Substance use and sexual risk behaviors among Peruvian MSM social media users.
Peru is experiencing a concentrated HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). Substance use (alcohol and drug use) has been found to be associated with HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. A recent surge in the number of social media users in Peru has enabled these technologies to be potential tools for reaching HIV at-risk individuals. This study sought to assess the relationship between substance use and sexual risk behaviors among Peruvian MSM who use social media. A total of 556 Peruvian MSM Facebook users (ages 18-59) were recruited to complete a 92-item survey on demographics, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use. We performed a logistic regression of various sexual risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected sex, casual sex) on substance abuse, including alcohol, adjusting for potential covariates. Drinking more than five alcoholic drinks a day in the past three months was associated with an increased odds of having unprotected sex (vaginal and anal) (aOR: 1.52; 95% CL: 1.01, 2.28), casual sex (1.75; 1.17, 2.62), and sex with unknown persons (1.82; 1.23, 2.71). Drug use was not significantly associated with sexual risk behaviors. Among Peruvian MSM social media users, findings suggest that alcohol use was associated with increased HIV-related sexual risk behaviors.
a Department of Family Medicine , University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) , 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1800, Los Angeles , CA , USA.
Sean D
SD
Young
b Department of Epidemiology , University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) , 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles , CA 90095 , USA.
Roch A
RA
Nianogo
a Department of Family Medicine , University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) , 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1800, Los Angeles , CA , USA.
ChingChe J
CJ
Chiu
c Epicentro Gay Mens' Community Center , Jr. Jaén 250A, Barranco, Lima 15063 , Peru.
Lucho
L
Menacho
c Epicentro Gay Mens' Community Center , Jr. Jaén 250A, Barranco, Lima 15063 , Peru.
Jerome
J
Galea
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
HIV; Peru; men who have sex with men (MSM); sexual risk behavior; substance use