Risky sexual behaviors and their associated factors within high school students from Collège Saint André in Kigali, Rwanda: An institution-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) remain public health concerns in adolescents from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and these practices may increase vulnerability to reproductive health problems if no early healthcare strategies are implemented. While previous studies reported that adolescents are engaged in these RSBs due to diverse influences such as the teenage stage, urbanization, and change in the environment they experience, there is a shortage of studies on RSB among adolescents in SSA. This study assessed the magnitude of RSBs and the RSB-associated factors among in-school adolescents. Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 Saint Andre school students in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 3, 2020, to September 30, 2020. Systematic random sampling techniques were employed. All data were entered into Epi-Data and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to determine factors associated with risky sexual behaviors. Confidence intervals (CIs) of 95% and 5% for statistical significance were maintained. Results: Of 263 participants, 109 (41%) experienced RSB in their lifetime. Among them, 66 respondents (60.55%) utilized contraceptive methods to prevent sexual and reproductive problems that can be caused by unprotected sexual intercourse. The students who experienced domestic violence had increased odds of experiencing RSB [odds ratio (OR) = 4.22; 95% CI: 1.6-11.23] than their counterparts. Those in grade 11 (OR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.06-6.78) and grade 12 (OR = 4.39; 95% CI: 1.82-10.56) were more likely to practice RSB than those in grade 10. Alcohol users were almost more likely to experience RSB (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.97-5.5) than their counterparts. Those who lived away from their biological parents had higher likelihood of experiencing RSB (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.14-4.42) than those who lived with one or both parents. Students who experienced peer pressure were more likely to engage in RSB (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 2.01-7.51) than their counterparts. Conclusion: Promoting specific intervention programs built upon the factors associated with RSB among high school students needs to be prioritized.

Falo, feijão e fuzil: uma leitura decolonial das questões de gênero, de raça e de classe nas narrativas do barebacking sex / Phallus, beans and rifle: a decolonial reading of gender, race and class issues in barebacking sex narratives / Falo, frijoles y rifle: una lectura decolonial de cuestiones de género, raza y clase en narrativas del barebacking sex

Barebacking sex é o engajamento intencional de homens que fazem sexo com homens na relação anal sem camisinha. Para além de abordagens moralistas, relacionadas à possibilidade de infecção pelo HIV, analisamos como narrativas barebacking classificam os corpos em desejáveis e indesejáveis, a partir da maneira como são apresentados em cartazes de divulgação de orgias brasileiras disponíveis para visualização na internet. Neste artigo, almejamos uma discussão interseccional sobre desejo sexual, gênero, raça e classe, partindo das imagens em circulação nos contextos brasileiros do bareback.

Barebacking sex is the intentional engagement of men who have sex with other men in anal intercourse without a condom. Beyond moralistic approaches, related to the possibility of HIV infection, we analyse how barebacking narratives classify bodies into the desirable and the undesirable, through the way they are shown in posters publicizing Brazilian orgies available for viewing on the internet. In this article, we aim to develop an intersectional discussion about sexual desire, gender, race and class, starting from the images circulating in Brazilian bareback contexts.

Barebacking sex es el compromiso intencional de hombres que tienen sexo con hombres en el coito anal sin condón. Además de los enfoques moralistas relacionados con la posibilidad de infección por el VIH, analizamos cómo las narrativas barebacking clasifican los cuerpos en deseables e indeseables, en función de la forma en que se presentan en carteles para la difusión de orgías brasileñas disponibles para su visualización en Internet. En este artículo,apuntamos a una discusión interseccional del deseo sexual, género, raza y clase, a partir de las imágenes en circulación en contextos de bareback brasileños.

Risk behaviours of an interrelated syphilis-infected sexual network of men who have sex with men.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We examined the risk behaviours in an interrelated sexual network of 33 syphilis-infected men who have sex with men on the use of condoms, substances and websites to meet sexual partners. Our study used a descriptive exploratory design to investigate co-occurring high-risk behaviours in this interrelated sexual network to inform future health interventions and research directions. BACKGROUND: Although the risk behaviours for human immunodeficiency virus transmission in men who have sex with men have been studied, few have studied the high-risk population of men who already have syphilis, and even fewer have studied the risk behaviours in sexual networks of syphilis-infected men who have sex with men who were identified using contact tracing. DESIGN/METHODS: The data were collected from semi-structured, individual interviews at a not-for-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health centre in a large city in the Midwestern USA. RESULTS: Inconsistent condom use was substantial during both insertive (92%) and receptive (88%) anal intercourse. Most participants (97%) reported using one or more substances prior to or during anal intercourse, and Internet websites were the most common place to meet sexual partners (88%). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk behaviours were significant within this syphilis-infected sexual network of men who have sex with men. The majority of our 33 participants were non-Hispanic Whites (n = 27, 82%), possessed a baccalaureate degree or higher (n = 23, 70%), and actively sought out unprotected anal intercourse [21 participants (64%) used BareBackRT.com, a website to seek out unprotected anal intercourse]. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses should be more informed about the risk factors of a high-risk sexual network of syphilis-infected men who have sex with men. Interrelated sexual networks have high levels of similarity among participants' high-risk behaviours; contact tracing may be used to identify individual participants for relevant risk-reduction interventions.

Correlates and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Bareback Sex Among Men Who Have Sex with Men with Unknown or Negative HIV Serostatus.

Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly racial/ethnic minority MSM, are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States and Texas. Bareback sex or condomless anal intercourse (CAI) can be a high HIV risk behavior. Despite this, a majority of MSM continues to engage in barebacking. Research suggests racial/ethnic differences in barebacking exist; however, these conclusions remain unclear due to insufficient sample sizes to compare racial/ethnic groups. Our cross-sectional correlational design explores barebacking correlates (substance use during sex, safe sex fatigue, and optimistic HIV treatment beliefs) within and between racial/ethnic groups among 366 MSM. Regression models are significant for Latino and African-American MSM alone and for all MSM combined, though not significant for European-American and Other Race/Ethnicity MSM alone. Our findings suggest motivations and behaviors underlying barebacking among MSM vary by racial/ethnic membership with clinical implications for informing culturally sensitive HIV interventions and prevention programs for target racial/ethnic groups.

HIV risk and sense of community: French gay male discourses on barebacking.

This paper analyses the use of the concept of 'barebacking' as a risk category in the discourses of French gay men. It discusses how the rise and spread of the term barebacking contributes to reframing gay men's personal experiences of HIV prevention and their sense of belonging (or a lack thereof) to a gay community. The study is based on 30 qualitative interviews with French gay men conducted between 2005 and 2008. An import from the USA, the term barebacking emerged publicly in France in the late-1990s and was first used to describe intentionally unprotected sexual practices. Debates surrounding this risk category were marked by violent controversy over its use and its definition among HIV prevention actors. There remains a general lack of consensus on the definition of the term, despite its use by activists, in porn culture and in the daily discourses of gay men. By focusing on the relational roots of risk perception, I consider how uses of the term barebacking invoke a moral framework around risk taking.

Serosorting Sexual Partners by Gay and Bisexual Men to Prevent HIV Infection: Implications for Public Health Clinicians.

The most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiological statistics in the United States demonstrate that gay and bisexual men are at most risk for acquiring new HIV infections. While public health campaigns aimed at gay and bisexual males have resulted in improved HIV screening and greater awareness of the need for safer sex practices, barebacking has become a practice of increasing incidence. This act carries the highest risk of HIV transmission and acquisition; and data suggest HIV disease burden is higher among ethnic minorities. Serosorting-purposely seeking HIV serocordant partners--to help lower risk of HIV infection is common. While this can be a positive step in preventing the spread of HIV, it carries serious threats that must be acknowledged. The purpose of this article was to explore the positive and negative aspects of serosorting in the prevention of HIV, describe ways in which health care providers can approach the topic with clients, provide clinical practice implications, and suggest some direction for future research.

What we can't see? Understanding the representations and meanings of UAI, barebacking, and semen exchange in gay male pornography.

Since the late 1990s, the use of condoms within gay male pornography has been on the wane. Moving from a niche category into more mainstream forms of commercial pornography, unprotected anal sex has become a dominant theme within this sphere of gay male sexual representation. However, while the definition of what constitutes bareback pornography may at first sight appear unproblematic, this article argues that meanings and understandings of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) are not constant across all genres of gay male pornography. Using textual analysis and focus group methods, the authors demonstrate how subcultural understandings of UAI are dependent on a variety of textual factors. These include the age, body type, and racial identities of the performers; the setting, context, and mise-en-scène of the pornographic scene; and the deployment of power relations between the insertive and receptive partners. The article concludes by suggesting that the recognition of the diverse representations of "barebacking" found in contemporary gay male pornography should influence the ways in which health promotion strategies address discussions of UAI and bareback pornography.

Sex, HIV, and the Internet: Exploring Variations in the Online Profiles of MSM in the United States.

With the increasing pervasiveness of social media, the Internet has become an important venue for dating and sex. Not only does the Internet introduce a unique array of opportunities and risks for men who have sex with men (MSM), it also presents a valuable means through which to study sexual behavior. In this study, data on what men report in their online profiles were collected from two dating/hookup websites to explore possible geographical differences in men's sexual preferences and expectations (N = 5,588). Across the 15 selected cities, significant differences emerged in reported HIV status and stated preference for safer sex (condom use). These patterns suggest important contextual and demographic variations and point to a need for targeted, population-specific interventions and further research to identify the underlying social and psychological constructs. With a better understanding of the local factors driving risky sexual behavior, health communication messages and tailored online interventions could be developed to address the needs and concerns of specific groups.

Masculinity and Barebacker Identification in Men who have Sex with Men.

PURPOSE: Barebacking is a term that is used to refer to intentional involvement in unprotected anal sex. This paper examines the relationship between masculinity and self-identification as a barebacker, and how these factors related to HIV risk practices in a sample of men who have sex with other men (MSM). METHOD: As part of the Men4Men Study, a brief Internet-based survey was completed in 2007 with English-speaking MSM aged 18+ who were not involved in a marital/romantic relationship at the time of interview. 886 participants were recruited by placing electronic postings and banner advertisements on Weblogs, social and sexual networking sites, and listservs frequented by MSM. RESULTS: A number of factors differentiated men who self-identified as barebackers from those who did not, and barebacking identity was linked with greater involvement in HIV risk practices. Multivariate analysis revealed that having a high level of masculinity was associated with a greater likelihood of self-identifying as a barebacker. CONCLUSIONS: HIV prevention and intervention efforts targeting MSM ought to address issues of self-identification as a barebacker as well as the extent to which men adhere to a masculine ideology.

Redução de riscos na perspectiva dos praticantes de barebacking: possibilidades e desafios / Reduction of risks from the perspective of the practitioners of barebacking: opportunities and challenges

Este artigo discute uma modalidade de barebacking (sexo anal desprotegido) denominada de parcial ou com redução de riscos. Esta discussão é decorrente de uma etnografia online sobre os sentidos e práticas de barebacking, no contexto brasileiro, entre os anos de 2004 a 2007. Entretanto, ao focalizar a redução de riscos no barebacking, este artigo traz outras formas, práticas, possibilidades eróticas de realização e entendimento do mesmo. É o caso, por exemplo, quando alguns praticantes evitam ejacular dentro ou receber o esperma do parceiro, buscam ser mais receptivos ou insertivos ou manter relações sexuais desprotegidas com parceiros do mesmo status sorológico. Nessa direção, torna-se importante discutir as possibilidades e limites de modelos alternativos de prevenção utilizados no cotidiano de diferentes pessoas, levando-se em consideração as preferências sexuais, dinâmica dos relacionamentos, crenças, discursos, experiências e contextos interativos.

This article discusses a modality of barebacking (unprotected anal sex) called partial barebacking with reduction of risks. This discussion is the result of an online ethnography about the meanings and practices of barebacking, in the Brazilian context, from 2004 to 2007. This article, by focusing the reduction of risks in barebacking, brings other forms, practices, erotic possibilities of realization and understanding of the same. It's the case, for example, when some practitioners avoid ejaculate inside or receive the sperm from the partner, seek to be more receptive or insertive or keep with partners of the same serostatus. In this direction, it becomes important to discuss the possibilities and limits of alternative models of prevention used in everyday life of different people, taking into consideration sexual preferences, the dynamics of relationships, beliefs, speeches, experiences, and interactive contexts.

Práticas e sentidos do barebacking entre homens que vivem com HIV e fazem sexo com homens / Practices and meanings of barebacking among HIV-positive men who have sex with men / Prácticas y sentidos del barebacking entre hombres que viven con HIV e hacen sexo com hombres

Este artigo é decorrente de uma etnografia online sobre o barebacking (sexo anal desprotegido de forma intencional) no cenário brasileiro, entre os anos de 2004 e 2007. Mais especificamente, busca discutir a prática e sentidos do barebacking entre homens soropositivos que fazem sexo com homens, considerando as implicações e conflitos vividos por eles a partir do momento em que se descobrem soropositivos após o engajamento no sexo bareback. Para tal, utilizamos relatos produzidos em entrevistas abertas no MSN messenger, após a criação de uma página no orkut e participação em suas comunidades sobre o barebacking. Apresentamos histórias de três homens, de diferentes regiões do país, que praticavam o barebacking e passaram pelo processo da soroconversão. Nessas breves histórias, destacamos algumas tensões ou ambiguidades diante dos prazeres e das proibições ligados ao sexo sem camisinha, incluindo a culpa pelo engajamento no sexo desprotegido e o sentimento de liberdade produzido pelo mesmo.

This article is the result of an online ethnography about barebacking (intentional unprotected anal sex) in the Brazilian scene, between the years 2004 and 2007. More specifically, it aims to discuss the practice of barebacking among HIV-positive men who have sex with men, considering the implications, meanings and conflicts lived by them since the moment they discover being HIV-positive after engaging in barebacking. For this article, we use narratives produced in open interviews in MSN messenger after the creation of a webpage in orkut and the participation in communities about barebacking. Stories of three men from different regions of Brazil who practiced barebacking and underwent the process of seroconversion are analyzed. These brief stories highlight some tensions or ambiguities concerning pleasure and prohibitions associated with barebacking, including the feelings of freedom and guilt.

Este artículo es consecuente de una etnografía online sobre el barebacking (sexo anal desprotegido de forma intencional) en el ámbito brasileño, entre los años 2004 y 2007. Más específicamente: busca discutir la práctica y sentidos del barebacking entre hombres sero-positivos que hacen sexo con hombres; considerando las implicaciones y conflictos vividos por ellos a partir del momento en que descubren sero-positivos tras el comprometimiento en el sexo bareback. Para tal utilizamos relatos producidos en entrevistas abiertas en MSM Messenger después de la creación de una página en el Orkut y la participación en sus comunidades sobre el barebacking. Presentamos historias de tres hombres, de diferentes regiones del país, que practicaban el barebacking y pasaron por el proceso de sero-conversión. En estas breves historias detectamos algunas tensiones o ambiguedades ante los placeres y las prohibiciones relacionadas al sexo sin condón incluyendo la culpa por su participación en el sexo desprotegido y el sentimiento de libertad que produce.

Facilitators of barebacking among emergent adult gay and bisexual men: implications for HIV prevention.

We undertook a qualitative study to develop a greater understanding of "intentional" unprotected anal intercourse among drug-using gay and bisexual men, also known colloquially as barebacking. In our analysis, we investigated this behavior in a subset of 12 HIV-negative men in the early adulthood stage of life to disentangle factors that functioned as facilitators of barebacking, a behavior that may place these men at risk for HIV infection. Based on thematic analysis of life-history interviews, we delineated 4 main themes associated with barebacking: drug use, the role of responsibility for safer sex, misunderstandings about HIV transmission, and underlying mental health issues. The data suggest that lack of knowledge about HIV transmission is insufficient in explaining risk-taking. Rather, rationalization processes may be a factor in the sexual risk-taking behaviors of young HIV-negative men, and moreover, deep intrapsychic processes (often heightened by concurrent substance use), and the desire to please sexual partners may drive the decision-making of these men. Future intervention strategies must motivate and empower young men to seek support for the states that drive sexual risk-taking.