Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Nov;108(S4):S266-S273.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304762.

Patterns of Racial/Ethnic Disparities and Prevalence in HIV and Syphilis Diagnoses Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, 2016: A Novel Data Visualization

Patrick S Sullivan  1 , David W Purcell  1 , Jeremy A Grey  1 , Kyle T Bernstein  1 , Thomas L Gift  1 , Taylor A Wimbly  1 , Eric Hall  1 , Eli S Rosenberg  1
Affiliations

Patterns of Racial/Ethnic Disparities and Prevalence in HIV and Syphilis Diagnoses Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, 2016: A Novel Data Visualization

Patrick S Sullivan et al. Am J Public Health. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe disparities in HIV infection and syphilis among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in US states through ratio-based measures and graphical depictions of disparities.

Methods: We used state-level surveillance data of reported HIV and syphilis cases in 2015 and 2016, and estimates of MSM population sizes to estimate HIV and syphilis prevalence by race/ethnicity and rate ratios (RRs) and to visually display patterns of disparity and prevalence among US states.

Results: State-specific rates of new HIV diagnoses were higher for Black than for White MSM (RR range = 2.35 [Rhode Island] to 10.12 [Wisconsin]) and for Hispanic than for White MSM (RR range = 1.50 [Tennessee] to 5.78 [Pennsylvania]). Rates of syphilis diagnoses were higher for Black than for White MSM in 42 of 44 states (state RR range = 0.89 [Hawaii] to 17.11 [Alaska]). Scatterplots of HIV diagnosis rates by race showed heterogeneity in epidemic scenarios, even in states with similar ratio-based disparity measures.

Conclusions: There is a widely disparate impact of HIV and syphilis among Black and Hispanic MSM compared with White MSM. Between-state variation suggests that states should tailor and focus their prevention responses to best address state data.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
HIV Diagnosis Rates Among Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) and Black–White Rate Ratios by State and decile of Disparity: United States, 2016 Note. WMSM = White men who have sex with men.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
HIV Diagnosis Rates Among Hispanic and White Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) and Hispanic–White Rate Ratios by State and Sextile of Disparity: United States, 2016 Note. WMSM = White men who have sex with men.
FIGURE 3—
FIGURE 3—
Primary and Secondary (P&S) Syphilis Diagnosis Rates Among Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) and Black–White Rate Ratios by State and decile of Disparity: United States, 2016 Note. WMSM = White men who have sex with men.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Schulz AJ, Mullings LE. Gender, Race, Class, & Health: Intersectional Approaches. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2006.
    1. Stall R, Mills TC, Williamson J et al. Association of co-occurring psychosocial health problems and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among urban men who have sex with men. Am J Public Health. 2003;93(6):939–942. - PMC - PubMed
    1. HIV.gov. National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020. 2015. Available at: https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/national-hiv-aids-strategy/nhas-update. Accessed September 23, 2018.
    1. Sullivan PS. Practical considerations for implementing a new syphilis action plan. Sex Transm Dis. 2018;45(9S suppl 1):S78–S79. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2016. HIV Surveillance Report. 2017. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveil.... Accessed September 23, 2018.

Publication types

MeSH terms