225092 Relationship between homosexuality laws, alcohol use and HIV risk behavior of men who have sex with men in 16 cities of the United States

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

B. R. Simon Rosser, PhD, MPH , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
J. Michael Oakes, PhD , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Rhonda Jones-Webb, DrPH , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Sonya S. Brady, PhD , Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
Dale Carpenter III, JD , Law School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Derek Smolenski, PhD, MPH , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School or Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
Gunna Kilian, BA , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Richard Morgan, MA , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School or Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
Background: Structural factors research has not previously examined whether laws related to homosexuality impact the risk behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. The Structural Interventions to Lower Alcohol-related STI/HIV risk (SILAS) study was designed to explore the relationship between legislation on homosexuality and three behavioral risk factors for MSM: alcohol use, unsafe sexual behavior and alcohol-related unsafe sex.

Methods: Sixteen U.S. cities were selected based upon laws regarding recognition of same-sex relationships, gay adoption, anti-discrimination in employment and recognition of hate crimes. Eight cities with pro-homosexual laws and 8 with anti-homosexual laws were pair-matched on population, demographic composition and region. Banners advertisements on the nation's two largest gay websites were used to recruit 1,725 MSM participants; 1,038 from the pro-cities and 687 from the anti-cities.

Results: Overall, participants reported significantly higher alcohol use than the national average for males. Compared to participants in the anti-cities, participants in the pro-cities reported significantly less heavy alcohol use (AOR = 0.73, p = 0.006), but no differences in at-risk drinking, unsafe sex, or alcohol-related unsafe sex were observed.

Conclusions: Except for heavy drinking, results suggest little association between negative legislation concerning homosexuality and alcohol use or risky sexual behavior. Results will be replicated over time to determine whether the relationships observed in this study persists.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Other professions or practice related to public health
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify potential associations between legislation and individual-level behaviors. Discuss the challenges of structural-level research within marginalized populations. Describe potential effects of anti-gay policies on alcohol consumption in MSM.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: PhD in Epidemiology, published research on MSM and risk behavior, member of study team that collected and analyzed these data.
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.

Back to: 3218.0: Research on Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the Ongoing HIV/AIDS Epidemic