Sexual identities and sexual health within the Celtic nations: An exploratory study of men who have sex with men recruited through social media

Associations of sexual identity with a range of sexual and sexualhealth behaviours were investigated amongst men who have sexwith men (MSM). Data from 1816 MSM recruited from 4 Celticnations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic ofIreland) were collected via a cross-sectional online surveyadvertised via social media. About 18.3% were non-gay identifiedMSM (NGI-MSM). In the last year, 30% of NGI-MSM reported highriskunprotected anal intercourse and 45% reported never havinghad an sexually transmitted infection (STI) test. When comparedto MSM who were gay identified (GI-MSM), NGI-MSM were morelikely to be older, have a female partner, fewer sex partners, feweranal sex partners, STI diagnoses and less likely to be HIV positive,more likely to never use the gay scene and be geographicallyfurther from a gay venue. NGI-MSM were also less likely to reportSTI and HIV testing behaviours. The findings highlight variations inrisk by sexual identities, and unmet sexual health needs amongstNGI-MSM across Celtic nations. Innovative research is requiredregarding the utility of social media for reaching populations ofMSM and developing interventions which target theheterogeneity of MSM and their specific sexual health needs.