185331 Age of partner as an HIV risk factor for young MSM

Monday, October 27, 2008

Heather Batson , Research and Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer L. Lauby, PhD , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
BACKGROUND: To better inform HIV prevention efforts focused on young MSM, we need a better understanding of the context of sexual risk incidents, namely unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among this population. One factor that may increase UAI is having an older sex partner.

METHODS: As part of the evaluation of a community-level intervention, 282 Black and White MSM ages 15 to 29 completed baseline interviews. Participants utilized ACASI to complete sensitive sections of the interview, including those about recent sexual encounter(s) with a current main partner and their most recent other partners.

RESULTS: 39% (109) of participants reported having receptive UAI in the past 3 month; 29% (82) reported insertive UAI. 42% of participants reported a main and/or other partner who was 5+ years older than him. Of men who engaged in receptive anal sex, those with older partners were more likely to report UAI (49% compared to 32% of men who had peer-aged partners, p<.05); similarly, men who engaged in insertive anal sex were more likely to report UAI if they had older partners (55% compared to 30% with peer partners, p<.05) . Older partner(s) were also associated with STI history, experiences of childhood sexual abuse, and receiving money from men for sex.

CONCLUSIONS: Young men with male sex partners 5+ years older than themselves experience elevated risk for sexual encounters that include UAI. Furthermore, the selection of older men as anal sex partners appears to be part of a complex interplay of sexual dynamics impacting risk.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how having older male partners is associated with sexual risk for HIV for young MSM. 2. Identify other factors associated with reporting older partners that may also impact HIV risk. 3. Articulate the implications these findings have for HIV prevention programs for young MSM.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on in HIV prevention research and evaluation for 9 years under the mentorship and supervision of other research professionals. I have presented several posters and one oral presentation previously at APHA. Furthermore, I am the data manager for the research project from which my content springs; this means I am the primary person responsible for completing ongoing data analysis activities, under the supervision of the PI and co-PI on the grant.
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.

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