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Bug chasing and gift giving: the potential for HIV transmission among barebackers on the internet

Christian Grov1, Jeffrey T Parsons

  • 1Graduate Center of the City, University of New York, Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training, New York, New York 10021, USA.

AIDS Education and Prevention : Official Publication of the International Society for AIDS Education
|December 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Bug chasing and gift giving, terms for intentional unprotected sex among men who have sex with men (MSM), were studied. Findings suggest these behaviors exist, but many participants were not intent on spreading HIV.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Sociology
  • HIV/AIDS Research

Background:

  • Colloquial terms "bug chasing" and "gift giving" describe intentional unprotected anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • These terms are associated with the goal of spreading HIV, a phenomenon with limited large-scale descriptive research.
  • Understanding the prevalence and motivations behind these behaviors is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of "bug chasing" and "gift giving" among MSM.
  • To analyze the self-identified motivations and partner preferences of individuals engaging in these behaviors.
  • To examine the congruence between self-identification and actual behavioral intentions regarding HIV transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 1,228 Internet profiles from MSM who self-identified as "bug chasers" or "gift givers".
  • Data collected from a U.S.-based barebacking-centered website in Fall 2004.
  • Categorization of participants based on their HIV serostatus and desired partner serostatus.

Main Results:

  • The majority of participants (79%) were White and resided in the U.S. (70%).
  • A small percentage sought discordant partners (1.1% of HIV-positive, 21.3% of HIV-negative men).
  • Many were ambivalent about partner serostatus (72% of HIV-positive, 35% of HIV-negative men), and a significant portion sought same-serostatus partners (24% of HIV-positive, 36% of HIV-negative men).

Conclusions:

  • "Bug chasing" and "gift giving" behaviors are present within online communities of MSM.
  • Self-identification does not consistently align with specific intentions to transmit or avoid HIV.
  • A substantial portion of individuals identifying with these terms were not explicitly seeking to spread HIV, indicating complex motivations.

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