scholarly journals Involvement in Specific HIV Risk Practices among Men Who Use the Internet to Find Male Partners for Unprotected Sex

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Klein
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Multiple Partner ◽  
Hiv Intervention

Purpose. Men who have sex with other men (MSM) account for more than one-half of all new HIV infections in the USA. This study reports on the prevalence of a variety of HIV risk behaviors in one specific subpopulation of risk-seeking MSM.Methods. The study was based on a national sample of 332 MSM who use the Internet to find partners for unprotected sex. Data collection was conducted via telephone interviews between January 2008 and May 2009.Results. Unprotected oral and anal sex was commonplace among study participants. Men engaged in a large number of other risky behaviors as well, including having had multiple recent sex partners (mean number = 11), simultaneous double-penile penetration of the anus (16%), eating semen out of another man’s anus (17%), engaging in multiple-partner sexual encounters (47%), engaging in anonymous sex (51%), and having sex while “under the influence” (52%).Conclusions. HIV intervention and prevention programs need to address numerous behaviors that place MSM at risk for contracting/transmitting HIV. Merely focusing on unprotected anal sex does a disservice to members of this community, who typically engage in many types of behavioral risks, each of which requires addressing if HIV transmission rates are to be reduced.

scholarly journals HIV risk practices sought by men who have sex with other men, and who use internet websites to identify potential sexual partners

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Klein
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Oral Sex ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Multiple Partner ◽  
Hiv Intervention ◽  
Risk Practices ◽  
The Usa

Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for the largest number of persons diagnosed with AIDS in the USA, with higher than average rates of drug use and unprotected sex being cited as the principal reasons underlying their high rates of HIV infection. Recent evidence has suggested that the use of websites specifically designed to promote unsafe sexual practices may be particularly common among MSM, thereby fostering their risky behaviours. In light of these findings, the present study is based on a content analysis of 1316 ads/profiles posted on one of the most popular MSM websites that specifically fosters unprotected sex. Ads/profiles were selected randomly based on the American ZIP code of residence. Data were collected between September 2006 and January 2007. Rates of advertised for high-risk sexual behaviours were very high, particularly for oral sex involving ejaculation into the mouth (88.0% for receptive oral sex, 77.4% for insertive oral sex), anal sex involving ejaculation into the anus (79.7% for insertive anal sex, 69.4% for receptive anal sex), multiple partner sex (77.9%) and felching (16.5%). A multivariate analysis of the correlates of sexual risk preferences identified seven factors that were related to a propensity towards enhanced sexual risk: younger age (β = 0.12, P = 0.0001), not being African American (β = 0.05, P = 0.0341), self-identification as a sexual ‘bottom’ (β = 0.20, P = 0.0001), not caring about one’s potential sex partners’ HIV serostatus (β = 0.15, P = 0.0001), preferring to have sex while under the influence of drugs (β = 0.08, P = 0.0022), a greater involvement in and commitment to the use of the website to locate potential unprotected sex partners (β = 0.16, P = 0.0001) and not being HIV-negative (β = 0.08, P = 0.0081). The HIV intervention-related implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Understanding gender, sexuality and HIV risk in HEIs: narratives of international post-graduate students

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathabo Khau ◽  
Naydene De Lange ◽  
Logamurthie Athiemoolam
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Post Graduate ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Hiv Intervention ◽  
Memory Work ◽  
And Migration

Thirty years into the HIV&AIDS pandemic, the world is still striving to reduce new HIV infections and halve AIDS related deaths by 2015. However, sub-Saharan Africa still faces the burden of HIV infections as governments and private institutions try out different prevention strategies (UNAIDS 2011). Several scholars have argued that multiple concurrent sexual partnerships (MCSP) pose the greatest risk for new HIV infections. Furthermore, research has also linked MCSPs to mobility and migration. This paper draws from the project ‘Sexual identities and HIV&AIDS: an exploration of international university students’ experiences” which employed memory work, photo-voice, drawings and focus group discussions with ten (5male and 5female) Post Graduate international students at a South African university. Focussing on the data produced through memory work, I present university students’ lived-experience narratives of mobility and migration in relation to how they perceive MCSPs and HIV risk. The findings show how students construct their gendered and sexual identities in a foreign context and how these constructions intersect with their choices of sexual relationships and HIV risk. I argue from the findings that Higher Education Institutions should be treated as high risk ‘spaces of vulnerability’ and hence health support services and HIV intervention programming policies should be geared towards addressing such vulnerabilities in order to create sustainable teaching and learning environments that allow for all students to explore their full capabilities.

scholarly journals HIV prevention strategies and risk of infection: a model-based analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (8) ◽  
pp. 1015-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hahn ◽  
R. Hinz ◽  
T. Meyer ◽  
U. Loderstädt ◽  
O. Herchenröder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Hiv Prevention Strategies ◽  
Hiv Transmission Risk

AbstractRisk populations for HIV infections tend to neglect condom use, making alternative preventive approaches necessary. Accordingly, we modelled the risk of sexual HIV transmission for condom usevs.use of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) systems with subsequent exclusion of potential sexual partners with a correctly or falsely positive test from unprotected sex with and without the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in a bio-statistical approach. We combined a previously described model of transmission risk for HIV-exposed individuals with a newly suggested model of risk of HIV exposure for sexually active HIV-negative individuals. The model was adapted for several stages of infection and different strategies of HIV infection prevention.HIV prevention with RDTs can reduce the transmission risk by up to 97% compared with having sex without any prevention and up to 80% compared with condom use. Nevertheless, RDT-based prevention strategies demonstrate a lack of protection in several stages of infection; in particular, RNA-based RDT systems may fail under treatment. RDT-based pre-screening of potential sex partners prior to unprotected sexual contacts substantially reduces HIV transmission risk. Combination of different prevention strategies is advisable for high-risk groups.

scholarly journals Mental health functioning among men who use the Internet specifically to find partners for unprotected sex

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Klein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Risk Practices

Previous studies have shown a link between mental health functioning and involvement in HIV risk practices. The present research examines how well one specific group of men who have sex with other men (MSM) fare in terms of their mental health functioning, and then focuses on how mental health functioning relates to HIV risk practices in this population. The study was based on a national random sample of 332 MSM who use the Internet to seek men with whom they can engage in unprotected sex. Data collection was conducted via telephone interviews between January 2008 and May 2009. Depression is more common among men in this population than in the adult male population-at-large. All other measures of mental health functioning that were examined (self-esteem, impulsivity, current life satisfaction, optimism about the future) indicated low rates of mental health problem. Contrary to expectations, in nearly all instances, mental health functioning was not related to HIV risk practices. More work needs to be done to understand the causes of depression among these men, and to assess how, if at all, depression relates to risk practices in this population. These findings suggest that factors other than mental health problems must be considered if one wishes to understand HIV risk taking in this population.

scholarly journals Mental health functioning among men who use the Internet specifically to find partners for unprotected sex

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Hugh Klein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Risk Practices

Previous studies have shown a link between mental health functioning and involvement in HIV risk practices. The present research examines how well one specific group of men who have sex with other men (MSM) fare in terms of their mental health functioning, and then focuses on how mental health functioning relates to HIV risk practices in this population. The study was based on a national random sample of 332 MSM who use the Internet to seek men with whom they can engage in unprotected sex. Data collection was conducted via telephone interviews between January 2008 and May 2009. Depression is more common among men in this population than in the adult male population-at-large. All other measures of mental health functioning that were examined (self-esteem, impulsivity, current life satisfaction, optimism about the future) indicated low rates of mental health problem. Contrary to expectations, in nearly all instances, mental health functioning was not related to HIV risk practices. More work needs to be done to understand the causes of depression among these men, and to assess how, if at all, depression relates to risk practices in this population. These findings suggest that factors other than mental health problems must be considered if one wishes to understand HIV risk taking in this population.

scholarly journals Assessment of Technology Use and Technology Preferences for HIV Prevention Among Hispanic Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-203
Author(s):  
Natalia Villegas ◽  
Rosina Cianelli ◽  
Lila de Tantillo ◽  
Melanie Warheit ◽  
Nilda Peragallo Montano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hispanic Women ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Hiv Education ◽  
Hiv Intervention ◽  
Use Of The Internet

Introduction: HIV transmission presents an ongoing risk to Hispanic women, and prevention efforts remain a priority. The use of technology to prevent HIV transmission among Hispanic women and those of lower socioeconomic status underscore the need for effective implementation of technology. The purpose of this study is to describe technology preferences and predictors of the use of the internet for HIV prevention among low-income Hispanic women. Method: A secondary analysis was conducted using baseline data from an intervention to prevent HIV among 320 Hispanic women. The parent study was SEPA, Salud (health), Educación (education), Promoción (promotion), y [and] Autocuidado (self-care). Results: Most participants reported using personal technology, such as smartphones (90.6%), the internet (78.1%), and personal email (67.5%), every day. Most (71.3%) participants were open to learning about HIV education via the internet. In the logistic regression analysis, education and time since the last visit to the health care provider were significant predictors of the use of the internet to learn about HIV prevention, after controlling for age, living with the partner, and years living in the United States. Conclusion: Hispanic women demonstrated high levels of comfort with different forms of technology. These results indicated the potential to expand future HIV intervention efforts by implementing electronic dissemination of bilingual and culturally appropriate information for Hispanic women of diverse ages.

scholarly journals Using a Syndemics Theory Approach to Study HIV Risk Taking in a Population of Men Who Use the Internet to Find Partners for Unprotected Sex

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 466-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Klein
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Theory Approach

This study examines the value of using syndemics theory as a model for understanding HIV risk taking in a population of men who are at great risk for acquiring and/or transmitting HIV. The principal aim is to provide an empirical test of the applicability of the theory to sexual risk behaviors in this particular research population. The study was based on a national random sample of 332 men who have sex with men, or MSM, who use the Internet to seek men with whom they can engage in unprotected sex. Data collection was conducted via telephone interviews between January 2008 and May 2009. As hypothesized in the syndemics theory model, attitudes toward condom use were central to understanding men’s involvement in risky sex. As hypothesized, these attitudes depended on various demographic, psychological/psychosocial functioning, and sex-related preference measures. Also as hypothesized, psychological and psychosocial functioning were found to be very important to the overall model, and as expected, these factors were shaped greatly by factors such as demographic characteristics and childhood maltreatment experiences. The structural equation assessing the fit of the overall model indicated solid support for the syndemics theory approach. Overall, syndemics theory seems to apply fairly well to understanding the complexity of the factors that underlie men’s risk-taking practices. The complicated interplay among factors such as attitudes toward condom use, childhood maltreatment experiences, psychological and psychosocial functioning, and substance use and abuse—all of which are central to a syndemics theory approach to studying risk—was demonstrated.

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