Correlates of unprotected anal sex at last sexual episode: analysis from a surveillance study of men who have sex with men in Montreal.

ABSTRACT

Recent increases in rates of unprotected anal sex (UAS) among men who have sex with men (MSM) signal the need to continually refine our understanding of factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Data were collected using a questionnaire eliciting information about the last sexual episode (LSE) with another man in the past 6 months. Logistic regression was used to identify both event-level and background correlates of UAS at LSE. 965 participants who reported having sex with a partner with whom they were not in a couple relationship at LSE were studied. Several event-level variables were significantly associated with UAS after adjusting for background factors, including finding the partner at LSE sexually attractive and using alcohol or cocaine at LSE. Our findings parallel the results of other HIV prevention studies which have highlighted the importance of interpersonal factors that influence risk-taking at the moment of a sexual act among MSM.