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. 2019 Oct;23(Suppl 3):251-265.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02540-6.

Social Support and Other Factors Associated with HIV Testing by Hispanic/Latino Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in the U.S. South

Thomas M Painter  1 , Eunyoung Y Song  2 , Mary M Mullins  3 , Lilli Mann-Jackson  2 , Jorge Alonzo  2 , Beth A Reboussin  4 , Scott D Rhodes  2
Affiliations

Social Support and Other Factors Associated with HIV Testing by Hispanic/Latino Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in the U.S. South

Thomas M Painter et al. AIDS Behav. 2019 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Cognitive-psychosocial and other factors may affect participation in HIV testing, particularly by Hispanic/Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the U.S. South, a region hard-hit by HIV. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the association between social support and other cognitive-psychosocial factors; sociodemographic characteristics; risk behaviors; and self-reported HIV testing in a sample of 304 Hispanic/Latino MSM in North Carolina. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, general and HIV-related social support and HIV-related knowledge were associated with greater odds of testing; speaking only Spanish was associated with reduced odds of testing. Social support and aspects of social connectedness may constitute community-based resources for use in HIV prevention efforts with Hispanic/Latino MSM. However, harnessing these resources for HIV prevention will require a better understanding of how social support relationships and processes shape HIV risks and protective actions by these vulnerable MSM.

Factores cognitivos y psicosociales y otros, pueden afectar participación en pruebas de VIH, particularmente por parte de Hispanos/Latinos gay, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) en el sur de los EE. UU., una región duramente afectada por el VIH. Usamos análisis de regresión logística univariable y multivariable para examinar la asociación entre apoyo social y otros factores cognitivos y psicosociales; características demográficas; comportamientos de riesgo y autorreportes de pruebas de VIH en una muestra de 304 HSH Hispanos/Latinos en Carolina del Norte. En el análisis de regresión logística multivariable, el apoyo social general y aquél relacionado con VIH y conocimiento relacionado con VIH, fueron asociados con mayores probabilidades de pruebas de VIH realizadas; hablar español solamente fue asociado con probabilidades reducidas de pruebas realizadas. Apoyo social y aspectos de conectividad social pueden constituir recursos comunitarios para ser usados en esfuerzos de prevención de VIH con HSH Hispanos/Latinos. Sin embargo, aprovechar estos recursos para prevención de VIH requerirá una mejor comprensión de cómo las relaciones y los procesos de apoyo social condicionan los riesgos de infección por VIH y acciones de protección efectuadas por estos vulnerables HSH.

Keywords: HIV testing; Hispanics/Latinos; Men who have sex with men (MSM); Social support; U.S. South.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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