225647 Social and Cultural Contexts of HIV Risk Behaviors among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) MSM

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Tooru Nemoto, PhD , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Mariko Iwamoto, MA , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Jay Camegla , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Nicky Calma , Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco, CA
Ben Cabangun, MA , Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco, CA
Objectives: This study aimed to describe social and cultural contexts of sexual risk behaviors among API MSM in order to develop HIV prevention programs.

Methods: A total of 15 API MSM who were sexually active participated in three focus groups. The participants were: Filipino (67%) and Chinese (20%); m=29 years old; 30% reported being HIV positive.

Results: Heavy alcohol use was reported among participants, consuming alcohol at bars/clubs, as well as parties and private situations. Many participants also reported having had unprotected sex with men they met at the bar/clubs while being intoxicated. They used alcohol and marijuana to reduce their anxiety to meet casual sex partners. Participants expressed that Caucasians often perceive them as submissive and exotic, and that they felt being overpowered and manipulated by Caucasian partners during sexual encounters. Some participants reported feeling humiliated or uneasy when having unprotected receptive anal sex with Caucasians. Participants also expressed difficulties in coming out and being gay because of their families' pressure on heterosexual marriage.

Conclusions: Frequent anonymous sex under the influence of substances among API MSM must be addressed by HIV prevention programs. Also, the programs need to address how to negotiate safe sex with Caucasian partners who have cultural biases against API MSM, and/or are older and take advantage of API MSM financially and psychologically.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe substance use and HIV risk behaviors among API MSM, 2)Identify social and cultural contexts of HIV risk behaviors among API MSM, 3)Discuss about implications for developing future HIV prevention programs targeting API MSM

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I develop and oversee community based HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention and intervention studies.
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.