Network Analysis Among HIV-infected Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men Demonstrates High Connectedness Around Few Venues

Oster, Alexandra M.; Wejnert, Cyprian; Mena, Leandro; Elmore, Kim; Fisher, Holly; Heffelfinger, James D.

doi:10.1097/olq.0b013e3182840373

Cited by 51 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The initial sample size goal was 20 participants; however, recruitment was stopped after 16 completed interviews because saturation was reached. Among the 16 participants, 7 were HIV-infected and 9 were HIV-uninfected; their median age was 22 (range, [19][20][21][22][23][24] years. Qualitative assessment participants received a nonmonetary incentive valued at $25.…”

Section: Sampling and Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…23 In the present study, we analyzed data from the qualitative interviews with HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected young black MSM to explore the role of community, religious, and familial influence on the experiences of young black MSM. In turn, we identify the strategies that these young men use to negotiate and manage their sexual minority status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role Flexing: How Community, Religion, and Family Shape the Experiences of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Balaji

Oster

Viall

et al. 2012

AIDS Patient Care and STDs

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101

108

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While the disproportionate impact of HIV on young black men who have sex with men (MSM) is well documented, the reasons for this disparity remain less clear. Through in-depth interviews, we explored the role of familial, religious, and community influence on the experiences of young black MSM and identified strategies that these young men use to negotiate and manage their sexual minority status. Between February and April 2008, 16 interviews were conducted among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected young (19-to 24-year-old) black MSM in the Jackson, Mississippi, area. Results suggest that overall, homosexuality remains highly stigmatized by the men's families, religious community, and the African American community. To manage this stigma, many of the participants engaged in a process of "role flexing," in which individuals modified their behavior in order to adapt to a particular situation. The data also provided evidence of internalized homophobia among a number of the participants. The impact of stigma on risk behavior should be more fully explored, and future intervention efforts need to explicitly address and challenge stigma, both among young men themselves and the communities in which they reside. Attention should also be paid to the role masculinity may play as a driver of the HIV epidemic among young black MSM and how this knowledge can be used to inform prevention efforts.

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Section: Sampling and Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role Flexing: How Community, Religion, and Family Shape the Experiences of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Balaji

Oster

Viall

et al. 2012

AIDS Patient Care and STDs

Self Cite

101

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 HIV-positive Americans are unaware of their status, and that number may be more than twice as high among MSM (3). As such, the CDC has expanded their initiatives to increase HIV testing in the U.S generally (4), and specifically for MSM (5). …”

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confidence: 99%

Testing Negative Means I’m Lucky, Making Good Choices, or Immune: Diverse Reactions to HIV Test Results are Associated with Risk Behaviors

et al. 2014

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Background HIV testing may lead to behavioral changes among some individuals, but no scale has been developed to assess potential mechanisms. Purpose We aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale to measure psychological reactions to the receipt of a negative HIV test and explore the scale’s associations with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Methods Two focus groups were conducted to develop the Inventory of Reactions to Testing HIV Negative, which was subsequently tested on 725 men who have sex with men in the New York City area. Results Factor analyses confirmed the presence of three subscales – Reinforced Safety, Invulnerability, and Luck. Regression analyses demonstrated that the subscales interacted with HIV testing behavior to influence UAI. Conclusions These findings support the notion that there is heterogeneity in how individuals respond to a negative HIV test, with some individuals subsequently being influenced towards increased engagement in HIV risk behaviors.

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“…Second, although clustering of high and low prevalence networks could be due to continued HIV transmission among stable sexual networks, this is not likely the case in our study because only 21% of seeds’ partners were reported to be main partners, and more than half were one-time partners. Other possibilities include the clustering of HIV-positive individuals at venues (27), sexual adventurism (28), and increased neighborhood stigma and discrimination (28). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity of HIV Prevalence Among the Sexual Networks of Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta

Hernández-Romieu¹,

Sullivan²,

Rothenberg³

et al. 2015

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Background Studying the heterogeneity and correlates of HIV risk in the sexual networks of Black and White MSM may help explain racial disparities in HIV-infection. Methods Black and White MSM were recruited as seeds using venue-based time sampling, and provided data regarding their recent sex partners. We used chain referral methods to enroll seeds’ recent sex partners; newly enrolled partners in turn provided data on their recent sex partners, some of whom later enrolled. Data about unenrolled recent sex partners obtained from seeds and enrolled participants were also analyzed. We estimated the prevalence of HIV in sexual networks of MSM and assessed differential patterns of network HIV risk by the race of the seed. Results The mean network prevalence of HIV in sexual networks of Black MSM (n=117) was 36% compared to 4% in networks of White MSM (n=78) (P<0.0001). Sexual networks of unemployed Black MSM had a higher prevalence of HIV than their employed counterparts (51% vs. 29%, P=0.007). The networks of HIV-negative Black MSM seeds aged 18–24 had a network prevalence of 9% compared to 2% among those aged 30 or older. In networks originating from a Black HIV-positive seed, the prevalence ranged from 63% among those aged 18–24 to 80% among those 30 or older. Conclusion The high prevalence of HIV in the networks of HIV-negative young Black MSM demonstrates a mechanism for the increased HIV incidence observed in this age group. More research is needed into how age and socioeconomic factors shape sexual networks and HIV risk.

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Network Analysis Among HIV-infected Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men Demonstrates High Connectedness Around Few Venues

Cited by 51 publications

References 23 publications

Role Flexing: How Community, Religion, and Family Shape the Experiences of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Role Flexing: How Community, Religion, and Family Shape the Experiences of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Testing Negative Means I’m Lucky, Making Good Choices, or Immune: Diverse Reactions to HIV Test Results are Associated with Risk Behaviors

Heterogeneity of HIV Prevalence Among the Sexual Networks of Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta

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