TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
T2 - Geographic Diversity in Socio-Demographics and HIV Transmission Risk
AU - the Mid-Atlantic CFAR Consortium
AU - German, Danielle
AU - Brady, Kathleen
AU - Kuo, Irene
AU - Opoku, Jenevieve
AU - Flynn, Colin
AU - Patrick, Rudy
AU - Park, Ju Nyeong
AU - Adams, Joella
AU - Carroll, Makeda
AU - Simmons, Ron
AU - Smith, Carlton R.
AU - Davis, Wendy W.
AU - Greenberg, Alan
AU - Magnus, Manya
AU - Zea, Maria Cecilia
AU - Celentano, David
AU - Holtgrave, David
AU - White, Jordan
AU - Latkin, Carl
AU - Blank, Michael
AU - Dominique, Tiffany
AU - Metzger, David
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded through cooperative agreements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and, through contracts from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and from the District of Columbia Department of Health and NIH funding to DG (K01 DA 041259).
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/7/1
Y1 - 2017/7/1
N2 - Background: Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC are geographically proximate cities with high HIV prevalence, including among black men who have sex with men (BMSM). Using data collected among BMSM in CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project, we compared socio-demographic characteristics, HIV risk behaviors, and service utilization to explore similarities and differences that could inform local and regional HIV intervention approaches. Methods: BMSM were recruited through venue time location sampling, June-December, 2011. Participants completed identical socio-behavioral surveys and voluntary HIV testing. Analyses were conducted among the full sample and those aged 18-24. Findings: Participants included 159 (DC), 364 (Baltimore), and 331 (Philadelphia) eligible BMSM. HIV prevalence was 23.1% (DC), 48.0% (Baltimore), 14.6% (Philadelphia) with 30.6%, 69.0%, 33.3% unrecognized HIV infection, respectively. Among BMSM 18-24, HIV prevalence was 11.1% (DC), 38.9% (Baltimore), 9.6% (Philadelphia) with unrecognized HIV infection 0.0%, 73.8%, 60.0% respectively. Compared with the other 2 cities, Baltimore participants were less likely to identify as gay/homosexual; more likely to report unemployment, incarceration, homelessness, sex exchange; and least likely to use the internet for partners. DC participants were more likely to have a college degree and employment. Philadelphia participants were more likely to report gay/homosexual identity, receptive condomless anal sex, having only main partners, and bars/clubs as partner meeting places. Sexually transmitted disease testing was universally low. Conclusions: Analyses showed especially high HIV prevalence among BMSM in Baltimore including among young BMSM. Socio-demographic characteristics and HIV infection correlates differed across cities but unrecognized HIV infection and unknown partner status were universally high.
AB - Background: Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC are geographically proximate cities with high HIV prevalence, including among black men who have sex with men (BMSM). Using data collected among BMSM in CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project, we compared socio-demographic characteristics, HIV risk behaviors, and service utilization to explore similarities and differences that could inform local and regional HIV intervention approaches. Methods: BMSM were recruited through venue time location sampling, June-December, 2011. Participants completed identical socio-behavioral surveys and voluntary HIV testing. Analyses were conducted among the full sample and those aged 18-24. Findings: Participants included 159 (DC), 364 (Baltimore), and 331 (Philadelphia) eligible BMSM. HIV prevalence was 23.1% (DC), 48.0% (Baltimore), 14.6% (Philadelphia) with 30.6%, 69.0%, 33.3% unrecognized HIV infection, respectively. Among BMSM 18-24, HIV prevalence was 11.1% (DC), 38.9% (Baltimore), 9.6% (Philadelphia) with unrecognized HIV infection 0.0%, 73.8%, 60.0% respectively. Compared with the other 2 cities, Baltimore participants were less likely to identify as gay/homosexual; more likely to report unemployment, incarceration, homelessness, sex exchange; and least likely to use the internet for partners. DC participants were more likely to have a college degree and employment. Philadelphia participants were more likely to report gay/homosexual identity, receptive condomless anal sex, having only main partners, and bars/clubs as partner meeting places. Sexually transmitted disease testing was universally low. Conclusions: Analyses showed especially high HIV prevalence among BMSM in Baltimore including among young BMSM. Socio-demographic characteristics and HIV infection correlates differed across cities but unrecognized HIV infection and unknown partner status were universally high.
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - MSM
KW - Regional differences
KW - Social determinants
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U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001425
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001425
M3 - Article
C2 - 28604431
AN - SCOPUS:85031043157
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 75
SP - S296-S308
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
ER -