Comprehensive clinical care on-site in men-only saunas: confidential STI/HIV screening outreach clinic

Abstract

During 2001 and 2002 an anonymous outreach-screening programme in Melbourne, Australia, offered testing for gonorrhoea and chlamydia on-site at men-only saunas. Modifications were made to this screening programme to offer a comprehensive testing clinic for sexually transmissible infections (STIs), including HIV. The comprehensive clinic was evaluated after one year of operation, and comparisons were made with the earlier anonymous screening programme. The comprehensive outreach clinic made contact with fewer men (n = 557), however, men tested had a higher prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydia (17%), and all men tested positive for STIs/HIV were followed up. The findings and comparisons outlined in this paper may be used for different communities to decide what screening programme model best suits their individual situation: anonymous programme with fewer tests offered, confidential and comprehensive STI/HIV testing programme, or both. On the basis of our evaluation, we have opted to continue the comprehensive STI/HIV testing programme in local men-only saunas.

Sexual Risk Behavior and Venues for Meeting Sex Partners: An Intercept Survey of Gay and Bisexual Men in LA and NYC

“…Many researchers have agreed that sexual health education and HIV prevention initiatives within venues such as bathhouses and bars/clubs are not only feasible, but also effective (Binson et al, , 2005Blank et al, 2005;Lister et al, 2005;Parsons, 2005;Taylor et al, 2004;Woods et al, 2001). Meanwhile, there is a growing body of research suggesting the same of the Internet (Bolding et al, 2004;Chiasson et al, 2006;Liau et al, 2006).…”

Setting the Scene: Locations for Meeting Sex Partners Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in Vientiane, Laos, and Opportunities for Health Promotion

“…Delivering sexual health promotion in hospitality and sex-on-premises type settings can provide information and condoms in a timely fashion (provided just prior to sex being initiated) and with broad reach, with the ability to reach high numbers and diverse individuals at risk. Internationally, bars, clubs, saunas, and sex-on-premises venues have been used to host a variety of HIV prevention initiatives targeting men who have sex with men (Blank et al, 2005;Daskalakis et al, 2009;French et al, 2000;Kalichman, 2010;Kelly et al, 1997;Lister et al, 2005;Taylor et al, 2005;Woods et al, 2001Woods et al, , 2010. However, evaluated interventions of venue-based prevention initiatives largely originate from the U.S., and it is not clear how they will generalize to other settings and communities, particularly in places such as Laos where non-Western typologies of same-sex attraction and behavior prevail (Lyttleton, 2008;Sheridan et al, 2009).…”

“…Informed by information on where gay men meet sexual partners, successful sexual health promotion and education services have been undertaken internationally in bathhouses, commercial sex venues (Daskalakis et al, 2009;French, Power, & Mitchell, 2000;Lister et al, 2005;Taylor et al, 2005;Woods, Binson, Mayne, Gore, & Rebchook, 2001;Woods, Euren, Pollack, & Binson, 2010), and bars and clubs (Blank, Gallagher, Washburn, & Rogers, 2005;Kalichman, 2010;Kelly et al, 1997) incorporating condom distribution, health and prevention education, onsite HIV and STI testing, and peer-led initiatives.…”

Building stakeholder partnerships for an on‐site HIV testing programme

“…Although studies in various sex environments in various parts of the world have identified the value of HIV prevention in these locations (Bolton et al, 1992;Tewksbury, 2002;Haubrich et al, 2004;Lister et al, 2005;Ko et al, 2006), it is important to remember that cultural differences should be considered when planning a VCT programme (Flowers et al, 2000). Attitudes toward VCT vary across regions, countries and continents, as does the access to and availability of medical care; these factors will greatly influence the acceptability and appropriateness of a VCT programme in a club.…”

“…A number of studies confirm the value and feasibility of establishing VCT at clubs (Ritchey and Leff, 1975;Henderson, 1977;Judson et al, 1977;Merino and Richards, 1977;Ostrow and Shaskey, 1977;Merino et al, 1979;Lister et al, 2005;Huebner et al, 2006). Of course, club management is not comprised of HIV prevention experts and so the services are always provided by outside providers.…”