Concordance between sexual behavior and sexual identity in street outreach samples of four racial/ethnic groups.
BACKGROUND
There is a discrepancy between self-reported sexual identity and sexual behavior. The magnitude of this discrepancy is unclear, as is its variation across race/ethnicity and gender.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the study was to assess the range of discrepancy in self-reported sexual identity and sexual behavior in men and women of four racial/ethnic groups.


METHODS
Self-reported data on sexual identity (homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual) and sexual behavior in the past 3 months were collected from 1494 African American, Hispanic, Asian, and white men and women in public congregation places in Houston, Texas.


RESULTS
Data indicated that concordance rates between self-reported sexual identity and sexual behavior varied widely across racial/ethnic groups, with the highest rates of concordance in Asian males and females and the lowest in African American females and white males. The largest discordant category was in those self-described heterosexuals who reported partners of both genders. Breakdown of data to exclude those who reported sex trade work or illegal sources of income improved the concordance rates for African American and Hispanic subsamples.


CONCLUSIONS
Data indicate the importance of designing and targeting HIV risk interventions and clinical screening, based on behavior and not reported sexual identity.
Ross
Michael W
MW
WHO Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77225, USA. mross@sph.uth.tmc.edu
Essien
E James
EJ
Williams
Mark L
ML
Fernandez-Esquer
Maria Eugenia
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001727:Bisexuality; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data