Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Eurosurveillance, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
R C Berg (
)<SUP>1</SUP>, R Tikkanen<SUP>2</SUP>, M W Ross<SUP>3</SUP>
Citation style for this article: Berg RC, Tikkanen R, Ross MW. Barebacking among men who have sex with men recruited through a Swedish website: associations with sexual activities at last sexual encounter. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(13)
ii=20438. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20438
Date of submission: 17 April 2012 <HR>http://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_fig.jpghttp://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_tab1.jpghttp://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_tab2.jpgThe research topic of barebacking emerged in the mid-1990s. Since then, a multitude of studies, largely from the United States, have produced invaluable knowledge of factors that help explain the behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM), and that may contribute to HIV risk reduction programming and advice to counsellors working with barebackers. Given the scant empirical research about barebacking among European MSM, we conducted a survey among 3,634 MSM recruited through a web community in Nordic countries. The objectives of the study were twofold: to describe the sexual activities associated with barebacking behaviour at last sexual encounter, and to evaluate the relationship of barebacking with relevant variables. Men who reported barebacking (n=356) and men who did not (n=3,278) were compared. On the basis of the results of the analyses, the socio-sexual profile of barebackers drawn was one that is at increased risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections due to their sexual practices, particularly unprotected anal intercourse, but also group sex and rimming. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of engaging in barebacking was higher for MSM who reported more frequent HIV testing (odds ratio (OR)=5.16), a higher number of female sex partners (OR=16.80), using gay cruising places (OR=1.51) and gay chat rooms (OR=2.11).
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Eurosurveillance, Volume 18, Issue 13, 28 March 2013
Research articles
Barebacking among men who have sex with men recruited through a Swedish website: associations with sexual activities at last sexual encounter
Research articles
Barebacking among men who have sex with men recruited through a Swedish website: associations with sexual activities at last sexual encounter
R C Berg (
- The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for Health Services, Oslo, Norway
- University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- University of Texas, Houston, United States of America
Citation style for this article: Berg RC, Tikkanen R, Ross MW. Barebacking among men who have sex with men recruited through a Swedish website: associations with sexual activities at last sexual encounter. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(13)
ii=20438. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20438 Date of submission: 17 April 2012 <HR>http://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_fig.jpghttp://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_tab1.jpghttp://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V18N13/Berg_tab2.jpgThe research topic of barebacking emerged in the mid-1990s. Since then, a multitude of studies, largely from the United States, have produced invaluable knowledge of factors that help explain the behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM), and that may contribute to HIV risk reduction programming and advice to counsellors working with barebackers. Given the scant empirical research about barebacking among European MSM, we conducted a survey among 3,634 MSM recruited through a web community in Nordic countries. The objectives of the study were twofold: to describe the sexual activities associated with barebacking behaviour at last sexual encounter, and to evaluate the relationship of barebacking with relevant variables. Men who reported barebacking (n=356) and men who did not (n=3,278) were compared. On the basis of the results of the analyses, the socio-sexual profile of barebackers drawn was one that is at increased risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections due to their sexual practices, particularly unprotected anal intercourse, but also group sex and rimming. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of engaging in barebacking was higher for MSM who reported more frequent HIV testing (odds ratio (OR)=5.16), a higher number of female sex partners (OR=16.80), using gay cruising places (OR=1.51) and gay chat rooms (OR=2.11).