Internet Use, Recreational Travel, and HIV Risk Behaviors in Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

Previous studies have documented higher rates of HIV risk behavior in gay and bisexual men traveling for leisure. Most of these studies collected data in high-risk tourist areas known for promoting alcohol and other substance use. The present study sampled a broader range of men by collecting data at a Gay Pride celebration, and asking participants about vacation experiences over the past 12 months. We also collected information about men's use of the Internet to find sexual partners before they traveled. Overall, two-thirds of participants reported recreational travel in the previous year. Of these men, 17% reported having sex with a new partner during their most recent vacation. Forty-three percent of the respondents were sexually active during their vacation. Sexually-active participants reported a mean of 2.01 unprotected anal sex acts during their brief vacation stay (M = 6.2 days). Close to half of the sexually-active men reported having sex with a partner of unknown HIV status. Alcohol and drug use were associated with unprotected sex. Men who used the Internet to set up dates prior to travel reported significantly more sexual partners and were significantly more likely to report having sex with a new partner. Many gay and bisexual men on vacation report behaviors that may place their health at risk, including substance use and unprotected sexual activity. Interventions designed to reduce risk behaviors in this population are needed.

Surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus suggests that younger men who have sex with men are at higher risk of infection, European Union, 2003 to 2012

“…The internet permits the creation of social and sexual networks that facilitate contact and the security of having a sexual encounter. In some studies (Benotsch et al 2011) men who used the internet to set up dates before travelling reported significantly more sexual partners and were significantly more likely to report having sex with a new partner. Interventions designed to reduce risk behaviour in this population are needed.…”

Global travel and HIV/STI epidemics among MSM: what does the future hold?

“…These men who sought partners before travel were more likely to have a new sexual partner and report more sexual partners during travel, compared with survey respondents who did not use the Internet to seek out partners before travel. 7 Similar patterns of utilising online social networking platforms to identify potential sexual partners at the travel destination before travel have also been observed in Asia and Africa. In Vietnam, Nguyen et al found that of the 41% of MSM who reported a new or casual sexual partner while abroad, approximately half found their partner from the Internet.…”

“…7 This risk may be further amplified when the reason for travel is to attend group sex events; men who attended these events were more likely to report having multiple sex partners, engaging in CAI with sexual partners of unknown HIV status, and engaging in alcohol and substance use. 9,10,12 perceived to be higher or lower HIV risk is not well understood; studies have been limited given the inherent challenges of sampling the particular MSM that travel more than others.…”

“…This is important, because MSM who seek sex partners through online platforms are more likely to report engaging in CAI and having multiple sexual partnerships, as well as being less likely to know the HIV status of these partners, compared with those who meet their partners offline. 7,20,26 A meta-analysis of 11 observational studies found the odds of CAI were higher in online-initiated sexual encounters compared with sexual partnerships conducted offline among MSM, suggesting that online platforms make partner identification for CAI easier. 26 This relationship may be explained by the ease in which sexual partners can be identified, especially for those willing to engage in high-risk sexual behaviours like CAI with a partner of unknown HIV-status or unknown viral load suppression status.…”

Tourist Activity of LGBT in European Post-Communist States: the Case of Poland

“…An assumption was accepted that the LGBT environment possesses a significant share in the penetration of the internet (Benotsch et al, 2011). On the basis of the author's own research and a review of literature in the area of research issues, an attempt was made to formulate general conclusions concerning (expected) behaviours and tourist preferences of the LGBT environment in Poland.…”