Ecological study: MSM sex worker advertising amidst Monkeypox in three U.S. cities

Abstract

The 2022 monkeypox (MPX) outbreak was a source of consternation and stress among men who have sex with men (MSM)—the population disproportionately affected by the recent MPX outbreak. Individuals at high‐risk for MPX (e.g., MSM, sex workers) were prioritized for vaccination during early state and city health department vaccine initiatives across the U.S., but little is known about how the MSM sex work market was affected by the MPX outbreak in U.S. cities where MPX incidence was particularly high. To better characterize the potential relationship between MPX incidence and MSM sex worker advertising at the height of the U.S. MPX outbreak, we monitored advertising volume on an Internet advertising platform popular among MSM sex workers and compared these data to city and county health department MPX case reporting data during a 13‐week period (July 2nd, 2022‐ September 24th, 2022) in three U.S. cities with peak MPX incidence: Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. In each of these cities, we observed a decline in advertising during or immediately following study week(s) with the highest number of weekly MPX cases during the study period, recognizing that observed decreases in advertising could be attributed to transient increase(s) in advertising during large‐scale LGBT festivals occurring during the study period.

Epidemiological Profile of Men Who Have Sex with Men: First Data about Male Sex Workers in Central African Republic (CAR)

“…of MSM had declared that they wanted to accept another income-generating activity to replace activities linked to their MSM status. This willingness to change activity in favor of another income-generating activity could lead to the hypothesis that MSM activities would constitute an income-generating activity, and These MSM are therefore workers in the informal sector, like female sex workers and GBV is then occupational hazard [9]. In addition, the clandestine activity of MSM makes them hidden GBV victims [8] [26] [28], and as workers in the informal sector are not covered by occupational medicine, implementing preventive actions for them becomes complex.…”

“…In addition, studies have recently shown that MSM sex workers have a higher risk of contracting HIV than other MSM and even female sex workers [5] [6] [7]. In addition, clandestine activities linked to the fear of stigmatization make it difficult to assess the contamination risks of MSM sex workers [8] [9], who are therefore workers in the informal sector. These findings call for targeted studies to identify MSM who are sex workers among all MSM, in order to adapt control strategies.…”