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Abstract #152465

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Richard J. Wolitski, PhD, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton RD NE (E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333, 404 639-1939, rwolitski@cdc.gov, Ronald Valdiserri, MD, MPH, Public Health Strategic Health Care Group (13B), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, and Ron Stall, PhD, Center for Research on Health and Sexual Orientation and Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

Gay and bisexual men in the United States experience stigma and discrimination that have the potential to negatively affect their physical and mental health. This presentation summarizes the findings of a newly completed series of systematic reviews that document health disparities experienced by gay and bisexual men. Evidence of disparities in the following areas will be summarized: mental health, violent victimization; childhood sexual abuse; alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; HIV; hepatitis; and other sexually transmitted infections. Although the health problems experienced by gay and bisexual men each have unique determinants, it is important to consider these problems within existing health disparities frameworks that have been used to understand health inequities experienced by racial/ethnic minorities and other groups. Some, if not all, of the health problems experienced by gay and bisexual men are likely influenced by cross-cutting factors that contribute to health disparities. These factors include: (1) socioeconomic status, (2) the effects of prejudice and discrimination, (3) laws and policies that affect health, health behavior, and access to health care, and (4) individual behavior and cultural norms within the gay community. These influences may combine with other sources of stigma and discrimination that are experienced by some subgroups of gay and bisexual men (such as racial/ethnic minorities, adolescents/young men, and older men), which further increases the prevention and medical needs of these particularly vulnerable subgroups. The implications of these findings for future research and public health efforts to eliminate health disparities will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least 3 health disparities affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
• Describe 2 or more cross-cutting factors that may be responsible for health disparities experienced by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout