ABSTRACT

COVID-19 led to substantial changes in individuals’ lives due to preventive measures, including social distancing and “stay at home” orders. One type of social interaction likely impacted is intimacy and sexual relationships. Sexual minority men have long navigated the impact of another pandemic, HIV, on their sexual lives. This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on Latinx sexual minority men’s (LSMM) sexual behaviors in South Florida, an HIV and COVID-19 epicenter. A rapid qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with LSMM (N = 20) revealed five themes: (1) increased sex with a primary partner, (2) fewer sexual partners, (3) continued pre-COVID-19 sexual activity, often following “quarantine fatigue,” (4) opportunities and challenges related to navigating COVID-19 prevention and sex, and (5) using sexual networking apps in new ways. The findings suggest LSMM’s resilience and their ongoing health needs during COVID-19, with implications for interventions to promote LSMM’s safe and satisfying sex.

摘要

由于社交距离和“呆在家里”命令等预防措施，COVID-19 给个人生活带来了巨大变化。可能受到影响的一种社交互动是亲密关系和性关系。性少数男性长期以来一直在应对另一种流行病艾滋病毒对其性生活的影响。本研究探讨了 COVID-19 对 HIV 和 COVID-19 重灾区南佛罗里达州拉丁裔性少数男性 (LSMM) 性行为的影响。对 LSMM (N = 20) 的半结构化访谈的快速定性分析揭示了五个主题：(1) 与主要伴侣的性行为增加，(2) 性伴侣减少，(3) 在 COVID-19 之前持续进行性活动，经常继“隔离疲劳”之后，(4) 与应对 COVID-19 预防和性相关的机遇和挑战，以及 (5) 以新方式使用性网络应用程序。研究结果表明 LSMM 在 COVID-19 期间的恢复能力及其持续的健康需求，对促进 LSMM 安全且满意的性行为的干预措施具有影响。