Risk behaviors for HIV infection. A review of emerging trends.

Yasel Manuel Santiesteban Díaz,Solon Alberto Orlando-Narváez,Rafael Ballester-Arnal

doi:10.1590/1413-81232018244.02322017

Abstract

HIV infection, acquired with the conscious participation of the recipient, is a complex problem of international concern, especially among men who have sex with men. Behaviors emerge such as bareback (intentionally unprotected anal sex between men) and bugchasing (bareback sex when one participant is HIV+ and the other is not). A group of emerging risk behaviors for HIV infection was characterized. A review of the literature in the MEDLINE, Web of Science and regional SciELO databases was performed. HIV-related search terms such as unprotected sex, barebacking/bareback and bug chasing, were used. Bareback and bug chaser behaviors occur, among other factors, through social homonegativity, ART positive coverage, insufficient prevention campaigns, search for new sensations and attempts to strengthen the relationship with the HIV+ member. Unprotected sex is primarily associated with having HIV/AIDS diagnoses, physical violence due to sexual orientation, viewing homosexual sex sites, and having bought or sold sex. It is necessary to work with individual behaviors that draw individuals close to infection.

Highlights

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been viewed from its social, economic and political realm and in its relationship with other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Most of these reports agree on addressing definitional issues and factors that may explain the popularity of unprotected barebacking sex
This paper collects a review of a group of behaviors that put health at risk, mainly of the population of men who have sex with other men around the world

Summary

Introduction

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been viewed from its social, economic and political realm and in its relationship with other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). There are still some gaps in the knowledge of the individual’s role, such as being vulnerable to acquire the infection, which could be summarized in a dynamic process involving different factors (social, environmental and cultural)[1]. Epidemiological trends since the mid-1990s suggest an alarming hike of unprotected sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM), a phenomenon found mainly in large homosexual communities[2,3]. These data show a gradual increase in HIV infections in this population at the time[4,5], especially among young gay and bisexual men[6,7]

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