Sexual Partner Characteristics, Serodiscordant/Serostatus Unknown Unprotected Anal Intercourse and Disclosure Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected and Uninfected Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in New York City

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 2011-06, Vol.38 (6), p.548-554
• Main Authors: Tieu, Hong-Van, Xu, Guozhen, Bonner, Sebastian, Spikes, Pilgrim, Egan, James E., Goodman, Krista, Stewart, Kiwan, Koblin, Beryl A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anal intercourse; Biological and medical sciences; Black or African American; Black People; Disclosure; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Gays & lesbians; General aspects; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology; Homosexuality, Male; Homosexuals; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; New York City - epidemiology; Original Study; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Sexual partners; Sexual Partners - classification; Truth Disclosure; Unsafe Sex - statistics & numerical data; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318203e2d7

Objectives: Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. This study describes sexual partner characteristics and disclosure of HIV serostatus and evaluates factors associated with sexual risk behaviors during last sex among black MSM. Design and Methods: Between 2008 and 2009, 328 black MSM who reported recent unprotected anal intercourse were enrolled in an HIV behavioral intervention study in New York City. Factors associated with serodiscordant/serostatus unknown UAI (defined as having UAI with a partner of different or unknown HIV serostatus) with a male partner during last sex were assessed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 205 HIV-infected and 123 uninfected men were enrolled in this study. Almost all men (91.6%) reported having a black male partner during last sex. About half (47.3%) of men used alcohol and 38.7% used other substances before or during last sex. About two-thirds (68.8%) of participants disclosed their HIV status to their last sex partner, while 57.2% of partners disclosed. In multivariate analysis, meeting a partner on the internet or chat line was associated with serodiscordant/serostatus unknown UAI during last sex among HIV-infected men. The only factor associated with serodiscordant/serostatus unknown UAI during last sex among HIV-uninfected men was the partner being a non-main partner. Conclusions: A significant proportion of black MSM in this study did not disclose their HIV status. Our data highlight the need for more data on dyadic variables and sexual risk behaviors among black MSM, as well as interventions to encourage communication between partners.