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Description
Background: HIV remains a major public health problem in the United States, disproportionately affecting several minority populations. Men who have sex with men (MSM), specifically young MSM and African Americans comprise the majority of the newly diagnosed HIV infections. Studies have found associations between HIV risk and Internet use to find new sex partners: more likely to have a history of sexually transmitted infections, increased number of partners, and higher rates of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and methamphetamine use. The number of Internet users doubled from 2000-2010 in the general American population. Further research is needed to determine if the general increasing use of Internet is leading to a change in HIV-associated risk factors among those that find sex via the Internet. Methods: This study used data collected by the Antiviral Research Center (AVRC) of the University of California, San Diego from 2002-2012. Recruitment was conducted throughout San Diego, CA. Participants completed HIV testing, a behavioral risk assessment questionnaire using a computer assisted self-interview (CASI) and clinical evaluation. Participants were all MSM and responded to the questions regarding Internet use to find sex partners in the past three months. Descriptive statistics were run for all variables. Bivariate associations were assessed with chi-square tests and T-tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with Internet use to find new sex partners. Results: Among the 431 MSM included in this analysis, the proportion who used the Internet to find new sex partners during the prior three months did not change over time. Internet users reported more high-risk sexual activity compared to non-Internet users. On multivariable analysis, Internet use to find new sex partners was associated with UAI (p=0.001), specifically, both insertive- and receptive-UAI (p<0.0001) and only receptive- UAI (p=0.01), and having over 30 lifetime male sex partners (p<0.0001). Conclusions: The proportion of MSM who used the Internet to find new sex partners did not increase from 2002-2010. Furthermore, there was no significant decrease found in sex risk factors over the ten-years. Use of the Internet to seek sex partners was significantly associated with UAI and having more than 30 lifetime male sex partners. UAI and number of sex partners are two risk factors that are highly associated with HIV according to the literature. There remains a need for outreach and education efforts to reach those MSM that turn to the Internet to seek sex partners
