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Beyond the Down Low: Sexual Risk, Protection, and Disclosure Among At-Risk Black Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women (MSMW)

  • ORIGINAL PAPER: BLACK AND LATINO MALE BISEXUALITIES SPECIAL SECTION
  • Published:
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Abstract

Little information is available about sexual risk, protective, and disclosure practices among Black bisexually active men and how these may be amenable to intervention when necessary. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 at-risk urban Black men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW). Participants reported protecting themselves and their partners through routine HIV testing, using condoms consistently, engaging in strategic positioning during sexual activity, and limiting the number of sexual partners. In addition, they described several reasons for not using protection, including not having condoms available, enjoying sexual activity more without condoms, and perceiving female partners to be “safer” than male partners. Disclosure of bisexuality was complex and reportedly difficult, in particular to female and gay-identified male partners. Future interventions must not only build protection and disclosure skills among MSMW, but also increase broader social awareness and acceptance of male bisexuality.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the bisexual men who participated in our study. This research project was supported by the HIV Center Pilot Studies Program Award to the first author from the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University (P30 MH43520, Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D., Principal Investigator). In addition, during the conduct of the study, the first author acknowledges support in the form of the Behavioral Sciences Research Training in HIV Infection postdoctoral fellowship (NRSA T32 MH19139, Anke A. Ehrhardt, Ph.D., Program Director). Last, we express our deepest appreciation to Toby Anekwe, M.P.H., and Ms. Leslie Campbell for their invaluable assistance with the recruitment of participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER 116, 1025 E. Seventh St., Bloomington, IN, 47405-7109, USA

    Brian Dodge

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    William L. Jeffries IV

  3. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Theo G. M. Sandfort

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  1. Brian Dodge
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  2. William L. Jeffries IV
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  3. Theo G. M. Sandfort
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Correspondence to Brian Dodge.

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Dodge, B., Jeffries, W.L. & Sandfort, T.G.M. Beyond the Down Low: Sexual Risk, Protection, and Disclosure Among At-Risk Black Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women (MSMW). Arch Sex Behav 37, 683–696 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9356-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9356-7

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