15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. WeOrD1335)

Carballo-Dieguez A, Shedlin M, Dowsett G, Remien R, Lin P, Dolezal C, Balan I, Ventuneac A
HIV Center, Columbia University and NYSPI, New York, United States

BACKGROUND: Gay men use the Internet to seek sexual partners willing to intentionally engage in unprotected anal sex. Our study seeks to understand the psychosocial and contextual variables at play in these virtual encounters.

METHODS: In Phase I of our study, we systematically selected six popular Internet sites used by men in New York City who are interested in bareback sex. Using new methodology specifically developed for this study, we conducted ethnographic explorations of each site recording a) description of the sites (e.g., how they are organized, their technical capabilities, types of services offered, commercial links); b) verbal narratives (e.g., type of information members offer about themselves, jargon, erotic ontent); c) non-verbal material (e.g., icons, pictures, "marketing" tools); and d) live interactions (e.g., chat rooms discussions).

RESULTS: A large number of men who have sex with men in New York City logon regularly to Internet sites that cater to barebacking. In some sites, bareback chat-room are concealed and require that users know how to find them. In other sites, access to a variety of services for barebackers is readily available and built-in search features facilitate quick selection of potential sexual partners by location, sexual-role preference, physical and racial traits, substance use, serostatus, and other characteristics. The architecture of the sites varies greatly, as do the commercial links embedded in them. We analyze the interaction between these virtual environments in which the encounters take place, the personas created by the users, and ultimately the type of sexual behavior that follows. The latter will be explored further in Phase II of our study consisting of face-to-face interviews of 120 barebackers.

CONCLUSIONS: In the past, careful study of bathhouses contributed to our understanding of risk behavior and ways to decrease HIV transmission. At this time, it is crucial to understand the bareback scene in the Internet as pre-requisite for the development of prevention activities for our time.

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