HIV Risk Behaviors and the Use of Geosocial Networking Dating Apps among Men Who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru: a Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: AIDS and behavior 2024-08, Vol.28 (8), p.2547-2558
• Main Authors: McQuade, Elizabeth, Sánchez, Hugo, Hidalgo, José, Cabello, Robinson, Fernandez, Rosario, Jones, Jeb, Duerr, Ann, Lankowski, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol; Anal intercourse; Anal sex; Bivariate analysis; Causality; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dating services; Female; Gays & lesbians; Gender; Health Psychology; Health risks; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Men who have sex with men; Mens health; Middle Aged; Mobile Applications; Networking; Original Paper; Peru - epidemiology; Population studies; Populations; Public Health; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk analysis; Risk behavior; Risk taking; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Sexual and Gender Minorities - statistics & numerical data; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Networking; Social networks; STD; Substance abuse; Surveys and Questionnaires; Technology; Transgender persons; Transgender Persons - psychology; Transgender Persons - statistics & numerical data; Vulnerability; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04362-7

Geosocial networking dating apps (GSN apps) are an increasingly widespread technology used by populations throughout the world to facilitate sexual encounters. Studies from a variety of settings suggest a possible association between GSN app use and HIV risk behaviors, including among sexual and gender minority populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW). However, it remains unclear to what extent GSN apps play a causal role. We explored the relationship between GSN app use and sexual risk behaviors among MSM and TW in Lima, Peru by analyzing data from a multi-site cross-sectional survey assessing both general and partner-specific sexual behaviors. We performed bivariate analysis to estimate the association of GSN app use with different individual and partner-specific factors, then fit multivariable regression models adjusting for age and education. Among 741 total participants (698 MSM, 43 TW), 64% met at least one sex partner in the prior three months using a GSN app. GSN app users were significantly more likely to report engaging in HIV risk behaviors in general , including condomless receptive anal sex, group sex, transactional sex, and sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Having condomless anal sex with a given partner was not associated with meeting that partner via GSN app. These findings highlight GSN app users as a particularly vulnerable subpopulation among MSM and TW in Lima. GSN apps could provide a useful vehicle for targeted HIV prevention efforts for priority populations in Peru.