Differential HIV risk in bathhouses and public cruising areas.
OBJECTIVE
This report investigates differences in risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) who went to gay bathhouses, public cruising areas, or both.


METHODS
We used a probability sample of MSM residing in 4 US cities (n = 2,881).


RESULTS
Men who used party drugs and had unprotected anal intercourse with nonprimary partners were more likely to go to sex venues than men who did not. Among attendees, MSM who went to public cruising areas only were least likely, and those who went to both public cruising areas and bathhouses were most likely to report risky sex in public settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Distinguishing between sex venues previously treated as a single construct revealed a significant association between pattern of venue use and sexual risk. Targeting HIV prevention in the bathhouses would reach the segment of men at greatest risk for HIV transmission.
Binson
D
D
Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94105, USA. dbinson@psg.ucsf.edu
Woods
W J
WJ
Pollack
L
L
Paul
J
J
Stall
R
R
Catania
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001494:Baths / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data