There are 60,737 men who have sex with men (MSM) from 26 Caribbean countries who are registered on the Adam4Adam (A4A) -- one of many social networking websites for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). These users account for 14.5% of the estimated 417,520 MSM in these countries and almost all profile of users in Trinidad & Tobago (97%) and Jamaica (99%) say they are HIV negative. However, HIV prevalence in the Caribbean ranges from 1% in the Dominican Republic to 32% in Jamaica.

According to Ivan Cruickshank, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator at the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), “the study seeks to determine how websites can provide access to hidden populations of MSM, especially those who are downlow (DL) and to use the medium to drive access to services.” CVC and Centro de Orientacion E Investigacion Integral under the “Vulnerabilised Groups” Component of the PANCAP Global Fund Project are conducting the study.

MSM are often unknown to the general population in many countries. This makes them very difficult to reach. While, the most-at-risk populations (MARPS) are becoming increasingly more important in the national response to HIV and AIDS, there are still very few services and little information being offered that is specific to the needs of LGBT people.

The survey found that among users in Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, more than 90% of them did not have a face photo. Both countries have laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy and varying levels of homophobia. However, in the Dominican Republic where buggery is legal, 44% of Adam4Adam users display face photos. The research hypothesize that the significantly high level of persons who do not display their photographs is as a result of fear of stigma, discrimination and violence. This is supported by the fact that the profiles of over 90% and 80% of users from Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica respectively identify as being ‘closeted’. According to John Walters, a physician who works at COIN, this is of concern given that international research suggesting greater risk-taking behavior amongst non-gay identifying MSM.

There is tremendous value in a survey of this nature because the Internet is an emerging medium that can potentially have a powerful influence on an individual’s health. For example, research has shown that use of the Internet can play a strong role in changing the more than $1 trillion health care industry in America due to health being a primary topic on the Internet. While there is no available data on the use of the internet in this regard for Jamaica, estimates from the Harris Interactive (2001) mid 2000 survey in America revealed that eighty-six percent of adult Internet users utilized the Internet to do research on a specific disease or health care. Most of these individuals used the Internet for health related purposes at least once a month and half said access to information on the Internet has improved the way they take care of themselves (Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2000). Further, many reported that the material they gathered directly affected their decisions about getting care and treatment for their illnesses (The Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2000).