title: Do Sexual Networks of Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City Differ by Race/Ethnicity?
abstract: The United States HIV epidemic disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM). This disparity might be partially explained by differences in social and sexual network structure and composition. A total of 1267 MSM in New York City completed an ACASI survey and egocentric social and sexual network inventory about their sex partners in the past 3 months, and underwent HIV testing. Social and sexual network structure and composition were compared by race/ethnicity of the egos: black, non-Hispanic (N = 365 egos), white, non-Hispanic (N = 466), and Hispanic (N = 436). 21.1% were HIV-positive by HIV testing; 17.2% reported serodiscordant and serostatus unknown unprotected anal/vaginal intercourse (SDUI) in the last 3 months. Black MSM were more likely than white and Hispanic MSM to report exclusively having partners of same race/ethnicity. Black and Hispanic MSM had more HIV-positive and unknown status partners than white MSM. White men were more likely to report overlap of social and sex partners than black and Hispanic men. No significant differences by race/ethnicity were found for network size, density, having concurrent partners, or having partners with ≥10 years age difference. Specific network composition characteristics may explain racial/ethnic disparities in HIV infection rates among MSM, including HIV status of sex partners in networks and lack of social support within sexual networks. Network structural characteristics such as size and density do not appear to have such an impact. These data add to our understanding of the complexity of social factors affecting black MSM and Hispanic MSM in the U.S.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Hong-Van
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Tieu
authors.affiliation: 2 Laboratory of Analytical Sciences, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Biostatistics, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucy
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Kiwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: 4 Laboratory of Behavioral and Social Sciences, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California , Davis, California.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.affiliation: 6 New York University Steinhardt School of Culture , Education, and Human Development, New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ompad
authors.affiliation: 7 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latkin
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, New York Blood Center , New York City, New York.
authors.forename: Beryl A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Koblin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult