Bineau Lauren, Lambert Danielle, Truszczynski Natalia, Hansen Nathan, Lauckner Carolyn
Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Rural Remote Health. 2021 Jun;21(2):6556. doi: 10.22605/RRH6556. Epub 2021 Jun 2.
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.
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.
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.
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.
农村地区与男性发生性关系的男性（MSM）获得艾滋病毒预防和教育资源的机会有限。鉴于更广泛的男男性行为者群体中移动约会应用程序的使用日益增加，本研究旨在探讨其在农村地区男男性行为者中的使用情况及其传播艾滋病毒预防信息的潜力。
参与者来自美国南部农村的不同地区。这项混合方法研究包括一项在线调查（n = 85）以及对20名调查受访者的后续定性电话访谈。该调查评估了美国南部农村地区男男性行为者对约会应用程序的使用、性行为以及暴露前预防（PrEP）的知晓度、使用情况和态度。访谈探讨了对约会应用程序的看法及其作为健康和艾滋病毒预防信息来源的潜在价值。
在调查受访者中，74% 使用过约会应用程序，Grindr是使用最频繁的应用程序。在有恋爱关系的个体中，41% 是在网上结识了他们目前的伴侣。使用约会应用程序与拥有更多性伴侣有关。四分之三的参与者听说过PrEP，但只有7% 曾收到过PrEP处方，不到三分之一的人表示如果他们想要PrEP会很容易获得。约会应用程序用户比非应用程序用户对服用PrEP有更积极的态度和服用PrEP的兴趣。在定性访谈中，受访者表示支持将艾滋病毒预防信息整合到约会应用程序中。
农村男男性行为者中约会应用程序的使用率很高。使用这些应用程序的个体有更多性伴侣，并且对艾滋病毒预防的PrEP也更感兴趣，这表明这是进行PrEP教育和干预的理想目标群体。这对农村地区的男男性行为者可能特别有益，因为大多数人难以获得PrEP和PrEP教育。
