Amsterdam 2015
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #2374 - Generation 2.0 - using the internet in the fight against HIV | ||||
|
Session: 37.1: Generation 2.0 - using the internet in the fight against HIV (Symposium) on Thursday @ 14.30-16.00 in C002 Chaired by Tawanda Makusha, Alastair van Heerden Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Maria Ekstrand - University of California, San Francisco, United States |
||||
| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Indian men who have sex with men (MSM) are often challenging to reach for HIV prevention programs, partly due to the stigma associated with homosexual behavior. This stigma was reinforced by the 2014 decision by the Indian Supreme Court to recriminalize consensual anal sex. The strong cultural norms around heterosexual marriage also contribute to many MSM choosing to get married, which can result in cruising and sex with men being driven underground. Given the stigma of homosexuality, the internet may provide a more private setting for finding sexual partners. The present analyses aim to examine the identities and behaviors of MSM living in the state of Maharashtra. | ||||
| Method / Issue: 449 MSM were recruited through gay websites and NGOs serving MSM and completed an online survey between September 2013 and May 2014. Questions included identity, outedness, HIV-related attitudes, online/offline cruising, and risk behaviors with different types of partners. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The results show that bisexually-identified men in this sample are less likely to be “out” than gay-identified men , with 48% of bi-identified vs 4% of gay-identified men reported being out to “no-one” (p <0.000). Consistent with this finding, bisexually-identified men were also more likely than gay-identified men to present themselves to family and friends as heterosexual (82% vs. 41%, p 0.000), which may be related to the fact they were also more likely to be married (29% vs 3% p<0.000). Both groups were more likely to meet male sex partners online rather than offline (87% vs 38% of gay-identified men vs 93% & 36% for bi-identified men, both p<0.000). The proportion of married men who met sex partners online was even greater (97%) when compared to unmarried men (87%), although this difference was only marginally significant (p<0.09). Bisexually-identified men were significantly more likely to report being insertive anal sex (IAS) partners in the past 3 months than were gay-identified men (76% vs 46%, p<0.000) and to report more favorable attitudes toward “barebacking” (mean=3.3 vs 2.8, 7pt scale, p<0.007). However, the rates of bi-identified men being unprotected IAS partners were comparable to the rates among gay men (44% vs 35%, p<0.273), as was their mean condom self-efficacy (4.0 vs 3.9, 5pt scale, p<0.101). Similarly, gay-identified men were marginally more likely (55%) than bi-identified men (44%) to report having had receptive anal sex (RAS) in the past 3 months (p<0.077), but their rates of being unprotected RAS partners were similar in both groups (26% of bi-identified men vs 22% gay-identified men, p< 0.572). | ||||
| Discussion: This predominantly English-speaking sample represents the first online sample of Indian MSM. Their identity is mostly consistent with their presentation vis-a-vis partners, but a large proportion present to their families as heterosexual and this inconsistency is particularly pronounced among bisexually-identified men, who are also more likely to be married. While bisexually-identified men report more favorable attitudes toward barebacking, this does not appear to translate into more risk taking. Both groups need ongoing prevention efforts, but bisexually-identified men may be more difficult to access. Perhaps online interventions can provide a way to accomplish this. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||