Online Program

283491
Condom use, love and trust: An event level examination among men who have sex with men from latin america, Spain, and Portugal


Monday, November 4, 2013

Joshua G. Rosenberger, PhD, MPH, Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Katie Biello, PhD, MPH, The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA
David S. Novak, MSW, OLB Research Institute, Online Buddies Inc., Cambridge, MA
Kenneth H. Mayer, M.D., Infectious Diseases, Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA
Matthew J. Mimiaga, ScD, MPH, Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health and the Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA
Background: MSM continue to be disproportionately impacted by STI and HIV. While increasing attention has focused on affective components of sexual encounters including “love”, to date, no study has described differences in condom use by those who report being in love (or not) and/or trusting their sexual partner (or not) during specific sexual events. Methods: Internet-based survey data were collected from MSM (N=36,477) residing in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, who were members of an online website facilitating social or sexual interactions with other men. Measures included sociodemographics, condom use during their most recent anal intercourse, and perceptions of “love” and “trust” with their most recent male sexual partner. Results: Participants resided in Latin America (83.3%), Spain (5%), and Portugal (11.7%) and ranged in age from 18-60+ years (mean=30.8). While only 29.3% reported loving their most recent sexual partner, nearly 70.0% indicated they trusted this person. Among those engaging in anal intercourse with a non-relational partner during, using a condom was reported by 58.0% of men who loved their sexual partner (compared to 71.0% who did not love their sexual partner) and 67.9% of men who trusted this person (compared to 74.7% who didn't). Condom use during their last anal intercourse was significantly less likely among MSM who loved their sexual partner and those who trusted their sexual partner (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Findings highlight differences in condom use among MSM based on perceptions of love and trust, and suggest the need to further explore how these differences influence sexual health.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the relationship between condom use and affective components of a specific sexual event Describe condom use behaviors at the event level among MSM from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America

Keyword(s): Gay Men, Sexual Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD in health behavior and my research focuses on MSM sexual behavior
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.