Amanda Smith

Amy Lansky

Benotsch EG

Bowles KE

Bull SS

Carballo-Dieguez A

Damian Denson

Davis M

Elford J

Elizabeth DiNenno

Gallagher KM

Hall HI

Hidaka Y

Hirshfield S

Klausner JD

Liau A

MacKellar DA

McFarlane M

McKirnan D

Mills TC

Ross MW

Sanchez T

Sullivan PS

Tashima KT

Travis Sanchez

Open AIDS Journal


            Background:
                Internet-based sampling methods may reach men who have sex with men (MSM) who don’t attend physical venues frequented by MSM and may be at higher risk of HIV infection.
                
            
            Methods:            
                Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine characteristics of adult MSM participants in 2 studies conducted in the same 5 U.S. cities: the 2003-2005 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) which used sampling from physical MSM venues (e.g., bars, clubs) and the 2007 Web-based HIV Behavioral Surveillance (WHBS) pilot which used sampling through online banner advertisements.
                
            
            Results:                   
                Among 5024 WHBS MSM, 95% attended a physical MSM venue in the past 12 months, and 75% attended weekly. WHBS MSM who were black, aged 18-21 years, not college educated, bisexual- or heterosexual-identifying, and reported unknown HIV serostatus were less likely to have attended a physical MSM venue in the past 12 months (all p&lt;0.01). Compared to NHBS MSM, WHBS MSM were more likely to be white, younger, college-educated, report unknown HIV serostatus, report unprotected anal intercourse with a casual partner, and have first met that partner online (all p&lt;0.0001). WHBS MSM were less likely to have been under the influence of drugs during most recent sex (p=0.01) or not know their sex partner’s HIV serostatus (p&lt;0.0001).
                
            
            Conclusions:                 
                Many MSM recruited online also attended physical venues, but attendance varied by sub-group. Participants in WHBS and NHBS differed, and WHBS may represent a group of MSM at higher risk of HIV infection. These findings suggest that an internet-based method may be a useful supplement to NHBS.
             </jats:sec

Crossref

The Open AIDS Journal

Internet-Based Methods May Reach Higher-Risk Men who have Sex with
Men Not Reached Through Venue-Based Sampling§

Internet-Based Methods May Reach Higher-Risk Men who have Sex with Men Not Reached Through Venue-Based Sampling§

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