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Locating the Places People Meet New Sexual Partners in a Southern US City to Inform HIV/STI Prevention and Testing Efforts

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Abstract

Places where people meet new sex partners can be venues for the delivery of individual and environmental interventions that aim to reduce transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Using the Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) methodology we identified and characterized venues where people in a southeastern US city with high prevalence of both HIV and STI go to meet new sexual partners. A total of 123 community informants identified 143 public, private and commercial venues where people meet sex partners. Condoms were available at 14% of the venues, although 48% of venue representatives expressed a willingness to host HIV prevention efforts. Interviews with 373 people (229 men, 144 women) socializing at a random sample of 54 venues found high rates of HIV risk behaviors including concurrent sexual partnerships, transactional sex and illicit substance abuse. Risk behaviors were more common among those at certain venue types including those that may be overlooked by public health outreach efforts. The systematic methodology used was successful in locating venues where risky encounters are established and reveal opportunities for targeted HIV prevention and testing programs as well as research.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Sherri Harris, Willie Garrison, Nancy Jackson, and Anthony Anderson for their leadership in the field and insights into study findings; the NC PLACE Steering Committee members for guidance and support through the study planning, implementation, and dissemination; the NC PLACE Study interviewing team members for their diligence; and members of the University of North Carolina Bridges to Good Health and Treatment (BRIGHT) Working Group for their consistent support during NC PLACE field and data analysis activities, with particular thanks to Monique Williams, Tracina Williams, Danielle Haley, Becky Stephenson-White, Anna Scheyette, Carol Golin, and Andrew Kaplan. This study was supported by a grant from the University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research (9P30A150410) and the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH (R01 MH068719-01). The conclusions expressed here are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funders.

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Correspondence to David A. Wohl.

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We dedicate this research to the memories of Andrew Kaplan and Willie Garrison, who continue to inspire our efforts to prevent HIV transmission in North Carolina and beyond.

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Wohl, D.A., Khan, M.R., Tisdale, C. et al. Locating the Places People Meet New Sexual Partners in a Southern US City to Inform HIV/STI Prevention and Testing Efforts. AIDS Behav 15, 283–291 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9746-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9746-4

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