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Anal Douche Practices and Willingness to Use a Rectal Microbicide Enema for HIV Prevention and Associated Factors Among an Internet Sample of HIV-Negative and HIV-Discordant Male Couples in the US

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Abstract

A significant proportion of MSM acquire HIV from their primary relationship partners. Rectal microbicides are currently being studied to determine their efficacy for HIV prevention, yet willingness to use rectal microbicides among male couples is largely unknown. Dyadic data from 333 HIV-negative and HIV-discordant male couples, representing 631 HIV-negative men, were used to assess anal douching practices and willingness to use a rectal microbicide for HIV prevention. 17 % of men douched 100 % of the time before having anal sex within their primary partner. Among those who had sex outside of their relationship, 36 % had douched 100 % of the time before having anal sex with a casual MSM partner. Most men (63 %) indicated a willingness to use a theoretically effective rectal microbicide prior to anal sex for HIV prevention. If found effective, rectal microbicides delivered as an anal douche may be an acceptable format for HIV prevention to some MSM who already engage in anal douching. Understanding current douching practices will be important in successfully promoting the uptake of rectal microbicides.

Resumen

Una proporción significante de HSM adquiere VIH de su pareja principal. Microbicidas rectales son actualmente estudiadas para determinar la eficacia para la prevención del VIH, aunque la disposición de los hombres en el uso microbicidas rectales es gran mente desconocida. Datos duales de 333 negativos del VIH y parejas discordantes del VIH, representando 631 hombres negativos al VIH, fueron utilizados para evaluar practicas de duchas anales y disposición en el uso de microbicidas rectales para la prevención del VIH. 17 % de los hombres se ducharon 100 % de las veces antes de tener sexo anal con su pareja principal. Sobre estos que tuvieron sexo fuera de su relación, 36 % se ducharon 100 % de las veces antes de tener sexo anal con una pareja casual de HSM. La mayoría de los hombres (63 %) indicaron disposición al uso de un microbicida anal que son teóricamente efectivos y entregarlos de manera de una ducha anal sería un formato aceptable para la prevención del VIH para algunos HSH que ya están comprometidos al la practica de la ducha anal. El entendimiento de las actual duchas anales será importante para el éxito de promover la toma de microbicidas rectales.

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Acknowledgments

Data collection for this manuscript was supported by the center (P30-MH52776; PI Kelly J) and NRSA (T32-MH19985; PI Pinkerton S) grants from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors graciously thank the participants for their time and input.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 N.W. 14th Street, Suite 1021, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Jason W. Mitchell, Amber I. Sophus & Ji-Young Lee

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Andrew E. Petroll

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  1. Jason W. Mitchell
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Correspondence to Jason W. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, J.W., Sophus, A.I., Lee, JY. et al. Anal Douche Practices and Willingness to Use a Rectal Microbicide Enema for HIV Prevention and Associated Factors Among an Internet Sample of HIV-Negative and HIV-Discordant Male Couples in the US. AIDS Behav 20, 2578–2587 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1250-4

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