Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Correspondence to Dr Birger C Forsberg; birger.
Berlin is also a key destination when looking into where Swedish MSM sero-convert, while travelling. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions with participants recruited through network sampling. Data were analysed with content analysis. To be included in the study, the participants had to be cis-MSM, Swedish citizens, spending time in Berlin and having sex in both settings. For a majority of the participants, sex was the main reason for going to Berlin but cultural aspects like art and the techno scene were also important.
Berlin was perceived as a sex-oriented city providing venues where respondents did not have to care about reputation and status and where social and sexual spaces co-existed side by side.
This in sharp contrast to Sweden, which represented a limiting environment both in culture and what was available culturally and sexually. The men interviewed experienced multiple partners and had a broad sexual repertoire both abroad and at home.
However, the behaviour was amplified in Berlin. The men did not alter their safer sex practice depending on if they had sex in Sweden or Berlin. Keywords: public health, qualitative research, men who have sex with men, travel medicine. The design included interviews complemented with participatory observations in clubs and sex clubs in Berlin. The interviewer balanced between emic and etic approaches in order to gain trust from the participants and at the same time gain deep understanding of the culture described in the interviews.
