A Review of Risk Behaviors for HIV Infection by Men Who Have Sex With Men Through Geosocial Networking Phone Apps

Abstract

The purpose of our review was to analyze the relationship between the use of geosocial networking phone apps and risk behaviors for HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). The review was guided by the question: Does the use of geosocial networking apps to find sex partners increase risk behaviors for HIV infection by MSM? We searched the databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and LILACS, considering primary studies published up to December 2015, without any time restraint. All 14 studies that met our search criteria analyzed sexual behaviors in relation to sociocultural and economic characteristics, number of partners, unprotected anal sex, drug use, HIV testing, risk management measures, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. The results indicated that use of geosocial networking apps to find sex partners may lead to new patterns of behavior and relationships that place MSM at risk for HIV.

Keywords: integrative literature review; men who have sex with men; mobile phone applications; sexual behavior; social networks.