‘Barebacking’ in a diverse sample of men who have sex with men

Abstract

New approaches are needed to reduce bareback behavior and the risk of HIV transmission, including innovative health-promoting behavioral and biomedical interventions.

Predictors of Identifying as a Barebacker among High-Risk New England HIV Seronegative Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…Together, these findings suggests that some MSM may be employing strategic positioning (i.e., unprotected insertive rather than receptive anal intercourse) to reduce their perceived risk of HIV/STI acquisition and is consistent with previous work documenting the practice as a harm-reduction strategy among MSM who practice unprotected sex. [3][4][5][6] It has been suggested that, for some gay men, condomless sex may be a manifestation of a need to assert the transgressional aspect of their non-mainstream sexuality. 23 Placing transgression or resistance at the core of understanding barebacker identity-where identifying against norms constitutes a type of power over normative structures-is consistent with the cultural and historical emergence of gay male identity which rose in opposition to mainstream heterosexuality during the gay liberation movement.…”

“…Studies with samples of mixed HIV-infected and uninfected MSM have found high rates of intentional unprotected anal intercourse, ranging from 14% to 46%. [2][3][4][5][6] Previous research has also shown HIVinfected MSM to be significantly more likely than HIV-uninfected MSM to report barebacking behavior. 5,6 In studies exclusively of HIV-infected MSM, the frequency of barebacking has been shown to be as high as 84%.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] Previous research has also shown HIVinfected MSM to be significantly more likely than HIV-uninfected MSM to report barebacking behavior. 5,6 In studies exclusively of HIV-infected MSM, the frequency of barebacking has been shown to be as high as 84%. 7,8 Among mixed serostatus samples, barebackers have been found to be more likely to use the Internet to meet sexual partners 2 and spent significantly more time on the Internet looking for sexual partners 3,4 ; reported significantly higher peer norms accepting unprotected sex 2 ; were more likely to use alcohol in sexual contexts 2 ; and were more likely to have reported engaging in both unprotected insertive and receptive anal sex.…”

“…2 Studies have also found evidence of strategic positioning (i.e., engaging in insertive rather than receptive sex) and serosorting (i.e., engaging in sex with individuals of the same known HIV serostatus) among MSM who report barebacking behavior. [3][4][5][6] Some researchers point to these findings as evidence of complex, harm-reduction decision-making informed by scientific evidence about the dynamics of HIV transmission and sexual risk among MSM. [9][10][11] However, focusing on barebacking behavior does not necessarily provide insight into barebacking as an identity.…”

Hot Topic: [Developing Innovative HIV Risk Reduction Interventions for Methamphetamine-Using Men who have Sex with Men not in Substance Abuse Treatment Settings (Guest Editor: Gordon Mansergh)]

“…Behavioral HIV prevention may be particularly challenging for substance-using MSM due to competing physical and emotional needs [17], as well as direct and indirect effects of methamphetamine use. Prior studies have reported on a successful intensive drug treatment model for methamphetamine users to reduce drug use and related harms [18].…”