Comparison of risk behaviors and socio-cultural profile of men who have sex with men survey respondents recruited via venues and the internet

Abstract

Background

Increasingly more men who have sex with men (MSM) are using the internet to seek sex partners, and many HIV-related studies targeting MSM collect data from gay venues in order to inform the design of prevention programs. However, internet-based MSM may have different HIV risk behaviors and associated factors from those attending venues. This study examined differences in risk behaviors and socio-cultural profiles between MSM recruited from venues (e.g., gay bars/saunas) and from the internet respectively.

Methods

An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 566 Chinese MSM (340 recruited from gay-venues and 226 recruited from the internet) who self-reported having had anal or oral sex with another man in the last 12 months completed a structured questionnaire.

Results

Internet-based MSM were more likely than venue-based MSM to have engaged in unprotected anal intercourse (53.3% vs. 33.8%) or commercial sex (as clients: 12.8% vs. 5.3%; as sex workers: 6.2% vs. 1.5%), to have sought MSM partners from the internet (51.3% vs. 20.9%), and to have contracted sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the last 12 months (4.4% vs. 0.3%). On the other hand, internet-based MSM were less likely to have multiple sex partners (58.4% vs. 75.6%) and to have used psychoactive substances (7.1% vs. 15.6%) or drunk alcohol before sex (8.8% vs. 16.2%). Moreover, internet-based MSM reported poor acceptance of their own sexual orientation, felt more discriminated against, and received less social support than venue-recruited MSM.

Conclusions

Significant differences were observed between the two groups of MSM. Segmentation and targeted interventions are recommended when designing preventive interventions.

Background

The prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been increasing in different parts of the world [1–5]. Although venue-based sampling has frequently been used in studies targeting MSM [6–9], the internet is becoming a potentially useful and cost-effective option [10–13]. Internet-recruited MSM, as compared to venue-based MSM, were in general more likely to report different socio-demographic profiles and higher levels of risk behaviors such as unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) [14, 15], though mixed results have been reported [14–16]. Most studies investigating risk factors in association with UAI sampled MSM from gay-venues [e.g., 6,8,9] but it is unknown whether internet-based MSM have different risk factors. There is a dearth of data comparing risk factors among MSM recruited from different sampling spaces [11, 12, 14–16].

The HIV prevalence among MSM in Hong Kong, China in 2007 was around 4% [17], which is comparable to rates reported in some other Chinese cities [18]. A previous population-based study showed that around 2% of the general adult male population in Hong Kong self-reported having sex with men in the last 6 months and practicing risk behaviors such as UAI [19–21]. Moreover, a substantial proportion of MSM both in Hong Kong and in mainland China seek their male sex partners via gay venues or via the internet [20, 22] and MSM in Hong Kong are interacting intensively with MSM in other Chinese cities [21, 23].

The present study compared socio-cultural factors and levels of risk behaviors among Hong Kong MSM participants recruited via venue-based and internet-based sampling methods. The variables compared include socio-demographics, prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STD), risk behaviors, service utilization and socio-cultural characteristics. The associations between these factors and UAI were investigated separately for venue-based and internet-based participants and these 2 sets of factors were compared.

Methods

Study population and data collection

The study population comprised Chinese men aged between 18 and 60 years in Hong Kong who self-reported having engaged in anal or oral sex with men in the last 12 months. A total of 566 MSM completed an anonymous structured questionnaire - 340 were venue-based and 266 were internet-based. Venue-based MSM respondents were recruited via on-site convenience sampling from 4 gay bars, 2 gay saunas, and one beach frequently visited by local MSM. The same sampling method has been used in other similar studies [e.g., 9]. With verbal informed consent, face-to-face interviews were conducted by 3 well-trained peer interviewers between June and October, 2005. Each questionnaire took about 15 minutes to complete. An incentive of HK$50 (about 6.4US$) was offered to respondents for completion of the interview. The response rate, defined as the number of respondents completing the questionnaire divided by the number of eligible respondents invited to join the study, was approximately 64%.

During the same period, an identical anonymous self-administered online questionnaire (with the same briefing) was used to recruit participants from the internet. Peer workers of the project promoted the study and posted a URL link to the questionnaire on the discussion forums of local gay websites. These websites are popular and frequented by MSM in Hong Kong. The websites have chat-rooms, addresses of local gay venues, and partner-finding and other functions. Potential internet-based MSM respondents were asked to confirm eligibility before joining the study. Informed consent was implied by the return of completed questionnaires. No incentive was offered due to the lack of face-to-face contact and the anonymous nature of the study. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Measurements

Information on respondents' age, education level, employment status (whether working full-time), and self-identified sexual orientation (homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, or not certain) was collected. Respondents were asked whether they had been tested for HIV antibody or had received other types of HIV-related prevention services such as peer outreach education, condom and lubricant distribution, and educational messages on websites and magazines in the last 12 months. Three questions addressed HIV-related knowledge (see Table 1) and the number of items with appropriate responses was counted to create a binary variable (≤ 2 versus 3 appropriate answers). Three other questions (see Table 1) asked about participants' HIV-related perceptions, such as perceived susceptibility of acquiring HIV infection.

Table 1 Background characteristics of the respondents

Questions were also asked about participants' HIV-related behaviors in the last 12 months, including the number of MSM sex partners, having sex with different types of MSM partners, engagement in anal intercourse with MSM (and if so, whether condoms were used consistently during these sexual encounters), consumption of alcohol before having sex with MSM, use of psychoactive substances, and contraction of STD (Table 2).

Table 2 Sex partnerships, unprotected anal intercourse, substance use behaviors, and self-reported STD in the last 12 months

Five items assessed participants' level of self-acceptance for their MSM sexual orientation. Three items assessed participants' perceived discrimination against MSM. Five other items assessed participants' perceived social support toward their MSM behaviors. These items are listed in Table 3. The total number of responses indicating non-acceptance of own sexual orientation (≤ 2 versus 3 to 5 non-acceptance responses), perceived discrimination (≤ 2 versus 3 perceived discrimination responses), and perceived social support (≤ 3 versus 4 to 5 responses indicating social support) were used to form 3 binary indicator variables.

Table 3 Perceived rejection, self non-acceptance and social support in relation to MSM behaviors

Statistical analysis

Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to compare between-group differences (internet-recruited participants or Group I versus venue-recruited participants or Group V). As the independent variables listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 were inter-correlated, a summary multivariate model was fitted to identify variables that were independently associated with the mode of recruitment. Variables showing significant univariate between-group differences were used as candidate variables in a stepwise multivariate logistic regression model discriminating Group I versus Group V respondents. Separate univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors in association with UAI in the two groups (Group I and Group V). All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Window 14.0 and a p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results

Background characteristics

Results are summarized in Table 1. Compared to Group V respondents, Group I respondents were statistically more likely to have attended college or university (75.2% versus 62.6%), to not be working full-time (47.8% versus 20.6%), and to perceive condom use as being efficacious for HIV prevention (50.0% versus 36.2%). Group I respondents were less likely than Group V to have provided an appropriate response to the item concerning whether mouth-to-mouth kissing with an HIV-infected person could transmit HIV (27.9% versus 40.3%), and to perceive being moderately or highly susceptible to contracting HIV (24.8% versus 39.1%).

Risk behaviors and self-reported STD in the last 12 months

Group I respondents were more likely than Group V respondents to report certain risk behaviors, including having had sex with male sex workers (12.8% versus 5.3%), recruiting MSM sex partners from the internet (51.3% versus 20.9%), providing commercial sex services to other MSM (6.2% versus 1.5%), being inconsistent condom users during anal sex (53.3% versus 33.8%), and having contracted STD in the last 12 months (4.4% versus 0.3%; Table 2). The reverse was true for having had multiple MSM sex partners in the last 12 months (58.4% versus 75.6%), and use of psychoactive substances or alcohol prior to having sex in the last 12 months (psychoactive substances: 7.1% versus 15.6%; alcohol: 8.8% versus 16.2%; Table 2).

Socio-cultural variables

Group I respondents were more likely than Group V participants to have given "non-acceptance" responses to the 5 individual items assessing acceptance of their sexual orientation (univariate OR ranged from 2.14 to 3.14, p < 0.01) and to have provided ≥ 3 responses (out of 5) indicating non-acceptance of their sexual orientation (36.7% versus 18.2%, univariate OR = 2.60, p < 0.001; Table 3).

Of all respondents, respectively 62.5%, 62.7% and 65.3% reported perceiving a fair amount to a great deal of discrimination against MSM in Hong Kong, feeling discriminated against, or experiencing pressure from family/friends due to their sexual orientation (Table 3). Group I respondents were more likely than Group V respondents to have provided responses indicating perceived discrimination or social pressure to the aforementioned 3 items (univaraite OR ranged from 1.85 to 5.86, p < 0.01) and to have given responses indicating perceived discrimination/social pressure to all 3 questions (59.7% versus 24.7%; univariate OR = 4.52; Table 3).

With regard to the 5 individual items related to perceived social support, Group I participants were less likely than Group V respondents to have provided responses indicating the availability of social support (univariate OR ranged from 0.26 to 0.64, p < 0.05) or to have given ≥ 4 affirmative responses (out of 5) to the availability of social support (8.4% versus 21.2%, univariate OR = 0.34, p < 0.001; Table 3).

A multivariate summary model

The results showed that Group I respondents were more likely than Group V respondents to be not employed full-time (OR = 2.37), to have had sex with male sex workers in the last 12 months (OR = 3.44), to have recruited MSM sex partners via the internet in the last 12 months (OR = 7.62), to be inconsistent condom users during anal intercourse with MSM in the last 12 months (OR = 2.66), to self-report having contracted STD in the last 12 months (OR = 25.71), to be afraid of having others know about their sexual orientation (OR = 1.86), to perceive a fair amount/a great deal of discrimination against MSM in Hong Kong (OR = 2.91), and to feel discriminated against due to their sexual orientation (OR = 3.61). Group I respondents were less likely than Group V respondents to perceive moderate to very high susceptibility to contracting HIV in the future (OR = 0.56), to have multiple MSM sex partners in the last 12 months (OR = 0.25), and to have all or most of their friends being MSM (OR = 0.18; Table 4).

Table 4 A multivariate model predicting whether respondents are internet- or venue-recruited^#

Factors associated with UAI with MSM in the last 12 months among Group I and Group V respondents

The results showed that among Group I respondents, those whose best friends were supportive of their sexual orientation (OR = 1.94) and those having all or most friends being MSM (OR = 2.38) were more likely than others to have engaged in UAI with MSM in the last 12 months. Among Group V respondents, those who gave responses indicating perceived discrimination against MSM in all the 3 relevant items (OR = 2.33) and those whose best friends were supporting of their sexual orientation (OR = 1.97) were more likely than others to have engaged in UAI with MSM in the last 12 month, while the reverse was true for those aged 30 or above (OR = 0.54; Table 5).

Table 5 Factors associated with UAI in the last 12 months (among those having had anal sex) - Venue-recruited MSM (n = 272) & internet-recruited MSM (n = 182)

Discussion

Consistent with the results of some previous studies [14, 15, 20], internet-recruited MSM were more likely than their venue-recruited counterparts to have engaged in UAI and commercial sex, and to report having contracted STD in the last 12 months. The level of perceived HIV risk was however lower among internet-recruited MSM than among MSM recruited from venues. Different recruitment methods may therefore provide different results.

Internet-recruited MSM were less likely than venue-recruited MSM to have multiple MSM sex partners. It is possible that venue-goers meet many potential sex partners face-to-face in bars and saunas etc. and may end up having sex with some of them eventually, whilst internet-based sex networks are often constructed in a virtual reality. Sexual networks are important platforms for both HIV transmission [24, 25] and HIV interventions. Network-based interventions might be more feasible for venue-based respondents than for internet-based respondents. The problem of consuming psychoactive substances or alcohol prior to sexual intercourse was also more severe among venue-recruited MSM respondents than among internet-recruited respondents. Alcohol, drugs, and relevant peer pressure are more likely to prevail in venues. The findings of this study are consistent with those reported in other countries [14]. This suggests that venue-based campaigns should strengthen harm reduction of substance use and alcohol misuse.

Stating whether internet-based or venue-based respondents are at higher risk may oversimplify the issue. The two sampling methods may not be accessing a single population. Some but not all MSM can be accessed via both the internet and venues. Our data did not allow us to assess the degree of overlap. Our data, however, informed us that survey results of risk behaviors in MSM depend on the mode of data collection.

This study represents one of few attempts made to discern the socio-cultural profiles of venue-recruited and internet-recruited MSM. It can be seen that as compared to their counterparts recruited from venues, internet-recruited MSM respondents were less likely to disclose their sexual orientation to family members and to accept their own sexual orientation, and more likely to fear disclosing their sexual orientation to others, and to date/marry a woman in order to hide their sexual orientation. Implementation of face-to-face peer education may hence be more difficult and less feasible for internet-based MSM. Instead, internet-based empowerment efforts may be relevant for this group. Empowerment among MSM would increase condom use [26]. This study has also shown that only a minority of the participants, especially internet-based ones, had family or best friends who were supportive of their sexual orientation, possibly reflecting the severity of social stigma against MSM in Hong Kong.

Our findings indicated no significant between-group differences in service utilization rates. However, reservations and fear related to disclosing one's MSM identity might prevent some internet-recruited MSM from visiting gay venues. Since most MSM studies were based on venue-based sampling methods, the results of which were used to design programs targeting MSM in general, these programs may not be the most appropriate for internet-based MSM.

With respect to factors associated with UAI for venue-recruited and internet-recruited MSM respondents, perceived discrimination was significant for the former group but not the latter; the reverse was true for having some or all friends having MSM behaviors. Having best friends supporting one's MSM sexual orientation was significant for both groups. It is therefore seen that the two groups of MSM have both common and different factors associated with UAI. Social networks and social support may lead to both safer and riskier sexual behaviors [8, 24]. Having best friends to support one's sexual orientation was associated with UAI in both groups; the norm among their peers however may not favor condom use. Furthermore, internet-recruited respondents were relatively lacking in social support and may therefore be more affected by peer influences. This may explain partially why the variable related to having more MSM friends was significant in internet-recruited MSM but not the venue-recruited sample. It is however less clear why perceived discrimination matters in the latter group but not in the former group. Further research is required.

The present study has some limitations. Firstly, convenience-sampling was used as random sampling was not feasible. Many published MSM studies have used similar recruitment methods [e.g., 8]. Secondly, data were self-reported and may be subject to reporting bias, though most sex behavior studies are also self-reported [e.g., 8,14,19,21]. Respondents were assured of strict anonymity and privacy of the interviews. Thirdly, we did not ask about HIV status of the individuals. HIV positive individuals may have higher levels of risk behavior as compared to their HIV negative counterparts. An alternate explanation of our results may hence be due to a higher proportion of HIV positive MSM using the internet to seek sex partners or for sero-sorting. We cannot test this hypothesis with our results and further research is warranted. However, the involved website does not have any special contents catering HIV positive MSM and sero-sorting is unpopular in Hong Kong. HIV positive MSM are also not deferred from seeking partners from gay venues. Therefore, the bias should not be too serious. Fourthly, stronger social desirability bias may occur among venue-recruited participants as compared to internet-recruited participants, who did not need to face an interviewer. Fifthly, it is possible that a higher proportion of internet-recruited participants were living with a regular partner, with whom unprotected anal intercourse is usually more common than with casual partners. There also was a possibility of self-selection bias in the internet-recruited respondents. Finally, biological markers were not collected in this study.

Conclusions

The results of this study have implications on research survey methodology. They reinforce the claim that for HIV-related risk behavior studies, results are heavily dependent on the mode of data collection. Most of the published MSM studies are venue-based [e.g., 6,8] and their results should be interpreted with care. The relatively new respondent-driven sampling method (RDS) is meant to give probabilistic sampling estimates and has recently been applied to different MSM populations [e.g., 27]. Comparisons between venue-based, internet-based, and RDS survey results are warranted to understand potential impacts due to different sampling methods.

The study findings remind HIV workers that MSM are not a homogeneous group. According to the social marketing framework, segmentation is required for effective HIV prevention [28]. The "orientation-mix" of the segmented audience has to be sorted out for designing effective HIV intervention. Such does not seem to have been emphasized adequately in existing programs.