Concurrency and other sexual risks among black young adults in the Southeast u.s

Background: The Southeast remains the U.S. region hit hardest by HIV/AIDS. As elsewhere, African-Americans are disproportionately affected. Discussions of HIV risk in African-American communities often overlook the diversity of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors within those communities. As part of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project, we surveyed Black young adults in Durham, NC to understand the range of factors that place them at risk for, or protect them from HIV. Methods: We employed respondent-driven sampling to recruit sexually active, Black residents of Durham age 18-30 (n=508). Using an Audio Computer-Assisted Self Interview (ACASI), participants answered questions regarding sexual behaviors across 4 types of partners: steady, casual, one-night stands, and child's mother/father. This presentation describes sexual behaviors among women reporting sex with men (WSM), women reporting sex with men and women (WSMW), and men reporting sex with women (MSW). Results: Mean number of partners in the previous 6 months was 3.0 (WSM), 3.6 (WSMW), and 6.1 (MSW). The proportion engaging in concurrent relationships in the previous 6 months was 24% (WSM), 32% (WSMW), and 38.3% (MSW). Sexual risk behaviors (inconsistent condom use and alcohol use before/during sex) were common across partner types, although less common with casual partners and one-night stands than with steady partners and child's father/mother. Participants who had concurrent relationships reported risk behaviors at rates similar to those who did not. Conclusions: Concurrent relationships and risk behaviors across partner types place a substantial proportion of this sample of southern Black young adults at risk for HIV.