Public Sex, HIV Prevention and Law Enforcement

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 etter 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. (C) 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.