Table 6 Representative quotes describing reasons for not using condoms consistently among those not on PrEP at the time of the interview

Trusted partners to disclose HIV status

Usually I’ll ask the partner first [if they’re fine not using a condom]. Yeah so if they’re fine with it then I guess, yeah, I won’t use… Yeah, I don’t ask [if a person is HIV positive before having sex] … I guess it’s like, kind of, their obligation to tell you that they have it. Because it’s a transmittable disease and it’s quite deadly. And if they know about it they should inform you. Yeah

–Participant 23, Singapore, 8 months in Australia

Trusted his intuition

I would be more worried about STIs… I don’t really feel like there are so many HIV positive people, and I am selective when I am doing it, when I was doing it

—Participant 7, China, 1.5 years in Australia

Trusted partner to be monogamous

The first time [having sex with his regular partner] and the second time I used a condom. But the third time, he don't want to. First time he did not want to, I really don't like the way, I want to use the condom. Lack of protection. He doesn't… he said he was on PrEP and that he is clean and he got tested. I said okay. Maybe yes. What happened to me? Sometimes it was just impulse… I never tried that like without condoms. Maybe I was curious… I told him, if you want to do that this way, you mustn't meet another person

–Participant 17, China, 3 years in Australia

Believed men in his social circle did not have HIV

In Pakistan, I don’t use condoms because the circles I move in are the circles which are the people like me… like, my age group, and they are from nice families and things like that. So there is not HIV or many sexually diseases, transmitted disease in Pakistan. After I moved here, at the start I didn’t use condoms…because it is a mental habit…

—Participant 1, Pakistan, 2.5 years in Australia

Lacked knowledge of STIs or HIV

Because I didn’t think about anything, I just have sex. You know, to use condoms or whatever, I didn’t think about anything. I didn’t even check whether they are negative or positive, or whether they are getting PrEP or PEP or whatever. I didn't check that, I just…Yeah, I didn’t have any knowledge

—Participant 15, Sri Lanka, 2 years in Australia

Let sex partners decide

Because sometimes the person doesn’t want to use it. So, I just follow

—Participant 5, Taiwan, 3 years in Australia

Let sex partners decide

Mostly [I] will use a condom but there's a few times that [a partner] didn't want to. A few times—two times. Yes. They didn't want to. But when I do it I don't really quite feel comfortable to it

-Participant 20, Malaysia, 3 years in Australia

Believed it was partners first time having condomless sex

I actually [give] some kind of interview [to] him first like talking, is this your first time, is this your—because I have this instinct that it's his first time [having sex without a condom] I guess so we're just going to try it without condom. So based on what he's saying about anything I think it's [his] first time…So, yes, we're not going to use a condom. But when I know a person is already doing it [casual sex without a condom] for a longer time already so we're going to use condom…. We just kind of talk about if you have been to other casual sex without using a condom before

—Participant 24, Philippines, 2 years in Australia

Trusted intuition

Usually, I talk to him and I get to trust him and also ask him if he’s negative or something. Yes I think it’s not really, yes it could still be risky but sometimes I just follow my sense, yeah

—Participant 13, China, 1.5 years in Australia

Loved and trusted partner

I think I really loved him. I think with this love and affection, you might think, “Okay. You can trust him with anything.”

—Participant 10, Taiwan, 4 years in Australia

Hooked up more than three times

I always use condoms unless I’ve had contact with the guy for more than three times

—Participant 8, Indonesia, 7 months in Australia

Partner passed PrEP quiz

I test, test about PrEP. Yeah, test about price, about the brand of drugs, like I test it. If they pass the test, I ask – yeah [I would consider not using a condom]; I have two experience without condom, but [the casual partner was] on PrEP

—Participant 14, Indonesia, 3 years in Australia