142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Positive sex: Exploring the sexual lives and experiences of MSM living with HIV

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Randolph D. Hubach, PhD, MPH , School of Applied Health & Educational Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Joshua G. Rosenberger, PhD, MPH , Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Brian Dodge, PhD , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Vanessa Schick, PhD , Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Debby Herbenick, PhD, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
David S. Novak, MSW , OLB Research Institute, Online Buddies Inc., Cambridge, MA
Michael Reece, PhD , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Background.  HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) remain a priority population for the prevention of HIV transmission in the United States with current evidenced-based interventions focused on curtailing unprotected anal intercourse. Given advances in HIV managed care, there remains a gap in the literature on the sexual lives and experiences of HIV-positive MSM in the current era.

Methods. As part of a larger Internet sample of MSM, we explored event-level sexual behaviors of MSM living with HIV infection (n = 2,935), ages 19-76. Measures included items related to sociodemographics, sexual behavior during the most recent sexual event, event characteristics of the most recent sexual event, and evaluation of sexual pleasure.

Results. Results indicate the most commonly reported behaviors were kissing a partner on the mouth (72.3%), performing oral sex (77.6%), and receiving oral sex (67.1%). A majority of participants (55.9%) reported holding their partner romantically during their most recent sexual event.  While older participants were significantly less likely to engage in anal intercourse during their most recent sexual event, those engaging in intercourse were more likely to use a condom compared to younger counterparts (p <.05). 

Conclusions. Understanding the various situational characteristics of sexual encounters may inform future research and intervention development, leading to a more holistic understanding of the sexual lives of MSM living with HIV.  In doing so, these data may serve to inform the ways in which the deliveries of sexual health programs among this population are delivered.

Learning Areas:

Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the specific sexual behaviors with which MSM living with HIV engage with their partners. Discuss points of intervention for MSM living with HIV within the unique context of current HIV managed care practices.

Keyword(s): HIV/AIDS, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I teach and conduct research in the area of HIV/AIDS and psychological bases of human 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.

Back to: 2034.0: Sexual Behavior and HIV