Cruising for sex: Partner meeting venue and HIV risk behavior among Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Massachusetts

Background: The environments MSM meet male sex partners have been associated with HIV risk, but little is known specific to Black MSM (BMSM) and their HIV risks associated with meeting men for sex in public cruising areas (PCAs).

Methods: In 2008, 197 BMSM were recruited via modified respondent-driven-sampling and completed a quantitative assessment and voluntary pre- and post-test HIV counseling and testing. Logistic regression procedures examined factors associated with having met male sex partners at PCAs in the past 12 months.

Results: 45% of participants (87/197) reported meeting male sex partners at PCAs in the past 12 months. Factors associated with having met male partners at a PCA include: older age (OR=1.05; p=0.0002), not being out as MSM (OR=2.61; p=0.01), unstable housing (OR=5.98; p=0.0007), problematic alcohol use (OR=2.08; p=0.02), stimulant use during sex (OR=2.50; p=0.003), erectile dysfunction medication use during sex (OR=3.36; p=0.03), unprotected anal sex with a casual male partner (OR=2.98; p=0.002), unprotected sex with a female partner (OR=2.18; p=0.01), a history of STDs (OR=2.42; p=0.01), past incarceration (OR=2.19; p=0.007), and social support (OR=0.97; p=0.01).

Conclusion: Nearly half of all BMSM in the study reported meeting male partners at PCAs in the prior year. Given that many of these men are not out, engage in high-risk sexual behavior, and report drug and alcohol use as well high levels of dispossession, prevention efforts should be tailored to reach this population and may benefit from incorporating triage to medical and social services as well as housing assistance.