title: HIV/AIDS stigma among a sample of primarily African-American and Latino men who have sex with men social media users.
abstract: The recent increase in social media use allows these technologies to rapidly reach communities with higher HIV prevalence, such as African-American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). However, no studies have looked at HIV/AIDS stigma among social media users from African-American and Latino MSM communities, or the association between stigma and social media use among these groups. This study sought to assess the level of HIV/AIDS stigma among a sample of social media-using African-American and Latino MSM from Los Angeles. A total of 112 (primarily African-American and Latino, n = 98, 88%) MSM Facebook users completed a survey on demographics, online social network use, and HIV/AIDS stigma. A composite stigma score was created by taking the cumulative score from a 15-item stigma questionnaire. Cumulative logistic models were used to assess the association between HIV/AIDS stigma and online social network use. In general, participants reported a low level of HIV/AIDS stigma (mean = 22.2/75, SD = 5.74). HIV/AIDS stigma composite score was significantly associated with increased time spent on online social networks each day (Adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.15). Among this diverse sample of MSM online social network users, findings suggest that HIV/AIDS stigma is associated with usage of social media. We discuss the implications of this work for future HIV prevention.
authors.affiliation: a ElevateU , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garett
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.|c UCLA Center for Digital Behavior, Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.|c UCLA Center for Digital Behavior, Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.|c UCLA Center for Digital Behavior, Department of Family Medicine , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060756:Social Networking; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African-American/Black and Latino men who have sex with men; HIV/AIDS prevention; Internet; men who have sex with men (MSM); online social networks; social media