The extent of bisexual behaviour in HIV-infected men and implications for transmission to their female sex partners

Abstract

Heterosexual transmission of HIV is a growing problem for women, but many women do not know how their partners acquired HIV. We described a group of HIV-infected men and women, and focused on: (1) sexual identity and bisexual behaviour in men, and (2) the proportion of women who acknowledged having a bisexual male partner. This study examined HIV-infected persons who participated in a cross-sectional interview project from January 1995 through July 2000; 5,156 men who have sex with men (MSM), and 3,139 women. The proportion of MSM who reported having sex with women (MSM/MSW) varied by race: 34% of black MSM, 26% of Hispanic MSM, and 13% of white MSM. While 14% of white women acknowledged having a bisexual partner, only 6% of black and 6% of Hispanic women reported having a bisexual partner. Most behaviourally bisexual men identified as either bisexual (59%) or homosexual (26%). Among MSM/MSW, 30% had more female partners than male partners, while only 10% had more male partners than female partners. These data suggest that bisexual activity is relatively common among black and Hispanic HIV-infected MSM, few identify as heterosexual, and their female partners may not know of their bisexual activity.

Prevalence of bisexual behaviour among bridge population of men who have sex with men in China: a meta-analysis of observational studies

“…According to statistics from the Chinese Ministry of Health, there are approximately 5–10 million MSM in China,4 and considering the low rates of condom use,58 China's HIV epidemic could easily spread from this high-risk group to the general population 59…”

Sexual Behavior and Risk Factors for HIV Infection Among Homosexual and Bisexual Men in Thailand

“…In the United States, relatively high levels of bisexual activity among HIV-infected African American and Hispanic men have raised concerns about increasing HIV transmission risk to female sex partners who may not be aware of their partners' bisexual behavior (Montgomery et al 2003). Elevated rates of bisexual behavior have also been found in MSM sampled in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Colby 2003) and Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Girault et al 2004).…”

Improving the Representativeness of Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance for Persons with HIV in the United States: The Rationale for Developing a Population-Based Approach

“…SHAS interviewed people living with HIV infection from 1990 to 2004 in 19 states and local areas, providing important information on HIV testing and care-seeking behaviors, access to health care and ongoing sex and drug use behaviors [19]. SHAS data have been used to inform local planning processes and national reporting of behavioral trends among person with HIV infection [20]–[27].…”