Internet Use and HIV Risk among Men in NYC

描述（由申请人提供）：纽约市男男性行为者（MSM）中HIV的高流行率和发病率需要进一步了解无保护性行为背后的个人和背景因素，特别是有色人种MSM和那些可能有利于风险性行为的文化利基中的MSM。 我们的三年探索性研究将集中在男男性行为者，他们通过互联网认识性伴侣，在存在艾滋病毒传播风险的情况下故意进行无安全套的高风险性行为。 本研究的具体目的是（1）描述最流行的互联网环境，其中的虚拟遭遇，导致纽约市的男男性接触者发生无套性行为。 这种描述将包括网站的特点、组织、管理模式、用户的特点、语言和非语言交流以及隐含和明确的规则。 (2)描述故意无安全套性行为及其相关的自我认同，其归因的意义，以及在此之前，同时，并遵循它的心理相关因素（潜在的动机，情绪和理由）。（3）按种族群体（非洲裔美国人，拉丁美洲人，亚太岛民和欧洲裔美国人）对比上述因素。 (4)评估从事这些行为的互联网用户对不涉及避孕套的艾滋病毒预防创新的接受程度，如直肠杀菌剂或艾滋病毒疫苗。 这项研究将有三个主要组成部分：（1）互联网人种学探索，重点是居住在纽约大都市地区的男男性行为者与其他男男性行为者联系，意图进行无安全套性行为的六个较受欢迎的互联网网站;（2）对24名关键的知情者进行深入的面对面访谈，例如，当地互联网色情网站的站长、在线讨论主持人和互联网色情网站的经常用户认定的领导人;以及（3）对120名经常访问互联网同性性网站的用户进行面对面的个人评估（30名非洲裔美国人，30名拉丁裔，30名亚太岛民，30名欧洲裔美国人）通过互联网招募那些寻求与其他男性进行无套性行为的人（艾滋病毒阴性的男性，如果想与他们在互联网上认识的新伴侣进行无保护的接受性行为，将以二比一的比例进行过度抽样，这样三分之二的样本将是艾滋病毒阴性的）。 定性和定量数据分析将由研究人员与艾滋病毒临床和行为研究中心的专家协商进行，包括统计学，流行病学和数据管理核心以及两名具有有色人种MSM专业知识的外部顾问。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The high prevalence and incidence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City requires further understanding of individual and contextual factors underlying unprotected sex, specifically among MSM of color and those in cultural niches that may favor risky sex. Our three-year exploratory study will focus on MSM who meet sexual partners through the Internet to intentionally engage in condomless high-risk sex in situations in which there is risk of HIV transmission. The specific aims of the study are (1) To describe the most popular Internet contexts in which the virtual encounters that lead to condomless sex among NYC's MSM take place. This description will include features of sites, organization, mode of governance, users' characteristics, verbal and non-verbal exchanges, and implicit and explicit rules. (2) To describe intentional condomless sex and its associated self-identity, its attributed meanings, and the psychological correlates (underlying motivations, emotions, and justifications) that precede, are concurrent with, and follow it. (3) To contrast the above-mentioned factors by ethnic group (African American, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, and European American). (4) To assess the receptiveness of Internet users who engage in these behaviors to HIV-prevention innovations that do not involve condoms, such as rectal microbicides or HIV vaccines. The study will have three main components: (1) an Internet ethnographic exploration focusing on the six more popular Internet sites used by MSM residing in the New York metropolitan area to connect with other MSM with the intention of engaging in condomless sex; (2) in-depth face-to-face interviews of 24 key informants, e.g., webmasters of local Internet sex sites, on-line discussion moderators, and leaders identified by regular users of Internet sex sites; and (3) individual face-to-face assessments of 120 regular users of Internet gay sex sites (30 African American, 30 Latino, 30 Asian Pacific Islander, and 30 European American) recruited through the Internet among those seeking to engage in condomless sex with other men (HIV-negative men who seek to have unprotected receptive sex with new partners they meet over the Internet will be oversampled two to one so that two-thirds of the sample will be HIV-negative). Qualitative and quantitative data analysis will be undertaken by the investigators in consultation with experts at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, including the Statistics, Epidemiology, and Data Management Core as well as two external consultants with expertise in MSM of color.