Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are increasing among young adults, and males who have sex with males (MSM) are at high risk for both infections. Limited Hawai'i data exists on the extent to which populations, such as MSM, are engaging in behaviors that place them at increased risk for either infection. This analysis quantified the proportion of Hawai'i public high school students who are MSM and are at risk for HCV and HIV infections. Data from the 2013, 2015, and 2017 Hawai'i Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) were combined (n=16,751) to investigate the prevalence of risk factors associated with HIV and HCV infections (eg, sexual risk behaviors, substance use) and protective factors among MSM public high school students. Among sexually experienced male students (n=3,391), 13.1% were classified as MSM and among these, 40.3% identified as heterosexual despite reporting same-sex sexual contact. Multivariate modeling demonstrated that MSM students are significantly more likely than non-MSM students to engage in behaviors that increase their risk for HIV and HCV infections (composite risk variable; adjusted Prevalence Ratio: 1.40, 95% CI 1.15 - 1.70) and are significantly less likely to have protective factors. Evidence-based prevention strategies for reducing HIV and HCV risk behaviors while improving protective factors among sexual minority youth in Hawai'i are necessary and must address sexual behavior along with other dimensions of sexual orientation.
Keywords: HIV/AIDs; Hawaii; Hepatitis C virus; MSM; YRBS.