title: Open, closed, or in between: relationship configuration and condom use among men who use the internet to seek sex with men.
abstract: Nearly 70 % of HIV+ men who have sex with men (MSM) are estimated to have contracted HIV from a main partner. We examine whether condom use varies by relationship configuration, including open relationships with and without cheating. 656 MSM in committed relationships were recruited through a sexually explicit social networking website. Of the 55 % of MSM who had anal sex with a non-main partner in the past 90 days, two-thirds did not use a condom. Adjusting for covariates, MSM in relationships characterized as open with cheating versus monogamous were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with both main and non-main partners. MSM who perceived that their partner played around or cheated were more likely to have unprotected anal sex with a non-main partner. Prevention messages should attempt to reduce cheating and increase personal responsibility for protecting partners from HIV. Messages should be tailored to reflect open and monogamous relationships.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. ssbrady@umn.edu
authors.forename: Sonya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iantaffi
authors.forename: Dylan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Galos
authors.forename: B R Simon
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rosser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D060756:Social Networking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035502:Trust; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult