Grindr, Scruff, and on the quest: Predictors of Condomless anal intercourse, Internet utilize, and mobile phone program usage Among guys who’ve gender With guys

Darren L. Whitfield

1 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, American

Shanna K. Kattari

2 University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

N. Eugene Wall Space

2 University of Denver, Denver, CO, American

Alia Al-Tayyib

3 Denver Health, Denver, CO, USA

Abstract

In 2021, homosexual, bisexual, also guys that intercourse with guys (MSM) include over fifty percent of newer HIV diagnoses in the usa, with the biggest function of infection being condomless anal sex (CAS). While reports report a connection between utilization of Internet-based social media web sites and enhanced CAS, the study from the partnership between cellphone cellphone software (elizabeth.g., Grindr, Scruff, Jack’d) and CAS is a lot less created. The present study examines whether the manner in which homosexual, bisexual, also MSM discover sexual couples forecasts a boost in odds of engaging in CAS in an urban, noncoastal U.S. town. Carrying out another facts assessment associated with the 2011 nationwide HIV behavior Surveillance study for Denver (letter = 546), the authors carried out digital logistic regression analyses to evaluate the models that foresee how MSM find intimate partners, and also the probability of engaging in CAS. Even though the results suggest that years and race is from the form of finding sexual lovers, creating an online business or a mobile software to obtain sexual partners had not been predictive of CAS (Z_Wald = .41, p = .52; Z_Wald = .80, p = .37). In terms of HIV cures, these conclusions suggest a need for input to handle HIV reduction on several levels (elizabeth.g., specific, class, community).

HIV Prevalence Among MSM

In the us, discover an estimated 1.2 million individuals coping with the human immunodeficiency malware (HIV; stores for disorder Control and avoidance [CDC], 2015). In 2014, there have been roughly 44,073 latest HIV infections (CDC, 2015). The HIV epidemic in the United States represents a concentrated epidemic which some populations of people are extremely affected, and various other communities tend to be less inclined to be clinically determined to have the virus. In the United States, those most often afflicted by HIV put gay, bisexual, alongside men who’ve sex with males (MSM), people which shoot medicines, and high-risk heterosexuals (CDC, 2013).

MSM include the largest inhabitants men and women afflicted by HIV/AIDS in america. While MSM represent about 4per cent with the mature U.S. inhabitants, MSM accounted for 67per cent of all new HIV diagnoses in 2014 (CDC, 2015). MSM diagnoses account for a lot of HIV diagnoses among all guys coping with HIV, comprising 83percent of all of the newly diagnosed guys in 2014 (CDC, 2015), and MSM make up the vast majority of incidence of HIV in the United States. In 2013, of the living with HIV, 57per cent comprise MSM (CDC, 2015). HIV transmission danger never, but accrue equally across subpopulations within MSM area, as latest HIV diagnoses occur disproportionately in racial/ethnic minority groups. Between 2005 and 2014, HIV diagnoses among African US MSM rose by 22percent and diagnoses among Latino/Hispanic MSM enhanced by 24% (CDC, 2015).

Colorado’s HIV epidemic mirrors that of the national HIV epidemiological visibility. In 2013, there were 328 newer HIV diagnoses for the state, which 217 (66.2%) had been individuals who are labeled as MSM (Colorado Department of people health insurance and conditions [CDPHE], 2015). Like nationwide fashions, Ebony and Hispanic MSM need disproportionate HIV diagnoses prices in Colorado (CDPHE, 2015). Ebony MSM composed 11percent of new HIV diagnoses from 2009 to 2013 but 4per cent of the populace in the state, and Hispanic MSM comprised 28percent of brand new diagnoses but made up 21% associated with people (CDPHE, 2015).

Issues Elements for HIV Among MSM

As outlined above, HIV diagnoses were greatest among MSM in the usa. A number of danger factors is from the overrepresentation of MSM who will be HIV contaminated. Initial, approximately 1 / 2 of all new HIV diagnoses were sent by people oblivious these are typically HIV positive (Hall, Holtgrave, & Maulsby, 2012), and approximately one quarter of all of the HIV-positive MSM bring an undiagnosed infection (CDC, 2012). Behaviorally, the best HIV indication possibility for MSM is condomless receptive rectal intercourse with approximately sign rate of 138 per 10,000 exposures (Patel et al., 2014), followed by condomless insertive anal sex with an estimated sign speed of 11 per 10,000 exposures (Patel et al., 2014). Creating a sexually transmitted disease (STI) additionally boosts the chances of acquiring or transferring HIV. Outcomes of the 2014 nationwide HIV behavior security (NHBS) research reported 14% of HIV-positive-unaware MSM had syphilis (CDC, 2016b). More over, medication and alcoholic beverages utilize being of high-risk intimate behavior among MSM (Vosburgh, Hansergh, Sullivan, & Purcell, 2012). While 46percent of HIV-positive-unaware individuals reported binge sipping and 10per cent of HIV-positive-unaware MSM reported noninjection methamphetamine need (CDC, 2016b).