244845 Racial/ethnic differences in social environment and health among urban substance using MSM

Monday, October 31, 2011

Mance E. Buttram, MA , Division of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Coral Gables, FL
Steven P. Kurtz, PhD , Division of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Coral Gables, FL
Minxing Chen, MA, MS , Division of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Coral Gables, FL
Khary K. Rigg, MS , Division of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Coral Gables, FL
Aims: To describe HIV prevalence, sex risk, drug use, and social environmental indices among MSM in South Florida.

Methods: Computer-assisted personal interviews included well-tested, comprehensive measures of substance use, sexual behaviors and social environment. Eligible MSM were 18-55 years old and reported unprotected anal sex and drug use in the past 90 days (N=493). The sample included non-Hispanic White (N=250), African American/Black (N=110), and Hispanic (N=133) MSM.

Results: Self-reported HIV prevalence for Black MSM was 2.3 times higher than for White and Hispanic MSM (p<.01). Compared to White and Hispanic MSM, who reported similar levels of sex risk, Black MSM were more likely to trade sex (p<.000) purchase sex (p<.000) and have sex with women (p<.000) in the past 12 months. Social environmental indices were similar for White and Hispanic MSM, but Black MSM were more likely to have histories of arrest (p<.000) and homelessness (p<.000), but lower levels of social support (p<.000), income (p<.000), and education (p<.000). Black MSM reported more than twice the frequency of recent stimulant use than White and Hispanic MSM (p<.000). Rates of substance dependence were similar for Black (73%) and Hispanic (68%) MSM, but lower for White (54%) men (p<.000).

Conclusions: Among high risk MSM in South Florida, Black men report higher levels of social environmental risks than their White or Hispanic counterparts. Certain sexual risk behaviors, as well as greater frequency of stimulant use, could help explain higher HIV prevalence among Black MSM. Implications for HIV prevention initiatives will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain how frequency of stimulant use may be linked to HIV prevalence for Black MSM. Compare health risks among Hispanic, White, and Black MSM in South Florida. Discuss possible intervention approaches to reduce health risk behaviors among MSM.

Keywords: Gay Men, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as Senior Research Associate for the study on which the data are based, and I led the data analysis efforts for the presentation.
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.

See more of: HIV/AIDS Priority Populations: Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) & Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women (MSMW)
See more of: HIV/AIDS