Background: Geosocial networking smartphone applications (apps) are popular tools for seeking sexual partners among men who have sex with men (MSM). We evaluated app use and risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in app-using MSM (app-users) by a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods: A literature search for relevant studies was performed. We extracted date of STIs (ever being diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia) and sexual behavior (e.g., number of app-met partners, unprotected anal/oral sex, HIV testing) from the eligible studies. Pooled proportions and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated.
Results: Twenty-five studies were included. The self-reported prevalence of prior diagnosis of HIV among app-users ranged from 2.2 to 37.7%, and the pooled prevalence of HIV infection was 6% (95% CI, 4-11%). Compared with non-users, app-users were more likely to have gonorrhea (OR = 2.36; 95% CI, 2.07-2.70) and chlamydia (OR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.92-2.56). The two groups were similar in terms of diagnoses of HIV (OR = 0.89, 95% CI, 0.68-1.16) and syphilis (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 0.91-4.03). However, when one study that caused substantial heterogeneity was omitted, the pooled OR for app-users to contract syphilis became 3.00 (95% CI, 1.84-4.91) .
Conclusions: MSM who seek sexual partners using apps may be more likely to have STIs as than are non-users.
Keywords: App; Geosocial networking application; HIV; MSM; Sexually transmitted infection.