HIV risk among substance-using men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): findings from South Florida

AIDS Behav. 2014 Jan;18(1):111-9. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0495-z.

Abstract

Compared with men who have sex with men only (MSMO), men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) consistently report higher rates of two HIV risk behaviors: transactional sex (TS) and concurrent substance use and sex (CSS). Within MSMW, little is known about how synergistic epidemics ("syndemics") affect TS and CSS. Using a sample of substance-using MSM (n = 515) in South Florida, we compared TS and CSS among MSMO and MSMW; examined whether, within MSMW (n = 86), TS and CSS predict unprotected anal intercourse with partners of serodiscordant/unknown HIV status (SU-UAI); and tested whether syndemics predict TS and CSS. MSMW reported higher rates of engaging in both TS and CSS (AOR = 1.7; 95 % CI 1.0-3.0). Within MSMW, engagement in both TS and CSS predicted SU-UAI (AOR = 3.3; 95 % CI 1.2-9.6); and syndemics predicted TS and CSS involvement (p < 0.01). Substance-using MSMW may benefit from interventions targeting TS, CSS, and background syndemics.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bisexuality*
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Homosexuality, Male* / ethnology
  • Homosexuality, Male* / psychology
  • Homosexuality, Male* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*