Probability sample estimates of bathhouse sexual risk behavior.
OBJECTIVE
Previous research links high rates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with men who go to bathhouses; however, the literature provides no prevalence estimates. An exit survey of a probability sample was conducted to describe the prevalence of risk activity at the bathhouse.


METHODS
Data are from a 2-stage probability sample of men exiting a gay bathhouse (n = 400).


RESULTS
During their visit, 91.5% of men had oral sex and 44.2% had anal sex (11.1% reported UAI and 5.5% reported unprotected receptive anal intercourse). In the prior 3 months, 85% reported having anal sex, which was more likely to be unprotected when it occurred in a private home or hotel as opposed to a public setting (P < 0.001). Moreover, having UAI at home was a significant correlate of risk during the bathhouse visit (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Most men at the bathhouse engaged in oral sex rather than anal sex, and most anal sex included use of condoms. Furthermore, men were more likely to have UAI in a private home than in any public setting. The bathhouse seems to have facilitated condom use when anal sex occurred on-site.
Woods
William J
WJ
AIDS Research Institute, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. william.woods@ucsf.edu
Binson
Diane
D
Blair
Johnny
J
Han
Lei
L
Spielberg
Freya
F
Pollack
Lance M
LM
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires