City Research Online

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain disproportionately affected by HIV and sexual infections, which are acquired predominately through condomless anal sex, known as ‘barebacking’. This thesis is concerned with the experiences of HIV-negative or unknown status gay men who have recently engaged in bareback sex. Using data obtained through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this thesis makes a unique and holistic contribution to the barebacking discourse by detailing the factors that influence HIV-negative and unknown status MSM to engage in bareback sex through the analytical lens of sexual position. MSM in London were targeted via gay press, e-mail broadcasts and leafleting, and asked to take part in in-depth qualitative interviews. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the data were managed using NVivo9™. A total of 13 MSM were interviewed; the average age of participants was 39 years (range 29-55) and all had engaged in bareback sex between 0-90 days prior to the interview. The findings are organised around a pragmatic analytical framework generated from the mens’ narratives and comprise three main themes: ‘How participants set the scene to their barebacking encounters’; ‘The act of bareback sex’ and ‘The meanings men ascribe to bareback sex’. By examining how participants locate their barebacking encounters, how bareback sex is communicated and negotiated during an encounter, and how men ascribe meaning to bareback sex, I demonstrate how participation in bareback sex is the result of a dynamic process involving different combinations of factors. These findings are presented in three separate chapters. In addition, this thesis provides new insights regarding sexual position and bareback sex. The thesis concludes with a discussion about the implications of the findings for those who work with MSM and also considers areas of possible future research.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	R Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences Doctoral Theses School of Health & Psychological Sciences > School of Health & Psychological Sciences Doctoral Theses

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