Individual and structural factors predicting HIV testing among Latinx MSM: substance use as a moderator

ABSTRACT

The rate of HIV infection for Latinx men who have sex with men (LMSM) increased by 20% from 2008 to 2014 even as rates stabilized among MSM of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. We hypothesize that this disparity is partially attributable to individual and structural factors associated with HIV testing, including substance use practices, among LMSM. In this retrospective study, we examined data from 502 LMSM to determine whether (a) hypothesized relationships exist between individual factors (perceived HIV susceptibility, experiences with HIV prevention, condom use, sex under the influence, sexual identity development status, heterosexual self-presentation, and traditional Latinx gender norms) and structural factors (access to healthcare resources and social support) and HIV testing for LMSM. We also tested whether (b) substance use practices moderate relations between individual and structural factors and HIV testing. Findings indicate that (a) relationships exist between several individual and structural factors and HIV testing and that (b) substance use moderated these relationships to HIV testing in a number of hypothesized ways. Practice and prevention implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV testing
• Latinx
• men who have sex with men

Acknowledgements

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities or the National Institutes of Health.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Frank R. Dillon http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2637-8362

Ryan C. Ebersole http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7955-4345

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [award number R15MD010193].