Sexual and protective practices among self-identified homosexual men in Metro Manila: A comparison of two disparate income groups

• Main Author: Trinidad, Ricky Lopez
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Gays; Gays > Metro Manila; Homosexuality > Metro Manila; Homosexuality; Public Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3569; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10407/viewcontent/CDTG004339_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The aim of the study is to describe and compare risky sexual practices and protective behaviors of 30 self-identified homosexual men in Metro Manila. Specifically, the study examined the self-identified homosexual’s (a) socio-demographic profile, (b) their sexual practices, (c) their assessment of the STI risks of each sexual practice, (d) STI experience/s, and (e) the measures they have adopted to protect themselves from STIs. This research study utilized a descriptive research design. The respondents were obtained through purposive sampling wherein a survey questionnaire was used as an instrument. In terms of age, respondents were aged between 19 and 49 (mean age: 31.73 years). With reference to education, 19 of 30 respondents had reached college. Respondents were gainfully employed in varying occupations, one-half of which were beauticians. Half of the 30 respondents had an income of not more than 10,000 pesos every month, and the other half had monthly earning either within the 10,001-20,000 income range or higher. Regarding their sexual practices, most respondents engaged in torrid kissing, oral sex, and anal intercourse. Having taken into account their sexual practices, respondents estimated that they had been engaging in the said practices for some time. Most respondents had multiple partners for the past 12 months. Moreover, 16 respondents did not pay their sexual partners. Incidentally, the respondents’ partners were in the 20-24 and 15-19 age groups. In examining the level of each respondent’s knowledge of the general risk level of the aforementioned practices across income groups, results indicate that the respondents had low to moderate knowledge level. The 30 self-identified homosexual respondents utilized protective measures (i.e., condom use, being monogamous and the like) against STIs. In addition, respondents have not had STI for the past 12 months. However, as a contradistinction, the respondents perceive that homosexuals, in general, do not use protective measures making them a risk group to STIs/HIV/AIDS. The above-mentioned data clearly indicated that self-identified homosexuals are highly vulnerable and susceptible in acquiring and transmitting STIs especially HIV/AIDS amidst condom use and other protective measures. However, the results show no significant difference between the two income groups. These alarming trends of sexual practices vividly pose a threat for further spread of the pandemic which is seen presently as “hidden and growing” despite the “low and slow” claim of the studies conducted here in the Philippines for over a decade.