Online Sex-Seeking Among Men who have Sex with Men in Nigeria: Implications for Online Intervention

Stahlman, Shauna; Nowak, Rebecca G.; Liu, Hongjie; Crowell, Trevor A; Ketende, Sosthenes; Blattner, William A.; Charurat, Manhattan; Baral, Stefan

doi:10.1007/s10461-016-1437-3

Cited by 21 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…We found that men who used social media for sex seeking had higher anticipated HIV stigma. This is consistent with a Nigerian study showing that online sex-seeking was associated with the higher stigma of same-sex behavior (39). A few reasons might explain the connection between anticipated HIV stigma and sex-seeking on social media.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In recent years, community-based organizations have increasingly launched gayfriendly medical service programs, so MSM could disclose their sexuality and concerns regarding HIV more easily when facing a gay-friendly medical provider (48). In response, those medical providers could be a source of social support and would be more likely to offer accurate and targeted HIV knowledge and decrease the fear and stigma towards HIV among MSM (39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Liu

Zhang²,

Pan

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background: Anticipated HIV stigma, i.e., the expectation of adverse experiences from one’s seroconversion, is associated with both negative psychological and behavioral outcomes. We know little about anticipated HIV stigma’s relationship with emerging technologies, such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) and online sex-seeking platforms, that have become popular among populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study examined correlates of anticipated HIV stigma among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: In July 2016, MSM who were ≥ 16 years old and self-reported as HIV negative or unknown were recruited from a gay mobile phone application in China. Information regarding socio-demographics, sexual behaviors, sexual health service utilization, and anticipated HIV stigma were collected. Anticipated HIV stigma (i.e., negative attitude toward future stigmatization of HIV seroconversion by others) was measured as the mean score from a 7-item Likert-scale ranging from 1 (low) to 4 (high). Generalized linear models were conducted to examine the factors associated with the anticipated HIV stigma scores. Results: Overall, 2006 men were recruited. Most men completed high school (1308/2006, 65.2%) and had an annual personal income of ≤ 9200 USD (1431/2006, 71.3%). The mean anticipated HIV stigma score for the participants was 2.98±0.64. Using social media to seek sexual partners was associated with higher anticipated HIV stigma (Adjusted β=0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05 to 0.17, p=0.001). HIV self-testing (Adjusted β=–0.07, 95%CI: -0.13 to -0.01, p=0.02) and having disclosed one’s sexual orientation to a healthcare provider (Adjusted β=-0.16, 95%CI: -0.22 to -0.96, p<0.001) were associated with lower anticipated HIV stigma. Conclusion: Our data suggested that anticipated HIV stigma is still common among Chinese MSM not living with HIV. Tailored anti-HIV stigma campaigns on social media are especially needed, and promotion of HIVST may be a promising approach.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Liu

Zhang²,

Pan

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In recent years, community-based organizations have increasingly launched gayfriendly medical service programs, so MSM could disclose their sexuality and concerns regarding HIV more easily when facing a gay-friendly medical provider (43). In response, those medical providers could be a source of social support and would be more likely to offer accurate and targeted HIV knowledge and decrease the fear and stigma towards HIV among MSM (36).…”

Section: Association Between Anticipated Hiv Stigma and Behavioral Vamentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Liu

Zhang²,

Pan

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Anticipated HIV stigma, i.e., the expectation of adverse experiences from one’s seroconversion, is associated with both negative psychological and behavioral outcomes. We know little about anticipated HIV stigma’s relationship with emerging technologies, such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) and online sex-seeking platforms, that have become popular among populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study examined correlates of anticipated HIV stigma among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: In July 2016, MSM, who were ≥ 16 years old and self-reported as HIV negative or unknown, were recruited from a gay mobile phone application in China. Information regarding socio-demographics, sexual behaviors, sexual health service utilization, and anticipated HIV stigma were collected. Anticipated HIV stigma (i.e., negative attitude toward future stigmatization of HIV seroconversion by others) was measured as the mean score from a 7-item Likert-scale ranging from 1 (low) to 4 (high). Generalized linear models were conducted to examine the factors associated with the anticipated HIV stigma scores. Results: Overall, 2006 men completed the survey. Most men completed high school (1308/2006, 65.2%) and had an annual personal income of ≤ 9200 USD (1431/2006, 71.3%). The mean anticipated HIV stigma score for the participants was 2.98±0.64. Using social media to seek sexual partners was associated with higher anticipated HIV stigma (Adjusted β=0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05 to 0.17, p=0.001). HIV self-testing (Adjusted β=–0.07, 95%CI: -0.13 to -0.01, p=0.02) and having disclosed one’s sexual orientation to a healthcare provider (Adjusted β=-0.16, 95%CI: -0.22 to -0.96, p<0.001) were associated with lower anticipated HIV stigma. Conclusion: Our data suggested that anticipated HIV stigma is still common among Chinese MSM not living with HIV. Tailored anti-HIV stigma campaigns on social media are especially needed, and the promotion of HIVST may be a promising approach.

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“…[17][18][19] In areas where smartphone usage is less prevalent, there are other webbased venues to meet sex partners, such as Facebook groups, Manhunt or Planet Romeo. 20 For MSM in particular, online social networking has made meeting sexual partners during travel increasingly feasible. For example, among MSM attending a gay pride event in Denver, Colorado, 12% of men interviewed sought sexual partners online before travel.…”

Section: Increasing Access To Sex Partners During Travel Through Onlimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is important, because MSM who seek sex partners through online platforms are more likely to report engaging in CAI and having multiple sexual partnerships, as well as being less likely to know the HIV status of these partners, compared with those who meet their partners offline. 7,20,26 A meta-analysis of 11 observational studies found the odds of CAI were higher in online-initiated sexual encounters compared with sexual partnerships conducted offline among MSM, suggesting that online platforms make partner identification for CAI easier. 26 This relationship may be explained by the ease in which sexual partners can be identified, especially for those willing to engage in high-risk sexual behaviours like CAI with a partner of unknown HIV-status or unknown viral load suppression status.…”

Section: Increasing Access To Sex Partners During Travel Through Onlimentioning

confidence: 99%

Global travel and HIV/STI epidemics among MSM: what does the future hold?

2017

Self Cite

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Abstract. Infectious disease epidemics occur within dynamic systems and environments that shape risk and, ultimately, the spread of infectious diseases. Gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV everywhere in the world. Several emerging trends present risks for sustained or increased HIV acquisition and transmission, and the growth of global travel in the context of emerging online platforms for social/sexual networking is discussed here. Four factors associated with travel that could potentiate HIV transmission are highlighted: different patterns of sexual risk behaviours during travel; the growth of online tools to meet sex partners more efficiently; the global heterogeneity of HIV strains; and the potential for diassortative mixing of men from high-and low-HIV prevalence areas. Prevention tools and services must rise to these challenges, and innovative mobile applications and programs have played, and will continue to play, an important role in supporting MSM at risk for or living with HIV during their periods of travel.

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Online Sex-Seeking Among Men who have Sex with Men in Nigeria: Implications for Online Intervention

Cited by 21 publications

References 39 publications

Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anticipated HIV Stigma Among HIV Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Global travel and HIV/STI epidemics among MSM: what does the future hold?

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