Self-identification as "down low" among men who have sex with men (MSM) from 12 US cities.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) who are on the "down low" (DL) have been the subject of considerable media attention, but few data on this population exist. This exploratory study (N=455) compared MSM who considered themselves to be on the DL with MSM who did not (non-DL MSM). 20% self-identified as DL. Blacks and Hispanics were more likely than Whites to self identify as DL. MSM who did not identify as gay were more likely than gay-identified MSM to describe themselves as DL. DL-identified MSM were less likely to have had seven or more male partners in the prior 30 days, but were more likely to have had a female sex partner and to have had unprotected vaginal sex. DL-identified MSM were less likely to have ever been tested for HIV than were non-DL MSM. Prevention agencies should expand existing programs for MSM to include specific efforts to reach DL MSM.
Wolitski
Richard J
RJ
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. rwolitski@cdc.gov
Jones
Kenneth T
KT
Wasserman
Jill L
JL
Smith
Jennifer C
JC
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data