HIV Transmission Potential and Sex Partner Concurrency: Evidence for Racial Disparities in HIV Risk Among Gay and Bisexual Men (MSM)

Carla Tilchin, Jessica Wagner, Christina M. Schumacher, Khalil G. Ghanem, Matthew M. Hamill, Anne Rompalo, Errol Fields, Carl A. Latkin, Adena Greenbaum, Jacky M. Jennings

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We determined whether racial disparities in HIV infection among gay and bisexual men (MSM) may be partially explained by racial differences in the HIV transmission potential (i.e. mixing of people living with HIV and people not living with HIV or of unknown HIV serostatus) and density (i.e. sex partner concurrency) of sexual networks. Data included a behavioral survey, testing for HIV, and an egocentric sexual network survey. Mixed effects logistic regressions were used for hypothesis testing. Black (vs. non-Black) MSM were more likely to not know their partner’s HIV serostatus (21.8% vs. 9.6%). Similar proportions reported sex partner concurrency (67.1% vs. 68.0%). In adjusted analyses, among Black MSM, sex partner concurrency significantly increased the odds of an HIV transmission potential partnership (TPP), and this association was not significant among non-Black indexes. The association between an HIV TPP and sex partner concurrency may help explain persistent racial disparities in HIV prevalence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)709-718
Number of pages10
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • HIV
  • MSM
  • Racial disparities
  • Sex partner concurrency
  • Sexual networks

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Social Psychology

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