Stigma, discrimination, and substance use among an urban sample men who have sex with men in Massachusetts

ABSTRACT

Men who have sex with men (MSM) who have intersecting stigmatized identities or characteristics are differentially at risk for acquiring HIV. However, the relationships between specific identities, discrimination and stigma, and HIV risk behaviors require investigation to develop more effective interventions. Data from Boston’s 2014 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance MSM cycle were used to assess associations between socio-demographics, structural factors, substance use, discrimination, HIV-stigma, and condomless anal sex. Of the total sample (n = 382), 17.6% reported verbal abuse, 8.3% work-place discrimination, 2.6% health discrimination, and 3.8% physical assault. HIV-stigma beliefs differed by race, sexual-orientation, and income. Those with histories of drug treatment were 9.47 (OR 95%CI: 2.09, 42.79) and 8.29 (OR 95%CI: 2.27, 30.21) times more likely to report health discrimination and physical assault, respectively. Healthcare discrimination and physical assault moderated relationships between substance use and number of condomless anal sex partners such that those who experienced discrimination and substance use reported more partners. Even in Massachusetts, MSM with identities or characteristics marginalized in society disproportionately experienced discrimination and stigma and healthcare discrimination or physical assault were associated with increased sexual risk behavior among MSM who use substances. Decreasing HIV transmission requires reducing discrimination and stigma among those most vulnerable, particularly those using substances.

KEYWORDS:

• Men who have sex with men (MSM)
• HIV
• stigma
• discrimination
• substance use

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Kenneth H. Mayer http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-733X

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse [Grant Number K23DA043418]; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Grant Number NU62PS005074].