title: Beyond the ball: implications for HIV risk and prevention among the constructed families of African American men who have sex with men.
abstract: African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) are disproportionately burdened by new and existing HIV infections. In spite of this, few HIV prevention interventions have been developed that meet the specific needs of AAMSM and that are culturally appropriate and build on strengths and resources. In this paper, we examine constructed families, including those who belong to houses and those who do not, from a three city sample of 196 AAMSM. Results show that the majority of AAMSM who belong to constructed families do not participate in houses or balls. Both house and non-house affiliated constructed families are important sources of social support among AAMSM. Participants reported limited success in spreading HIV messages at ball events, but talk about HIV within their constructed families. Social network approaches to HIV prevention may capitalize on existing social ties within constructed families to promote safer sexual behaviors.
authors: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA, jdickson@mcw.edu.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Dickson-Gomez
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Owczarzak
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: St Lawrence
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Sitzler
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Quinn
authors: Broderick
authors: B
authors: Pearson
authors: Jeffrey A
authors: JA
authors: Kelly
authors: Yuri A
authors: YA
authors: Amirkhanian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult