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. 2015 Sep;42(9):505-12.
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000332.

Heterogeneity of HIV Prevalence Among the Sexual Networks of Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta: Illuminating a Mechanism for Increased HIV Risk for Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

Alfonso C Hernández-Romieu  1 , Patrick S Sullivan, Richard Rothenberg, Jeremy Grey, Nicole Luisi, Colleen F Kelley, Eli S Rosenberg
Affiliations

Heterogeneity of HIV Prevalence Among the Sexual Networks of Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men in Atlanta: Illuminating a Mechanism for Increased HIV Risk for Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

Alfonso C Hernández-Romieu et al. Sex Transm Dis. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Studying the heterogeneity and correlates of HIV risk in the sexual networks of black and white men who have sex with men (MSM) may help explain racial disparities in HIV-infection.

Methods: Black and white MSM were recruited as seeds using venue-based time sampling and provided data regarding their recent sex partners. We used chain referral methods to enroll seeds' recent sex partners; newly enrolled partners in turn provided data on their recent sex partners, some of whom later enrolled. Data about unenrolled recent sex partners obtained from seeds and enrolled participants were also analyzed. We estimated the prevalence of HIV in sexual networks of MSM and assessed differential patterns of network HIV risk by the race of the seed.

Results: The mean network prevalence of HIV in sexual networks of black MSM (n = 117) was 36% compared with 4% in networks of white MSM (n = 78; P < 0.0001). Sexual networks of unemployed black MSM had a higher prevalence of HIV than their employed counterparts (51% vs. 29%, P = 0.007). The networks of HIV-negative black MSM seeds aged 18 to 24 years had a network prevalence of 9% compared with 2% among those aged 30 years or older. In networks originating from a black HIV-positive seed, the prevalence ranged from 63% among those aged 18 to 24 years to 80% among those 30 years or older.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of HIV in the networks of HIV-negative young black MSM demonstrates a mechanism for the increased HIV incidence observed in this age group. More research is needed into how age and socioeconomic factors shape sexual networks and HIV risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: None to declare

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HIV prevalence among 117 networks of black MSM by age group and HIV-status of network seed, Atlanta, GA, 2010–2014
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sensitivity analysis: Imputed mean, and lower and upper bounds of network HIV prevalence by seed age-group and HIV status among 117 networks of Black MSM seeds, Atlanda, GA, 2010–2014
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HIV Among Black/African American Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. National Center for HIV/AIDS, VH, STD, and TB Prevention; Atlanta, GA: CDC; May 21, 2014. [Accessed: October 27th, 2014]. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/racialethnic/bmsm/facts.
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