Background: During 2008-2015, the estimated annual HIV incidence rate in the United States decreased for each transmission risk category, except for men who have sex with men (MSM). Racial/ethnic disparities exist, with higher incidence rates for Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM.
Setting: This analysis examines changes, 2010-2015, in disparities of HIV incidence among Black, Hispanic/Latino and White MSM.
Methods: We compared results from the rate ratio, rate difference, weighted and unweighted index of disparity, and population attributable proportion. We calculated incidence rates for MSM using HIV surveillance data and published estimates of the MSM population in the United States. We generated 95% confidence intervals for each measure and used the Z statistic and associated P values to assess statistical significance.
Findings: Results from all but one measure, Black-to-White rate difference, indicate that racial/ethnic disparities increased during 2010-2015; not all results were statistically significant. There were statistically significant increases in the Hispanic/Latino-to-White MSM incidence rate ratio (29%, P < 0.05), weighted index of disparity with the rate for White MSM as the referent group (9%, P < 0.05), and the population attributable proportion index (10%, P < 0.05). If racial/ethnic disparities among MSM had been eliminated, a range of 55%-61% decrease in overall MSM HIV incidence would have been achieved during 2010-2015.
Conclusions: A large reduction in overall annual HIV incidence among MSM can be achieved by eliminating racial/ethnic disparities among MSM. Removing social and structural causes of racial/ethnic disparities among MSM can be effective in reducing overall annual HIV incidence among MSM.