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Correlates of Group Sex Among a Community-Based Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in Washington, DC

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Abstract

Participation of MSM in group sex events (GSEs) is an understudied phenomenon. Studies on GSEs identified significant proportions of MSM engaging in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). We sought to identify the prevalence of group sex participation among MSM in Washington, DC and to characterize these experiences. Data were collected for NHBS-MSM-3 in 2011. More than one-quarter of MSM (27.2 %) reported engaging in group sex in the prior year, with one-third reporting no condom use with their sex partners (33.0 %). In multivariable logistic regression, men who participated in a GSE in the prior year were significantly younger, more likely to be white, and to have used crystal meth, poppers, and downers in the past year. The high prevalence of UAI during GSEs, especially in view of the fact that HIV-positive MSM were significantly less likely to report condom use, offers an opportunity to develop risk reduction interventions specific to GSE attendees.

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Acknowledgments

For their assistance and expertise throughout the study, the authors acknowledge Dr. Elizabeth DiNenno, Dr. Alexa Oster, Dr. Gabriela Paz-Bailey, and Dr. Isa Miles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the WORD UP Community Advisory Board Members; and interviewers Alice Cates, Megan Condrey, Avery Barber, Cody Barnett, Luz Montanez, Ashley Rowe, Richard Teran, and Ann Vannavong. This study could not have been conducted without the enormous support of our community partners and the venue owners and managers at all the sampled locations. For their participation in and support of NHBS, the study team would like to acknowledge the participants of the study and the citizens of DC, without whom this study would not have been possible.

Funding Source

This study was funded by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC DOH), HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA), Contract Number DCPO-2011-C-0073, funded in part by Grant Number PS000966-01, from the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All co-authors have reviewed and approved of the final draft of the paper including those from DC DOH/HAHSTA. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of DHHS/CDC and responsibility for the content rests solely with the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2100-W Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 800, Washington, DC, 20037, USA

    Gregory Phillips II, Manya Magnus, Irene Kuo, Anthony Rawls, James Peterson & Alan E. Greenberg

  2. District of Columbia Department of Health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    Tiffany West-Ojo, Yujiang Jia & Jenevieve Opoku

Authors
  1. Gregory Phillips II
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  2. Manya Magnus
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  3. Irene Kuo
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  4. Anthony Rawls
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  5. James Peterson
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  6. Tiffany West-Ojo
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  7. Yujiang Jia
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  8. Jenevieve Opoku
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  9. Alan E. Greenberg
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Correspondence to Gregory Phillips II.

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Phillips, G., Magnus, M., Kuo, I. et al. Correlates of Group Sex Among a Community-Based Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) in Washington, DC. AIDS Behav 18, 1413–1419 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0527-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0527-8

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