Drug behaviors, sexually transmitted infection prevention, and sexual consent during chemsex: insights generated in the Budd app after each chemsex session

Platteau, Tom; Herrijgers, Corinne; Florence, Éric; Poels, Karolien; Verboon, Peter; Apers, Ludwig; Vandebosch, Heidi

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1160087

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“… 55 A recent study in Belgium developed and evaluated a mobile phone application (‘Budd-app’) for individuals engaging in chemsex, revealed behaviours such as prolonged sessions (mean of 17.5 h), polydrug use (95% of sessions), and unsafe dosing (49% of sessions). 56 …”

Section: Sexually Transmitted Infections In Key Populations: Multidim...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology and determinants of reemerging bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging STIs in Europe

Mitjà,

Padovese,

Folch

et al. 2023

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

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Section: Sexually Transmitted Infections In Key Populations: Multidim...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology and determinants of reemerging bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging STIs in Europe

Mitjà,

Padovese,

Folch

et al. 2023

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

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Chemsex and its impact on gay and bisexual men who have sex with men: Findings from an online survey in Belgium

Platteau,

Herrijgers,

Barvaux

et al. 2024

HIV Medicine

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ObjectivesThe study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexualized drug use, or chemsex, in a wide group of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Belgium. It examined which drugs gbMSM used before and during sex, the frequency with which they used it, whether they experienced non‐consensual sex, and evaluated the impact of chemsex on the health and professional and social lives of respondents.MethodsWe conducted an online survey among Belgian gbMSM. Five specific questions on chemsex were included in the survey. These questions assessed whether gbMSM engaged in chemsex. If they did, they were asked to provide information on which drugs they had used and how often. We asked whether their and their partners' boundaries had been respected and whether and how engaging in chemsex had affected a range of life domains.ResultsOf 836 respondents, 258 (30.9%) self‐reported having had sex under the influence of substances (“chemsex”) in the previous 6 months. Of these, 227 (88%) were considered chemsex users according to the definition used for the analysis. Poppers (73%), gamma‐hydroxybutyrate/gamma‐butyrolactone (GHB/GBL; 69%) and cathinones (68%) were the most commonly reported substances. Almost half of respondents (45%) engaging in chemsex were high on drugs during at least half of their sexual encounters. Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) reported that boundaries had not been respected, suggesting non‐consensual sexual activities. The 82 respondents experiencing negative impacts from their chemsex use reported that mental health (65%), physical health (40%) and sexual health (38%) were most impacted.DiscussionOur findings provide a snapshot of the current chemsex situation in Belgium. The frequency of chemsex is concerning because several health, professional and social aspects are impacted. Almost 1 in 10 respondents using chemsex reported that chemsex impacted consent around sex, requiring additional efforts to eradicate these non‐consensual sexual experiences. Therefore, larger scale research focusing on respected boundaries and consent during chemsex and the frequency of drug use for sex seems required. Additionally, sensitisation, as well as care and support programmes are critical.

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Social and sexual networks of newly diagnosed people living with HIV: a qualitative social network analysis

Landeghem,

Bulcke,

Rotsaert

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background A better understanding of HIV transmission dynamics is needed to further reduce the number of new HIV diagnoses in Belgium. As environmental and social context play an important role in explaining HIV acquisition despite the availability of effective HIV prevention, this study investigated the role of social and sexual networks in HIV prevention and risk behavior among people newly diagnosed with HIV, including their perceptions of how they acquired HIV and their ability to disclose their HIV status.Methods This qualitative study used an ego-centric social network approach, through in-depth interviews generating sociograms of social and sexual networks with 20 participants newly diagnosed with HIV.Results Friends, family members, regular sex partners and HIV physicians were placed closest to the ego on the sociogram. Self-identified gay men did not consider their casual sex partners as emotionally close enough to be included in the sociogram, even though these partners were often participants’ primary source of information about sexual health. HIV acquisition among this group was often attributed to increased sexual risk-taking under influence of drugs. Heterosexual and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM), who had more diverse networks, often did not consider themselves at risk for HIV. Awareness of PrEP was higher among gay-identified MSM than among heterosexuals and heterosexual MSM, partly attributed to community-based prevention efforts. Most participants only disclosed HIV to those closest to them, and the anticipated and perceived lack of social support influenced HIV acceptance. Feelings of internalized HIV stigma and homophobia prevented HIV disclosure, especially among heterosexuals and heterosexual and bisexual MSM.Conclusion This study revealed important differences in the networks of gay-identified MSM, heterosexuals and hetero- and bisexual identified MSM influencing sexual risk taking and prevention behavior. Future prevention initiatives should be inclusive and mainstreamed to ensure to also address those who do not identify as the established transmission groups. Awareness of biomedical prevention should be raised in the general population, providing a base on which more tailored promotion can be built. Involving family physicians and social empowering people living with HIV may help to decrease (anticipated) HIV stigma.

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Drug behaviors, sexually transmitted infection prevention, and sexual consent during chemsex: insights generated in the Budd app after each chemsex session

Cited by 5 publications

References 22 publications

Epidemiology and determinants of reemerging bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging STIs in Europe

Epidemiology and determinants of reemerging bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging STIs in Europe

Chemsex and its impact on gay and bisexual men who have sex with men: Findings from an online survey in Belgium

Social and sexual networks of newly diagnosed people living with HIV: a qualitative social network analysis

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