title: Venues, patrons, and alcohol use dynamics: the creation of a high risk sexual environment.
abstract: Venue-based HIV prevention interventions, especially in sex on premise venues, can disrupt high-risk sexual networks. However, prior to intervening, it is essential to understand the person-venue dynamics that contribute to HIV risk. As such, we conducted five ethnographic observations at each of six venues where alcohol is sold and sex occurs onsite (2 each porn theaters, sex clubs, and dance clubs) frequented by gay and other men who have sex with men (G&MSM) in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. Alcohol use, sexual behavior, and person-venue dynamics differed markedly across venue types. In dance clubs, substantial alcohol consumption often preceded visits to the darkroom for sex which, at times, included unprotected anal and vaginal intercourse. Condoms, although available, were not easily accessible. HIV prevention messaging was generally non-existent. These venues are in critical need of interventions to reduce HIV transmission risk.
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA, balaniv@nyspi.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Iván C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Balán
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barreda
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: María Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo-Diéguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data