High-risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in 6 US cities: baseline data from the EXPLORE Study.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the prevalence of risk behaviors at baseline among men who have sex with men (MSM) who were enrolled in a randomized behavioral intervention trial conducted in 6 US cities.


METHODS
Data analyses involved MSM who were negative for HIV antibodies and who reported having engaged in anal sex with 1 or more partners in the previous year.


RESULTS
Among 4295 men, 48.0% and 54.9%, respectively, reported unprotected receptive and insertive anal sex in the previous 6 months. Unprotected sex was significantly more likely with 1 primary partner or multiple partners than with 1 nonprimary partner. Drug and alcohol use were significantly associated with unprotected anal sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the continued need for effective intervention strategies for MSM that address relationship status, serostatus of partners, and drug and alcohol use.
Koblin
Beryl A
BA
New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. beryl_koblin@nybc.org
Chesney
Margaret A
MA
Husnik
Marla J
MJ
Bozeman
Sam
S
Celum
Connie L
CL
Buchbinder
Susan
S
Mayer
Kenneth
K
McKirnan
David
D
Judson
Franklyn N
FN
Huang
Yijian
Y
Coates
Thomas J
TJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001294:Attitude to Health; D035841:Behavioral Research; D002947:Cities; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D022521:Ligase Chain Reaction; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015483:HIV Antibodies