title: Differences in the social networks of African American men who have sex with men only and those who have sex with men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared social network characteristics of African American men who have sex with men only (MSMO) with social network characteristics of African American men who have sex with men and women (MSMW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were 234 African American men who have sex with men who completed a baseline social network assessment for a pilot behavioral HIV prevention intervention in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2006 through 2009. We surveyed the men to elicit the characteristics of their social networks, and we used logistic regression models to assess differences in network characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSMO were significantly more likely than were MSMW to be HIV-positive (52% vs 31%). We found no differences between MSMO and MSMW in the size of kin networks or emotional and material support networks. MSMW had denser sexual networks, reported more concurrent and exchange partners, used condoms with more sexual partners, and reported interaction with a larger number of sexual partners at least once a week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there were many similarities in the social and sexual network characteristics of MSMO and MSMW, differences did exist. HIV prevention interventions should address the unique needs of African American MSMW.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Hampton House, 624 North Broadway, Room 737, Baltimore, MD 21205. clatkin@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latkin
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: Typhanye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Penniman
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Pilgrim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spikes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires