The Relationship Among Population Size, Requests for Bareback Sex, and HIV Serostatus in Men Who Have Sex With Men Using the Internet to Meet Sexual Partners

Bibliographic Data

ID2168295
AuthorsChristopher W Blackwell (0000-0002-4949-940X, University of Central Florida)
Year2010
Volume20
Issue3
Pages349-360
Publication date2010-05-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1091-1359 • E-ISSN: 1540-3556
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10911350903343925
OpenAlexW2151209170
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited24

Recent research has indicated the use of the Internet to meet sexual partners among men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing. This medium also serves as a major source for social and sexual networking among MSM who live in more rural areas. In addition, data suggest the use of the Internet to initiate sexual relationships among this population may increase the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The purpose of this study was to examine differences between self-reported HIV serostatus and requests for condomless bareback (BB) sex among a sample of Florida MSM (n = 483) using a popular Internet sexual networking site to meet sexual partners. Specifically, these variables were assessed in relation to population size among the site's seven geographic regions within the state. Findings indicated an overall statistically significant relationship among requests for BB sex and self-reported HIV serostatus. However, there was not a significant relationship among these variables and geographic region. Thus, although previous data have emphasized the importance of different HIV prevention strategies among rural versus urban MSM, there may not be major differences in HIV serostatus and requests for unsafe sexual practices among these men who use the Internet to meet sexual partners in comparison to MSM in more populated areas

Condom · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Men who have sex with men · Population · Serostatus · Sex partners · Sociology · The Internet · Viral load · World Wide Web · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Computer Science · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Demography · Virology

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