scholarly journals Trends and differences in sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): a repeated cross-sectional study in Melbourne, Australia

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037608
Author(s):  
Mario Martín-Sánchez ◽  
Richard Case ◽  
Christopher Fairley ◽  
Jane S Hocking ◽  
Catriona Bradshaw ◽  
...  

ObjectivesIn the 2010s, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia, and since 2015 also in urban heterosexuals. Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) have characteristics that may differ from both men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and heterosexual men. We aimed to compare the sexual practices and the trends in HIV/STI positivity between MSMO and MSMW.DesignRepeated cross-sectional study.SettingA sexual health centre in Melbourne, Australia.ParticipantsMSM aged 18 years and above who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre for the first time between 2011 and 2018. This includes 12 795 MSMO and 1979 MSMW.Primary outcome measuresDemographic characterics, sexual practices and HIV/STI positivity.ResultsCompared with MSMW, MSMO were more likely to practice anal sex and to have condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners, and less likely to have a current regular relationship. Over the 8-year period, there was an increase in condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners for both groups (MSMO: from 46.2% to 63.3%, ptrend <0.001; MSMW: from 41.3% to 57.9%, ptrend=0.011). Syphilis positivity increased in MSMO (from 5.5% to 7.9%, ptrend=0.012) and MSMW (from 0.9% to 6.4%, ptrend=0.004) and HIV remained stable. Gonorrhoea increased among MSMO from 2011 to 2014 (from 6.7% to 9.6%, ptrend=0.002), and remained stable from 2015 to 2018. MSMO had higher odds of testing positive for gonorrhoea (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64), chlamydia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.67), syphilis (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.22) and HIV (aOR 4.60, 95% CI 2.43 to 8.70) than MSMW.ConclusionsMSMW have overall lower condomless sex and lower HIV/STI positivity. In the last years, changes in sexual practices in MSM have affected both MSMW and MSMO leading to an increased STI risk.

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric PF Chow ◽  
Vincent J Cornelisse ◽  
Tim RH Read ◽  
Marcus Y Chen ◽  
Catriona S Bradshaw ◽  
...  

Smartphone dating applications have become a primary source for men who have sex with men (MSM) to meet sexual partners. It has been found that MSM who used smartphone dating applications are at higher risk of gonorrhoea, but the reasons remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether MSM who met their partners via smartphone dating applications are more likely to engage in sexual practices such as rimming (oro-anal sex), and use of partner’s saliva as a lubricant, that are associated with the risk of gonorrhoea. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1672 MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia, between 31 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the associations between sources of meeting partners and the two aforementioned sexual practices. MSM who used smartphone dating applications were 1.78 (95% CI: 1.38–2.28) times more likely to get rimmed, and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.27–2.09) times more likely to use partner’s saliva as a lubricant during anal sex, compared to other sources, after adjusting for age and other sources for meeting partners. These practices are highly associated with gonorrhoea.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Yehua Wang ◽  
Wenting Huang ◽  
Dan Wu ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex have been linked to higher sexual risk and STI infection in adulthood among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income countries. This study aimed to examine adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese MSM and to evaluate factors associated with adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual anal sex.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted recently among Chinese men assigned male sex at birth, ≥18 years old, and who had ever engaged in anal sex with a man. Participants answered questions regarding socio-demographics, condomless sex, age at anal sexual debut with a man, and whether the first anal sex was consensual. Factors associated with an adolescent sexual debut (<18 years old) and non-consensual sex at sexual debut were evaluated. We defined adolescent sexual debut as having anal sex with another man at 17 years old or younger, and the participants were asked whether their first male-to-male anal sex was non-consensual.Results: Overall, 2031 eligible men completed the survey. The mean age of sexual debut was 20.7 (SD=4.3) years old. 17.6% (358/2031) of men reported adolescent sexual debut, and 5.0% (101/2031) reported a non-consensual sexual debut. The adolescent sexual debut was associated with having more male sexual partners (adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.15) and condomless anal sex in the last three months (AOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.34-2.18). MSM whose sexual debut was non-consensual were more likely to have condomless anal sex (AOR=1.76, 95% CI 1.17-2.66), and to have reported an adolescent sexual debut (AOR=2.72, 95% CI 1.75-4.21).Conclusions: Many Chinese MSM reported adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex, both of which are associated with sexual risk behaviors and drive STI transmission. These findings highlight the need for designing tailored interventions for MSM who experienced adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex at debut.


2014 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. P. Fernandes ◽  
P. B. Zanini ◽  
G. R. Rezende ◽  
L. S. Castro ◽  
L. M. Bandeira ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e040754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Renee Phillips ◽  
Christopher Fairley ◽  
Kate Maddaford ◽  
Sabrina Trumpour ◽  
Rebecca Wigan ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo examine the rinsing and gargling mouthwash practices among frequent mouthwash users to determine if there are differences in use between gender, sexual orientation and sex work status.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData obtained from patients attending a sexual health centre located in Melbourne, Australia.Participants200 frequent mouthwash users (four or more times per week), 50 for each of the following patient groups: men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), females who are not sex workers and men who have sex with women only (MSW). Participants were observed and audio recorded using mouthwash.Primary and secondary outcome measuresDescriptive analyses were conducted to calculate the median age, time rinsing and gargling, amount of mouthwash used and proportion of participants who rinsed, gargled or both, as determined from the audio files. Kruskal-Wallis H test and χ2 test were used to examine differences between the patient groups.ResultsMedian age was 28 years (IQR: 24–33). During the study, most (n=127; 63.5%) rinsed and gargled, but 70 (35.0%) rinsed only and three (1.5%) gargled only. Median time rinsing was 13.5 s (IQR: 8.5–22.0 s), gargling was 4.0 s (IQR: 2.5–6.0 s) and the median total duration was 17.0 s (IQR: 11.5–25.8 s). Median duration of mouthwash did not differ significantly between the groups (females not sex workers: 18.8 s (IQR: 12.5–24.5 s); FSW: 14.0 s (9.0–22.0 s); MSM: 22.3 s (13.0–26.5 s); MSW: 15.8 s (12.0–25.0 s); p=0.070) but males used mouthwash longer than females (median 20.3 s compared with 15.5 s; p=0.034). The median volume of mouthwash used was 20 mL (IQR: 15–27 mL). And most (n=198; 99.0%) did not dilute mouthwash with water.ConclusionOver a quarter of frequent users do not gargle mouthwash at all (35%) and used it for a substantially shorter period of time than it was used in the randomised trial (1 min) where it was shown to be effective at inhibiting Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth. Our findings suggest that many frequent mouthwash users do not follow the manufacturer instructions for using mouthwash and may not use mouthwash in a way that was shown to reduce the growth of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Yehua Wang ◽  
Wenting Huang ◽  
Dan Wu ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early sexual debut and non-consensual sex have been linked to higher sexual risk and STI infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income countries. This study aimed to examine early and non-consensual sexual debut among Chinese MSM and to evaluate factors associated with early sexual debut and non-consensual sex. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 among Chinese men born biologically male, ≥ 18 years old, and who had ever engaged in anal sex with a man. Participants answered questions regarding socio-demographics, condomless sex, age at anal sexual debut with a man, and whether the first anal sex was consensual sex. Factors associated with an early sexual debut (< 18 years old) and non-consensual sex at sexual debut were evaluated. Results Overall, 2031 eligible men completed the survey. The mean age of sexual debut was 20.7 (SD = 4.3) years old. 17.6% (358/2031) of men reported early sexual debut, and 5.0% (101/2031) reported a non-consensual sexual debut. Early sexual debut was associated with having more male sexual partners (adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.15) and condomless anal sex in last three months (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.34–2.18) in last three months. MSM whose sexual debut was non-consensual were more likely to have condomless anal sex (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.17–2.66), and to have reported an early sexual debut (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.75–4.21). Conclusions Many Chinese MSM reported early sexual debut and non-consensual sex, both of which are associated with sexual risk behaviors and drive STI transmission. These findings highlight the need for improving sexual health education among young people.


2012 ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
That Toan Ton ◽  
Xuan Chuong Tran

Man who have sex with man (MSM) group is a high risk group of HIV infection. There are very rare studies about HIV infection in this group. Objectives: 1. Determine the rate of HIV infection in MSM in Khanh Hoa province 2010. 2. Study some characteristics of MSM in Khanh Hoa province. Materials and Methods: MSM over 16 yrs. live in Khanh Hoa. Cross-sectional study from June 2010 to June 2011. Results: 1. HIV infection in MSM group in Khanh Hoa 2010: 1.3% (rural 0.6%, urban: 3.7%). Marriaged: 3.9%, single: 0.8%; MSM have sex only with men: 0.3%, MSM have sex with men and women: 3.7%. 2. 83.3% of MSM are single (urban more common than rural). The first sex partner: male 82.2%, female 14.9%. Having sex for pay: urban 29.9%, rural 19.3%. Having sex for enjoying: urban 49.5%, rural 71.8%. Conclusions: HIV infection in MSM group in Khanh Hoa 2010: 1.3% (rural 0.6%, urban: 3.7%). Marriaged: 3.9%, single: 0.8%. 83.3% of MSM are single (urban more common than rural). Having sex for enjoying: urban 49.5%, rural 71.8%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-317
Author(s):  
Eric PF Chow ◽  
Ei T Aung ◽  
Marcus Y Chen ◽  
Catriona S Bradshaw ◽  
Christopher K Fairley

The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with self-reported receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM aged 16–40 years attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia, for their first visit in 2016 were included in the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between self-reported HPV vaccination and sexual practices: one examining the sexual practices. A total of 1332 MSM with a mean age of 27.6 (standard error [SE] = 0.1) were included in the analysis. The mean number of reported male partners in the last 3 and 12 months was 4.0 (SE = 0.1) and 8.9 (SE = 0.4), respectively. Six percent ( n =  81) of MSM reported receiving the HPV vaccine. There was no significant association between sexual practices (the number of partners or condomless anal sex) and self-reported HPV vaccine receipt after adjusting for confounding factors such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). HIV-negative MSM taking PrEP were three times more likely to be vaccinated against HPV compared with HIV-negative MSM not taking PrEP in both multivariable analyses. Our findings suggest that there is no association between HPV vaccination and sexual risk practices in MSM.


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