Vanbaelen T, Rotsaert A, Van Landeghem E, Nöstlinger C, Vuylsteke B, Platteau T, Herrijgers C, Reyniers T
Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp 2000, Belgium; and Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.
Sex Health. 2023 Oct;20(5):424-430. doi: 10.1071/SH23037.
Chemsex involves the use of psychoactive drugs in a sexual context and is a growing phenomenon among men who have sex with men (MSM) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. Investigating how its negative consequences can be avoided is important. The objective of this study was to explore the perceived impact of chemsex, the willingness to reduce chemsex activities and associated risks and preferred interventions to do so among PrEP users.
We analysed data from an online survey among PrEP users in Belgium. Chemsex was assessed in two questionnaires distributed between September 2020 and January 2022.
A total of 326 participants completed the baseline questionnaire, and 186 the follow-up questionnaire. About one in three participants (36.5%, 119/326) reported engaging in chemsex, and half of those (49.6%, 59/119) were willing to reduce chemsex-related risks. The most preferred strategies for reducing risks were online support via an app (37.3%, 22/59) and face-to-face counselling with a health care professional (30.5%, 18/59). Among those reporting recent chemsex in the follow-up questionnaire, about one in five (21.9%, 14/64) wanted to reduce or stop chemsex activities. About 23.4% (15/64) also reported experiencing negative consequences of chemsex on their health, social or professional life.
Our findings show that one in four PrEP users engaging in chemsex experienced negative consequences of these activities and about one in five was willing to reduce or stop chemsex activities. We recommend embedding comprehensive chemsex support in the PrEP package of care and developing novel tools and interventions in order to reach maximum impact.
“化学性爱”指在性行为中使用精神活性药物，这一现象在男男性行为者（MSM）和暴露前预防（PrEP）使用者中日益普遍。研究如何避免其负面后果至关重要。本研究的目的是探讨“化学性爱”的感知影响、降低“化学性爱”活动及相关风险的意愿，以及PrEP使用者为此倾向的干预措施。
我们分析了比利时PrEP使用者在线调查的数据。在2020年9月至2022年1月期间分发的两份问卷中对“化学性爱”进行了评估。
共有326名参与者完成了基线问卷，186名完成了随访问卷。约三分之一的参与者（36.5%，119/326）报告有过“化学性爱”行为，其中一半（49.6%，59/119）愿意降低与“化学性爱”相关的风险。降低风险的最受欢迎策略是通过应用程序获得在线支持（37.3%，22/59）和与医护人员进行面对面咨询（30.5%，18/59）。在随访问卷中报告近期有过“化学性爱”行为的人中，约五分之一（21.9%，14/64）希望减少或停止“化学性爱”活动。约23.4%（15/64）的人还报告“化学性爱”对其健康、社交或职业生活产生了负面影响。
我们的研究结果表明，参与“化学性爱”的PrEP使用者中有四分之一经历了这些活动的负面后果，约五分之一愿意减少或停止“化学性爱”活动。我们建议在PrEP护理包中纳入全面的“化学性爱”支持，并开发新的工具和干预措施，以实现最大影响。
