title: A community-based rapid assessment of HIV behavioural risk disparities within a large sample of gay men in southeastern USA: a comparison of African American, Latino and white men.
abstract: Because the southeastern USA is experiencing a disproportionate HIV infection rate compared to other regions of the country, we explored HIV behavioural risk disparities by race/ethnicity among self-identifying gay men. Conceived and implemented as a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study, this rapid assessment collected demographic and HIV risk-behaviour data from men in five gay bars in the northwestern part of the state of North Carolina, using an assessment available in English and Spanish. Of 719 participants, 34.8% reported inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse in the past three months, 11.4% reported ever having had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), 3.6% reported being HIV-seropositive and 26% reported illicit drug use during the past 30 days. Compared to white participants, African American/black and Hispanic/Latino participants were more likely to report inconsistent condom use during anal intercourse with multiple partners during the past three months. African American/black participants were more likely to report illicit drug use during the past 30 days. Hispanic/Latino participants were more likely to have never been tested for HIV. Rates of HIV risk behaviours among gay men remain high and racial/ethnic differences indicate the need for targeted and tailored prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences and the Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, USA. srhodes@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hergenrather
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015144:Southeastern United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*