Working in Partnership for HIV Prevention in Gay Saunas: A Pilot Project in Two Gay Saunas

Hayden, Karl; Gay HIV Strategies

dc.contributor.author	Hayden, Karl
dc.contributor.author	Gay HIV Strategies
dc.date.accessioned	2021-08-25T14:53:55Z
dc.date.available	2021-08-25T14:53:55Z
dc.date.issued	1998-11
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10147/630192
dc.description	The bass of the pilot project began with the publication of two earlier studies. The first study was, HIV Prevention Strategies and the Gay Community; Phase One Report A Baseline Study (Department of Health and GLEN/NEXUS, 1996). Section 5 of the study deals with the Gay Commercial Sector. The study noted ‘The importance of the commercial venues make them a crucial focus of any HIV/ADS prevention work. Of particular concern however are the saunas which are frequented by quite large numbers of men who are not ‘our’. Interviews with gay men during the course of this project would suggest that the saunas are a meeting place for quite a large number of cider gay men - a group that has possibly been neglected in prevention strategies in the past. The saunas also tend to attract men from different parts of the country including men from urban centres such as Cork and Limerick who would not be ‘out’ in their own areas. indeed because of this range of clientele the saunas have co particular importance in relation to any future prevention strategies’. The study found that ‘According to gay men interviewed, the saunas actually provide a place for men to ‘cruise’ in a safe environment, free from fear of harassment or violence, They provide saunas, steam rooms, coffee rooms and rest rooms which allow men to socialise with each other in a more intimate environment. in terms of socialising, the saunas often provide a place for men to meet who would not feet comfortable in the more open, gay-identified bars and clubs’. In negative terms the men reported that the saunas ‘do not provide adequate safer-sex information’. Also, ‘condoms are not always available on the premises and when they are, they have to be purchased at reception’ which some gay men interviewed said they found ‘embarrassing and off-putting’. The study suggested that ‘saunas present major opportunities but also problems in relation to HIV prevention. On the positive side they are meeting places for possibly a more diverse group of gay men In terms of age, location and sexual identity than would be the case in the bars, clubs and gay community groups. As a result prevention measures directed towards the saunas could have a significant impact on the wider gay population. However, in order for this to happen, and whether the owners are aware or not, there would have to be some acceptance that some degree of sexual activity does take place, or at least initiated, on these premises, then measures could Include not only the prevision of condoms and safer-sex materials, but the training of staff as safer sex educators and possibly the recruitment of different clientele as educators among their peers. in effect the saunas could actually become learning centres on safer-sex for a very wide group of gay men’ As with clientele of the saunas, the study interviewed the sauna owners and voluntary gay groups as well as AIDS organisations. They found ‘Interviews with the sauna owners would suggest that they recognise the opportunities presented to them to engage with the gay community to prevent HIV transmission and to facilitate safer-sex practices within the broad commercial sector, in addition, Interviews with both voluntary gay groups and AIDS organisations would suggest that co-operation between HIV educators and commercial venue owners Is a key in any future HIV prevention strategies’.	en_US
dc.language	eng
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	Eastern Health Board	en_US
dc.rights	Eastern Health Board
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/	*
dc.subject	HEALTH SERVICES	en_US
dc.subject	GAY MEN	en_US
dc.subject	SEXUAL HEALTH	en_US
dc.title	Working in Partnership for HIV Prevention in Gay Saunas: A Pilot Project in Two Gay Saunas	en_US
dc.type	Report	en_US
refterms.dateFOA	2021-08-25T14:53:56Z