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Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

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Abstract

Venue-based HIV prevention interventions, especially in sex on premise venues, can disrupt high-risk sexual networks. However, prior to intervening, it is essential to understand the person-venue dynamics that contribute to HIV risk. As such, we conducted five ethnographic observations at each of six venues where alcohol is sold and sex occurs onsite (2 each porn theaters, sex clubs, and dance clubs) frequented by gay and other men who have sex with men (G&MSM) in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. Alcohol use, sexual behavior, and person-venue dynamics differed markedly across venue types. In dance clubs, substantial alcohol consumption often preceded visits to the darkroom for sex which, at times, included unprotected anal and vaginal intercourse. Condoms, although available, were not easily accessible. HIV prevention messaging was generally non-existent. These venues are in critical need of interventions to reduce HIV transmission risk.

Resumen

Las intervenciones de prevención del VIH, especialmente en los lugares donde se pueden tener encuentros sexuales, pueden interrumpir redes de alto riesgo sexual. Sin embargo, antes de intervenir es esencial comprender la dinámica entre los lugares y las personas que concurren a estos sitios. Por ello, hemos realizado cinco observaciones etnográficas en cada uno de los lugares donde se sirve alcohol y donde también se pueden tener relaciones sexuales (2 cines porno, 2 clubes de sexo y 2 discotecas), todos ellos frecuentados por hombres gay y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (G & MSM) en el área metropolitana de Buenos Aires. El consumo de alcohol, el comportamiento sexual y la dinámica del lugar diferían notablemente según los tipos de lugares. En las discotecas, el consumo abundante de alcohol a menudo precedía las visitas al cuarto oscuro (darkroom) donde se concretaba la relación que, a veces, incluía el sexo anal y vaginal sin protección. Los condones, aunque disponibles, no eran de fácil acceso. Los mensajes de prevención del VIH en general eran inexistentes. La intervención en estos lugares es crítica para reducir el riesgo de transmisión del VIH.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported with funds from the US National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (R21 AA018075; PI: I. Balán, Ph.D.) and the National Institute of Mental Health (P30-MH43520; Principal Investigator: Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D) to the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University. The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAAA, the NIMH or the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Iván C. Balán & Alex Carballo-Diéguez

  2. Nexo Asociación Civil, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Victoria Barreda & Rubén Marone

  3. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Mercedes Ávila

Authors
  1. Iván C. Balán
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  2. Victoria Barreda
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  3. Rubén Marone
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  4. María Mercedes Ávila
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  5. Alex Carballo-Diéguez
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Correspondence to Iván C. Balán.

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Balán, I.C., Barreda, V., Marone, R. et al. Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment. AIDS Behav 18, 2097–2109 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0759-2

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