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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Marya Viorst Gwadz, PhD, Institute for AIDS Research, National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 7th floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4499, gwadz@ndri.org, Michael C. Clatts, PhD, School of Public Health, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, and LLoyd Goldsamt, PhD, Institute for Research on Youth at Risk, National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010.
Background: To compare HIV-related sexual and drug behavior in homeless and housed young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and identify sources of resilience. Methods: 569 participants were recruited from venues where YMSM congregate in New York City. Youth participated in a structured interview. Results: Youth ranged in age from 17-28 (M=22, SD=3.07). Most were from ethnic minority backgrounds. 21% were currently homeless or marginally housed. Homeless YMSM used substances at higher rates. They were more likely to use drugs daily (34% versus 16%) and to have injected substances (17% vs. 4%). Homeless YMSM also engaged in sex work (68%) more frequently than their peers (27%) and had more female and male sexual partners, including sex work partners. Resilience was indicated by service utilization and risk reduction behavior. Homeless YMSM had higher rates of service utilization (X=4.6 vs. 4.0 services used) and drug treatment (17% vs. 5%), often multiple times. 42% of homeless YMSM who injected drugs reported sharing needles or works, but also cleaned the paraphernalia the majority of the time. Homeless youth had more sex work than non-paid encounters; however, they engaged most frequently in sexual acts that put them at minimal risk for HIV (oral sex). Conclusion: Homeless YMSM have strikingly high rates of risk behavior, which places them at grave risk for multiple poor outcomes, including HIV. Yet a closer examination of their behavior indicates resilience. A better understanding of these processes is needed in order to foster health-promoting actions in this population.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Homelessness, Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.