The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5181.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #40671

Correlates of sex trading among men who have sex with men

Peter A Newman, PhD, Department of Sociology, UCLA, 264 Haines Hall, Box 951551, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1551, 310-825-1107, panewman@ucla.edu, Fen Rhodes, PhD, Center for Behavioral Research & Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, and Robert E. Weiss, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, UCLA, 51-269 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, CA 90095.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine demographic and behavioral factors associated with trading sex for money, drugs, shelter or food among men who have sex with men. Methods: This cross sectional study used a self-administered Audio-CASI questionnaire. African American, Latino and White men who have sex with men (N=387; Mean age=38.7 years) were recruited from high risk public venues. We assessed the significance of the association of each predictor with sex trading using chi-square tests and then used multiple logistic regression to assess adjusted significance. Results: The prevalence of sex trading was 62.5% (95% confidence interval=57.7%, 67.4%). Sex trading was associated with crack use, childhood abuse, non-gay self identification, injection drug use and homelessness (adjusted odds ratios=3.70, 2.57, 2.20, 2.18, and 1.86, respectively). Conclusion: Findings support an economic component to sex trading among MSM and suggest effective HIV preventive interventions for MSM who trade sex may need to target both drug dependence and economic hardship. HIV preventive interventions also may need to specifically target non-gay identified MSM who trade sex.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

Keywords: Gay Men, Sex Workers

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.

Gay and Bisexual Men's Health

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA