Patterns of HIV disclosure and condom use among HIV-infected young racial/ethnic minority men who have sex with men.
Recent findings highlight the continued rise in cases of HIV infection among racial/ethnic minority young men who have sex with men (YMSM). In adults, disclosure of HIV status has been associated with decreased sexual risk behaviors but this has not been explored among YMSM. In this study of 362 HIV-infected racial/ethnic minority YMSM, rates of disclosure were high, with almost all disclosing their status to at least one person at baseline. The majority had disclosed to a family member, with higher disclosure rates to female relatives compared with males. After adjustment for site, disclosure to sex partners and boyfriends was associated with an increase in condom use during both oral and anal sex. Future studies should consider skills training to assist youth in the disclosure process, facilitate how to determine who in their family and friend social network can be safely disclosed to and support family-based interventions.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA. lisa_hightow@med.unc.edu
Lisa B
LB
Hightow-Weidman
Gregory
G
Phillips
Angulique Y
AY
Outlaw
Amy R
AR
Wohl
Sheldon
S
Fields
Julia
J
Hildalgo
Sara
S
LeGrand
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult