HIV Health Related Behaviors Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men:

Background and Purpose: Young Black men who have sex with men must navigate identities and stigmas related to being gay and Black. They also report higher HIV incidence relative to their white male counterparts although they report lower rates of drug use and risky sexual behaviors. This study examined whether closeness to the gay or Black community correlated with HIV related risk and protective behaviors.

                                         

Methods: Data for these analyses were drawn from uConnect, a population-based cohort study of YBMSM on Chicago’s South Side, that examines how various social, health, behavioral, and contextual factors shape new modes of HIV prevention (e.g., PrEP).  Cross sectional measures for this study include Black and gay community closeness, drug use, sexual risk behaviors, HIV testing and health promotion behaviors. The sample consisted of 618 Black MSM ranging in age from 16-29.

Results: Findings indicated a complex relationship between various facets of community closeness and differential HIV-related health behaviors. Closeness with the gay community was associated with greater PrEP knowledge as well as participating in health promotion programs along with higher rates of transactional sex and having sex under the influence of substances, and increased odds of self-reported HIV seropositivity.  Involvement in the Black community was associated with lower odds of reporting being HIV positive.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggest that programs and initiatives are needed to help promote the positive aspects of the Black and gay communities, while minimizing the negative correlates of such involvements.