Casual Sex Among MSM During the Period of Sheltering in Place to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19: Results of National Online Surveys in Brazil and Portugal

Abstract

Background: The social isolation to which Brazilians and Portuguese are subjected has been affecting their mental and sexual health, decreasing social support and increasing sexual risk behavior and exposure to the SARSCoV-2 virus. In this study we aim to investigate the practice of casual sex and the factors that are associated with this event in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey carried out throughout Brazil and Portugal in April 2020, during the period of social isolation, with a sample of 2361 MSM. The collection took place in meeting apps and Facebook. Findings: There was a high frequency of casual sex (53%) and the use of strategies, without technical or scientific basis, to prevent infection by SARSCoV-2, such as the use of Truvada (12.7%). Among the factors that increased the chance of engaging in casual sex, we highlight: having sex simultaneously with two or more people (aOR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.4 - 3.4); Having sex with a regular and casual partner (aOR = 1.6; 95% CI 0.9−2.8), and only with casual (aOR = 2.5; 95%CI 1.8 - 3.5), using Facebook (aOR = 4.6; 95%CI 3.0−7.2), and cruising, swing houses, saunas or cruising points to get partners (aOR = 5.4; 95%CI 3.2 −8.9), being HIV positive (ORa = 11.7; 95%CI 4.7−29.2), or of unknown serological status (aOR = 1.4; 95%CI 0.7−2.3). In both countries, the longer the period of social isolation, the greater the chance of engaging in casual sex. Interpretation: Despite the great differences between the two countries, in both of them we registered a significant frequency of practicing casual sex, accompanied by dubious strategies to minimize the risk of acquiring SARSCov-2. This indicates that MSM participating in the research, to some degree, continue to be exposed to risky sexual practices for HIV infection and other STIs, but also for COVID-19. Funding: Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa−CNPq, Brazil.

Low Psychological Well-Being in Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm) During the Shelter-in-Place Orders to Prevent the Covid-19 Spread: Results From a Nationwide Study

“…The copyright holder for this this version posted September 23, 2020. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.21.20198929 doi: medRxiv preprint a drop in the number of partners and relationships, but, at the same time, increased online interactions (Sousa, Oliveira et al, 2020). The study also reports that MSM devised strategies to keep interactions during the social distancing measures, reinforcing this study's findings that interactions, whether to seek or exchange content, are essential for MSM's psychological well-being.…”

“…The prevalence of low psychological well-being was approximately six times greater among MSM who did not comply or could not comply with the social isolation measures, reinforcing the hypothesis that even though the individuals may not comply with social distancing measures to seek interactions, exposure still may cause concerns (Sousa, Oliveira et al, 2020;Newman & Guta, 2020;Sanchez et al, 2020. Nonetheless, having a small number of partners also affected these individuals' psychological well-being negatively. If, on the one hand, the individuals want to decrease exposure to protect .…”

“…These individuals may even become involved in practices in which they expose themselves to the Coronavirus for not bearing the prolonged social distancing measures, boredom, and the lack of social interaction with people, or restricted mobility within the cities. Coupled with these is the fact that difficulty in searching for affective and sexual partners during the period of social isolation may also decrease psychological well-being, impacting the health of these men (Sousa, Oliveira et al, 2020;.…”

“…The copyright holder for this this version posted September 23, 2020. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.21.20198929 doi: medRxiv preprint governmental actions directed to MSM during the COVID-19 pandemic (Sousa, Oliveira, Schneider, Queiroz, Carvalho, Fronteira, 2020;Torres et al, 2020).…”

Suspected COVID-19 flu-like syndrome in men who have sex with men and have been involved in casual sex

“…Casual sexual relations with one or multiple partners can be an important route of contamination and transmission of the viruses that cause COVID-19 (12)(13) , since they involve the meeting of two or more people for a considerable time in an enclosed space. In order to raise associations, not yet tested in the literature, between potential sexual exposure to SARS CoV-2 through casual sex and the development of signs and symptoms of flu-like syndrome suggestive of COVID-19, we developed this study.…”