Online Program

290845
A network analysis of YMSM: Understanding how dyadic and network characteristics of sexual and romantic partners impact sexual health


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Michelle Birkett, PhD, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Lisa Kuhns, PhD, MPH, General Academic Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Stephen Muth, Quintus-ential Solutions, Colorado Springs, CO
Carl Latkin, PhD, Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Brian Mustanski, PhD, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
This research describes the sexual and romantic partnerships of young men who have sex with men and understanding how dyadic and network characteristics of these partnership influence individual sexual health and HIV/STI risk. 175 YMSM (Age: 17 - 23; Race: 14% White, 54% Black; 21% Latino, 11% other) completed assessments of individual risk factors of HIV/STIs and biological assessment of HIV/STIs. In-depth network interviews were also completed, with three types of networks being collected from each participant: core support network, substance-using network, and sexual network. Participants were allowed to name up to 40 alters within the interview, then further information was elicited on relationship characteristics including demographic information about the partner, the type and strength of relationship, and risk behaviors. Participants reported a total of 3390 network members, with each participant having on average 14.7 core support network members and 8.0 sex network members. 46% of participants named a romantic partner and 82% named a current sex partner (in the last 6 months). Concurrent sexual relationships were common, as well as sexual partnerships with individuals who were not within participant core support networks. Biological testing administered at the time of the network interview indicated the sample was 10.9% HIV positive, 5.1% positive for Chlamydia, and 2.9% positive for Gonorrhea. Preliminary results show that differences both dyadic and network characteristics of these sex partnerships relate to sexual health, HIV risk behaviors, and psycho-social outcomes and may account for increased HIV/STIs in the YMSM population.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe the sexual and romantic partner characteristics of young men who have sex with men. Consider how age and ethnicity/race relates to sexual and romantic partner characteristics of young men who have sex with men. Understand how differences in dyadic and network characteristics of sexual and romantic partners relates to sexual health and HIV/STI risk.

Keyword(s): Gay, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of this federally-funded research focusing on the networks in young men who have sex with men, and their influence on drug use and sex risk.
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.