244889 A respondent-driven sampling and analysis study to identify correlates of condom use among immigrant Latino MSM

Monday, October 31, 2011: 3:10 PM

Thomas McCoy, MS , Department of Biostatistical Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES , Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Jorge Alonzo, JD , Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Jose Alegria-Ortega , Chatham Social Health Council, Siler City, NC
Alexandra Boeving Allen, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Background: This study identified correlates of condom use among predominantly Spanish-speaking immigrant Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) using respondent-driven sampling (RDS).

Methods: A well-established community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership used RDS to identify, recruit, and enroll Latino MSM to participate in an interviewer-administered behavioral assessment.

The assessment included demographics, acculturation, HIV/STD knowledge, perceived discrimination, mastery, adherence to traditional notions of masculinity, condom use self-efficacy and expectancies, sexual compulsivity, homonegativity, emotional victimization, level of “outness”, and drug and alcohol use. Logistic regression was performed to identify significant correlates of condom use using an innovative approach to account for RDS-weighted estimates.

Results: A sample size of 190 Latino MSM was obtained; average age was 25.5 years old and nearly 80% reported being from Mexico. RDS-weighted prevalence estimates of sex with at least one woman, multiple male partners, and past three-month inconsistent condom use were 21.2%, 88.9%, and 54.1%, respectively.

Condom use self-efficacy was significantly associated with higher odds of consistent condom use (OR=4.1; p=.01), while increased emotional victimization for being gay was significantly associated with lower odds of consistent condom use (OR=0.25; p=.02).

Conclusions: This study identified correlates of consistent condom use among Latino MSM, who are part of the current trend of Latino immigration to the rural Southeast. Interventions designed to reduce sexual risk among Latino MSM may benefit from building condom use self-efficacy while addressing more complex issues of self-identity and coping. Our HOLA interventions are designed to affect these variables positively.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
By the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to: (1) Compare RDS-weighted and unweighted prevalence estimates of HIV risk behaviors among Latino MSM; (2) Describe an innovative approach to analyze RDS-collected data using logistic regression; (3) List correlates that are significantly associated with consistent condom use; and (4) Apply findings to intervention development to reduce risk among immigrant Latino MSM.

Keywords: Gay Men, Latino

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Expert in RDS and statistical sciences
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.