Associations between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Methamphetamine-using Men who Have Sex with Men

ABSTRACT

Background: Methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM) exhibit elevated rates of HIV and STI prevalence, indicating increased engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Objectives: This analysis elucidates associations between participant sociodemographics (i.e., age, racial/ethnic identity, sexual identity, educational attainment, and HIV status) and sexual risk behaviors, particularly substance use before/during sex, and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with casual, anonymous, and/or exchange male partners. Methods: From March 2014 through January 2016, 286 methamphetamine-using MSM enrolled in a technology-based study to reduce methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors. A robustly estimated generalized structural equation model employing the negative binomial family and log link function (n = 282) tested the simultaneous associations between participant sociodemographics and engagement in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Results: Participants' racial/ethnic identity (χ²₍₆₎ = 43.5; p < 0.0001), HIV status (χ²₍₆₎ = 22.0; p = 0.0012), educational attainment level (χ²₍₆₎ = 13.8; p = 0.0322), and years of age (χ²₍₆₎ = 32.4; p < 0.0001) all influenced participants' engagement in substance use before/during sex and engagement in CAI. Methamphetamine (χ²₍₂₎ = 7.0; p = 0.0309) and marijuana (χ²₍₂₎ = 9.7; p = 0.0079) use before/during sex influenced participants' engagement in CAI with casual, anonymous, and exchange male partners. Conclusion: Results indicate the importance of intervention efforts focused on younger racial/ethnic minority MSM with fewer years of educational attainment, and provides evidence of the specific subpopulations of MSM at greatest risk of detrimental effects of illicit substance use.

KEYWORDS:

• Men who have sex with men
• HIV
• substance use
• sexual risks

Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, grant #R01DA035092. Drs. Reback and Swendeman acknowledge additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health (P30 MH58107). The authors would like to thank Mitch Metzner, Ph.D., for his work as project director during the implementation of the study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, grant #R01DA035092. Drs. Reback and Swendeman acknowledge additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health (P30 MH58107).