Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112610

Miguel A. Munoz-Laboy, DrPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St 9th Floor, New York, NY 10032, 212-342-0285, mam172@columbia.edu and Brian Dodge, PhD, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Public Health Programs, 101 S Newell Drive, HPNP Room 4179, Gainesville, FL 32610.

Background: Recent studies indicate that bisexually-active Latino and African-American men are at significantly higher risk for HIV/AIDS than exclusively homosexually-active men and exclusively heterosexually-active men. This two-year ethnographic mapping study was conducted to examine the sexual practices and factors that shape the sexual negotiations of a sample of 18 bisexually-active Latino men in order to contribute to the development of more relevant and effective prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections for this target group. Methods: Data collection methods involved ethnographic observations and detailed sexual histories of bisexually-active Latino men in the metropolitan New York City area. Findings: For the men in this study, tensions between sexual and gender identities, interconnections of power and sexual activity, importance of the family context, and silences produced within social and sexual environments based on notions of "appropriate" masculinity and sexuality were identified as the critical factors influencing the processes of negotiating sexual practices and HIV/STI risk. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we will discuss how masculinity could serve as an effective tool with which to build new and innovative HIV/STI prevention efforts for bisexually-active Latino men.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion, participants in this session may

• become familiar with unique individual, sexual, and socio-cultural issues associated with the lives of bisexually-active Latino men.
• understand the significance of sexual and gender identities, interconnections of power and sexual activity, importance of the family context, and notions of "appropriate" masculinity and sexuality as critical factors influencing the processes of negotiating sexual practices and HIV/STI risk among bisexually-active Latino men.
• consider the development of innovative risk-reduction interventions based on culturally-appropriate notions of "masculinity" for this and other high risk and difficult to reach populations.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Culture

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.