptive CAS (OR=3.60; 95% CI: 1.96-6.63) at their last GSE. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of HIV-positive MSM engaging in group sex, coupled with their greater odds of CAS, poses a significant risk for HIV/STI transmission within the group sex setting. More research is needed to determine patterns of condom use at these events and whether seroadaptive behaviours are driving CAS.
Authors: Matthew J Mimiaga; Sari L Reisner; Sean E Bland; Maura A Driscoll; Kevin Cranston; Deborah Isenberg; Rodney VanDerwarker; Kenneth H Mayer Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2011-02
Authors: Samuel R Friedman; Melissa Bolyard; Maria Khan; Carey Maslow; Milagros Sandoval; Pedro Mateu-Gelabert; Beatrice Krauss; Sevgi O Aral Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2008-12-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Gregory Phillips; Manya Magnus; Irene Kuo; Anthony Rawls; James Peterson; Tiffany West-Ojo; Yujiang Jia; Jenevieve Opoku; Alan E Greenberg Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2014-08
Authors: Christian Grov; Drew A Westmoreland; Pedro B Carneiro; Matthew Stief; Caitlin MacCrate; Chloe Mirzayi; David W Pantalone; Viraj V Patel; Denis Nash Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2019-05-16 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Denton Callander; Su Hyun Park; Yazan A Al-Ajlouni; John A Schneider; Maria R Khan; Steven A Safren; Dustin T Duncan Journal: AIDS Educ Prev Date: 2019-04
Authors: Étienne Meunier; Daniel Alohan; Stephen Tellone; Richard Silvera; Alwyn Cohall; Adam Baran; Michael Wakefield; Christian Grov; Celia B Fisher Journal: Qual Health Res Date: 2022-05-18