Sexual risk factors related to lack of HIV-screening in people attending erotic industry shows

ABSTRACT

The current aim of the fight against the HIV epidemic is to reduce the proportion of missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis. Erotic industry Shows (ES) were deemed to be appropriate events to organize awareness campaigns and to propose HIV Rapid Diagnostic Test (HIV-RDT) to people who are sexually active and likely to engage in unsafe sex practices. In 2015, a cross-sectional study in 4 ES was conducted to document the sexual risk factors associated with HIV-screening test approach and the proportion of positive HIV-RDT. Prevention booths were set up to offer HIV-screening to individuals ≥18 years volunteers for HIV-RDT and to respond to a validated anonymous self-reported questionnaire. In 4 ES, 943 participants were questioned and tested, mainly men (64%), young (mean age 30 years old), living as a couple (63.7%). A large majority (95.1%) reported sexual intercourse over the last year. The mean number of partners was 4.8. About 2/3 had unprotected sex. 37.5% had never been tested and had their first test during this campaign. The 430 participants who reported no previous HIV-testing during the last 5 years more frequently declared heterosexual intercourse (OR: 2.31), identifying as a male (OR: 1.82), having transactional sex (OR: 1.92), living as a couple (OR: 1.67), having fewer sexual partners (OR: 1.06) and being younger (OR = 1.02). Three people (0.32%) were tested positive for the HIV-RDT; linkage with care was ensured for confirmatory test. This innovative and original intervention showed for the first time the usefulness of HIV-screening and awareness campaigns, in fun and commercial backdrop event. Individuals who had never been HIV-tested and who had no intention of doing so before this campaign were reached and engaged. ES are potential new locations to get HIV information and screening, to tackle sexual health-related issues and reflect on sexual risk behaviors.

KEYWORDS:

• Erotic industry show
• HIV
• screening
• sexuality
• behavior

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all participants. They wish to thank the following associations, HIV networks and screening centers for their investment in this study: AIDES, l’Abri, COREVIH Ile-de-France Sud, COREVIH Lyon Vallée-du-Rhône, Institut Albert Fournier, Médecins du Monde, Rainbhôpital and Virages Santé.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest concerning this article.

ORCID

Patricia Enel http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1932-0533

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and vaccines. The funders had no role in the design, methods, subject recruitment, data collection, analysis and preparation of the paper.