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Frank Wong, PhD, International Health/School of Nursing and Health Studies, Gerogetown University, 3700 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, DC 20057-1107, (202) 687-0333, fyw@georgetown.edu
The social construction of sexuality in AAPI cultures does not establish the same dichotomy between heterosexual or homosexual orientation as European-American culture. Thus, AAPI MSM may or may not identify as gay, and may or may not perceive a connection between their sexual behavior and their social role or sexual orientation. The extent to which social roles or perceived sexual orientation are related to stigma, shame, and loss of face among AAPI MSM, and whether these are in turn related to HIV-related risk attitudes and practices is unclear. Moreover, whether the stigma, shame, and loss of face of having sex with men in turn influence use of ATOD needs to be explored. As does the relation between ATOD use/abuse and higher risk for HIV in this population.
Compared to MSM in other racial/ethnic groups, AAPI MSM have the second highest proportion of cumulative AIDS cases (72%) -- only two percentage points lower than white MSM. Proportionately, AAPI MSM (53%) rank second in number of AIDS cases in Year 2000, again after white MSM (62%) (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001).
Preliminary findings (both qualitative and quantitative) from a five-year study will be presented:
Examining the relationship between shame (or stigma) and homosexuality and bisexuality in ATOD use/abuse among a sample of self-identified Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese gay/ bisexual men and MSM ages 18 and above living in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Gay, Drug Abuse
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.