title: Substance use, sexual behaviour and prevention strategies of Vancouver gay and bisexual men who recently attended group sex events.
abstract: Group sex events are an epidemiologically important part of some gay and bisexual men's sexual culture in Canada. Associated with condomless anal intercourse and polysubstance use, such events have been cited as disproportionally contributing to HIV infection rates. We analysed questionnaire data from the Momentum Health Study in Vancouver, Canada, to understand substance use, sexual behaviour, psychosocial variables (Sexual Sensation Seeking, Sexual Escape Motivation, Treatment Optimism) and HIV prevention strategies (sero-sorting, strategic positioning, avoiding anal sex, disclosure, treatment as prevention) of men attending such events, which were defined as group (n ≥ 4 partners) sex parties, blackout events and darkrooms. Analysis by multivariable logistic regression compared men attending group sex events within the past six months (n = 180) with non-attendees (n = 539). Results showed that attendees reported: (1) significantly higher use of sex drugs and alcohol consumption, (2) higher scores on the Sexual Sensation Scale, more anal sex partners, greater odds of any condomless anal sex with sero-discordant partners and greater odds of reporting fisting and sex toy use and (3) different prevention practices that varied by HIV-serostatus. Findings are interpreted in light of the importance of pleasure, sociality and HIV/STI prevention strategies associated with group sex events. Findings contribute to the development of appropriate education and intervention for attendees.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Ashleigh J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.|b Faculty of Medicine , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lachowsky
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Zishan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sereda
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.affiliation: d Department of Anthropology , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada.|e Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.|b Faculty of Medicine , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.|b Faculty of Medicine , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Population Health , BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS , Vancouver , Canada.|c Faculty of Health Sciences , Simon Fraser University , Burnaby , Canada.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.affiliation: d Department of Anthropology , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada.|e Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria , Victoria , Canada.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D001955:British Columbia; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Canada; Gay and bisexual men; group sex events; prevention strategies; substance use