Study on the use of social networks to find sex partners in men who have sex with men and some related factors in Can Tho city in 2021

Abstract

Background: Social media is becoming increasingly widely used and is accompanied by the growing popularity of the development of apps for men who have sex with men (MSM). Besides the traditional approach at fixed locations, now MSM is shifting to an environment of communication via the internet. Because of the wide accessibility, the anonymity of the users, making it more convenient and efficient to find a sex partners. Many concerns have been raised about unsafe sexual behaviors and the risk of HIV infection from encounters through this form. Objectives: To describe the current state of social media use of social media in finding sex partners in the MSM group and some related factors in Can Tho city in 2021. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study had analyzed from 216 MSM 16 years of age or older in Can Tho city in 2021. Results: The rate of use of social media to find sex partners in the MSM group was 66.7%. Some related factors: The 16-25 years old group had a 0.231 times lower rate of sex partners find through social media than the over 25-year-old group (95% CI: 0.093-0.574); the pupil/student group had a 0.451 times lower rate of sex partners find through social media than the income group (95% CI: 0.252-0.803); the group used drugs used social media to find sex partners was 1.975 times higher than the non- drug group (95% CI: 1.029-3.789); group with only one sex partner are less to use social media to find sex partners than group with two or more sex partners, a 0.214 times lower (95% CI: 0.110- 0.416). Conclusions: The rate of finding sex partners through social media is quite high. Local HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities should strengthen the provision of services titled HIV/AIDS prevention through MSM-aligned social networks, contributing to reducing the rates of new HIV/AIDS infection in this group.