Sex-on-Premise Venues, Associated Risk Behaviors, and Attitudes toward Venue-Based HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Lima, Perú

Abstract Background: In Perú, HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite widespread access to treatment, the rate of new HIV infections has not slowed over the last decade. Low knowledge of HIV status is a key factor underlying the high HIV incidence observed in this setting – creating conditions for efficient onward transmission in the population. Improving access to HIV testing and prevention services for those at highest risk is an important public health priority. Sex-on-premise venues (SOPVs) – saunas, sex clubs, pornographic movie theaters, hourly hotels, and bars/discos with areas where sex is permitted – may be opportune sites for outreach; however, further research on SOPVs and the populations who frequent them is needed to inform such efforts. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of adult MSM in Lima, Perú to evaluate patterns of SOPV attendance, associated sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes toward SOPV-based interventions. Participants were recruited through outreach to social media networks affiliated with local LGBTQ-aligned community groups. Our primary analytic objective was to estimate the association of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors and SOPV attendance. Additionally, we performed exploratory analyses to describe risk behavior stratified by SOPV category and to examine the relationship between SOPV attendance and the use of online platforms to meet sex partners.Results: Overall, 389 MSM completed the survey from November 2018 through May 2019, of whom 68% reported attending an SOPV in the last three months. SOPV attendance was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviors, including transactional sex, group sex, sex while intoxicated, and higher number of total partners. Over two thirds of SOPV attendees indicated they would accept HIV testing if offered at SOPVs. Conclusions: SOPV attendance was common among MSM in Lima who participated in our survey, and SOPV attendees reported significantly greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors related to HIV transmission. Attitudes toward hypothetical SOPV-based interventions were generally favorable. These findings suggest that outreach at SOPVs may be an effective mechanism for reaching a particularly high-risk sub-population of MSM in Perú to deliver targeted HIV testing and prevention interventions.

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Sex-on-Premise Venues, Associated Risk Behaviors, and Attitudes toward Venue-Based HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Lima, Perú

10.21203/rs.2.18416/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander Lankowski ◽

Hugo Sánchez ◽

José Hidalgo ◽

Robinson Cabello ◽

Ann Duerr

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviors ◽

Hiv Infections ◽

High Rate ◽

Access To Treatment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract Background. In Perú, HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite widespread access to treatment, the high rate of new HIV infections has remained unchanged over the last decade. Low knowledge of HIV status associated with late diagnosis is a key factor underlying the high HIV incidence observed in this setting, creating conditions for efficient onward transmission. Improving access to HIV testing and prevention services for those at highest risk is an important public health priority. Sex-on-premise venues (SOPVs) – saunas, sex clubs, pornographic movie theaters, hourly hotels, and bars/discos with areas where sex is permitted – may be opportune sites for outreach; however, further research on SOPVs and the populations who frequent them is needed to inform such efforts. Methods . We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of adult MSM in Lima, Perú to evaluate patterns of SOPV attendance, associated sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes toward SOPV-based interventions. Participants were recruited through outreach to social media networks affiliated with local LGBTQ-aligned community groups. Our primary analytic objective was to estimate the association of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors and SOPV attendance. Additionally, we performed exploratory analyses to describe risk behavior stratified by SOPV category and to examine the relationship between SOPV attendance and the use of online platforms to meet sex partners. Results. Overall, 389 MSM completed the survey from November 2018 through May 2019, of whom 68% reported attending an SOPV in the last three months. SOPV attendance was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviors, including transactional sex, group sex, substance use around the time of sex, and higher number of partners. Over two thirds of SOPV attendees indicated they would accept HIV testing if offered at SOPVs. Conclusions. SOPV attendance was common among MSM in Lima who participated in our survey, and SOPV attendees reported significantly greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors related to HIV transmission. Attitudes toward hypothetical SOPV-based interventions were generally favorable. These findings suggest that outreach at SOPVs may be an effective mechanism for reaching a particularly high-risk sub-population of MSM in Perú to deliver targeted HIV testing and prevention interventions.

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1253. Sex-on-Premise Venue (SOPV) Attendance Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Lima, Perú: Results From a Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S450-S451

Author(s):

Alexander Lankowski ◽

Hugo Sanchez ◽

Jose Hidalgo ◽

Robinson Cabello ◽

Ann Duerr

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviors ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Prevention Interventions ◽

Sex With Men

Abstract Background In Perú, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), incidence has not changed appreciably over the last decade despite the rapid scale-up of free antiretroviral treatment (ART). New strategies for delivering effective HIV testing and prevention services to at-risk populations are greatly needed. Because most adult MSM in Perú live at home with family where it may be difficult to bring new sex partners, sex-on-premise venues (SOPVs)—such as saunas, sex clubs, and hourly hotels—might represent opportune sites at which to offer targeted HIV testing and prevention interventions. Methods From November 26, 2018 through April 15, 2019 we conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey using REDCap to assess the prevalence of SOPV attendance and associated sexual risk behaviors among MSM in Lima, Perú. SOPVs were defined as saunas, sex clubs, adult movie theaters, hotels, or bars/discos known to permit sex. We recruited participants by disseminating an anonymous survey link through local gay social media networks, with no monetary incentive to complete the survey. We asked participants how/where they met any sex partners from the prior 3 months, where they went for sex, and about HIV-associated sexual risk factors, including self-reported HIV status. We used the Pearson chi-squared test and Student’s t-test to assess whether the frequency of sexual risk behaviors differed based on SOPV attendance. Results Among n = 324 cis-gender MSM completing the survey, 16% identified as bisexual. Median age was 30 years, 62% lived at home with family, 50% had a university education or higher, and 29% reported being HIV+. 65% of respondents reported attending an SOPV to meet a partner and/or have sex in the prior 3 months. SOPV attendees were significantly more likely to report transactional sex, group sex, sex under the influence of alcohol, popper use, and have a higher number of sex partners (table). Conclusion SOPV attendance is common among MSM in Lima and associated with higher levels of several sexual behavioral risk factors. In light of this, SOPVs warrant further consideration as potential sites of outreach to offer HIV testing and prevention interventions designed to reach MSM at high risk for HIV infection. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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Factors associated with sexual risk behaviors with non-steady partners and lack of recent HIV testing among German men who have sex with men in steady relationships: results from a cross-sectional internet survey

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-015-1987-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sarah C. Kramer ◽

Jochen Drewes ◽

Martin Kruspe ◽

Ulrich Marcus

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviors ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sex With Men

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Immigrant Generational Differences in Social Support and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Seattle, Washington

AIDS Education and Prevention ◽

10.1521/aeap.2020.32.4.282 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 282-295

Author(s):

Jane Lee ◽

Susan Cassels

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Generational Differences ◽

Second Generation ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviors ◽

Generational Status ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Sex With Men

Different immigrant generations may encounter distinct sexual opportunities with implications for HIV transmission. Yet, few studies have examined how immigrant generational status is associated with sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM). We explored relationships between immigrant generational status, social support, and sexual risk behaviors among English-speaking MSM using data from surveys conducted in Seattle, Washington, in 2014 (n = 323). We compared the sexual risk behaviors and social support of first-generation, second-generation, and third- and higher-generation MSM, and examined whether immigrant generational status and social support were associated with sexual risk behaviors using logistic regression models. Second-generation MSM reported lower friend social support than first- or third- and higher-generation MSM (p < .05). However, immigrant generational status was not associated with sexual risk behavior outcomes, even after accounting for social support. Results suggest that differences in immigration processes such as acculturation may be more predictive of risk behaviors than generational status alone.

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