title: Sexual Networks and HIV Risk among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in 6 U.S. Cities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual networks may place U.S. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased HIV risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported egocentric sexual network data from the prior six months were collected from 1,349 community-recruited Black MSM in HPTN 061, a multi-component HIV prevention intervention feasibility study. Sexual network composition, size, and density (extent to which members are having sex with one another) were compared by self-reported HIV serostatus and age of the men. GEE models assessed network and other factors associated with having a Black sex partner, having a partner with at least two age category difference (age difference between participant and partner of at least two age group categories), and having serodiscordant/serostatus unknown unprotected anal/vaginal intercourse (SDUI) in the last six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half had exclusively Black partners in the last six months, 46% had a partner of at least two age category difference, 87% had ≤5 partners. Nearly 90% had sex partners who were also part of their social networks. Among HIV-negative men, not having anonymous/exchange/ trade partners and lower density were associated with having a Black partner; larger sexual network size and having non-primary partners were associated with having a partner with at least two age category difference; and having anonymous/exchange/ trade partners was associated with SDUI. Among HIV-positive men, not having non-primary partners was associated with having a Black partner; no sexual network characteristics were associated with having a partner with at least two age category difference and SDUI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black MSM sexual networks were relatively small and often overlapped with the social networks. Sexual risk was associated with having non-primary partners and larger network size. Network interventions that engage the social networks of Black MSM, such as interventions utilizing peer influence, should be developed to address stable partnerships, number of partners, and serostatus disclosure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hong-Van
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Tieu
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ting-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussen
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buchbinder
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, United States of America; Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Division of InfectiousDiseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Pamina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorbach
authors.affiliation: Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: FHI 360, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Elharrar
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Washington, DC, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koblin
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002947:Cities; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity; D033062:Friends; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult