This study assessed the feasibility of online recruitment of high-risk Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) for HIV prevention survey research and investigated the relationship between Internet use and unsafe sex. Participants (N= 1,026) were Internet-using Latino MSM living in the U.S. recruited using online banner advertisements. Respondents completed a cross-sectional, online survey in English or Spanish. Sample characteristics reflected national statistics within 5%. Nearly all (99%) reported having used the Internet to seek sex with another man. Two-thirds of respondents reported having unprotected anal sex with ≥ 1 man in the last year, 57% of these with multiple partners. Participants reported engaging in anal sex and unprotected anal sex with nearly twice as many men first met online versus offline, but risk proportions did not differ. Internet-based HIV prevention research is possible even with geographically-dispersed minority populations. Efficiency appears the primary risk associated with meeting partners online. KeywordsHIV prevention; Internet sex; Latino; men who have sex with men; Men who use the Internet to seek Sex with Men; MISM

As part of a wider study of Internet-using Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), we studied the likelihood that HIV-negative (n=200) and HIV-positive (n=50) Latino MSM would engage in sexual negotiations and disclosure of their HIV status prior to their first sexual encounters with men met over the Internet. We also analyzed the sexual behaviors that followed online encounters. Our results showed that both HIV-negative and positive men were significantly more likely to engage in sexual negotiation and serostatus disclosure on the Internet than in person. Those who engaged in sexual negotiations were also more likely to use condoms for anal intercourse. Compared to HIV-negative MSM, HIV-positive MSM were significantly less likely to disclose their serostatus, and 41% of them acknowledged having misrepresented their serostatus to a prospective sexual partner met over the Internet. Although similar proportions of HIV-positive and negative men had condomless anal intercourse, HIV-positive MSM were more likely to report lack of intention to use condoms. Pleasure was the reason most frequently cited for lack of condom use. Cybersex was reported by only one-fifth of the sample. We conclude that the Internet, an understudied milieu of sexual networking, may present new possibilities for the implementation of risk reduction strategies, such as the promotion of sexual negotiation prior to first in-person encounter and serostatus disclosure.

Objectives-To determine frequencies of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and its demographic and mental health correlates among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIV+ MSM).Methods-Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected among 593 HIV+ MSM enrolled in the Positive Connections intervention. Data included frequencies of CSA, demographics, and the number of total sex and anal sex contacts contextualized by partners' HIV infection status and condom use.Results-Of participants, 47% reported CSA, with 32% reporting CSA occurring 'often' or 'sometimes.' Men reporting CSA were more likely to be Latino (OR: 2.6) or African-American (OR: 1.8) versus white study participants (p=.0007). CSA reported 'often' or 'sometimes' was associated with increased total sexual contacts (rate ratio: 1.3, for each; p < 0.0001) and unsafe anal intercourse contacts (rate ratio: 1.5 and 2.0, respectively; p < 0.0001) compared with men not reporting CSA.Conclusions-History of CSA is highly prevalent among HIV+ MSM engaging in risk behavior, and appears more common among men of color. Findings suggest that HIV+ MSM reporting CSA are at significantly increased risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV or STI due to increased contact rates versus men without CSA histories.