The Internet and HIV study: design and methods.

Jonathan Elford,Graham Hart,Mark Davis,Graham Bolding,Lorraine Sherr

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-4-39

Abstract

BackgroundThe Internet provides a new meeting ground, especially for gay men, that did not exist in the early 1990s. Several studies have found increased levels of high risk sexual behaviour and sexually transmissible infections (STI) among gay men who seek sex on the Internet, although the underlying processes are not fully understood. Research funded by the UK Medical Research Council (2002–2004) provided the opportunity to consider whether the Internet represents a new sexual risk environment for gay and bisexual men living in London.MethodsThe objectives of the Internet and HIV study are to: (i) measure the extent to which gay men living in London seek sexual partners on the Internet; (ii) compare the characteristics of London gay men who do and do not seek sex on the Internet; (iii) examine whether sex with Internet-partners is less safe than with other sexual partners; (iv) compare use of the Internet with other venues where men meet sexual partners; (v) establish whether gay men use the Internet to actively seek partners for unprotected anal intercourse; (vi) determine the potential for using the Internet for HIV prevention. These objectives have been explored using quantitative and qualitative research methods in four samples of London gay men recruited and interviewed both online and offline. The four samples were: (i) gay men recruited through Internet chat rooms and profiles; (ii) HIV positive gay men attending an NHS hospital outpatients clinic; (iii) gay men seeking an HIV test in an NHS HIV testing or sexual health clinic; (iv) gay men recruited in the community.ResultsQuantitative data were collected by means of confidential, anonymous self-administered questionnaires (n>4000) completed on-line by the Internet sample. Qualitative data were collected by means of one-to-one interviews (n = 128) conducted either face-to-face or on-line.ConclusionThe strength of the Internet and HIV study is its methodological plurality, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative research among online and offline samples, as well as taking advantage of recent advances in web survey design. The study's findings will help us better understand the role of the Internet in relation to gay men's sexual practice

Highlights

The Internet provides a new meeting ground, especially for gay men, that did not exist in the early 1990s
Several studies have found elevated levels of high risk sexual behaviour among people who seek – and meet – sexual partners through the Internet [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] In a study conducted in a public HIV testing clinic in Denver, Colorado, for example, people who sought sex on the Internet were more likely to have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or report sexual exposure to a person with HIV than those who did not seek sex on the Internet [2]
While the study concluded that gay men were more likely than other participants to use the Internet to seek – and meet – sexual partners, it could not establish whether the excess sexual risk occurred with partners whom the men had met through the Internet

Summary

Introduction

The Internet provides a new meeting ground, especially for gay men, that did not exist in the early 1990s. Several studies have found elevated levels of high risk sexual behaviour among people who seek – and meet – sexual partners through the Internet [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] In a study conducted in a public HIV testing clinic in Denver, Colorado, for example, people who sought sex on the Internet were more likely to have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or report sexual exposure to a person with HIV than those who did not seek sex on the Internet [2] They were more likely to be male, gay and to report anal sex. The gay men in the study said that their online partners – men they met through the Internet – were more likely to be casual (ie a one night stand) than their offline partners – men they met elsewhere

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion