Abstract
Group sex is relatively common among gay men, and is a likely risk factor for infection with HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STI). The 5,432 participants in the 2008 Gay Community Periodic Survey in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, were asked about their participation in group sex. Nearly half (44.0%) of those who reported sex with casual male partners in the previous 6 months also reported engaging in group sex. Among other factors, using drugs odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) (OR = 1.89, CI = 1.61–2.21), being HIV-positive (OR = 1.62, CI = 1.13–2.32), and engaging in anal intercourse, both with a condom (OR = 3.03, CI = 2.46–3.73) and without a condom (OR = 5.68, CI = 4.53–7.12) were independently associated with having engaged in group sex. This study suggests that gay men who engage in group sex represent an important priority for targeted HIV and STI prevention activities and research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Prestage GP, Hudson J, Down I, Bradley J, Corrigan N, Hurley M, Grulich AE, McInnes D. Gay men who engage in group sex are at increased risk of HIV infection and onward transmission. AIDS Behav. 2009;13(4):724–30. doi:10.1007/s10461-008-9460-7.
Halkitis PN, Green KA, Mourgues P. Longitudinal investigation of methamphetamine use among gay and bisexual men in New York City: findings from Project BUMPS. J Urban Health. 2005;82(1):18–25.
Crosby R, Mettey AA. Descriptive analysis of HIV risk behavior among men having sex with men attending a large sex resort. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004;37(4):1496–9.
Kippax S, Campbell D, Van De Ven P, Crawford J, Prestage GP, Knox S, Culpin A, Kaldor J, Kinder P. Cultures of sexual adventurism as markers of HIV seroconversion: a case control study in a cohort of Sydney gay men. AIDS Care. 1998;10:677–88.
Phang CW, Hocking J, Fairley CK, Bradshaw C, Hayes P, Chen MY. More than just anal sex: the potential for sexually transmitted infection transmission among men visiting sex-on-premises venues. Sex Transm Infect. 2008;84(3):217–9.
Smith G, Worth H, Kippax S. Sexual adventurism among Sydney gay men. Monograph. University of NSW, Sydney:National Centre in HIV Social Research; 2004.
Van de Ven P, Mao L, Prestage G. Gay Asian men in Sydney resist international trend: no change in rates of unprotected anal intercourse, 1999–2002. AIDS Educ Prev. 2004;16(1):1–12.
Crosby R, Di Clemente RJ, Mettey A. Correlates of recent unprotected anal sex among men having sex with men attending a large sex resort in the South. Sex Transm Dis. 2003;30(12):909–13.
Di franceisco W, Ostrow DG, Chmiel JS. Sexual adventurism, high-risk behaviour, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 seroconversion among the Chicago MACS-CCS Cohort, 1984 to 1992, a case–control study. Sex Transm Dis. 1996;23:453–60.
Morris M, Kretzschmar M. Concurrent partnerships and the spread of HIV. AIDS. 1997;11(5):641–8.
Sowell RL, Lindsey C, Spicer T. Group sex in gay men, its meaning and HIV prevention implications. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 1998;9(3):59.
Hurley M, Prestage GP. Intensive sex partying among gay men in Sydney. Culture Health and Sexuality 2009; June 3:1. doi:10.1080/13691050902721853.
Schilder AJ, Lampinen TM, Miller ML, Hogg RS. Crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy differ in relation to unsafe sex among young gay men. Can J Public Health. 2005;96(5):340–3.
Frankland A, Zablotska I, Prestage G, Batrouney C, Kennedy M, Clift P, Nixon R, de Wit J. Melbourne gay community periodic survey: 2008. National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales Sydney; 2008 (GCPS 3/2008) http://nchsr.arts.unsw.edu.au/pdf%20reports/Melbourne2008.pdf.
Prestage G, Jin F, Zablotska I, Imrie J, Kaldor JM, Grulich AE. Trends in HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men in Eastern Australia states. Sex Health. 2008;5(2):103–7.
Prestage G, Kippax S, Jin F, Frankland A, Imrie J, Grulich AE, Zablotska I. Does age affect sexual behaviour among gay men in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia? AIDS Care. 2008;21(9):1098–105.
Van de Ven P, Campbell D, Kippax S, Knox S, Prestage GP, Crawford J, Kinder P, Cooper D. Gay men who engage repeatedly in unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners: the Sydney men and sexual health study. Int J STD AIDS. 1998;9:336–40.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the New South Wales Health Department (Sydney), the Victorian Department of Human Services (Melbourne), and the Queensland Health Department (Brisbane). The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, and the National Centre in HIV Social Research, are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. We also thank the AIDS Council of New South Wales, PLWHA (NSW), the Victorian AIDS Council, PLWHA (Victoria), the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, and Queensland Positive People for collaboration with the project, and the men who have participated in the Gay Community Periodic Surveys over the years.
Conflict of Interest
All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prestage, G., Down, I., Grulich, A. et al. Sex Partying Among Gay Men in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia. AIDS Behav 15, 298–304 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9824-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9824-7