Public Sex, HIV Prevention and Law Enforcement

ABSTRACT

A sample of 98 men who cruised for sex in public places completed survey questionnaires related to: public sex background, HIV testing, interaction with police, HIV risk behaviors, and demographic information. Fifty-two percent had their first public sex encounter between the ages of 13–23, 76% had been tested for HIV, 15% were HIV positive, 27% had been arrested, and some men engage in sexual behaviors that pose a significant risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, e.g., anal sex w/o condoms. However, outreach efforts and harm reduction methods, where individuals are taught to reduce harmful behaviors, appear to have helped some research participants engage in better decision-making regarding public sex encounters. Continued intervention efforts are needed to assist men who have sex with men (MSM) in making healthful decisions in public sex environments.

Key Words:

• HIV/AIDS
• HIV disease
• public sex
• risky behaviors
• law enforcement
• HIV prevention
• cruising