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A Pilot Study of Immigration Status, Homosexual Self-Acceptance, Social Support, and HIV Reduction in High Risk Asian and Pacific Islander Men

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Abstract

This article reports the results of a cross-sectional study that was conducted to describe the sexual behavior and HIV risk reduction behaviors of homosexual and bisexual Asian and Pacific Islander men and to relate immigration status, self-acceptance as a homosexual, and levels of social support to the adoption of safe sexual behaviors in this population. Thirty-one gay and bisexual Asian and Pacific Islander men in San Diego County, California, participated. Generally high levels of knowledge about HIV and transmission risks as well as self-acceptance and social support were found. While most (84%) reported some attempts to increase condom use in the previous 6 months, 42% reported engaging in unprotected intercourse during that same time period. An inverse relationship between self-acceptance and utilization of risk reduction strategies was found. No association was found between immigration status or self-reported HIV status and level of HIV knowledge, level of HIV risk behavior, or level of HIV risk reduction efforts. The findings are discussed within the context of other social network studies and HIV prevention programs for gay and bisexual Asian and Pacific Islander men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alliance Healthcare Foundation, San Diego, California

    Linda S. Lloyd

  2. School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    Marlene Faust

  3. Asian Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project, San Diego, California

    Jess San Roque & Sana Loue

Authors
  1. Linda S. Lloyd
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  2. Marlene Faust
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  3. Jess San Roque
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  4. Sana Loue
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Lloyd, L.S., Faust, M., Roque, J.S. et al. A Pilot Study of Immigration Status, Homosexual Self-Acceptance, Social Support, and HIV Reduction in High Risk Asian and Pacific Islander Men. Journal of Immigrant Health 1, 115–122 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021836522984

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