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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Use of poppers and HIV risk behaviours among men who have sex with men in Paris, France: an observational study

H. Rhodes Hambrick A D , Su Hyun Park A , Joseph J. Palamar A , Anthony Estreet B , John A. Schneider C and Dustin T. Duncan A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th Street, 6th Floor, Room 621, New York, NY 10016, USA.

B Department of Social Work, Morgan State University School of Social Work, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Jenkins Behavioral Science Building, Room 343, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA.

C Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago School of Medicine, and Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 5065 Room L-330, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: rhodeshambrick@gmail.com

Sexual Health 15(4) 370-373 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH17217
Submitted: 14 December 2017  Accepted: 31 January 2018   Published: 1 June 2018

Abstract

The use of inhaled nitrites, or poppers, among men who have sex with men (MSM) is prevalent, yet has been associated with HIV seroconversion. We surveyed 580 MSM from a geosocial networking smartphone application in Paris, France, in 2016. Of the respondents, 46.7% reported popper use within the previous 3 months. Regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics found that the use of poppers was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the following during the prior 3 months: condomless anal intercourse (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.50), use of alcohol and/or drugs during sex once or twice (adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR) 2.33, 95% CI 1.44–2.03), three to five times (aRRR 5.41, 95% CI 2.98–9.84) or six or more times (aRRR 4.09, 95% CI 2.22–7.56), participation in group sex (aRRR 3.70, 95% CI 2.33–5.90) and self-reported diagnosis with any sexually transmissible infection over the previous year (aRR 1.63, 95% CI 1.18–2.27), specifically chlamydia (aRR 2.75, 95% CI 1.29–4.29) and syphilis (aRR 2.27, 95% CI 1.29–4.29).

Additional keywords: substance use, HIV prevention, STIs.


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