Partner meeting venue typology and sexual risk behaviors among French men who have sex with men

Abstract

Previous research has given considerable attention to venues where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet their sex partners. However, no previous study examined a vast range of sexual risk behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the types of venues for meeting sexual partners, condomless anal intercourse, engagement in group sex, and HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk among a sample of MSM. Users of a popular geosocial-networking app in Paris were provided an advertisement with text encouraging them to complete an anonymous web-based survey ( n = 580), which included questions about sex-seeking venues, condomless anal intercourse, HIV status and STI history, and sociodemographic characteristics. A log-binomial model was used to assess association between venues (i.e. public venues [gay clubs, bars, and discos], cruising venues [such as gay saunas, beaches, and parks], and internet-based venues [internet chat sites and geosocial-networking apps]), condomless anal intercourse, engagement in group sex, and HIV infection as well as infection with other STIs, after adjustment for sociodemographics. In multivariable models, attending cruising venues was associated with condomless receptive anal intercourse (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20-1.81), any kind of condomless anal intercourse (aRR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.14-1.58), an STI (aRR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.09-2.05), engagement in group sex (aRR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.27-1.59), and multiple partners for both condomless insertive (aRR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.38-2.88), and receptive (aRR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.23-2.36) anal intercourse, STI infection (aRR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09-2.05) and HIV infection (aRR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.05-2.96). No associations were found with other venue types and sexual risk behaviors, STIs, and HIV infection, except for group sex, which was associated with all venue types. Use of cruising where the primary aim is to have sex was found to be associated with risky sexual behavior. Risky behavior reduction strategies such as preexposure prophylaxis campaigns should be targeted to MSM who frequent cruising venues.

Social venues and HIV vulnerability of young venue workers: a cluster analysis of data from a national-level cross-sectional survey of social venues in Uganda

“…First, these venues may influence the probability of meeting partners with certain risk characteristics 5. Second, the situational conditions found at different venues for social interaction may influence the social acceptability of risky behaviours such as excess alcohol use, having sex with a new or casual partner, condom use and anal sex, hence increasing HIV or sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission 1 6 7. A number of studies across different countries have found sexual risk-taking among workers and customers at venues for social interaction 8–11.…”

“…Previous research, both qualitative and quantitative, has given considerable attention to venues where people meet sexual partners. Studies, including some in Africa, have mapped and characterised these venues,4 26–29 while others have examined sexual behaviours and HIV seroprevalence of workers and customers at venues for social interaction 2 6 8 11 12. Relatedly, other studies have assessed availability of HIV preventive interventions at venues for social interaction and provided a case for support for venue-based HIV programmes 2 30–32.…”

Contextualizing condoms: a cross-sectional study mapping intersections of locations of sexual contact, partner type, and substance use as contexts for sexual risk behavior among MSM in Peru

“…Previous studies of sexual venues and other locales frequented by MSM in developed countries suggest socioenvironmental factors are associated with sexual risk-taking, highlighting the particularly high-risk intercourse at commercial sex venues [5–9]. Factors associated with attending sex venues include reporting a high number of male sexual partners, sex while on methamphetamine and/or marijuana, group sex, and CAI with a partner whose HIV status was unknown [5, 10, 11]. While few studies out of lower-middle income countries have addressed correlations between CAI and location where sex occurred, a 2017 study in Tijuana, Mexico found higher levels of CAI were associated with more frequent contacts with sexual partners at public venues in the last 2 months [12].…”