title: Concurrent partnerships and HIV risk among men who have sex with men in New York City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concurrent partnerships are a significant public health concern among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study describes the prevalence of concurrency and its association with serodiscordant/serostatus unknown unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse (SDUI) among MSM in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1458 MSM completed a social and sexual network inventory about their male and female sex partners, including concurrency, in the last 3 months. Logistic regression identified factors associated with SDUI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age was 29 years. The proportion of participants who reported being HIV+ was 23.5%. The men reported a mean of 3.2 male partners in the last 3 months. The proportion of MSM who reported having recent SDUI was 16.6%. More than half (63.2%) described having concurrent sex partners (individual concurrency based on overlapping dates of relationships); 71.5% reported having partners whom they believed had concurrent partners (perceived partner concurrency); and 56.1% reported that both they and their partners had concurrent partners (reciprocal concurrency). Among HIV+ men by self-report, having SDUI was positively associated with individual concurrency, any alcohol use during sex, having more male sex partners, and not having a main partner. Among self-reported HIV- men, having SDUI was positively associated with perceived partner concurrency, lower education level, any alcohol and drug use during sex, having more male sex partners, and having an anonymous partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrency was common among MSM. The association of SDUI with individual and perceived partner concurrency, along with substance use during sex, having an anonymous partner, and having many sex partners likely further increases HIV acquisition and transmission risk among MSM. HIV prevention interventions should address concurrency among MSM.
authors: From the Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY.
authors: Hong-Van
authors: HV
authors: Tieu
authors: Vijay
authors: V
authors: Nandi
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Frye
authors: Kiwan
authors: K
authors: Stewart
authors: Heriberto
authors: H
authors: Oquendo
authors: Blaz
authors: B
authors: Bush
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Cerda
authors: Donald R
authors: DR
authors: Hoover
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Ompad
authors: Beryl A
authors: BA
authors: Koblin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology