Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Archana Bodas LaPollo, MPH, Lisa Bond, PhD, and Lee Carson, MSW, CASAC. Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 South Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-731-2155, archana@phmc.org

OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between Black MSM's sexual identity, ethnic and gay community attachments, and participation in gay-identified social spaces and activities and to discuss implications for HIV prevention.

METHODS: 540 Black MSM recruited through Respondent-Driven Sampling in Philadelphia completed an ACASI survey assessing HIV risk. Participants were age 18-71 (mean=42.4); 44% identified as bisexual, 39% gay, 17% heterosexual. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: In the past 6 months, 50% of the sample read gay publications, 45% went to gay bars, 24% went to gay-sponsored events, and 18% shopped at gay-owned businesses. Compared to gay men, heterosexual MSM were less likely to read gay publications (OR=0.4), and heterosexual and bisexual MSM were less likely to go to gay bars (OR=0.2 and 0.5, respectively) or shop at gay-owned businesses (OR=0.3 and 0.5, respectively). Regarding community attachments, heterosexual and bisexual MSM were most likely to identify with the “Black community” (76% and 49%, respectively), while gay men were most likely to identify with the “Gay and Black communities” (52%). Compared to MSM who identified with the “Black community”, MSM who identified with the “Gay and Black communities” were more likely to go to gay-sponsored events (OR=3.0) and read gay publications (OR=2.4). (controlled for age and SES; all p<.05).

CONCLUSION: Many Black MSM are not being reached by HIV prevention programs targeting MSM through gay-identified channels. Programs taking into account men's sexual identity and community attachments are needed to reach Black MSM who do not identify as gay.

Learning Objectives: