Abstract
There has been little evaluation regarding whether men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited in one type of venue differ in behavioral and demographic characteristics from those recruited in others. We surveyed MSM in gay bars/clubs (n = 199), bathhouses (n = 194), and off Craigslist.org (n = 208). Men in bathhouses reported the greatest average number of partners and were less likely to disclose their HIV status. Among men reporting anal sex; those on Craigslist reported the least condom use. Finally, men surveyed in gay bars/clubs were the youngest of the three and the most likely to be single; they also reported the highest levels of attachment to the gay community and the most frequent alcohol use. Our findings demonstrate the need to tailor HIV prevention efforts to the location in which they are targeted, and for researchers to evaluate if participants differ by recruitment source.
Resumen
Se ha evaluado poco si los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) reclutados en distintos lugares difieren en su comportamiento y demografía. Nosotros encuestamos HSH en bares y clubes gay (n = 199), en casas de baño (n = 194) y en Craigslist.org (n = 208). Los hombres encuestados en casas de baño reportaron el promedio más alto de compañeros sexuales, y menor tendencia a revelar su status de VIH. Entre los hombres que reportaron sexo anal, aquellos encuestados en Craigslist.org reportaron el menor uso de condones. Finalmente, los hombres encuestados en bares y clubes gay resultaron ser más jóvenes y con mayor tendencia a ser solteros. También reportaron mayor conexión con la comunidad gay y mayor uso de alcohol. Nuestros resultados demuestran la necesidad de adaptar esfuerzos de prevención de VIH a lugares específicos, y que los investigadores analicen si los participantes difieren, dependiendo de dónde fueron reclutados.
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Acknowledgments
The Sex in the City Study was funded by The City University of New York PSC-CUNY Research Award Program (Award # 60016-39 40, PI: Christian Grov), and research activities were conducted with the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). Thanks to Michael D. Smith, Kevin Robin, Bryant Porter, Julia C. Tomassilli, Michael R. Adams, Jeffrey T. Parsons, Sarit A. Golub, Linda Agyemang, Monica Gonzalez, Tyrel Starks, Michael Botsko, the CHEST Recruitment team, and the many Hunter and Brooklyn College students who assisted on the project. Finally, a special thanks to the MSM Workgroup of the NYC HIV Prevention Planning Group for their feedback in developing measures.
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Grov, C. HIV Risk and Substance Use in Men Who Have Sex with Men Surveyed in Bathhouses, Bars/Clubs, and on Craigslist.org: Venue of Recruitment Matters. AIDS Behav 16, 807–817 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9999-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9999-6