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Male Sex Workers in Spain: What has Changed in the Last Lustrum? A Comparison of Sociodemographic Data and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors (2010–2015)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the evolution of risky factors related to HIV infection among Male Sex Workers (MSW) in Spain between 2010 and 2015. Participants were 180 MSW: 100 in 2010 and 80 in 2015. Socio-demographic characteristics, condom use with clients and personal partners, and other aspects about HIV infection were explored (serostatus, HIV information, perceived risk and fear, and drug use). The proportion of Spanish MSW (nonimmigrants) (5.5 vs. 62.5 %), educational level (19.8 vs. 40.5 % reported university degree), and the percentage of self-identified as bisexual (20.2 vs. 55.8 %) increased in 2015, whereas the percentage of MSW who self-identified as sex workers (62 vs. 25.8 %) decreased. The percentage of condom use has decreased during oral sex (76.8 vs. 35.5 %), vaginal sex (97.6 vs. 50.7 %) and insertive (99.6 vs. 92.2 %) and receptive (99.7 vs. 93 %) anal sex. The proportion of MSW living with HIV climbed from 1.1 to 13.6 %. The possible influence of economic crisis over MSW’s profile changes in the 5-year period, and the necessity of more efficient health strategies based on culture and sexual orientation are discussed. The evolution observed indicates that this population is still at high risk for HIV and STI, therefore governmental resources have to be increased due the consequences among MSW and general society.

Resumen

El objetivo de este estudio es comparar la evolución de los factores de riesgo relacionados con la infección por VIH entre los Trabajadores Masculinos del Sexo (TMS) en España entre 2010 y 2015. Un total de 180 TMS participaron en el estudio: 100 en el año 2010 y 80 en 2015.Se exploró las características socio-demográficas, el uso del preservativo con los clientes y con sus parejas personales y otros aspectos sobre la infección por VIH (seroestatus, información sobre VIH, riesgo y temor percibido y uso de sustancias). La proporción de TMS españoles (no inmigrantes) (5.5 % vs. 62.5 %), el nivel educativo (19.8 % vs. 40.5 % informaron estudios universitarios), y el porcentaje de auto-definición como bisexuales (20.2 % vs. 55.8 %) incrementó en 2015, mientras que el porcentaje de TMS que se auto-identificaban como trabajador sexual (62 % vs. 25.8 %) disminuyó. El porcentaje de uso del condón disminuyó en sexo oral (76.8 % vs. 35.5 %), vaginal (97.6 % vs. 50.7 %) y anal insertivo (99.6 % vs. 92.2 %) y receptivo (99.7 % vs. 93 %). La proporción de TMS seropositivos aumentó del 1.1 % al 13.6 %.Se discute la posible influencia de la crisis económica en los cambios observado en el perfil de los TMS en esto cinco años y la necesidad de estrategias de salud más eficaces que tengan en cuenta la cultura y la orientación sexual. La evolución observada indica que esta población se encuentra todavía en situación de alto riesgo para el VIH y otras ITS, por lo que los recursos públicos deben incrementarse dadas las consecuencias entre los propios TMS y la población general.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

FD:

Free degree

HIV:

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

LGTBQ:

Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual, and Queer

MSM:

Men who have sex with other men

MSW:

Male sex workers

SPSS:

The Statistical Program for Social Sciences

STI:

Sexually transmitted infections

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the involvement of the participants in this research, MSW’s and the manager flats, especially Ángel. Moreover, we wish to thank the collaboration of Damián Albiach and Marina Valiente and the rest of memberships of the Col·lectiu Lambda Valencia (Spain).

Funding

This study has not been funded by any company.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Basic Psychology and Psychobiology, Unisexsida, Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, Avda. Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain

    R. Ballester-Arnal, P. Salmerón-Sánchez & J. Castro-Calvo

  2. Department of Developmental Psychology and Education, Faculty of Psychology, University of València, Valencia, Spain

    M. D. Gil-Llario

Authors
  1. R. Ballester-Arnal
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  2. P. Salmerón-Sánchez
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  3. M. D. Gil-Llario
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  4. J. Castro-Calvo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Salmerón-Sánchez.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in our study studies were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Jaume I University of Castellón (Spain) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Ballester-Arnal, R., Salmerón-Sánchez, P., Gil-Llario, M.D. et al. Male Sex Workers in Spain: What has Changed in the Last Lustrum? A Comparison of Sociodemographic Data and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors (2010–2015). AIDS Behav 21, 2295–2305 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1494-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1494-7

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