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Gender Matters: Condom Use and Nonuse Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men

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Abstract

Although frequently cited as being at high risk for HIV/STI transmission, little is known about behaviorally bisexual men’s patterns and experiences of condom use and nonuse with male and female sexual partners. Using a variety of recruitment techniques informed by a Community Advisory Committee, a total of 77 behaviorally bisexual men were recruited from Indianapolis, Indiana to participate in semi-structured interviews focused on sexual health. Qualitative data were collected containing detailed information on their patterns and experiences of condom use and nonuse with both male and female partners. Participants described numerous commonly reported barriers for consistent condom use, as well as distinct bisexual-specific barriers. The majority reported consistent condom use with male and female casual partners, but many who did not use condoms described doing so in the context of ongoing relationships. In addition, participants provided reasons for condom use and nonuse that varied based on the gender of the partner and the type of relationship with the partner. Future interventions focused on increasing condom use among behaviorally bisexual men should take into account the unique complexities of gender and relationship configurations in this distinct population.

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Notes

  1. A copy of the semi-structured interview guide is available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health (R21 HD059494, Brian Dodge, Ph.D., Principal Investigator). We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the members of the study’s Community Advisory Committee, who guided the researchers throughout the study process. We are also grateful to Dr. Shari Dworkin and the anonymous reviewers who provided thoughtful feedback on earlier drafts of the article. The final paper has been greatly improved as a result of their insights and expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Department of Applied Health Science, SPH 116, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Randolph D. Hubach, Brian Dodge, Gabriel Goncalves, Michael Reece & J. Dennis Fortenberry

  2. Student Health Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    David Malebranche

  3. Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Barbara Van Der Pol

  4. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA

    Omar Martinez

  5. Department of Health & Kinesiology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Phillip W. Schnarrs

  6. Step Up, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Ryan Nix

  7. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    J. Dennis Fortenberry

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  1. Randolph D. Hubach
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  2. Brian Dodge
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  3. Gabriel Goncalves
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  4. David Malebranche
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  5. Michael Reece
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  6. Barbara Van Der Pol
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  7. Omar Martinez
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  8. Phillip W. Schnarrs
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  9. Ryan Nix
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  10. J. Dennis Fortenberry
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Correspondence to Brian Dodge.

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Hubach, R.D., Dodge, B., Goncalves, G. et al. Gender Matters: Condom Use and Nonuse Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men. Arch Sex Behav 43, 707–717 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0147-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0147-4

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