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Differences in Substance Use, Psychosocial Characteristics and HIV-Related Sexual Risk Behavior Between Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Only (BMSMO) and Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (BMSMW) in Six US Cities

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Abstract

We assessed associations in substance use, psychosocial characteristics, and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors, comparing characteristics of Black men who only have sex with other men only (BMSMO; n = 839) to Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW; n = 590). The study analyzed baseline data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network Brothers Study (HPTN 061), a feasibility study of a multi-component intervention for Black MSM in six US cities. Bivariate analyses compared BMSMO to BMSMW along demographics, substance use, psychosocial characteristics, and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. Logistic regression models then assessed multivariable associations between being BMSMW and the odds of engaging in HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. Adjusted analyses revealed that BMSMW remained more likely to have unprotected anal intercourse while under the influence of alcohol (AOR: 1.45; 95 % CI:1.11–1.90) and were more likely to receive money/drugs for sex (AOR: 2.11; 95 % CI:1.48–3.03), compared to BMSMO. Substance use is an important factor to be considered when developing risk-reduction interventions for BMSMW. Structural interventions that address factors that may contribute to exchange sex among these men are also warranted.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Steve Shoptaw, PhD with the UCLA Hollywood/Vine Clinical Research Site and HPTN Scholar mentor; HPTN 061 Study Participants; HPTN 061 Protocol Co-Chairs: Beryl Koblin, PhD, Kenneth Mayer, MD, and Darrell Wheeler, PhD, MPH; HPTN 061 Protocol Team Members; HPTN Black Caucus; HPTN Network Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Resarch Center; HPTN CORE Operating Center, FHI 360; Black Gay Research Group; Clinical Research Sites, Staff, and CABs at Emory University, Fenway Institute, GWU School of Public Health and Health Services, Harlem Prevention Center, New York Blood Center, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and UCLA. This study was supported by NIAID, NIDA, and NIMH under cooperative agreement #UM1 AI068619 as part of the HPTN Scholars Program, as well as The UCLA HIV/AIDS Translational Training Program (R25 MH-080644), Johns Hopkins Drug Dependence Epidemiology Training Program (2-T32 DA-007292-17) and Project DISRUPT (R01 DA-028766).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Maryland, 2234GG School of Public Health, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Typhanye P. Dyer

  2. Department of Family Medicine, The University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Rotrease Regan & Steve Shoptaw

  3. Department of Human Development, Binghamton University, College of Community and Public Affairs, New York, NY, USA

    Leo Wilton

  4. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Nina T. Harawa

  5. Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    San San Ou & Lei Wang

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  1. Typhanye P. Dyer
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  2. Rotrease Regan
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  4. Nina T. Harawa
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  7. Steve Shoptaw
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Correspondence to Typhanye P. Dyer.

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Dyer, T.P., Regan, R., Wilton, L. et al. Differences in Substance Use, Psychosocial Characteristics and HIV-Related Sexual Risk Behavior Between Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Only (BMSMO) and Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (BMSMW) in Six US Cities. J Urban Health 90, 1181–1193 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-013-9811-1

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