Sexualized drug use and specialist service experience among MSM attending urban and rural sexual health clinics in England and Scotland
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Authors
Kennedy, Richard
Murira, Jennifer
Foster, Kirsty
Heinsbroek, Ellen
Keane, Frances
Pal, Nisha
Chalmers, Lynn
Sinka, Katy
Issue Date
2021-09-21
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Illicit Drugs , Drug Users , Sexual Health , Rural Health Services , Urban Health Services
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: To date, evidence on whether sexualized drug use (SDU) and chemsex occur less frequently in rural compared to urban areas in Britain has been conflicting. This study aimed to better measure and understand whether attending urban versus rural sexual health clinics in the United Kingdom was associated with a difference in men who have sex with men’s (MSM) experience of SDU or their access to SDU support. Methods: Men from 29 sexual health services across England and Scotland were recruited by self-completing a waiting room survey. Results: A total of 2655 men (864 MSM) took part. There was no statistically significant difference in recent SDU or chemsex identified in MSM attending rural compared to urban clinics. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate/Gamma-Butyrolactone (GHB/GBL) was the most commonly reported chemsex drug used in a sexual setting, with equal prevalence of use in urban and rural MSM attendees. Distance travelled for SDU was not significantly different for rural compared to urban MSM. Rural MSM reported a higher rate of unmet need for SDU specific services, although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Within this sample of MSM, there were no significant differences in sexualized drug use behaviours between those attending rural compared to urban sexual health settings.
Description
Citation
Kennedy, R., Murira, J., Foster, K., Heinsbroek, E., Keane, F., Pal, N., Chalmers, L., & Sinka, K. (2021). Sexualized drug use and specialist service experience among MSM attending urban and rural sexual health clinics in England and Scotland. International journal of STD & AIDS, 32(14), 1338–1346. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624211041456
Publisher
International Journal of STD & AIDS