HIV-positive men who have sex with men attending party-oriented vacation events engaged in higher rates of illegal drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men.
Risk Behaviors Among HIV-positive Gay and Bisexual Men at Party-Oriented Vacations
Published in: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, v. 74, no. 1, Jan. 2013, p. 158-167
Posted on RAND.org on December 28, 2012
Research Questions
- Are HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) attending party-oriented vacation events more likely to engage in drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men in attendance?
- Do rates of HIV status disclosure and questioning differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM attending party-oriented vacation events?
OBJECTIVE: This study examined substance use (intended and actual), unprotected sex, and HIV disclosure practices (disclosure and questioning) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) at two party-oriented vacations, where substance use and sexual risk may be heightened. METHOD: A random sample of 489 MSM attending one of two party-oriented vacations participated in PartyIntents, a short-term longitudinal survey. Nearly half (47%) completed a follow-up assessment at the event or online for up to 2 weeks after the event. We examined rates of baseline intentions to use substances, actual substance use, and unprotected intercourse among HIV-positive men in attendance. Rates among HIV-negative men were estimated for comparison. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the impact of illegal drug use and HIV status on unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). RESULTS: HIV-positive attendees (17%) were significantly more likely than HIV-negative attendees to use nitrite inhalants (or "poppers") (24.3% vs. 10.7%). HIV-positive attendees were also significantly more likely to have insertive UAI (64.3% vs. 34.1%) and receptive UAI (68.8% vs. 22.2%). Multivariate models showed associations between HIV status and illegal drug use with UAI (for HIV status, odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, p = .001; for any illegal drug use, OR = 16.4, p < .001). There was no evidence that the influence of drug use moderated risk by HIV status. Rates of HIV disclosure and questioning did not differ by HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-positive men attending these events engaged in higher rates of illegal drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men. Prevention campaigns targeting MSM at high-risk events should include messages geared toward HIV-positive men.
Key Findings
- HIV-positive MSM attending party-oriented vacation events engaged in higher rates of illegal drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men.
- Rates of HIV status disclosure and questioning did not differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM attending party-oriented vacation events.
Recommendation
- Prevention campaigns targeting MSM at high-risk events should include messages geared toward HIV-positive men.
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