Awareness and use of untested barrier methods by HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men

Little is known about HIV-seropositive men's awareness and use of untested barrier methods during anal intercourse. A sample of 240 HIV-seropositive m en (69.2% men of color) completed a self-administered survey that included items on nonoxynol-9 (N-9), female condoms, and the simultaneous use of two male condoms (double bagging). Most participants (79.6%) had heard of N-9 being used to prevent HIV transmission during anal intercourse. Of these, 2 0.0% rated N-9 as more effective than condoms, and 14.6% had used N-9 inste ad of condoms. Fewer men (35.4%) were aware of female condoms being used du ring anal intercourse. Overall, few respondents (5.4%) had used female cond oms; 53.8% of whom rated the device as more pleasurable than male condoms. Most men (69.6%) had heard of double bagging, and 35.2% had engaged in this practice. Of these, 45.1% rated the practice as less pleasurable than usin g a single condom. Few associations were observed between participant chara cteristics and the awareness or use of these barrier methods. The widesprea d use of these untested methods emphasizes the urgent need to further educa te HIV-seropositive men about the potential risks of N-9 use and to test th e effectiveness of other strategies that may serve as alternatives to male condom use.