Earl H. Leonard, MS¹, Armida Ayala, PhD, MHA², and Isabel Sanchez, BS². (1) Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 600 S. Commonwealth Ave. Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90005, (213) 351-8352, eleonard@dhs.co.la.ca.us, (2) Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, 600 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90005

The Los Angeles County (LAC) Follow-Back Survey is a supplement to the original LAC Health Survey (1999). The LAC Health Survey was a population-based random digit telephone survey designed to obtain detailed information on health indicators while the Follow-Back Survey focuses on HIV risk behaviors and access to and awareness of HIV prevention services. Cochran-Mantel Haenszel Chi-square, odds ratios, and descriptive statistics were performed on 39 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 60 heterosexual men at risk for HIV (HMR), using SAS Sudaan software. There were no statistically significant differences in mean age (p=0.728) or racial ethnic distributions (p=0.226) between the two groups. Approximately 53% of MSM and 43% of HMR used alcohol or drugs before or during sex. HMR were more likely to report that they knew the status of their casual partners than MSM (X2=12.28, p=0.007). In addition, MSM were almost three times as likely to attend an HIV or AIDS prevention program than at risk heterosexual men (OR=2.7, p=0.039). These findings are used to set public health priorities, improve prevention programs and implement policies to protect the health of LAC residents.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize differences in risk behaviors, access to services and awareness of HIV prevention strategies between men who have sex with men and heterosexual men at risk.
• Identify the strengths and limitations of a population-based random digit telephone survey and the follow-back survey.
• Describe the utility of the data for priority setting, program improvement, and policy development for various communities and jurisdictions.

Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Access and Services

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.