Racial Differences of Psychosocial Characteristics, HIV Risk-Taking and HIV Prevention Uptake between Men Who Have Sex with Men Only and Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women: A Community-Based Study in Two US Cities

ABSTRACT

Bisexual behavior preference plays an important role in shaping HIV risks among men who have sex with men (MSM), yet few studies have examined the racial differences in the patterns of sexual risk and HIV prevention uptake between men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) and men who have sex with men only (MSMO). We conducted a community-based study to identify and compare psychosocial characteristics, sexual risks, HIV testing frequency, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement between Black and White MSMW and MSMO in two US cities. Findings indicate that White MSMW were most likely to engage in HIV risk-taking behaviors (e.g., alcohol/drug use before sex, condomless/group sex), while Black MSMW were least likely to recently test for HIV or report awareness (aPR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17–0.61), willingness (aPR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.30–0.98), and use (aPR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.31–0.93) of PrEP. Findings from our study supplement salient information for designing culturally tailored HIV prevention interventions for specific MSM subgroups in the US.

KEYWORDS:

• Men who have sex with men
• bisexual behavior
• HIV risk
• HIV testing
• pre-exposure prophylaxis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and School of Nursing (SMD/SON Joint Award for Excellence in HIV Research).