Individual, interpersonal, and situational factors influencing HIV and other STI risk perception among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). While levels of self-perceived risk of HIV or other STI acquisition has been well-established as a factor that is positively associated with HIV or other STI testing, less effort has been made to identify the processes through which GBMSM assess their perceived risk of HIV or other STI acquisition. We conducted a qualitative study exploring the factors influencing self-perceived risk of HIV or other STI among GBMSM. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 self-identified GBMSM in Singapore from October 2017 to June 2018, and the data were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Participants reported drawing on individual factors including their own sexual health knowledge and past experiences of risk, interpersonal factors including their sexual partners’ attributes or characteristics and perceived trust and familiarity with their sexual partners, and situational factors including the venue and familiarity with such venues where sexual activity took place, in determining their self-perceived risk of HIV or other STI acquisition. The results of this study have implications for HIV and other STI risk education.

KEYWORDS:

• Risk assessment
• MSM
• health promotion
• qualitative
• Singapore

Acknowledgements

The study team would like to thank all the participants who took part in the study. We would like to thank Action for AIDS Singapore and The Purple Alliance for their assistance in recruiting participants for the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National University of Singapore.