Predictors of Unprotected Sex among Young Sexually Active African American, Hispanic, and White MSM: The Importance of Ethnicity and Culture

Abstract

Despite the recognized need for culturally tailored HIV prevention interventions for gay, bisexual, and questioning youth, few studies have examined if predictors of unprotected sex vary for youth from different ethnic groups. This study reports on a sample of 189 gay, bisexual, and questioning youth (age 15-22) from three racial/ethnic backgrounds (African American, Hispanic, and White) recruited in Chicago, IL and Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida. For African American youth, being in a long-term relationship, having been kicked out of the home for having sex with men, and younger age at initiation of sexual behavior were associated with unprotected sex. For Hispanic youth, higher ethnic identification and older age at initiation of sexual behavior were associated with unprotected sex. For White youth, no predictors were associated with unprotected sex. Our findings point to the importance of understanding the varying predictors of unprotected sex and integrating them into tailored prevention interventions.

Life Skills: Evaluation of a Theory-Driven Behavioral HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Transgender Women

“…These data provide preliminary evidence of the successful development, implementation, and delivery of a novel small group-based intervention targeting the unique mechanisms of HIV risk of young transgender women aged [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] years. This population is at very high risk of acquiring HIV and is noticeably absent from the HIV prevention intervention literature.…”

Considerations for South African higher education: A 'national student men who have sex with men' sexual behaviour survey

“…Various studies have explored sexual risk behaviour among MSM who are young (Bolding et al 2007;Dudley et al 2004;MacKellar et al 1996;Salomon et al 2009;Warren et al 2008), attending high school (Berten and Van Rossem 2009;Faulkner and Cranston 1998), or attending college or university (Brown and Vanable 2007;Cong et al 2008;Eisenberg 2001;Lindley et al 2003;So, Wong, and DeLeon 2005;Tung, Ding, and Farmer 2008).…”

The Pleasure Principle: The Effect of Perceived Pleasure Loss Associated with Condoms on Unprotected Anal Intercourse Among Immigrant Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…2 Paradoxically, Latino MSM tend to show comparable or higher rates of condom use relative to their White counterparts. [3][4][5][6][7] Regardless, many still opt to forgo condoms during anal intercourse, as evidenced by a recent Internet-based study of 14,750 MSM in the U.S. reporting that 49%, 46%, and 63% of Latino participants assuming the insertive, receptive, or both positions, respectively, did not use condoms during their most recent episode of male-partnered anal intercourse. 5 Given that male condoms continue to be the only method of preventing HIV transmission during anal intercourse (apart from abstinence) sanctioned by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 greater understanding of barriers to their use among this high-risk group is needed.…”