Survey of sexual health risk and service use of men who have sex with men attending a public sex venue

Guidelines highlight the need to increase HIV testing amongst men who have sex with men and novel point-of-care testing provides new possibilities for delivery of care. However, it is unclear how point-of-care testing should be used to best effect. This study aimed to increase understanding of sexual risk-taking behaviour, service use, and attitudes to point-of-care testing amongst men who have sex with men sauna clients. Data were collected within two saunas for men who have sex with men in south west England using a self-completion survey (n=134).

The survey findings indicate high levels of sexual risk taking amongst sauna clients. The majority of participants reported multiple sexual partners and half reported UAI in the previous 3 months putting them at high risk of acquiring an STI. Whilst the majority of men reported having an STI and HIV test in the past year, only a minority of those reporting UAI had been tested in the previous 3 months. The introduction of rapid POCT for HIV and STIs received overwhelming support from participants.

Though this sample of men who have sex with men sauna clients are at high risk of acquiring an sexually transmitted infection, the testing frequency amongst the majority of those reporting unprotected anal intercourse is not in keeping with national guidelines. For almost all participants the introduction of rapid point-of-care testing for both genital and blood-borne infection was likely to increase testing and for the majority NHS specialist services was the preferred setting.