High rates of unprotected receptive anal sex and vulnerabilities to HIV infection among Brazilian men who have sex with men

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 32; no. 4; p. 368
• Main Authors: Queiroz, Artur Acelino Francisco Luz Nunes, Sousa, Álvaro Francisco Lopes de, Araújo, Telma Maria Evangelista de, Brignol, Sandra, Reis, Renata Karina, Fronteira, Inês, Moura, Maria Eliete Batista
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2021
• Subjects: AIDS; vulnerabilities; HIV; geosocial networking phone applications; men who have sex with men; social networks
• ISSN: 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462420968994

This study aimed to evaluate unprotected receptive anal sex intercourse (URAI) rates and vulnerabilities to HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) that use geosocial networking dating apps in Brazil. An online, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with 2,250 MSM. The analyzed variables were grouped according to domains of vulnerability and analyzed by bi and multivariate statistics to calculate the Adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR). The prevalence of self-reported HIV was 7.1%; and of URAI, 23.4%. The studied variables that increased the chances of engaging in URAI were: identifying as homosexual (aOR = 8.30; 95%CI = 5.68:12.04), pansexual aOR = 5.01; 95%CI   2.04:12.38), or bisexual (aOR = 3.14; 95%CI = 2.03:4.80), using apps for obtaining sex (aOR = 1.3; 95%CI = 1.0:1.5), engaging in group sex (aOR = 1.6; 95%CI = 1.3:2.0), and reporting chemsex (aOR = 1.5; 95%CI = 1.1:2.0). Self-reported positive HIV status was associated with: less than a minimum wage income (aOR = 1.78; 95%CI = 1.22:2.58), lower education (aOR = 1.86; 95%CI = 1.31 CI; 2,64), not knowing the partner's HIV status (aOR = 1.84; 95%CI = 1.06:3.19), practicing group sex (aOR = 1.67; 95%CI = 1.04; 2.68), and chemsex (aOR = 2.03; 95%CI =1.06:3.19). The applications interaction is shaped by their own users to better meet their desires and needs. However, this behavior exposes individuals to HIV vulnerabilities.