Network Properties Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Vary by Race

Abstract

The HIV burden among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) may be related to variations in network characteristics of the individual's social and sexual network. This study investigates variations in network properties among 188 Black and 295 White GBM recruited in New Orleans during the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance in 2014. Participants described up to five people who provided social support and five sex partners in the past three months. Network properties and network dissimilarity indicators were aggregated to the participant level as means or proportions and examined using PROC GLM. White participants reported larger networks (p=0.0027), had known network members longer (p=0.0033), and reported more substance use (p<.0001) within networks. Black participants reported networks with fewer men (p=0.0056) and younger members (p =0.0110) than those of White GBM. Network properties among GBM differ by race in New Orleans which may inform prevention interventions.

Predicting Emergence of Primary and Secondary Syphilis Among Women of Reproductive Age in US Counties

“…21,22 Sexual network characteristics, not individual behaviors, account for the higher prevalence of HIV among Black MSM. 23,24 Studies of sexual partnership mixing in both heterosexual and MSM networks have demonstrated that people in racial or ethnic minority groups often have sex partners of the same race/ ethnicity, contributing to worsening disparities in STIs. 25,26 As sexual networks and social factors such as poverty and discrimination drive disparities in STI rates in the United States, 27 effective prevention of syphilis will require multidisciplinary collaborations.…”

“…Prior studies and frameworks have demonstrated the interaction of individual behaviors, social and sexual networks, sociocultural contexts, and community prevalence in the prevention of STIs 21,22 . Sexual network characteristics, not individual behaviors, account for the higher prevalence of HIV among Black MSM 23,24 . Studies of sexual partnership mixing in both heterosexual and MSM networks have demonstrated that people in racial or ethnic minority groups often have sex partners of the same race/ethnicity, contributing to worsening disparities in STIs 25,26 .…”