Chemsex Practice Among PrEP Users in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I Pastor, M A Kundro, M Alonso Serena, G A Viloria, M B Zorz, F Cardozo, D Cecchini, J Barletta, I Altclas, M H Losso
AIDS and behavior January 27, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-026-05036-2 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 32% reported engaging in chemsex—the intentional use of psychoactive substances to enhance sexual activity—in the previous year. The most commonly used drugs were MDMA (21%), cocaine (14%), and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (12%); nearly half (48%) used two or more drugs together. Those who practiced chemsex had 3.67 times higher odds of reporting a sexually transmitted infection in the past year, independent of age, time on PrEP, number of sexual partners, or group sex. The findings underscore the need to integrate behavioral assessments and harm reduction into PrEP and sexual health policies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Descriptive cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 165 |
| Population | PrEP users attending four public hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Keywords | Chemsex Pre-exposure prophylaxis Stis Substance use |
| Key finding | Engaging in chemsex was independently associated with higher odds of reporting an STI in the past year (aOR 3.67, 95% CI 1.67–8.42). |
Abstract
Chemsex, defined as the intentional use of psychoactive substances to enhance sexual activity, has been associated with a higher frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosis among HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. Evidence from Latin America remains limited. This research aims to characterize the practice of chemsex and STIs prevalence in PrEP users in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study using clinical records and a self-administered ad-hoc questionnaire among PrEP users attending four public hospitals. Between February to October 2024, 165 PrEP users were included. The prevalence of chemsex, during the previous year, was 32%. The drugs used, in order of frequency, were MDMA 21%; cocaine 14%; gamma-hydroxybutyrate 12%; ketamine 10%; methamphetamine 6%; mephedrone 2%; and gamma-butyrolactone 1%. Additionally, 48% reported concurrent use of two or more drugs during the practice. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that engaging in chemsex was significantly associated with higher odds of reporting an STI in the past year [aOR 3.67 (95% CI 1.67 - 8.42) p 0.001). Age, time on PrEP, number of sexual partners, and engagement in group sex were not independently associated with STI diagnosis. In conclusion, chemsex was common among PrEP users in Buenos Aires and independently associated with recent STI diagnosis, highlighting the importance of integrating behavioral assessments and harm reduction strategies into PrEP and sexual health policymaking.