CAMP Safe:  Risky Business in Rehoboth?

CAMPsafe and staff at the Division of STDs at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have just released data from a collaborated research project Sexual risk taking by gay and bisexual men at a gay resort and at their home residences. Both web-based and traditional survey methods were used to compare the sexual risk of self-identified gay and bisexual men during their time spent in a gay resort community with behavior while at home.

Sexual risk while visiting a gay resort appears to be greater than that in home communities, and factors related to sexual risk while at home may amplify risk in the holiday context.

According to the study, the number of partners with whom unprotected anal intercourse occurred was greater in a resort area than a main residence.

The survey was completed by 553 men in Washington, Philadelphia, and Virginia. The answers collected were on background demographics, attitudes towards condoms, HIV communication and risk perceptions, sexual behaviors, sexually transmitted infections (STI), substance use, and use of sex venues in the past 60 days at home and in the resort community.

The median age of the respondents was 34. 91% reported that they were white, 95% reported at least some college education, and 42% were currently in a relationship. The median number of days spent in Rehoboth is 9. A little more than half (54%) lived in a major metropolitan city. 6% reported being HIV positive.

72% of respondents reported engaging in anal sex during the days they spent while at Rehoboth. 149 of 551 reported unprotected anal intercourse with "other" (non-main partners) men at Rehoboth than they did at their home. And on average, more numbers of "other" men for unprotected anal sex were reported at Rehoboth than at home. The top fifty percent of those having unsafe anal "other" partners at home had one or more such partners; while in Rehoboth the top half had, at least, two or more unprotected anal "other" partners.

202 respondents reported unprotected anal intercourse with "other" men either at home or Rehoboth. 34% of these did so in both locations, 40% only did so Rehoboth, and 26% only did so at home. Therefore, there was fourteen percent (14%) more reporting unprotected anal intercourse with "other" men in Rehoboth (74%) than at home (60%). 72% also reported a greater number of unprotected anal partners per day in Rehoboth than reported at home: the per day number of unprotected "other" anal partners in Rehoboth is higher for those who reported unprotected "other" partners in both contexts in comparison to those reported them only in Rehoboth.

Those who reported unprotected "others" reported less favorable attitudes toward condoms; more sex partners; looking for sex partners more and in more contexts; sex in threesomes; more drug use, especially the use of crystal methamphetamine; a lower perception of their AIDS risk; and lower perception of their risk behavior in Rehoboth. Those reporting unprotected "others" and main partnerships were less likely to report being aware of how they dealt with extra-relational sex in their relationship and were less likely to use condoms with lovers.

The riskiest portion of gay men in Rehoboth were of younger age; they had more sex partners, both protected and unprotected with others at home as well as in Rehoboth; cruising more and in more contexts; more drug use, in Rehoboth, particularly marijuana, ecstasy, and crystal methamphetamine.

Simply stated, risk taking among gay men is higher when they are on vacation here in Rehoboth than when they are in their own home communities. We are all here to have a good time and enjoy the sun, sand, surf and sex. However, letting loose can come with consequences. While here on vacation, know your partners HIV status, know your limits, and protect yourself. The health of the gay community starts with you. Have fun, play smart, CAMPsafe.