Violence and HIV-related risk among young men who have sex with men

Abstract

Limited research has been conducted on threats or violence by family members and sexual partners against young men who have sex with men (MSM). Young MSM, aged 15–22 years, who attended public venues in New York City were enrolled in an anonymous, cross-sectional HIV seroprevalence and risk-behavior study. About two-thirds (68%) of the young MSM reported ever experiencing threats or violence from either family or partners and 25% reported threats or violence by both family and partners. In multivariate analysis, threats or violence by partners was significantly associated with older age, a history of forced sex and a history of running away from home. Recent unprotected anal sex and club drug use were significantly associated with a history of threats or violence by both family and partners. HIV prevention interventions need to include multiple factors that may have an impact on risk, including substance use and abuse, anti-violence and other mental-health issues.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the study participants who gave their time and effort, Greg Greenwood for his comments and review, YMS-NYC staff (Christian Castro, Carmelo Figueroa, George Gates, Ricko Hernandez, Scott Ikeda, Yusef Junquera, Leniere Miley and Dwayne Williams) for their work and devotion in conducting this study, staff from YMS-Dallas and YMS-Baltimore who helped in the conduct of YMS-NYC and the YMS Community Advisory Board for their advice. This study was supported by a contract to the New York Blood Center from the New York City Department of Health (contract no. 97AR15201ROA01) and by a cooperative agreement between the New York City Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (062/CCU206208-07).