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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Archana Bodas LaPollo, MPH1, Jennifer Lauby, PhD1, Andrew Bills, MS, MPH2, and Richard de Witt, MA2. (1) Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 South Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-731-2155, archana@phmc.org, (2) The SafeGuards Project, 1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Objective: To assess factors related to HIV risk among a community-based sample of African-American, Latino, and Caucasian men who have sex with men (MSM)
Methods: Interviews were conducted with 451 MSM selected from 50 community locations in Philadelphia, using systematic sampling procedures. The sample included 115 African-Americans, 99 Latinos, 174 Caucasians, and 64 men of other or mixed racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Results: Preliminary results indicate that 91% of men reported having taken an HIV test. Of these, 19.5% had tested HIV positive. More African-American men reported being HIV positive (31%) than Latinos (14%) and Caucasians (12%). African-Americans were more likely to identify as bisexual (33%) or straight (7%), compared to Caucasians (12% bisexual; 1% straight), and were less likely to read gay publications, frequent gay-identified sites, and disclose their sexual experiences with men to their families and health providers. African-American men were more likely to have traded sex for money, to have been homeless, and to have received income from welfare. No differences were found in alcohol, marijuana, crack or heroin use among the groups. Caucasians were more likely to use club drugs, such as ecstasy and amphetamines, while African-Americans were more likely to have been in drug or alcohol treatment. (All differences significant at p<.01).
Conclusion: African-American MSM had significantly higher rates of HIV, and were less likely to gay-identify or access information through gay publications or sites. This suggests that HIV prevention targeting gay men may not be reaching all African-American MSM, and alternative strategies must be explored.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.