title: Internet chat rooms: connecting with a new generation of young men of color at risk for HIV infection who have sex with other men.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the use of gay-related Internet chat rooms by young men who have sex with other men of color (YMSMC) in a specific catchment area. Participants were 104 YMSMC age 18 to 24 (M = 21.56) who were encountered in two gay-related Internet chat rooms during April 2005. Participants were mainly African American (53.7%, n = 56), HIV-negative (57.6%, n = 60), and online looking for some type of sexual encounter (80.7%, n = 84). The results of this study support the need to develop specific culturally appropriate HIV prevention Internet outreach protocols targeting YMSMC at risk for HIV infection. Lessons learned while conducting this study and recommendations are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sheldon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Mitchell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wharton
authors.forename: Anita I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Marrero
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Kraig
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pannell
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D001741:Black or African American