Online Sexual Health Information Seeking Patterns Differentiated by Social Location and Physical Location among Gay and Bisexual Men in Ontario, Canada

David J Brennan; Maya A Kesler; Adam W J Davies; Aidan Ablona; David Collict

doi:10.1080/19317611.2022.2091076

Online Sexual Health Information Seeking Patterns Differentiated by Social Location and Physical Location among Gay and Bisexual Men in Ontario, Canada

Int J Sex Health. 2022 Jul 4;34(4):627-643. doi: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2091076. eCollection 2022.

Authors

David J Brennan¹, Maya A Kesler¹, Adam W J Davies², Aidan Ablona³, David Collict²

Affiliations

¹ Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
² Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
³ School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to understand the varying needs of diverse gay and bisexual men (GBM) in relation to online sexual health information-seeking dependent upon differing social sociodemographic variables and geographic location.

Methods: A total of 1802 GBM in Ontario participated in this study. Multivariable regressions were conducted to analyze differences in information-seeking based on ethnicity group, HIV status, recent sexual behavior and regionality (urban and rural location).

Results: There were significant differences in online sexual health information-seeking content based on these demographic variables.

Conclusions: Implications for sexual health outreach and service provision for diverse GBM are discussed as well.

Keywords: Gay and bisexual men; online information seeking; sexual health.

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network vis two funds: Targeted Request for Applications (RFA: G913 & RFA: G847). David J. Brennan's research is also funded by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network's Endgame Leadership Chair Funding.