Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in rural areas have limited access to HIV prevention and education resources. Given the growing usage of mobile dating apps among the wider MSM population, this research sought to explore their use among MSM in rural areas and their potential for deli...

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Main Authors: Lauren Bineau, Danielle Lambert, Natalia Truszczynski, Nathan Hansen, Carolyn Lauckner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: James Cook University 2021-06-01
Series:Rural and Remote Health
Subjects:
MSM
Online Access:https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6556/
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spelling doaj-d46ec076a0e4417b9c9808454584de3d2021-06-01T23:33:23ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542021-06-012110.22605/RRH6556Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysisLauren Bineau0Danielle Lambert1Natalia Truszczynski2Nathan Hansen3Carolyn Lauckner4Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Present address: School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USADepartment of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Present address: Center for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in rural areas have limited access to HIV prevention and education resources. Given the growing usage of mobile dating apps among the wider MSM population, this research sought to explore their use among MSM in rural areas and their potential for delivering HIV prevention information. Methods: Participants were recruited from different areas of the rural Southern USA. This mixed-methods study consisted of an online survey (n=85) and follow-up qualitative phone interviews with 20 survey respondents. The survey assessed dating app use, sexual behaviors, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, usage, and attitudes among MSM in the rural, Southern USA. Interviews explored perceptions of dating apps and their potential value as a source of health and HIV prevention information. Results: Among survey respondents, 74% had used a dating app, with Grindr being the most frequently used app. Of individuals who were in a relationship, 41% had met their current partner online. Using a dating app was associated with having a greater number of sexual partners. Three-quarters of participants had heard of PrEP, but only 7% had ever received a prescription for it and less than one-third reported that it would be easy to get PrEP if they wanted it. Dating app users were more likely than non-app users to have more positive attitudes toward taking PrEP and interest in taking PrEP. In qualitative interviews, respondents expressed support for integrating HIV prevention information into dating apps. Conclusion: Dating app usage is high among rural MSM. Individuals who use these apps have more sexual partners and also are more interested in PrEP for HIV prevention, suggesting that this is an ideal group to target for PrEP education and interventions. This could be especially beneficial for MSM in rural areas, as most have difficulty accessing PrEP and PrEP education. https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6556/dating applicationsHIV/AIDSmHealthMSMPrEPsexual risk
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Lauren Bineau
Danielle Lambert
Natalia Truszczynski
Nathan Hansen
Carolyn Lauckner
spellingShingle Lauren Bineau
Danielle Lambert
Natalia Truszczynski
Nathan Hansen
Carolyn Lauckner
Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
Rural and Remote Health
dating applications
HIV/AIDS
mHealth
MSM
PrEP
sexual risk
author_facet Lauren Bineau
Danielle Lambert
Natalia Truszczynski
Nathan Hansen
Carolyn Lauckner
author_sort Lauren Bineau
title Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
title_short Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
title_full Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
title_fullStr Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
title_full_unstemmed Dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to HIV prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
title_sort dating app use among rural men who have sex with men and its relationship to hiv prevention and risk behaviors: a mixed-methods analysis
publisher James Cook University
series Rural and Remote Health
issn 1445-6354
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in rural areas have limited access to HIV prevention and education resources. Given the growing usage of mobile dating apps among the wider MSM population, this research sought to explore their use among MSM in rural areas and their potential for delivering HIV prevention information. Methods: Participants were recruited from different areas of the rural Southern USA. This mixed-methods study consisted of an online survey (n=85) and follow-up qualitative phone interviews with 20 survey respondents. The survey assessed dating app use, sexual behaviors, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, usage, and attitudes among MSM in the rural, Southern USA. Interviews explored perceptions of dating apps and their potential value as a source of health and HIV prevention information. Results: Among survey respondents, 74% had used a dating app, with Grindr being the most frequently used app. Of individuals who were in a relationship, 41% had met their current partner online. Using a dating app was associated with having a greater number of sexual partners. Three-quarters of participants had heard of PrEP, but only 7% had ever received a prescription for it and less than one-third reported that it would be easy to get PrEP if they wanted it. Dating app users were more likely than non-app users to have more positive attitudes toward taking PrEP and interest in taking PrEP. In qualitative interviews, respondents expressed support for integrating HIV prevention information into dating apps. Conclusion: Dating app usage is high among rural MSM. Individuals who use these apps have more sexual partners and also are more interested in PrEP for HIV prevention, suggesting that this is an ideal group to target for PrEP education and interventions. This could be especially beneficial for MSM in rural areas, as most have difficulty accessing PrEP and PrEP education.
topic dating applications
HIV/AIDS
mHealth
MSM
PrEP
sexual risk
url https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/6556/
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