Event-Level Analysis of Anal Sex Roles and Sex Drug Use among Gay & Bisexual Men in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This study analyzed event-level partnership data from a computer-assisted survey of 719 gay and bisexual men (GBM) enrolled in the Momentum Health Study to delineate potential linkages between anal sex roles and the so-called “sex drugs,” i.e., erectile dysfunction drugs (EDD), poppers, and crystal methamphetamine. 

Univariable and multivariable analyses using generalized linear mixed models with logit link function with sexual encounters (n = 2514) as the unit of analysis tested four hypotheses: 

1. EDD are significantly associated with insertive anal sex roles, 
2. poppers are significantly associated with receptive anal sex, 
3. both poppers and EDD are significantly associated with anal sexual versatility, and 
4. crystal methamphetamine is significantly associated with all anal sex roles. 

Data for survey respondents and their sexual partners allowed testing these hypotheses for both anal sex partners in the same encounter. Multivariable results supported the first three hypotheses. Crystal methamphetamine was significantly associated with all anal sex roles in the univariable models, but not significant in any multivariable ones. Other multivariable significant variables included attending group sex events, venue where first met, and self-described sexual orientation. 

Results indicate that GBM sex-drug use behavior features rational decision-making strategies linked to anal sex roles. They also suggest that more research on anal sex roles, particularly versatility, is needed, and that sexual behavior research can benefit from partnership analysis.

Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/crtcnl

By: Rich AJ1, Lachowsky NJ1,2, Cui Z1, Sereda P1, Lal A1, Moore DM1,2, Hogg RS1,3, Roth EA4,5.

• 1BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• 2Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• 3Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
• 4Department of Anthropology, Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada. ericroth@uvic.ca.
• 5Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3050 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P5, Canada. ericroth@uvic.ca.  

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