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Crowell TA, Nitayaphan S, Sirisopana N, Wansom T, Kitsiripornchai S, Francisco L, Li Q, Dear N, O'Connell RJ, Pitisuttithum P, Vasan S. Factors associated with testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men and transgender women in Bangkok, Thailand. AIDS Res Ther 2022; 19:25. [PMID: 35729561 PMCID: PMC9210729 DOI: 10.1186/s12981-022-00449-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Routine screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) facilitates early diagnosis and treatment, thereby preventing morbidity and onward transmission. We estimated the prevalence of prior HIV/STI testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Bangkok, Thailand, and identified factors associated with prior testing. Methods Cross-sectional analyses were performed using data collected at enrollment into an HIV incidence cohort. From April to October 2017, MSM and TGW were enrolled if they were aged 18–35 years, reported anal intercourse with a male or TGW partner, and reported behavioral vulnerability to HIV. Participants answered questions about demographics, sexual behaviors, and lifetime HIV/STI testing history. Multivariable robust Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors potentially associated with prior testing. Results Among 1,014 participants, 348 (34.3%) were TGW and the median age was 21.6 (interquartile range 20.0-24.8) years. Prior testing for HIV was reported by 421 (41.5%) and for other STIs by 268 (26.4%). HIV testing was more common among participants aged ≥ 22 years (RR 1.37 [95% CI 1.13–1.67]), with college education as compared to secondary or less (RR 1.37 [95% CI 1.08–1.72]), and who met male sexual partners online (RR 1.52 [95% CI 1.24–1.85]), but lower among participants attracted to both men and women as compared to men only (RR 0.64 [95% CI 0.51–0.81]) and who met male sexual partners in bars (RR 0.83 [95% CI 0.72–0.97]). Similar associations were observed with prior testing for other STIs, including increased testing among participants with college education (RR 1.52 [95% CI 1.11–2.09]) and who met male sexual partners online (RR 1.73 [95% CI 1.30–2.31]), but lower among participants attracted to both men and women (RR 0.70 [95% CI 0.51–0.96]) and who met male sexual partners in bars (RR 0.67 [95% CI 0.54–0.83]). Conclusions Despite behavioral vulnerability, prior testing for HIV and other STIs was uncommon. Online engagement strategies may be effectively reaching Thai MSM and TGW who meet sexual partners online, but new interventions are needed to encourage testing among younger, less educated, and bisexual MSM and TGW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor A Crowell
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA. .,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | | | | | - Tanyaporn Wansom
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand.,Dreamlopments Social Enterprise and Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Leilani Francisco
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Qun Li
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Dear
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert J O'Connell
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Sandhya Vasan
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Severe M, Scheidell JD, Dyer TV, Brewer RA, Negri A, Turpin RE, Young KE, Hucks-Ortiz C, Cleland CM, Mayer KH, Khan MR. Lifetime Burden of Incarceration and Violence, Internalized Homophobia, and HIV/STI Risk Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in the HPTN 061 Study. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:1507-1517. [PMID: 32797357 PMCID: PMC8022355 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-02989-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) have disproportionate HIV/STI acquisition risk. Incarceration may increase exposure to violence and exacerbate psychosocial vulnerabilities, including internalized homophobia, which are associated with HIV/STI acquisition risk. Using data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 061 (N = 1553), we estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between lifetime burden of incarceration and HIV/STI risk outcomes. We measured associations between incarceration and HIV/STI risk outcomes with hypothesized mediators of recent violence victimization and internalized homophobia. Compared to those never incarcerated, those with 3-9 or ≥ 10 incarcerations had approximately 10% higher prevalence of multiple partnerships. Incarceration burden was associated with selling sex (1-2 incarcerations: APR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.14-2.03; 3-9: APR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.35-2.33; ≥ 10: APR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.37-2.51) and buying sex (≥ 10 incarcerations APR: 1.80, 95% CI 1.18-2.75). Compared to never incarcerated, 1-2 incarcerations appeared to be associated with current chlamydia (APR: 1.47, 95% CI 0.98-2.20) and 3-9 incarcerations appeared to be associated with current syphilis (APR: 1.46, 95% CI 0.92-2.30). Incarceration was independently associated with violence, which in turn was a correlate of transactional sex. Longitudinal research is warranted to clarify the role of incarceration in violence and HIV/STI risk in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- MacRegga Severe
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Joy D Scheidell
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Typhanye V Dyer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Alberta Negri
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Rodman E Turpin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kailyn E Young
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | | | - Charles M Cleland
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | | | - Maria R Khan
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 227 East 30th St, #617J, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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3
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Correlates of Casual Sex Amidst Vulnerability to HIV Among ACB Heterosexual Men in Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario Canada. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2021; 9:444-455. [PMID: 33559111 PMCID: PMC7870027 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-021-00975-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Heterosexual exposure is the second highest means of HIV transmission; and African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) men face greater risks. Black men can reduce the disproportionately high HIV prevalence in their communities by changing their socially misconstrued masculine role. We analysed factors predisposing heterosexual ACB men to risky sexual behaviour, particularly multiple casual sex partnerships in Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We employed quantitative datasets from a broader mixed methods study within hierarchical logistic regression model to determine the association between psychosocial factors and casual sex partnerships. The model controlled for city level clustering effect and sociodemographic factors. Precisely 55.0% (n = 52) of men in Windsor and 70.2% (n = 99) in Ottawa had one or more casual sex partners within the past year. Some of them (Windsor, 32.1% [n = 18], and Ottawa, 34.3% [n = 36]) used condom always. HIV knowledge (OR = 0.80, p < 0.01, CI = 0.67/0.95) and pro-Black community attitudes (OR = 0.72, p < 0.05, CI = 0.56/0.94) decreased the odds of casual sex partnerships, while traditional masculinity scores (OR = 1.21, p < 0.05, CI = 1.01/1.46) increased it. The behavioural factors jointly predicted casual sex more than sociodemographic variables and city of residence. We conclude that heterosexual ACB men are predisposed to casual sex partnerships at differing magnitude across cities, and this may constitute a risk factor for HIV exposure. Hence, propagation of HIV knowledge, community attitudes and reconstruction of masculine ideology among ACB men, with due attention to geopolitical differences in city of residence, are recommended.
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Rosengren AL, Menza TW, LeGrand S, Muessig KE, Bauermeister JA, Hightow-Weidman LB. Stigma and Mobile App Use Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men. AIDS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR AIDS EDUCATION 2019; 31:523-537. [PMID: 31815533 PMCID: PMC6938279 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2019.31.6.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Intersectional stigmas are associated with increased HIV vulnerability, and worse outcomes for YBMSM with HIV. YBMSM find sex partners through sexual networking apps, but stigma on apps has been poorly studied. We conducted cross-sectional analysis of 324 YBMSM seeking sex partners through apps to assess stigma experiences in eight dimensions compared to non-users (N = 150). We conducted detailed stratified analyses to identify granular stigma data. App users had higher median scores than non-users in perceived HIV discrimination, perceived HIV stigma, experienced sexual minority stigma, racial discrimination, and perceived homophobia. We demonstrate higher levels of intersectional stigmas among app users than non-users, but did not find an overall increase in stigma with increasing app use. Considering the prominent role of apps in YBMSM sexual networking, interventions that reduce stigma on apps are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lina Rosengren
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Kathryn E Muessig
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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5
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Ragonnet-Cronin M, Hué S, Hodcroft EB, Tostevin A, Dunn D, Fawcett T, Pozniak A, Brown AE, Delpech V, Brown AJL. Non-disclosed men who have sex with men in UK HIV transmission networks: phylogenetic analysis of surveillance data. Lancet HIV 2019; 5:e309-e316. [PMID: 29893244 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(18)30062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients who do not disclose their sexuality, including men who do not disclose same-sex behaviour, are difficult to characterise through traditional epidemiological approaches such as interviews. Using a recently developed method to detect large networks of viral sequences from time-resolved trees, we localised non-disclosed men who have sex with men (MSM) in UK transmission networks, gaining crucial insight into the behaviour of this group. METHODS For this phylogenetic analysis, we obtained HIV pol sequences from the UK HIV Drug Resistance Database (UKRDB), a central repository for resistance tests done as part of routine clinical care throughout the UK. Sequence data are linked to demographic and clinical data held by the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort study and the national HIV/AIDS reporting system database. Initially, we reconstructed maximum likelihood phylogenies from these sequences, then sequences were selected for time-resolved analysis in BEAST if they were clustered with at least one other sequence at a genetic distance of 4·5% or less with support of at least 90%. We used time-resolved phylogenies to create networks by linking together nodes if sequences shared a common ancestor within the previous 5 years. We identified potential non-disclosed MSM (pnMSM), defined as self-reported heterosexual men who clustered only with men. We measured the network position of pnMSM, including betweenness (a measure of connectedness and importance) and assortativity (the propensity for nodes sharing attributes to link). FINDINGS 14 405 individuals were in the network, including 8452 MSM, 1743 heterosexual women and 1341 heterosexual men. 249 pnMSM were identified (18·6% of all clustered heterosexual men) in the network. pnMSM were more likely to be black African (p<0·0001), less likely to be infected with subtype B (p=0·006), and were slightly older (p=0·002) than the MSM they clustered with. Mean betweenness centrality was lower for pnMSM than for MSM (1·31, 95% CI 0·48-2·15 in pnMSM vs 2·24, 0·98-3·51 in MSM; p=0·002), indicating that pnMSM were in peripheral positions in MSM clusters. Assortativity by risk group was higher than expected (0·037 vs -0·037, p=0·01) signifying that pnMSM were linked to each other. We found that self-reported heterosexual men were more likely to link MSM and heterosexual women than heterosexual women were to link MSM and heterosexual men (Fisher's exact test p=0·0004; OR 2·24) but the number of such transmission chains was small (only 54 in total vs 32 in women). INTERPRETATION pnMSM are a subgroup distinct from both MSM and from heterosexual men. They are more likely to choose sexual partners who are also pnMSM and might exhibit lower-risk sexual behaviour than MSM (eg, choosing low-risk partners or consistently using condoms). Heterosexual men are the group most likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease (ie, low CD4 counts) and non-disclosed MSM might put female partners at higher risk than heterosexual men because non-disclosed MSM have male partners. Hence, pnMSM require specific consideration to ensure they are included in public health interventions. FUNDING National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stéphane Hué
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Emma B Hodcroft
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anna Tostevin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Dunn
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tracy Fawcett
- Virology, Old Medical School, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | | | - Andrew J Leigh Brown
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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6
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Frank K. Rethinking Risk, Culture, and Intervention in Collective Sex Environments. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:3-30. [PMID: 29748787 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1153-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This article provides a narrative overview of research on HIV/STI risk and collective sexual behavior based on an inclusive analysis of research on environments where people gather for sexual activity-sex clubs, swingers' clubs, bathhouses, parks, private sex parties, etc. The aim is to analyze how collective sex has been approached across disciplines to promote conversation across paradigms and suggest new lines of inquiry. Attention to context-such as the location of sex-was a necessary redress to universalizing models of sexual risk-taking behavior, leading to insights rooted in the particularities of each environment and its users. However, the identification of ever more precise risk groups or environmental idiosyncrasies eventually becomes theoretically restrictive, leading to an overestimation of the uniqueness of sexual enclaves, and of the difference between any given enclave and the broader social milieu. Using a theoretical framework of transgression to interpret the interdisciplinary literature, similarities in the spatial and social organization of collective sex environments are identified. Insights generated from this complementary perspective are then applied to understandings of collective sex: first, the example of male-female (MF) "swingers" is used to illustrate the need to establish, rather than assume, the distinctiveness of each non-normative sexual enclave, and to broaden the conceptualization of context; second, questions are raised about the practicality of interventions in collective sex environments. Finally, new lines of intellectual inquiry are suggested to shed light not just on collective sex but on sociosexual issues more generally, such as increasing protective sexual health behavior or negotiating consent in sexual encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Frank
- Department of Sociology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89557, USA.
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7
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Tomori C, Srikrishnan AK, Mehta SH, Nimmagadda N, Anand S, Vasudevan CK, Celentano DD, Solomon SS. HIV risks among women who are married to men who have sex with men in India: a qualitative investigation. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2018; 20:873-887. [PMID: 29125041 PMCID: PMC5945330 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1390161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In countries such as India, men who have same-sex partnerships may marry women due to cultural pressures regardless of their sexual desires and preferences. The wives of such men may be at risk for HIV but limited existing research addresses this issue. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to investigate HIV-related risk among married men who have sex with men (n = 34) and women who were aware of their husband's same-sex behaviour (n = 13) from six research sites in five states and a Union Territory in India: Delhi (Delhi), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Hyderabad (Telangana), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai and Madurai (Tamil Nadu). Thematic analysis revealed that wives of men who have sex with men were at risk for HIV from their husbands' sexual practices, which are often hidden to avoid the potential consequences of stigmatisation, as well as from gender-based inequities that make husbands the primary decision-makers about sex and condom use, even when wives are aware of their husband's same-sex behaviour. Innovative interventions are needed to address HIV-related risk in couples where wives remain unaware of their husband's same-sex behaviour, and for wives who are aware but remain within these marriages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Tomori
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Shruti H. Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Santhanam Anand
- YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India
| | | | - David D. Celentano
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sunil S. Solomon
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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8
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Mendieta-Izquierdo G. Percepción de cuerpo y corporalidad en hombres que ejercen prostitución viril en Guadalajara, México. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2018; 23:1541-1549. [DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232018235.18652016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumen El objetivo de este artículo es interpretar la percepción de cuerpo y corporalidad de un grupo de hombres que ejercen la prostitución viril en el centro de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Estudio fenomenológico desde la perspectiva interpretativa de Heidegger, se toma la percepción de cuerpo cómo categoría de análisis, a partir de 20 entrevistas a profundidad en 13 varones en ejercicio de prostitución. La interpretación de cuerpo y corporalidad en los hombres que ejercen la prostitución viril gira en torno a las categorías: a) cuerpo sucio, estigma, b) cuerpo que busca oportunidades, c) cuerpo y corporalidad, atractivo para los clientes, d) lenguaje corporal y contacto inicial y e) el valor asignado al cuerpo, la tarifa. La percepción de cuerpo y corporalidad se enmarca en una fuerte estigmatización social de la actividad, al igual que el reconocimiento de un discurso de masculinidad hegemónica, el cuerpo es eje articulador de su práctica.
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Downing MJ, Brown D, Steen J, Benoit E. Understanding the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Men's Risk Behavior: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2018; 7:e62. [PMID: 29483063 PMCID: PMC5847822 DOI: 10.2196/resprot.9071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) remains a critical public health issue among black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), as it is associated with multiple negative outcomes including substance misuse, poor mental health, revictimization, and high-risk sexual behavior. Most CSA research with MSM relies on quantitative assessment that often precludes consideration of cultural variations in how formative sexual experiences are understood and is based on inconsistent or overly restrictive definitions of abuse, and therefore may fail to detect certain abusive experiences (eg, those involving female perpetrators), which can have harmful health consequences if they remain unrecognized. Objective The objective of this study is to overcome existing limitations in the literature by drawing on perspectives of black and Latino MSM and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), as well as relevant service providers to better understand the role of, and the need to include, sexual abuse histories (eg, CSA) in treatment and counseling settings, with the long-term goal of improving assessment and health outcomes. Methods We will conduct mixed-methods interviews, framed by an intersectionality approach, with 80 black and Latino men (40 MSM and 40 MSMW) in New York City (NYC), exploring appraisals of their formative sexual experiences, including those described as consensual but meeting criteria for CSA. We will also interview 30 local service providers representing substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and HIV prevention and outreach. Results The study was launched in May 2017. Conclusions This formative research will inform testable approaches to assessing and incorporating sexual abuse history into substance abuse treatment and other health and mental health services used by men with such histories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominique Brown
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey Steen
- School of Social Work, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA, United States
| | - Ellen Benoit
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, NY, United States
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10
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Online Sex-Seeking Among Men who have Sex with Men in Nigeria: Implications for Online Intervention. AIDS Behav 2017; 21:3068-3077. [PMID: 27233248 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1437-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The TRUST/RV368 project was undertaken to apply innovative strategies to engage Nigerian MSM into HIV care. In this analysis we evaluate characteristics of online sex-seekers from the TRUST/RV368 cohort of 1370 MSM in Abuja and Lagos. Logistic regression and generalized estimating equation models were used to assess associations with online sex-seeking. Online sex-seeking (n = 843, 61.5 %) was associated with participation in MSM community activities, larger social and sexual networks, and higher levels of sexual behavior stigma. In addition, online sex-seeking was associated with testing positive for HIV at a follow-up visit [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.02, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.37, 2.98)] among those who were unaware of or not living with HIV at baseline. Across visits, online sex-seekers were marginally more likely to test positive for chlamydia/gonorrhea (aOR 1.28, 95 % CI 0.99, 1.64). Online sex-seekers in Nigeria are at increased risk for HIV/STIs but may not be benefiting from Internet-based risk reduction opportunities.
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11
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Downing MJ, Schrimshaw EW, Scheinmann R, Antebi-Gruszka N, Hirshfield S. Sexually Explicit Media Use by Sexual Identity: A Comparative Analysis of Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Men in the United States. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:1763-1776. [PMID: 27709363 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-016-0837-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Advances in production and distribution of sexually explicit media (SEM) online have resulted in widespread use among men. Limited research has compared contexts of use and behaviors viewed in Internet SEM by sexual identity. The current study examined differences in recent SEM use (past 6 months) by sexual identity among an ethnically diverse sample of 821 men who completed an online survey in 2015. Both gay and bisexual men reported significantly more frequent use of Internet SEM compared to heterosexual men. Although most participants reported viewing SEM at home (on a computer, tablet, or smartphone), significantly more gay men reported SEM use at a sex party or commercial sex venue than either heterosexual or bisexual men. Sexual identity predicted viewing of high-risk and protective behaviors in separate logistic regression models. Specifically, compared to heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men had increased odds of viewing condomless anal sex (gay OR 5.20, 95 % CI 3.35-8.09; bisexual OR 3.99, 95 % CI 2.24-7.10) and anal sex with a condom (gay OR 3.93, 95 % CI 2.64-5.83; bisexual OR 4.59, 95 % CI 2.78-7.57). Compared to gay men, heterosexual and bisexual men had increased odds of viewing condomless vaginal sex (heterosexual OR 27.08, 95 % CI 15.25-48.07; bisexual OR 5.59, 95 % CI 3.81-8.21) and vaginal sex with a condom (heterosexual OR 7.90, 95 % CI 5.19-12.03; bisexual OR 4.97, 95 % CI 3.32-7.44). There was also evidence of identity discrepant SEM viewing as 20.7 % of heterosexual-identified men reported viewing male same-sex behavior and 55.0 % of gay-identified men reported viewing heterosexual behavior. Findings suggest the importance of assessing SEM use across media types and contexts and have implications for research to address the potential influence of SEM on sexual behavior (e.g., investigate associations between viewing condomless vaginal sex and engaging in high-risk encounters with female partners).
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Downing
- Public Health Solutions, 40 Worth Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10013, USA.
| | - Eric W Schrimshaw
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberta Scheinmann
- Public Health Solutions, 40 Worth Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | | | - Sabina Hirshfield
- Public Health Solutions, 40 Worth Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10013, USA
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12
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Lemke R, Weber M. That Man Behind the Curtain: Investigating the Sexual Online Dating Behavior of Men Who Have Sex With Men but Hide Their Same-Sex Sexual Attraction in Offline Surroundings. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2017; 64:1561-1582. [PMID: 27754811 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1249735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates how men who have sex with men (MSM) use chat and dating sites based on theories of stigma-related offline behavior and online self-disclosure. We hypothesize that hidden MSM (those who self-label as heterosexual or who hide their same-sex sexual attraction from family, friends, acquaintances, or a female romantic partner) differ from open MSM in how they behave on gay chat and dating sites and in offline gay venues. Drawing on a survey of 12,002 MSM, we show that hidden MSM tend to mask their identity on gay chat and dating sites while avoiding offline gay venues. They also focus more strongly on online sexual activities (e.g., masturbating during online chats) when using gay chat and dating sites. However, they spend the same amount of time on these sites, and they use them to initiate offline sexual encounters as often and as fast as open MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lemke
- a Department of Communication , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Mathias Weber
- a Department of Communication , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
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13
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Kumar N, Minichiello V, Scott J, Harrington T. A Global Overview of Male Escort Websites. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2016; 64:1731-1744. [PMID: 27892846 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1265356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This article details a preliminary dataset of global male escort sites to give insight into the scale of the online market. We conducted a content analysis of 499 Web sites and also measured traffic to these sites. Our analysis examined the structural characteristics of escort services, geographical and regulatory contexts, and resilience of such services. Results suggest that most sites are independent and not affiliated to escort agencies, and the majority cater to male escorts soliciting male clients, with a number of sites for female clientele and couples. These Web sites are dispersed globally, with Asian, European, and South American countries the major hubs in the market and a small number of large multinational sites based in the United States and Europe figuring as a major presence in markets. Although still subject to high levels of regulation in many parts of the world, the data suggest that male escorting is becoming more visible in diverse cultural contexts as measured by the number of Web sites appearing in public spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navin Kumar
- a Department of Sociology , Yale University , New Haven , Connecticut , USA
| | - Victor Minichiello
- b Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health, and Society, School of Justice , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
- c School of Justice , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
| | - John Scott
- c School of Justice , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
| | - Taylor Harrington
- c School of Justice , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
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14
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Roman Isler M, Golin C, Wang J, Hughes J, Justman J, Haley D, Kuo I, Adimora A, Chege W, Hodder S. Venues for Meeting Sex Partners and Partner HIV Risk Characteristics: HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN064) Women's HIV Seroincidence Study (ISIS). AIDS Behav 2016; 20:1208-18. [PMID: 25863466 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1057-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Identifying venues where women meet sexual partners, particular partners who increase women's risk of acquiring HIV, could inform prevention efforts. We categorized venues where women enrolled in HPTN 064 reported meeting their last three sex partners as: (1) Formal, (2) Public, (3) Private, and (4) Virtual spaces. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between these venues and women's individual characteristics and reports of their partners' HIV risk characteristics. The 2099 women reported meeting 3991 partners, 51 % at Public, 30 % Private, 17 % Formal and 3 % at Virtual venues. Women meeting partners at Formal venues reported more education and condom use than women meeting partners at other venues. Fewer partners met through Formal venues had "high" risk characteristics for HIV than through other venues and hence may pose less risk of HIV transmission. HIV prevention interventions can help women choose partners with fewer risk characteristics across all venue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Roman Isler
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7240, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7064, USA.
| | - C Golin
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J Wang
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention (SCHARP), Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Justman
- Department of Epidemiology and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - D Haley
- FHI360, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - I Kuo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - A Adimora
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - W Chege
- Prevention Sciences Program, DAIDS, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - S Hodder
- New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
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15
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Schrimshaw EW, Downing MJ, Cohn DJ, Siegel K. Conceptions of privacy and the non-disclosure of same-sex behaviour by behaviourally-bisexual men in heterosexual relationships. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2014; 16:351-65. [PMID: 24597480 PMCID: PMC4011836 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2014.887779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Little attention has been paid to why some behaviourally-bisexual men (i.e., men who have sex with both men and women) choose not to disclose their same-sex behaviour. Using Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory, we report on the ways these men conceptualise their same-sex behaviour as private, and thus feel justified in not disclosing it to family, friends and female partners. In-depth interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 203 non-disclosing behaviourally-bisexual men in New York City. The men offered a number of privacy rules to justify their non-disclosure, including: (1) their same-sex behaviours were their own business and nobody else's, (2) others had no reason to know, (3) the topic of sexual behaviour was too personal, (4) they were private people in general and (5) it was inappropriate to discuss same-sex behaviour in many contexts. Some privacy rules were used more often to justify non-disclosure to friends and family than to female partners. These findings provide insights into the reasons for non-disclosure among behaviourally-bisexual men, offer support for and extend CPM theory for the management of sexual information and offer insights into the importance of privacy for the design and delivery of health-promotion services for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W. Schrimshaw
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | | | - Daniel J. Cohn
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Karolynn Siegel
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA
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16
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Downing MJ, Schrimshaw EW. Self-Presentation, Desired Partner Characteristics, and Sexual Behavior Preferences in Online Personal Advertisements of Men Seeking Non-Gay-Identified Men. PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER DIVERSITY 2014; 1:30-39. [PMID: 25750927 DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite attention to the sexual behaviors of non-gay-identified (NGI) men who have same-sex encounters, virtually no research has focused on issues of partner desirability and selection. Limited evidence suggests that a subgroup of men who have sex with men (MSM) advertise online for sexual encounters with NGI men. Exchange theory provided a framework to investigate this seeking of NGI men, based on the content of Internet personal advertisements for same-sex encounters. Researchers analyzed 282 ads posted to an online bulletin board. Ads by men who explicitly desired encounters with NGI men were compared with those by men who did not indicate this preference in potential partners. Multivariate analyses revealed that NGI-seeking men had significantly increased odds of identifying as discreet (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.82), seeking a discreet encounter (AOR = 4.68), seeking a masculine partner (AOR = 2.18), being willing to host (AOR = 2.77), as well as seeking oral-receptive sex (AOR = 2.69), unprotected oral sex (AOR = 6.76), and anal-receptive sex (AOR = 2.18). Further, NGI-seeking ads were more likely to not mention condom use or safer sex practices (AOR = 4.13) and were less likely to indicate a desire for oral-insertive sex (AOR = 0.34) and rimming (AOR = 0.21). Findings suggest that some men may deliberately present themselves in ways that they perceive as being attractive to NGI men, and have research implications for NGI MSM, their partners, and the risk outcomes of these online ads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Downing
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 W. 23 St., 4 Floor, New York, NY, 10010, USA. . Ph. 212-845-4410
| | - Eric W Schrimshaw
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
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17
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LaPollo AB, Bond L, Lauby JL. Hypermasculinity and Sexual Risk Among Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men and Women. Am J Mens Health 2013; 8:362-72. [DOI: 10.1177/1557988313512861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), particularly Black MSMW, are at high risk for HIV. However, few studies have focused on factors that influence Black MSMW’s specific HIV risk behaviors, and there are no evidence-based interventions specifically targeting this population. Some studies have suggested that masculine ideals are associated with high-risk sex practices and partners. Norms around masculinity in the social environments in which MSMW live may prohibit nonheterosexual identities and behaviors, may lead to internalized homophobia, and may promote high-risk strategies to seek male partners. Using data collected from 180 Black and 101 White MSMW recruited for a study to develop strategies for recruiting MSMW for research and services and to inform the content of HIV prevention messages, we examined the association between hypermasculinity ideals and sexual behaviors that may contribute to increased HIV risk among Black MSMW and a comparison group of White MSMW. Comparing Black and White MSMW, we explored how this association may differ by race. Multivariate models, controlling for sociodemographic and other covariates, indicate that hypermasculine ideals are associated with increased numbers of male and female partners among Black MSMW and an increased number of female partners among White MSMW. Hypermasculinity is important to address in programs that aim to reduce HIV risk among Black MSMW.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Bond
- Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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18
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Benoit E, Koken JA. Perspectives on substance use and disclosure among behaviorally bisexual black men with female primary partners. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2013; 11:294-317. [PMID: 23216438 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2012.735165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) are believed to be a bridge to HIV infection among heterosexual Black women, and substance use can increase the risk of infection among men. However, empirical evidence on the social context of MSMW's sexual behavior and substance use is needed. This study examines the perspectives of Black MSMW with female primary partners on the role of substance use in their sexual encounters with men and their reasons for disclosing or not disclosing this behavior to their female partners. Findings can inform culturally relevant HIV prevention interventions for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Benoit
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York 10010, USA.
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19
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Schrimshaw EW, Siegel K, Downing MJ. Sexual Risk Behaviors with Female and Male Partners Met in Different Sexual Venues Among Non-Gay-Identified, Non-Disclosing MSMW. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH 2010; 22:167-179. [PMID: 22059106 PMCID: PMC3206637 DOI: 10.1080/19317611003748821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite considerable interest in the sexual behavior of non-disclosing men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), little is known about where they meet their male and female partners and whether their sexual risk behavior differs with partners met in different sexual venues (e.g., bars, Internet, parks). These issues were examined among 46 non-gay-identified MSMW who had not disclosed their same-sex behavior to female partners (i.e., men on the "down low"). The prevalence of unprotected vaginal sex was nearly identical with women met in bars/clubs as with women met through friends, work, or the neighborhood. In contrast, the prevalence of unprotected anal sex was higher with male partners met on the Internet, in bars/clubs, and through friends/work/neighborhood as compared with partners met in parks/restrooms or gyms. This is largely due to MSMW avoiding anal sex in parks, restrooms, and gyms, in favor of oral sex. These findings provide important insights into the role of venues on sexual risk and the locations where risk reduction interventions for MSMW may be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Schrimshaw
- Center for the Psychosocial Study of Health & Illness, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
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