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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 6/2010

01-12-2010 | Original Paper

Reconsidering the Internet as an HIV/STD Risk for Men Who Have Sex with Men

Authors: Samuel M. Jenness, Alan Neaigus, Holly Hagan, Travis Wendel, Camila Gelpi-Acosta, Christopher S. Murrill

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 6/2010

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Abstract

Previous studies linking online sexual partnerships to behavioral risks among men who have sex with men (MSM) may be subject to confounding and imprecise measurement of partnership-specific risks. We examined behavioral risks associated with having only online, only offline, or both online and offline partners in the past year, the confounding effects of multiple partnerships, and partnership-specific risks among a sample of MSM from New York City recruited offline in 2008. Overall, 28% of 479 participants had an online partner in the past year, but most of those (82%) also had an offline partner. Having an online partner was associated with past-year unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and other risks, but not after controlling for multiple partnerships. There were slightly higher levels of risk within offline partnerships, but differences were largely attributable to MSM who had both offline and online partners. Last sex partners met offline were more likely to be HIV-serodiscordant and engage in concurrent substance use with the participant. This suggests that online partnerships may not be an independent cause of behavioral risks, but a marker for risks occurring independent of Internet use.
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Metadata
Title
Reconsidering the Internet as an HIV/STD Risk for Men Who Have Sex with Men
Authors
Samuel M. Jenness
Alan Neaigus
Holly Hagan
Travis Wendel
Camila Gelpi-Acosta
Christopher S. Murrill
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 6/2010
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9769-x

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WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

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