Male sex workers : Between safe sex and risk. ethnography in a gay sauna in Barcelona, Spain
Jacques-Aviñó, Constanza (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
De Andrés, Anna (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Roldán, L. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Fernández-Quevedo, M. (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
García de Olalla, Patricia (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Diez, Elia (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Romaní, Oriol 1951- (Universitat Rovira i Virgili)
Caylà, Joan A (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2019
Abstract:	This ethnography was conducted in Barcelona, a city that provides different gay leisure resources, such as gay saunas. We aimed to analyze from studies on gender and masculinities, how sexuality, perception of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and preventive measures are articulated in gay sauna male sex workers (MSW). Ten in-depth interviews and observation were conducted between 2012 and 2016. Safe sex practices are more frequent with clients, while risk practices are carried out more with non-commercial partners. Sexual orientation plays an important role. Homosexuals assume riskier practices in sex work than heterosexuals. Drug use or lack of support networks were associated with higher social vulnerability and risk behaviors. Contracting HIV still creates fear, while having other STIs is perceived as part of a man's sexual life. The MSW affirms masculinity with concurrent sexual partners, breadwinner, and on the other hand, questions a heteronormative model. Interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs in this group should consider social determinants such as inferior work alternatives and the provision of more significant social support.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Ethnography ; HIV ; Masculinity ; Sauna ; Sex work
Published in:	Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Vol. 24 Núm. 12 (december 2019) , p. 4707-4716, ISSN 1678-4561

DOI: 10.1590/1413-812320182412.27842017
PMID: 31778520

10 p, 105.9 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles