Casual Sex among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) during the Period of Sheltering in Place to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design, Population, Sampling, and Recruitment
2.2. Measures
- Sociodemographic information (age; gender identity; schooling; race/skin color; sexual orientation; type of current relationship; country; state; place of dwelling);
- Social welfare and coping in the period of social distancing;
- Sexual practices and activities during the pandemic, namely: sexual practice with a casual partner; sex with the use of drugs; threesome or group sex; sex without condom use; STIs protection strategies; sex frequency and protection measures against COVID-19; search for health services; testing and test result for COVID-19 (self-reported);
- Sexual practices and activities in the period prior to the pandemic: Use of PrEP and PEP; commonly used ways to search for partners; knowledge about STIs and HIV testing.
2.3. Analysis
2.4. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Brazil (N = 1651) | Portugal (N = 710) | Total (N = 2361) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Characteristics | n | % | n | % | n | % |
Gender identity | ||||||
Cisgender man | 1637 | 99.2 | 697 | 98.2 | 2334 | 98.9 |
Transgender man or non-binary | 14 | 0.8 | 13 | 1.8 | 27 | 1.1 |
Schooling | ||||||
<9 years | 340 | 20.6 | 152 | 21.4 | 492 | 20.8 |
>9 years | 1311 | 79.4 | 558 | 78.6 | 1869 | 79.2 |
Race/skin color | ||||||
Caucasian | 375 | 22.7 | 575 | 80.9 | 950 | 40.2 |
Non-Caucasian | 1276 | 77.3 | 135 | 19.1 | 1411 | 59.8 |
Lives in urban area | 1140 | 69.0 | 677 | 95.4 | 1817 | 77.0 |
Relationship status | ||||||
Single | 1143 | 69.2 | 584 | 82.3 | 1727 | 73.1 |
Monogamous | 480 | 29.1 | 86 | 12.1 | 566 | 24.0 |
Polyamorous | 28 | 1.7 | 40 | 5.6 | 68 | 2.9 |
Self-reported HIV status | ||||||
HIV negative | 1285 | 77.8 | 488 | 68.7 | 1773 | 75.1 |
HIV positive | 163 | 9.9 | 86 | 12.1 | 249 | 10.5 |
I do not know | 203 | 12.3 | 136 | 19.2 | 339 | 14.4 |
Tested for COVID-19 | 174 | 10.5 | 110 | 15.5 | 284 | 12 |
Diagnosed with COVID-19 | 90 | 5.5 | 13 | 1.8 | 103 | 4.4 |
Are you now sheltering in place? | ||||||
No | 74 | 4.5 | 26 | 3.7 | 100 | 4.2 |
Partially | 405 | 24.5 | 154 | 21.7 | 559 | 23.7 |
Yes | 1172 | 71.0 | 530 | 74.6 | 1702 | 72.1 |
For how long have you been sheltering? | ||||||
1 to 14 days | 60 | 3.6 | 54 | 7.6 | 114 | 4.8 |
15 to 29 days | 331 | 20.1 | 62 | 8.8 | 393 | 16.7 |
30 to 45 days | 1035 | 62.7 | 326 | 45.9 | 1361 | 57.6 |
More than 45 days | 225 | 13.6 | 268 | 37.7 | 493 | 20.9 |
How would you rate the impact that sheltering has had on your life? | ||||||
Low impact | 215 | 13.0 | 70 | 9.9 | 285 | 12.1 |
Average impact | 643 | 38.9 | 292 | 41.1 | 935 | 39.6 |
High impact | 793 | 48.0 | 348 | 49.0 | 1141 | 48.3 |
Usual type of sex partner | ||||||
Casual | 1155 | 70.0 | 413 | 58.2 | 1568 | 66.4 |
Steady | 291 | 17.6 | 40 | 5.6 | 331 | 14.0 |
Both casual and steady | 205 | 12.4 | 257 | 36.2 | 462 | 19.6 |
Lives with sex partner | 236 | 14.3 | 109 | 15.4 | 345 | 14.6 |
Usual ways respondent finds sex partners before period of sheltering | ||||||
Dating apps | 1285 | 77.8 | 544 | 76.6 | 1829 | 77.5 |
Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram | 560 | 33.9 | 286 | 40.3 | 846 | 35.8 |
Other sites | 446 | 27.0 | 173 | 24.4 | 619 | 26.2 |
Bars, clubs, bathhouses, cruising areas | 72 | 4.4 | 25 | 3.5 | 97 | 4.1 |
Does not search for partners | 292 | 17.7 | 98 | 13.8 | 390 | 16.5 |
Decreased number of sexual partners during sheltering | 1253 | 75.9 | 515 | 72.5 | 1768 | 74.8 |
In this sheltering period, would you say that… | ||||||
Your sexual frequency | ||||||
Decreased | 1188 | 72.0 | 615 | 86.6 | 1803 | 76.4 |
Did not change | 364 | 22.0 | 66 | 9.3 | 430 | 18.2 |
Increased | 99 | 6.0 | 29 | 4.1 | 128 | 5.4 |
Your interaction with social media | ||||||
Decreased | 117 | 7.1 | 248 | 34.9 | 365 | 15.5 |
Did not change | 357 | 21.6 | 136 | 19.2 | 493 | 20.9 |
Increased | 1177 | 71.3 | 326 | 45.9 | 1503 | 63.6 |
Your alcohol consumption | ||||||
Decreased | 705 | 42.7 | 384 | 54.1 | 1089 | 46.1 |
Did not change | 608 | 36.8 | 212 | 29.9 | 820 | 34.7 |
Increased | 338 | 20.5 | 114 | 16.0 | 452 | 19.2 |
During sheltering, the respondent | ||||||
Had casual sex | 875 | 53.0 | 377 | 53.1 | 1252 | 53.0 |
Sought to pay for sex | 63 | 3.8 | 9 | 1.3 | 72 | 3.0 |
Had sex with 2 or more people at the same time | 259 | 15.7 | 113 | 15.9 | 372 | 15.8 |
Had sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol | 777 | 47.1 | 143 | 20.1 | 920 | 39.0 |
Had unprotected anal sex with a new/casual partner | 576 | 34.9 | 142 | 20.0 | 718 | 30.4 |
To protect from COVID-19, the respondent | ||||||
Took general/basic protective measures (e.g., using a face mask and hand sanitizer) | 423 | 25.6 | 187 | 26.3 | 610 | 25.8 |
Asked if the partner was sheltering | 513 | 31.1 | 212 | 29.9 | 725 | 30.7 |
Asked if the partner had symptoms | 452 | 27.4 | 197 | 27.7 | 649 | 27.5 |
Avoided kissing during sex | 219 | 13.3 | 164 | 23.1 | 383 | 16.2 |
Washed hands with soap and water for at least 20 s before and after sex | 450 | 27.3 | 202 | 28.5 | 652 | 27.6 |
Cleaned the place where they had sex before and after sex | 209 | 12.7 | 136 | 19.2 | 345 | 14.6 |
Used PrEP/Truvada | 191 | 11.6 | 110 | 15.5 | 301 | 12.7 |
Used a condom for anal sex | 403 | 24.4 | 114 | 16.1 | 517 | 21.9 |
Did not adopt any strategy | 610 | 36.9 | 247 | 34.8 | 857 | 36.3 |
Factors | Categories | OR | 95% CI | aOR | 95% CI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brazil | |||||
Sought to pay for sex | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 2.7 | 1.5–4.8 | 0.4 | 0.2–1.1 | |
Sex with ≥2 at the same time (group sex) | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 10.0 | 6.6–15.1 | 2.1 | 1.3–3.4 | |
Live in urban area | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 1.4 | 1.1–1.7 | 1.6 | 1.1–2.2 | |
Self-reported impact of sheltering on daily life | |||||
Low | 1 | ||||
Average | 1.2 | 0.9 -1.5 | 2.2 | 1.5–3.2 | |
High | 1.1 | 0.8–1.4 | 3.0 | 1.1–8.3 | |
Type of sex partner(s) usually: | |||||
Steady partner | 1 | ||||
Casual and steady partner | 3.3 | 2.2–4.8 | 1.6 | 0.9–2.8 | |
Casual partner | 1.5 | 1.2–2.0 | 2.5 | 1.8–3.5 | |
Did you use a condom during sex? | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 0.4 | 0.3–0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4–0.9 | |
Decrease in the number of partners during sheltering | |||||
Yes | 1 | ||||
No | 21.3 | 15.0–30.4 | 6.5 | 4.2–10.0 | |
Portugal | |||||
Usually used Facebook to find partners | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 3.0 | 2.2–4.2 | 4.6 | 3.0–7.2 | |
Did not seek partners | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 0.5 | 0.4–0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1–0.5 | |
For how long have you been in isolation? | |||||
15–29 days | 1 | ||||
30–45 days | 0.5 | 0.3–0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1–0.4 | |
>45 days | 0.8 | 0.4–1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2–0.8 | |
Not in isolation | 0.5 | 0.3–1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1–0.8 | |
Decrease in the number of partners during sheltering | |||||
Yes | 1 | ||||
No | 1.2 | 0.9–1.6 | 3.8 | 2.9 – 5.9 | |
Usually found partners at bars, clubs, bathhouses, etc | |||||
No | 1 | ||||
Yes | 2.3 | 1.6–3.3 | 5.4 | 3.2 – 8.9 | |
Impact of isolation on daily life: | |||||
Low | 1 | ||||
Average | 0.8 | 0.5–1.4 | 0.7 | 0.3–1.7 | |
High | 3.1 | 1.9–5.4 | 3.0 | 1.3–6.7 | |
Self-reported HIV status | |||||
Negative | 1 | ||||
Positive | 10.4 | 4.9–22.0 | 11.7 | 4.7–29.2 | |
Does not know | 0.9 | 0.8–1.1 | 1.4 | 0.7–2.3 |
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de Sousa, A.F.L.; de Oliveira, L.B.; Queiroz, A.A.F.L.N.; de Carvalho, H.E.F.; Schneider, G.; Camargo, E.L.S.; de Araújo, T.M.E.; Brignol, S.; Mendes, I.A.C.; Fronteira, I.; et al. Casual Sex among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) during the Period of Sheltering in Place to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063266
de Sousa AFL, de Oliveira LB, Queiroz AAFLN, de Carvalho HEF, Schneider G, Camargo ELS, de Araújo TME, Brignol S, Mendes IAC, Fronteira I, et al. Casual Sex among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) during the Period of Sheltering in Place to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(6):3266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063266
Chicago/Turabian Stylede Sousa, Alvaro Francisco Lopes, Layze Braz de Oliveira, Artur Acelino Francisco Luz Nunes Queiroz, Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho, Guilherme Schneider, Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo, Telma Maria Evangelista de Araújo, Sandra Brignol, Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes, Inês Fronteira, and et al. 2021. "Casual Sex among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) during the Period of Sheltering in Place to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6: 3266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063266