Title

Understanding Racial HIV/STI Disparities in Black and White Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Multilevel Approach

Authors

Patrick S. Sullivan, Emory UniversityFollow
John Peterson, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Eli S. Rosenberg, Emory UniversityFollow
Colleen F. Kelley, Emory UniversityFollow
Hannah Cooper, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Adam Vaughan, Emory UniversityFollow
Laura F. Salazar, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Paula Frew, Emory UniversityFollow
Gina Wingood, Emory UniversityFollow
Ralph DiClemente, Emory UniversityFollow
Carlos del Rio, Emory UniversityFollow
Mark Mulligan, Emory UniversityFollow
Travis H. Sanchez, Emory UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2014

Abstract

Background: The reasons for black/white disparities in HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men have puzzled researchers for decades. Understanding reasons for these disparities requires looking beyond individual-level behavioral risk to a more comprehensive framework.
Methods and Findings: From July 2010-Decemeber 2012, 803 men (454 black, 349 white) were recruited through venuebased and online sampling; consenting men were provided HIV and STI testing, completed a behavioral survey and a sex partner inventory, and provided place of residence for geocoding. HIV prevalence was higher among black (43%) versus white (13% MSM (prevalence ratio (PR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5–4.4). Among HIV-positive men, the median CD4 count was significantly lower for black (490 cells/mL) than white (577 cells/mL) MSM; there was no difference in the HIV RNA viral load by race. Black men were younger, more likely to be bisexual and unemployed, had less educational attainment, and reported fewer male sex partners, fewer unprotected anal sex partners, and less non-injection drug use. Black MSM were significantly more likely than white MSM to have rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea, were more likely to have racially concordant partnerships, more likely to have casual (one-time) partners, and less likely to discuss serostatus with partners. The census tracts where black MSM lived had higher rates of poverty and unemployment, and lower median income. They also had lower proportions of male-male households, lower male to female sex ratios, and lower HIV diagnosis rates.
Conclusions: Among black and white MSM in Atlanta, disparities in HIV and STI prevalence by race are comparable to those observed nationally. We identified differences between black and white MSM at the individual, dyadic/sexual network, and community levels. The reasons for black/white disparities in HIV prevalence in Atlanta are complex, and will likely require a multilevel framework to understand comprehensively.

Comments

Originally Published in:

PLoS ONE 9(3): e90514. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0090514

Recommended Citation

Sullivan PS, Peterson J, Rosenberg ES, Kelley CF, Cooper H, et al. (2014) Understanding Racial HIV/STI Disparities in Black and White Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Multilevel Approach. PLoS ONE 9(3): e90514. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0090514

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.