An Assessment of Sites Where Persons Go to Meet Sexual Partners in St. James, Jamaica, Using the PLACE Method

Abstract

In Brief Objective: The objective of this study was to assess sexual behavior of persons at risk of HIV infection. Goal: The goal of this study was to identify sites where HIV prevention is needed. Study Design: Customers at sites where persons meet new sex partners in St. James, Jamaica, were surveyed. Results: Of 421 sites, 282 men and 200 women (random sample, 23 sites) and 320 men and 265 women (special sample, 26 sites) were interviewed. Over one fourth of men and 14% (special) and 4% (random) of women had one or more new sex partners in the last 4 weeks. Seventy-eight percent of men reported condom use at last sex with a new partner compared with 66% of women. Approximately 50% of respondents reported condom use at last sex with a regular partner. Conclusion: Sites at which people meet new sex partners were diverse with significant opportunities for prevention. Commercial and transactional sex are features at many sites. A study of sexual behavior at sites where persons go to meet new sex partners in St. James, Jamaica, highlighted a significant gap between actual prevention activities and onsite opportunities for prevention.