["Give me a pill": the meanings of AIDS in bareback practice in Mexico City and its implications for HIV prevention].

Objective: To analyze and understand the meanings that gay men in Mexico City associate to unprotected sex such as bareback practices.

Materials And Methods: Exploratory qualitative study that uses grounded theory analysis of semistructured interviews with gay men that practice bareback sex recruited through the internet. Also a documentary analysis was performed.

Results: Gay men engage in bareback sexual practices because they have access to antiretroviral therapy. Access to treatment changes the meanings around AIDS and the perceived risk of infection. The confidence on treatment and the dropback of the Mexican government on preventive strategies explain these perceptions.

Conclusions: Urban and middle class gay men in Mexico City have changed their perception with respect to HIV infection. It is necessary to understand the meanings related to bareback sexual practices and the use of condoms as a preventive strategy. We have to retake the discussion on preventive strategies, damage mitigation, stigma, discrimination, early diagnosis and the impact of antiretroviral therapy.