The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43363

Denise F. Johnson, MPH and Amy R. Wohl, MPH, PhD. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, HIV Epidemiology Program, 600 S. Commonwealth, Suite 1920, Los Angeles, CA 90005, 213 351-8545, denjohnson@dhs.co.la.ca.us

Background: African Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, representing 12% of the U.S. population but 37% of reported AIDS cases. While the numbers of AIDS cases due to heterosexual contact are increasing, AIDS research on African Americans has generally focused on gay/bisexual men. To date, there has been little research on African American heterosexual men with AIDS. Objective: To identify characteristics and behaviors of heterosexually-identified African American men with AIDS who were interviewed for the Supplement to HIV/AIDS Surveillance (SHAS) Project in Los Angeles County from 1995 to 2000. Methods: SHAS participants were recruited from public and private health care sites and administered a standardized questionnaire. We examined characteristics and behaviors of African American men who self-identified as heterosexual (excluding those who used IV drugs). Results: The 75 African American men who self-identified as heterosexual reported the following modes of exposure to the HIV virus: injection drug use (IDU) (38%), heterosexual contact (25%), sex with another male (15%), risk not specified (14%), and sex with another male and IDU (8%). Of the 92% who had sexual intercourse in the year before their interview, 63% reported unprotected sex with women. Fifty-six percent of those who had unprotected sex reported their most recent steady sex partner either was not infected with HIV or their HIV status was not known. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of directing safer sex messages to heterosexual African American men with AIDS in order to reduce the risk of secondary HIV transmission to their partners.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to identify characteristics and behaviors of African American men with AIDS who took part in the SHAS Project L.A. The learner will also be able to describe factors associated with HIV transmission in the sample and discuss ideas for safer sex behavior interventions for this population.

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.