LGBT people and suicidality in youth: A qualitative study of perceptions of risk and protective circumstances.

Evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people are more likely to attempt to take their own lives in their youth when compared to heterosexual and/or cisgender people. This study draws on in-depth interviews with 17 LGBT individuals living in England, and explores the narratives used by participants to better understand their perceptions of risk and protective circumstances to explain suicide attempts in youth. Using a Goffman-informed thematic analysis, results identified three key themes that were linked to attempts to end life in youth. The first theme considers the conflicts resulting from first disclosure of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/trans status and being 'out' to others. The second theme explores participants' accounts of their concurrent mental health issues and how diagnoses of the mental health issues helped them make sense of their own experiences of attempted suicide. The final theme explores the experience of grieving over lost relationships and how that grief is received by others, including health professionals. Our results indicate that some LGBT individuals have effectively, although often arduously, navigated suicidal crises by utilising various approaches to coping. We provide a rich and layered picture of LGBT suicide risk in youth and potential resilience scenarios, although these are a reflection of our specific group of participants' experiences and realities. We argue that it is important to understand how LGBT individuals with a history of suicide attempts narrate and make sense of their experiences in early life and we suggest that the early negative experiences continue to have an effect on LGBT adults today.

Comportamentos sexuais de risco e preventivos masculinos: resultados de uma amostra recolhida através da internet em Portugal / Sexual risk and preventive behaviors of men: results from a portuguese online survey

Pretendeu-se com a pesquisa realizada estudar e comparar padrões de testagem em relação ao VIH; resultados do teste para o VIH; e comportamentos sexuais preventivos de homens homo, hetero e bissexuais. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário on-line. A amostra foi constituída por 732 participantes com idade média de 32,2 anos, dos quais 53,7% identificaram-se como homossexual/gay; 27,4%, como heterossexual; e 18,3%, como bissexual, refletindo a divulgação privilegiada do estudo junto a organizações de lésbicas, gays, bissexuais e transgênero (LGBT). Nunca tinham realizado o teste para o VIH 26,6% dos participantes; 7,2% indicaram ser portadores do HIV. Homens gays apresentaram níveis significativamente mais elevados de testagem para o VIH e de soropositividade, quando comparados com os restantes. No geral, verificou-se ainda que homens gays indicaram ter mais comportamentos preventivos. Todos os grupos estudados apresentaram padrões comportamentais específicos e diferenciados em relação ao VIH. Conclui-se que são de grande importância intervenções comportamentais desenhadas à medida das necessidades dos diferentes grupos estudados, em particular junto aos homens heterossexuais e gays.

The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare gay, heterosexual and bisexual men's HIV testing patterns, HIV test results, and sexual preventive behaviours. Data were collected through an online survey. The study's sample included 732 participants who met the selection criteria. Average age of participants was 32.2 years; 53.7% self-identified as gay, 27.4% as heterosexual, and 18.3% as bisexual. This distribution reflects the fact that the study was mostly publicized using LGBT networks. A total of 26.6% had never tested for HIV; 7.2% said they were HIV-positive. Gay men had significantly higher levels of HIV testing as well as rates of HIV infection when compared with the other groups. Overall, gay men displayed a larger variety of prevention strategies. All the groups under study showed specific and differentiated behavioural profiles with regard to HIV. We conclude that more efficient and tailored campaigns need to be developed to address each group's specific HIV prevention needs, in particular heterosexual and gay men's.

HIV knowledge and related sexual practices among Portuguese men who have sex with men.

Qualitative studies of the sexual risk practices of Portuguese men who have sex with men (MSM) are scarce, as have been campaigns to target this group despite high HIV infection rates. This study investigates the concepts and practices of safer sex of a group of 36 Portuguese self-identified gay men (age: x = 34.4, SD = 9.1) who have met sexual partners online; two identified as HIV positive. Thematic analysis of interviews showed that our participants were aware of HIV transmission risks and tended to protect themselves in most sexual practices. Oral sex and steady relationships, however, did not always include safer practices. Participants tended to rely on indirect sources of information when assessing their partners' HIV status, such as their physical characteristics or the information available in online profiles. Contrasting HIV positive and negative men's sexual expectations and practices indicated that communication shortcomings might be putting some at risk. Findings suggest that safe sex is a relational practice which can only be understood and addressed within the context in which it occurs.

HIV knowledge and related sexual practices among Portuguese men who have sex with men / Conhecimento e práticas sexuais associadas ao HIV entre homens portugueses que fazem sexo com homens / Conocimiento y prácticas sexuales relativas al VIH entre hombres portugueses que tienen sexo con hombres

Qualitative studies of the sexual risk practices of Portuguese men who have sex with men (MSM) are scarce, as have been campaigns to target this group despite high HIV infection rates. This study investigates the concepts and practices of safer sex of a group of 36 Portuguese self-identified gay men (age: x = 34.4, SD = 9.1) who have met sexual partners online; two identified as HIV positive. Thematic analysis of interviews showed that our participants were aware of HIV transmission risks and tended to protect themselves in most sexual practices. Oral sex and steady relationships, however, did not always include safer practices. Participants tended to rely on indirect sources of information when assessing their partners’ HIV status, such as their physical characteristics or the information available in online profiles. Contrasting HIV positive and negative men’s sexual expectations and practices indicated that communication shortcomings might be putting some at risk. Findings suggest that safe sex is a relational practice which can only be understood and addressed within the context in which it occurs.

São escassos os estudos qualitativos sobre as práticas sexuais de risco de homens portugueses que fazem sexo com homens (HSH), assim como têm sido as campanhas dirigidas a este grupo, apesar das elevadas taxas de infecção por HIV entre HSH em Portugal. Este estudo investiga os conceitos e práticas de sexo seguro de um grupo de 36 HSH portugueses que encontraram parceiros sexuais na Internet (idade: x = 34,4, DP = 9,1). A análise temática das entrevistas mostrou que os participantes estavam cientes dos riscos de transmissão do HIV e tendiam a se proteger na maioria das práticas sexuais. Porém, sexo oral e relacionamentos estáveis nem sempre incluíam práticas seguras. Os entrevistados tendiam a confiar em fontes indiretas de informação para avaliar o estatuto HIV de seus parceiros, como o seu aspecto físico ou as informações disponíveis em perfis online. Verificaram-se ainda falhas de comunicação que podem estar colocando alguns em risco. Os resultados sugerem que o sexo seguro é uma prática relacional que deverá ser entendida e prevenida em função dos contextos em que ocorre.

Los estudios cualitativos sobre la práctica sexual de riesgo entre hombres portugueses que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) son escasos, también las campañas preventivas dedicadas a este grupo, a pesar del alto índice de infección de VIH. Este estudio investiga conceptos y prácticas de sexo más seguras de un grupo de 36 HSH portugueses (edad: x = 34,4; DP = 9,1) que hubieran conocido parejas por Internet para mantener relaciones sexuales. El análisis temático de las entrevistas muestra que los participantes eran conscientes de los riesgos de transmisión del VIH y que tendieron a protegerse en la mayoría de las prácticas sexuales. Sin embargo, el sexo oral y las relaciones estables no implicaron prácticas más seguras siempre. Los participantes tendían a confiar en fuentes indirectas de información a la hora de evaluar el estado del VIH de sus parejas (e.g. aspecto físico; información disponible en perfiles de Internet).Una comunicación defectuosa puede poner a algunos en riesgo. Los resultados sugieren que el sexo seguro es una práctica relacional que necesita ser entendida e intervenida dentro de su contexto.

The Internet profiles of men who have sex with men within bareback websites.

The Internet has become a venue for men who have sex with men to search for sexual partners. Some of these men intentionally seek unprotected anal intercourse with other men ('bareback' sex). This paper focuses on the creation, use, and content of Internet personal profiles of men who have sex with men in the greater New York City metropolitan area who use bareback sites for sexual networking. We used a mixed-methods approach to examine data from a cybercartography of Internet sites conducted during the first phase of the research (199 personal profiles) and from in-depth interviews conducted during its second phase (120 men who have sex with men who sought partners online for bareback sex). Results indicate that men generally followed offline stereotypical patterns in their online profiles. However, men who disclosed being HIV-positive were more likely to include face and head pictures. Overall, the images they used were heavily sexualised in accordance with group norms perceived and reinforced by the websites' design and imagery. Bottom-identified men tended to be more explicit in the exposition of their sexual and drug use interests online. This paper highlights how certain virtual and social performances play upon and reinforce other, in the flesh, performances.