Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2065 - Men and Sex | ||||
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Session: 31.3: Men and Sex (Oral Poster discussion) on Thursday @ 13.30-14.30 in Poster room 2 Chaired by Dana Rosenfeld, Jack Tocco Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Rob Stephension - University of Michigan, United States |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men account for a disproportionate amount of new HIV infections in the United States. In order to understand this, previous studies have demonstrated that gay self-identification, internalized homonegativity, and outness can influence a man’s sexual risk-taking behaviors and uptake of HIV prevention interventions. However, little is known about the extent to which gay and bisexual men make sexual decisions based on perceptions of their partner’s gay identity and the level of HIV risk they attribute to this identity. | ||||
| Method / Issue: In this qualitative, 10-week, longitudinal study with self-identified gay and bisexual men, we use relationship timelines to examine how a perception of a partner’s gay identity or outness influences perceptions of HIV risk and decisions about condom use. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Participants discussed a reduced HIV risk perception for partners who were not gay-identified or not out based on the belief that they were not having sex with other men. In some cases, participants discussed how this could lead to decisions of non-condom use. Despite this belief, participants also identified ways in which these partners were actually at higher risk for HIV, including reduced exposure to HIV prevention interventions, reduced HIV testing, and increased substance use during intercourse. | ||||
| Discussion: These findings indicate a discrepancy between how gay and bisexual men perceive HIV risk and the actual factors that influence HIV risk. Participants reported basing risk perceptions on the perceived identity of partners, and often made sexual risk decisions based on characteristics associated with perceived identity. HIV prevention efforts should address this misconception through prevention messages that consider how men make sexual decisions based on identity. | ||||
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