Unprotected sex and associated risk factors among Young Asian and Pacific Islander men who have sex with men

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention 2002-12, Vol.14 (6), p.472-481
• Main Authors: CHOI, Kyung-Hee, HAN, Chong-Suk, SID HUDES, Esther, KEGELES, Susan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; African Americans; Age Factors; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Asian Americans; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; California; Community Relations; Condoms; Demographics; Disease control; Disease prevention; Education; Eligibility; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; Hispanic Americans; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Incentives; Infectious diseases; Likert Scales; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Medical tests; Multivariate Analysis; Norms; Pacific Islander people; Pacific Islanders; Place of Residence; Risk; Risk Factors; Risk reduction; Risk taking; Safe Sex; Sampling; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Sexual Behavior; Sexual orientation; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sodomy; STD; Test Results; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Washington; Whites; Young Adults
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.14.8.472.24114

Young Asian and Pacific Islander (API) men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV, but little is known about their risk behavior. We examined the patterns and predictors of unprotected anal intercourse among 253 API MSM aged 15-25 recruited from gay-identified venues in Seattle, Washington, and San Diego, California, from May to August 1999. Overall, 33% reported unprotected anal intercourse in the past 3 months. Multivariate analyses found that unprotected anal intercourse was associated with self-identifying as gay or bisexual, having multiple sexual partners, having sex with a steady partner, having been tested for HIV, and not perceiving peer norms supportive of safer sex. Young API MSM engage in unprotected sex at high rates. There is an urgent need to help these men reduce sexual risk behavior by implementing HIV prevention programs that address the issue of self-accepting sexual orientation, the potential problem with using HIV testing as a risk reduction strategy, the possible risk of HIV transmission in steady relationships and multiple sexual partnerships, and the importance of establishing safer sex practices as peer norms.