Sexual Behaviors and Experiences Among Behaviorally Bisexual Latino Men in the Midwestern United States: Implications for Sexual Health Interventions

Abstract

The midwestern United States has a high number of recent Latino migrants, but little information is available regarding their sexual behaviors. A total of 75 behaviorally bisexual men (25 Latino, 25 Black and 25 White) participated in an exploratory study on sexual health. The data presented in this article are restricted to the 25 self-identified Latino men. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted and optional self-administered sexual transmitted infection (STI) screening was provided. The measures used were taken from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), a probability study of the sexual behaviors of nearly 6,000 individuals, age 14 to 94, in the United States. In this sample of bisexual men, the most commonly reported sexual behaviors were masturbation, vaginal intercourse and receiving oral sex from male and female partners. The majority of the participants were the insertive partner during anal sex with male partners. Many of the participants reported alcohol use during their most recent sexual activity. A fair number reported not using condoms during their last sexual event. Pleasure, arousal, orgasm and erectile functioning were markedly similar despite partner gender. A small number of participants also engaged in sexual activities with transgender individuals. All of the Latino participants took part in optional self-collection for STI specimens. The results of the study provide rich insights into the sexual behavior and related factors, as well as potential risk behaviors, of bisexual Latino men that may be targeted for future sexual health promotion efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• bisexuality
• Latino
• men who have sex with men and women
• MSMW
• sexual behavior
• sexual experience
• Hispanic

Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health Grant R21 HD059494 (Brian Dodge, PhD, Principal Investigator). The authors would like to express their deepest appreciation to the members of the study's Community Advisory Committee, whose insight guided the researchers throughout the study process. The authors thank Caridad Austin, a certified translator and a law school student at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, who transcribed and translated all interviews that were conducted in Spanish. Finally, the authors acknowledge the efforts of Casa Mateo/Latino Action League, Inc., for their assistance with and commitment to this Latino outreach initiative.