Perceived accuracy of HIV serostatus information contained in online profiles among men who have sex with men (MSM) and who use the Internet to find bareback sex partners

Background: Serosorting is one way that men who use the Internet to find bareback sex partners may attempt to limit their personal HIV risk. Therefore, men's perception of the accuracy of potential sex partners' HIV serostatus information contained in their online profiles is important, as it has implications for their involvement in HIV risk. This study examines if men's perceived accuracy of online HIV serostatus information relates to barebacking and/or their attitudes towards using condoms, and what factors are indicative of the extent to which men perceive other men's online HIV serostatus information to be accurate. Methods: In 2008 and 2009, 332 American MSM were sampled randomly from 16 websites. All used the Internet to search for bareback sex partners. Interviews were conducted by telephone and lasted 1-2 hours. Results: Structural equation analysis indicated that perceived accuracy was related to the extent to which a man barebacked (GFI=0.98; nonsignificant χ² test, p=0.12). It directly (inversely) affects men's attitudes towards using condoms, which study-wide has proven to be the best indicator of barebacking in this sample, and was related directly to involvement in unprotected sex. Multivariate analysis revealed five factors related to the extent to which men believed other men's online HIV serostatus information to be more accurate: 1) experiencing more emotional abuse during childhood (p<0.05), 2) living in a more densely-populated area (p<0.05), 3) being the insertive partner (i.e., top) in anal sex (p<0.05), 4) being a polydrug abuser (p<0.05), and 5) being Caucasian (p<0.001). Conclusions: In this population, men's perceived accuracy of the HIV serostatus information contained in other men's online profiles is an important component in understanding their HIV risk. HIV prevention workers and researchers should focus on the five factors identified in order to have a positive impact upon MSM's perceived accuracy of online HIV serostatus information.