Characteristics of bisexually active men in the Seropositive Urban Mens’ Study (SUMS)

Abstract

Characteristics of bisexually-active men were compared with those of their homosexually-active counterparts in a study of HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men (MSM). Men who had had sex with women in the prior year were younger and more likely to be African American than those reporting sex only with men. They reported higher levels of internalised homophobia and less participation in the gay community. They tended to be recruited through friend referral rather than public sex environments or AIDS service organisations. However, they did not seek sex partners from different venues than other participants. Implications for HIV transmission risk-reduction interventions for this population are discussed.

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted as part of the Seropositive Urban Men's Study (SUMS). It was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through cooperative agreements with New Jersey City University (U62/CCU213605) and University of California, San Francisco (U62/CCU913557) and Rutgers University (U62/CCU2133607). The authors wish to recognise the contributions of the SUMS Study Team: New Jersey City University: Jeffrey Parsons, Ph.D., P.I., Perry Halkitis, Ph.D., Co-P.I., Mike Stirratt, M.S., Project Director; University of California at San Francisco: Cynthia Gomez, Ph.D., P. I., Robert Hays, Ph.D., Co-P.I., Colleen Hoff, Ph.D., Project Director; Rutgers University: Ann O'Leary, Ph.D., P.I., Robert Remien, Ph.D., Co-P.I., Timothy K. Ambrose, M.S., Project Director; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Richard Wolitski, M.S., P.I., David Purcell, Ph.D., Co-P.I., and Jim Carey, Ph.D., Co-Investigator. The authors wish to thank Cynthia Lyles for statistical assistance, Andrew Margolis for technical assistance and Greg Millett, Kenneth Jones and Steve Flores for their insightful comments on an earlier version of this paper.