Social Discrimination and Resiliency Are Not Associated With Differences in Prevalent HIV Infection in Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-15-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Volume

66

Issue

5

First page number:

538

Last page number:

543

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations of homophobia, racism, and resiliency with differences in prevalent HIV infection in black and white men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: The Involve[ment]t study is a cohort of black and white MSM aged 18–39 years in Atlanta, GA, designed to evaluate individual, dyadic, and community level factors that might explain racial disparities in HIV prevalence. Participants were recruited irrespective of HIV serostatus from community-based venues and from Internet advertisements and were tested for HIV. We assessed respondents' demographics, whether they had engaged in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) within the past 6 months, and attitudes about perceived homophobia, perceived racism, and personal resiliency. Results: Compared with white MSM, black MSM were less likely to report UAI in the past 6 months [odds ratio (OR): 0.59, confidence interval (CI): 0.44 to 0.80], more likely to be HIV positive (OR: 5.05, CI: 3.52 to 7.25), and—among those HIV positive—more likely to report not being aware of their HIV infection (OR: 2.58, CI: 1.18 to 5.65). Greater perceived racism was associated with UAI in the black sample (partial odds ratio: 1.48, CI: 1.10 to 1.99). Overall, perceived homophobia, perceived racism, and resilience were not associated with prevalent HIV infection in our samples…See full text for full abstract.

Keywords

HIV infection; Black and white MSM; Homophobia; Racism; Resiliency

Disciplines

Public Health

Language

English

UNLV article access

Search your library

Share

COinS