Online Program

287401
Psychosocial factors and high risk sexual behaviors in African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM): A pilot study funded by the minority HIV/AIDS research initiative


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Dantrell Simmons, MA, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
NiKendrick Sturdevant, BS, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
June Gipson, PhD, EdS, Center for Community-Based Programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS
Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Open Arms Healthcare Center, Jackson, MS
Christopher Roby, MA, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
DeMarc Hickson, PhD, MPH, Center for Research, Evaluation, Environmental and Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS
BACKGROUND: A growing literature suggests that psychosocial factors are associated with high-risk sexual behavior and less HIV prevention in white MSM. These results, however, cannot be easily generalizable to AAMSM. METHODS: The Sociological Study of Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS among AAMSM in the Southern US is a cross-sectional, community-based study to understand the etiology of HIV/STIs in AAMSM. A pilot study was conducted among AA MSM in Jackson, MS to gauge the attitudes of AAMSM toward the self-collection of pharyngeal, urethral, and rectal swabs for the detection of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and the use of an audio computer-assisted survey interview (ACASI),including the specific survey questions. The ACASI included assessments to measure early life circumstances, family dynamics, traumatic lifecourse events, and psychosocial factors such as Day-to-Day Experiences of discrimination, Depression, and Life Orientation Test (i.e., optimism). Two-sample t-tests were used to examine bivariate relationships between psychosocial factors and high risk sexual behaviors. RESULTS: A total of nine AA MSM (mean age: 22.0 (3.7) years, range: 18-31 years) participated in the one-day pilot study. Experiences of perceived discrimination were directly correlated with depression scores. Participants with severe levels of depression (scores > 40) were less likely to consume alcohol prior to engaging in sex (p=.043). Participants reporting lower levels of optimism were more likely to ask their last main partner's HIV status before engaging in sexual behaviors (p=.033). CONCLUSION:Given the growing incidence of HIV/STIs among young AAMSM, consideration for psychosocial factors should be considered in the reduction and prevention of new infections.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Analyze the association of psychosocial factors with the prevalence oh high-risk sexual behaviors and HIV/STI infection in African American MSM residing in Jackson, MS.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a doctoral student in the field of epidemiology as well as a full-time Research Associate with My Brother's Keeper, Inc. I also hold a M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology. Previous work include assessing the effectiveness of a CDC HIV evidenced-based intervention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

Back to: 5006.0: Barriers to HIV prevention