Sexual diversity and HIV risk among older heterosexual African American males who are seropositive

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the occurrence of non-condom use during vaginal or anal intercourse controlling for HIV symptoms, AIDS knowledge, relationship status and safer sex discussion; in 73 self identified seropositive heterosexual African American males. The participants were analyzed as a subset from a larger sample of 130 HIV seropositive African American men. HIV related symptoms were reported by all of the study participants. Twenty-seven percent of the participants reported engaging in same sex behavior, 37% reported not using condoms during vaginal sex, and 75% reported non-condom use during anal sex during the past three months. Twenty-four percent did not decrease sexual risk behaviors, despite being seropositive. The Logistic regression analysis indicated the odds for participants not using condoms who did not engage in safe sex discussions were 77.4 times for vaginal sex, and 14.2 times during anal sex. These findings are compelling given that African Americans comprise 50% of new HIV infections each year.

HIV, Sexual Health, and Psychosocial Issues Among Older Adults Living with HIV in North America

“…Onen et al (2010) reported that less than half of their sample of older men living with HIV responded to questions about specific sexual behaviour in which they engaged. Incomplete data for certain questions regarding sexual behaviour was common for many of the studies presented (Elford et al 2008;Onen et al 2010;Coleman and Ball 2010). This lack of data provides an important challenge to researchers.…”

“…For example, among a sample of 290 HIV-positive people in New York City who were 50 years of age or older, 47% of identified as gay or bisexual men, 20% as heterosexual men, and 33% heterosexual women (Lovejoy et al 2008). Coleman and Ball (2010) reported that among African-American men with HIV aged 40-75 attending two mid-Atlantic clinics in the U.S. more than half of these men (51%) identified as MSM. Preliminary data analysis of 405 adults over the age of 50 participating in the Ontario (Canada) Cohort Study revealed that nearly 77% of participants were MSM, compared to 11% women and 12% heterosexual men (Emlet et al 2011).…”

Changes in Sexual Behavior of HIV-Infected Older Adults Enrolled in a Clinical Trial of Standalone Group Psychotherapies Targeting Depression

“…Several cross-sectional studies examining rates of sexual risk behavior in HIV-positive older adults [2-5,11-15] found that heightened levels of negative mood states, such as depression and loneliness, are associated with increased sexual risk taking [3,4,14]. These studies raise the possibility that efficacious depression treatments may lead to subsequent reductions in sexual risk behavior.…”

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission

“…The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC, 2007) reported the prevalence rate among heterosexual African American (AA) women and men with data indicating that more heterosexual AA women having a 74% HIV/AIDS prevalence as compared to the 27% in their male counterpart. Myths and misperceptions of HIV/AIDS such as HIV being a genocide, suspicion of government information, belief that it is possible to identify risky partners by odour and appearance, belief that partners reported histories are accurate, misperceptions about the meaning of safe sex and the believe that specific classes of people (not one self) are at risk of HIV that resulted from sexual risk contributes to the risky behaviours of HIV transmission (Essien et al,2002;Catania et al,1994;Smith et al, 2000;Coleman et al, 2010;Coleman and Ball, 2007;Coleman, 2007). The increase in the number of sexual partners also increases HIV transmission (Stranford, 1999;Coleman, 2007;Catania et al, 1994;Smith et al, 2000;Coleman et al, 2010;Coleman and Ball, 2007) with most under the influence of alcohol or drugs.…”

“…Myths and misperceptions of HIV/AIDS such as HIV being a genocide, suspicion of government information, belief that it is possible to identify risky partners by odour and appearance, belief that partners reported histories are accurate, misperceptions about the meaning of safe sex and the believe that specific classes of people (not one self) are at risk of HIV that resulted from sexual risk contributes to the risky behaviours of HIV transmission (Essien et al,2002;Catania et al,1994;Smith et al, 2000;Coleman et al, 2010;Coleman and Ball, 2007;Coleman, 2007). The increase in the number of sexual partners also increases HIV transmission (Stranford, 1999;Coleman, 2007;Catania et al, 1994;Smith et al, 2000;Coleman et al, 2010;Coleman and Ball, 2007) with most under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unprotected oral and vaginal sex have been reported as a risk factor in the transmission of HIV especially where it is carried out in high risk settings, having sex more often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (Milam et al, 2006;Catania et al, 1994;Smith et al, 2000).…”