title: Exploring sexual health among young Black men who have sex with men in New York City.
abstract: Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) account for approximately 10% of the total HIV infection in the United States but represent <1% of the population. Few interventions exist that address their unique needs, and those that do adopt a narrow, risk-based framework for prevention. Qualitative data from the Brothers Connect Study were analyzed to explore how a Sexual Health Model (SHM) developed by Robinson et al. (The sexual health model: application of a sexological approach to HIV prevention. Health Educ Res 2002; 17:43-57) could be used as a framework for HIV prevention in YBMSM. Content analysis identified five key themes within SHM: (i) race/ethnicity, including the cultural diversity and unique challenges of YBMSM; (ii) disclosure, as the ongoing process of self-identification rather than a single instance of 'coming out'; (iii) sex, in terms of practices, behaviors and health; (iv) daily challenges, microaggressions and acute instances of discrimination; and (v) the self, resilience and identity. Technology represents a new component for the SHM that may be relevant to YBMSM. YBMSM are in need of comprehensive sexual health programs that go beyond typical HIV frameworks. A tailored SHM could be used for identifying and addressing the specific sexual health needs of YBMSM in research and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA ajm2230@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Martos
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.affiliation: LGBT Health Initiative, Division of Gender, Sexuality, and Health, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia Psychiatry and the Columbia University School of Nursing, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Bockting
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D000074384:Sexual Health; D055815:Young Adult