Grant: Operating Grant - HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General

Gay, bisexual, two-spirit and other men who have sex with men (GB2M) are increasingly using the Internet and mobile applications to seek sexual partners and health information. However, GB2M's use of online social-sexual networking sites is associated with increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Fortunately, the vast majority of GB2M hold favourable attitudes towards online health promotion and online outreach services. The purpose of the proposed research is to establish Canada's first prospective observational mixed-method cohort focused on sex- and health-seeking practices of GB2M who use online sociosexual sites and apps. Focused on groups of GB2M who are traditionally under-represented in research, this study will explore 2 research questions: 1) What key factors affect sexual risk in relation to prevention services and health care access and use? 2) Why and when do GB2M seek online outreach, how do they experience it, and what effect does it have? Our community-academic partnership has collaboratively articulated two hypotheses: 1) GB2M who experience online outreach will be less likely to subsequently report sexual practices with significant risk of HIV transmission, and 2) that GB2M who experience online outreach will be more likely to have HIV/STI testing following an event with significant risk of HIV/STI transmission. A total of 525 participants will be asked to complete a baseline questionnaire and online weekly diaries for three months. A sub-set of 100 participants, purposively recruited to ensure diversity, will also complete semi-structured interviews focused on perceptions of, barriers to, and desires for online outreach and HIV/STI testing and care. The quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed with consideration to different behavioural and demographic profiles of GB2M. Improved guidelines for online health promotion, outreach, and care will be produced and distributed widely to those interested.