Thesis
The geographic distribution of public sex environments within California
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102537
Abstract
Public sex environments (PSEs), such as bathhouses and public parks where men have sex with other men (MSM), include some of the many possible transmission sites of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) that need to be understood to help combat these diseases (Fenton 2007; Frankis and Flowers 2005). To understand the geographic distribution of possible STD transmission sites, this study analyzes data from an online PSE directory of user created listings of PSE locations within California to understand where PSEs cluster and how the PSEs geographic distribution relate to social disorganization theory‟s communitylevel factors. The results from the statewide analysis indicate that public sex environments cluster mostly within predominately urban counties. The top three PSEs within California are Restrooms (30%), parks (17%) and gyms (14%). Also, the rate of PSEs per 1000 census tract residents is slightly decreased as the level of social organization increases, suggesting community level factors do impact the location of PSEs. The results of this study suggest PSE and STD researchers would benefit from understanding the macro-level community factors used in social disorganization theory, and possibly other criminological theories, that may hinder or accelerate the spread of STDs through PSEs or other possible transmission sites.
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Details
- Title
- The geographic distribution of public sex environments within California
- Creators
- Anthony Raymond Vega
- Contributors
- Jennifer Schwartz (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Sociology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525167001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis