Title
Sex-on-premise venues, associated risk behaviors, and attitudes toward venue-based HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Lima, Perú
Date Issued
19 April 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
research article
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: In Perú, HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite widespread access to treatment, the high rate of new HIV infections has remained unchanged over the last decade. Low knowledge of HIV status associated with late diagnosis is a key factor underlying the high HIV incidence observed in this setting, creating conditions for efficient onward transmission. Improving access to HIV testing and prevention services for those at highest risk is an important public health priority. Sex-on-premise venues (SOPVs) - saunas, sex clubs, pornographic movie theaters, hourly hotels, and bars/discos with areas where sex is permitted - may be opportune sites for outreach; however, further research on SOPVs and the populations who frequent them is needed to inform such efforts. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of adult MSM in Lima, Perú to evaluate patterns of SOPV attendance, associated sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes toward SOPV-based interventions. Participants were recruited through outreach to social media networks affiliated with local LGBTQ-aligned community groups. Our primary analytic objective was to estimate the association of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors and SOPV attendance. Additionally, we performed exploratory analyses to describe risk behavior stratified by SOPV category and to examine the relationship between SOPV attendance and the use of online platforms to meet sex partners. Results: Overall, 389 MSM completed the survey from November 2018 through May 2019, of whom 68% reported attending an SOPV in the last 3 months. SOPV attendance was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviors, including transactional sex, group sex, substance use around the time of sex, and higher number of partners. Over two thirds of SOPV attendees indicated they would accept HIV testing if offered at SOPVs. Conclusions: SOPV attendance was common among MSM in Lima who participated in our survey, and SOPV attendees reported significantly greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors related to HIV transmission. Attitudes toward hypothetical SOPV-based interventions were generally favorable. These findings suggest that outreach at SOPVs may be an effective mechanism for reaching a particularly high-risk sub-population of MSM in Perú to deliver targeted HIV testing and prevention interventions.
Volume
20
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85083811585
PubMed ID
Source
BMC Public Health
Sponsor(s)
This research was supported by a 2018 CFAR International Pilot Award from the University of Washington / Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research (NIH AI027757); in addition, AL received support as a post-doctoral fellow under the University of Washington STD/AIDS Research Training Grant (NIH T32 AI07140). We also acknowledge funding support related to the use of REDCap to carry out this study (UL1 TR002319, KL2 TR002317, and TL1 TR002318 from NCATS/NIH). None of the funding bodies supporting this research had any role in the study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of results.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus