Engaging ‘gay’ businesses in HIV prevention ‘Everywhere’: Findings from a qualitative study in eight European cities

Abstract

Objective: ‘Gay’ businesses providing physical and virtual sex spaces for men who have sex with men (MSM) have been shown empirically to be useful sites for public health and health promotion interventions. While HIV incidence in Europe has been more or less stable in recent years, the number of infections attributed to MSM has continued to increase with new cases almost doubling in Western and Central Europe between 2000 and 2006. Set within the context of the Everywhere Project, the objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability to ‘gay’ businesses of developing and implementing a European model of HIV prevention focusing on MSM that provides common prevention standards across eight European countries. Design: A qualitative study Setting: ‘Gay’ businesses that bring men together and facilitate sex between them in ‘gay’ tourist destinations and other European capital cities. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 54 ‘gay’ business representatives from different European cities. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using a ‘framework’ approach. Results: Many representatives of ‘gay’ businesses reported being willing to provide HIV prevention activities that target MSM in their venues and perceive this as part of improving their corporate image of being a socially responsible enterprise. However, concerns were voiced around issues such as fear of alienating customers, and inciting stigma and discrimination, safe-sex fatigue and lack of knowledge of prevention messages, as well as the need for appropriate condom and lubricant distribution networks. Businesses also reflected on the potential benefits and disadvantages of being involved in a scheme that provides a common and recognizable framework for HIV prevention across multiple European countries. Conclusions: Early conclusions from this exploratory research suggest that a European-wide model of HIV prevention is acceptable and feasible to those working in ‘gay’ businesses. Further investigations, however, are required to develop solutions in order to overcome identified social, cultural and practical barriers.

Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

“…Similar disinterest was seen in a study of gay venues in Spain, which found that owners of gay venues were not willing to attend the focus groups held, yet owners of venues catering to specific groups of gay men (i.e., bears or the leather community) were much more invested in providing an environment where HIV risk was reduced [51]. Similarly, a recent study in numerous European countries, found there was interest from owners of SOP venues to engage in HIV risk reduction programs, although they did express concern about the types of programs and the reactions from patrons [52]. This study highlights the need to establish relationships with venue owners and to engage them, as well as staff and patrons, in the development of HIV prevention programming in the venues.…”

A European Seal of Approval for ‘gay’ businesses: findings from an HIV-prevention pilot project

“…6,7 Such trends, combined with the high prevalence of HIV reported in many gay community settings, the high prevalence of HIV among MSM diagnosed with STIs, and the high sexual mobility of this population between European Member States, mean that prevention activities need to be located within a broader European context as opposed to the local or national level. 8 In other words, in the context of the EU, health promotion strategies and interventions addressing major health threats with a cross-border or global impact such as HIV should include a European dimension (cooperation of multiple countries) if they are to have the greatest potential of being effective. 8 Indeed, current EU policy places a particular emphasis on the importance of bringing together European and neighbouring countries to share ideas and exchange models of good practice on how to address HIV/AIDS prevention effectively.…”

“…8 In other words, in the context of the EU, health promotion strategies and interventions addressing major health threats with a cross-border or global impact such as HIV should include a European dimension (cooperation of multiple countries) if they are to have the greatest potential of being effective. 8 Indeed, current EU policy places a particular emphasis on the importance of bringing together European and neighbouring countries to share ideas and exchange models of good practice on how to address HIV/AIDS prevention effectively. The communication on combating HIV/AIDS in the EU and neighbouring countries in 2009-13 3 reaffirms the European Commission's (EC) political commitment to working with member countries to reach populations most at risk of HIV infection, such as MSM, and in doing so strengthen the role of the civil society and support national public health authorities (e.g.…”

Perceptions of HIV transmission risk in commercial and public sex venues

“…Educating managers and owners about the potential risks occurring at these venues is critical to developing collaborations with community service agencies and local health departments that provide sexual health outreach (e.g., HIV/STI counseling and testing, distributing condoms and lubricants, motivating safer sex behaviors). Recent evidence suggests that the possibility of coordinating HIV prevention activities in settings that do not intentionally provide spaces for sex is not unrealistic [17]. …”