Evaluation of an HIV prevention intervention for men who have sex with men at cruising areas in the Netherlands

This study collected data from 362 men who had sex with men at cruising areas in the Netherlands, and measured characteristics of respondents, sexual risk behavior, and risk perceptions. Furthermore, the study assessed whether outreach activities at cruising areas promote safe sex behavior. Almost one in five respondents reported having sex with both men and women, and 18.5% of respondents reported sexual risk behavior at cruising areas. Men who had a conversation about safe sex with a volunteer used condoms more consistently than men who had not spoken with a volunteer. Finally, it was found that behaviorally bisexual men used condoms less frequently at cruising areas. The relatively high levels of risk-taking sex stress the importance of HIV prevention at cruising areas. Furthermore, special attention could be given to cruising area visitors who have sex with both men and women, because they report higher levels of risk behavior and have less access to safer sex information regarding homosexual behavior.