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Sexual Risk Behavior In Men Attending Mardi Gras Celebrations In New Orleans, Louisiana

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Abstract

Previous research with travelers points to higher risk behaviors during vacations. Relative to their day-to-day lives, leisure travelers have more free time to pursue sexual activities and are likely to engage in higher rates of substance use than when at home. Risk behaviors during vacation have not been thoroughly examined in men who have sex with men (MSM), a key group at risk for HIV. The present investigation examined substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and components of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model in MSM attending Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. Almost half of the sexually active men reported having sex with a partner of unknown HIV status while in New Orleans and a similar number did not disclose their own HIV status to all of their sexual partners. Drug use and excessive alcohol use were associated with unprotected sex (ps < .05). Components of the IMB model also predicted sexual risk behavior: individuals with more accurate HIV transmission information reported fewer unprotected sex acts, and motivation to engage in sexual activity on vacation was associated with more unprotected sex (ps < .05). Findings suggest that some MSM on vacation are placing themselves at risk for HIV. Traditional HIV prevention interventions do not readily lend themselves for use with transient populations. New intervention approaches are needed to reduce sexual risk behaviors in persons traveling for leisure.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported, in part, by grants R21-MH078790, R34-MH 073409, R01-MH72474, T32-MH19985, K02-MH01919, and P30-MH52776 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Denver & Health Sciences Center, CB 173, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO, 80217, USA

    Eric G. Benotsch PhD & Christopher D. Nettles MA

  2. NO/AIDS Task Force, 2601 Tulane Ave, Suite 500, New Orleans, LA, 70119, USA

    Felicia Wong MPH, Jean Redmann BA & Jill Boschini MPH

  3. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N. Summit Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA

    Steven D. Pinkerton PhD

  4. Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc. (MHRA) and the National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI), 220 Church Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10013, USA

    Kathleen Ragsdale PhD

  5. AIDS Help, Inc, P.O. Box 4374, Key West, FL, 33041-4374, USA

    John J. Mikytuck BS

Authors
  1. Eric G. Benotsch PhD
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  2. Christopher D. Nettles MA
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  3. Felicia Wong MPH
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  4. Jean Redmann BA
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  5. Jill Boschini MPH
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  6. Steven D. Pinkerton PhD
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  7. Kathleen Ragsdale PhD
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  8. John J. Mikytuck BS
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Correspondence to Eric G. Benotsch PhD.

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Benotsch, E.G., Nettles, C.D., Wong, F. et al. Sexual Risk Behavior In Men Attending Mardi Gras Celebrations In New Orleans, Louisiana. J Community Health 32, 343–356 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-007-9054-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-007-9054-8

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