title: Predictors of unprotected sex among young sexually active African American, Hispanic, and White MSM: the importance of ethnicity and culture.
abstract: Despite the recognized need for culturally tailored HIV prevention interventions for gay, bisexual, and questioning youth, few studies have examined if predictors of unprotected sex vary for youth from different ethnic groups. This study reports on a sample of 189 gay, bisexual, and questioning youth (age 15-22) from three racial/ethnic backgrounds (African American, Hispanic, and White) recruited in Chicago, IL and Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida. For African American youth, being in a long-term relationship, having been kicked out of the home for having sex with men, and younger age at initiation of sexual behavior were associated with unprotected sex. For Hispanic youth, higher ethnic identification and older age at initiation of sexual behavior were associated with unprotected sex. For White youth, no predictors were associated with unprotected sex. Our findings point to the importance of understanding the varying predictors of unprotected sex and integrating them into tailored prevention interventions.
authors.affiliation: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 S. University Drive, 4th Floor Terry Building, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA. wjacob@nova.edu
authors.forename: Jacob C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Omar B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Rodrigo Sebastián
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003469:Culture; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*