Correlates of Internet use to meet sex partners among men who have sex with men diagnosed with early syphilis in Los Angeles county

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate use of the Internet to solicit sex partners by men who have sex with men (MSM) who were diagnosed with early syphilis infection. Study: Field interview records for syphilis patients were reviewed for factors associated with Internet use. Results: Internet users were more likely to be of white race (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 -1.8), to report anal insertive sex (PR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2), sex with anonymous partners (PR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3), intravenous drug use (PR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.7), and nonintravenous drug use (PR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8). Controlling for race and sexual risk behaviors, white race (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8-4.6), having anonymous sex partners (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.6-7.0), and nonintravenous drug use (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6) were associated with meeting sex partners through the Internet. Conclusions: Effective sexually transmitted disease risk reduction interventions using the Internet are needed to reach Internet-using, sex-seeking MSM populations engaging in high-risk behaviors.