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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.111070v1 98/6/1059    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Horvath, K. J. Articles by Remafedi, G. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Horvath, K. J. Articles by Remafedi, G.

Keith J. Horvath, PhD, B.R. Simon Rosser, PhD, MPH and Gary Remafedi, MD, MPH

Keith J. Horvath and B.R. Simon Rosser are with the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Gary Remafedi is with the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Keith J. Horvath, PhD, 1300 S Second St, Suite 300, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454 (e-mail: horva018{at}umn.edu).

Objectives. We examined the characteristics of young Internet-using men who have sex with men (MSM) and risks associated with seeking sex online, offline, or through both strategies.

Methods. Data were obtained from MSM aged 18 to 24 years who completed a 45-minute online survey regarding sex and Internet use in the preceding 3 months.

Results. Significantly more Internet-using MSM who had met sexual partners both online and offline (43%) reported unprotected anal intercourse than did those who had met sexual partners exclusively online (29%) or offline (34%). MSM who met sexual partners exclusively offline reported the fewest partners but the greatest proportion of partnerships involving unprotected anal intercourse (49%). Meeting sexual partners both online and offline (odds ratio [OR]=3.38–58.42) and being drunk (OR=1.57) or high (OR=2.24) increased the odds of having more sexual partners. The same factors increased the odds of having unprotected anal intercourse (online and offline sexual partners, OR=1.60; being drunk, OR=1.43; being high, OR=1.61).

Conclusions. Risky sexual behavior was prevalent among all of the study subgroups. Our findings suggest that online sex seeking is associated with greater numbers of sexual partners but neither promotes nor discourages unprotected anal intercourse. Regardless of where sexual partners met, being drunk and high were significant risks for unprotected anal intercourse.