Substance use, sexual identity, and health care provider use in men who have sex with men.
This article describes the association between substance use, sexual identity, and seeing a health care provider on a regular basis for 257 men who have sex with men (MSM). Data from in-person interviews were gathered from MSM who resided in Massachusetts between 2003 and 2007. A logistic regression analysis that controlled for demographic characteristics, health insurance status, HIV/AIDS status, drug use, and social support revealed that MSM who identified as heterosexual, compared with those who identified as gay or bisexual, were 60% less likely to access a health care provider on a regular basis. Further, the likelihood of seeing a provider regularly was 54% lower for MSM who had used illegal drugs in the past 30 days and 32% higher for MSM who had more social support. Study limitations and implications are discussed.
Merighi
Joseph R
JR
School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. merighi@bu.edu
Chassler
Deborah
D
Lundgren
Lena
L
Inniss
Hutson W
HW
D000328:Adult; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006282:Health Personnel; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008571:Men; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders