title: Ethnic differences in HIV-disclosure and sexual risk.
abstract: Little is known about ethnic differences in HIV-disclosure to sexual partners or the relationship between HIV-disclosure and sexual risk. Differences in HIV-disclosure rates between African-American and White men who have sex with men (MSM) were analyzed using data from the Treatment Advocacy Program. In general, the findings suggest that African-Americans are less likely than Whites to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners. The findings also suggest that the African-American participants who disclosed to HIV-negative partners were significantly less likely to engage in unprotected anal sex with HIV-negative partners and partners whose HIV status was unknown than those participants who did not disclosure to HIV-negative partners. Although HIV-disclosure appears to be an important factor to consider in HIV-prevention efforts, there are unique factors that influence HIV-disclosure decisions for African-American MSM. Interventions should consider these unique challenges before focusing on HIV-disclosure as a primary tool for reducing the transmission of HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL, USA. jasonb@howardbrown.org
authors.forename: Jason D P
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Fingerhut
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McKirnan
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology