Hibbert, MP, Germain, J, Brett, CE, Van Hout, MC, Hope, V and Porcellato, LA (2021) Service provision and barriers to care for men who have sex with men engaging in chemsex and sexualised drug use in the North and West Midlands of England. International Journal of Drug Policy, 92. ISSN 0955-3959

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Abstract

Background: Chemsex and sexualised drug use (SDU) among men who have sex with men 6 (MSM) has become a public health issue because of its associated sexual risks. Some MSM 7 engaging in SDU require further help and support, but it is not clear if this need is being met. 8 This research seeks to understand MSM and service provider (SP) perspectives of the current 9 standard of service provision for MSM engaging in SDU. 10 Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 MSM and 16 SPs in England 11 (January-December 2019). MSM who reported taking one of ten substances for sex in the 12 past 12 months were recruited from a mailing list or a community organisation providing 13 chemsex support. Potential SP participants were recruited via an email sent from their local 14 healthcare NHS Trust. Data for MSM and SPs were analysed separately using thematic 15 analysis. 16 Results: MSM participants had a median age of 34 years (range 23-66). The majority of SPs 17 recruited were genitourinary medicine (GUM) consultants. We found that the main reason for 18 engagement in SDU was because of the enhanced sexual experience. Most MSM recruited 19 were satisfied with their sexual health service provision, but barriers to care were highlighted 20 by both MSM and SPs. Four themes relating to barriers to care were identified: accessibility 21 of sexual health services, funding of services, SP’s attitudes towards MSM who engage in 22 SDU, and services outside sexual healthcare. 3 1 Conclusion: SPs appeared to have adopted a harm reduction approach to MSM engaging in 2 SDU, but for MSM wanting further help and assistance in relation to their SDU additional 3 barriers to care existed. Training healthcare providers outside of sexual health services 4 regarding chemsex and SDU may reduce some of these barriers, but funding for sexual health 5 services needs to be improved to maintain and further develop services.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 16 Studies in Human Society, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date Deposited:	18 Dec 2020 14:16
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2022 00:50
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103090
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14181

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