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. 2021 Oct;50(7):2947-2954.
doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02066-w. Epub 2021 Sep 29.

Sexual Risk Profiles Among Black Sexual Minority Men: Implications for Targeted PrEP Messaging

Derek T Dangerfield 2nd  1 , Irene Kuo  2 , Manya Magnus  2 , Geetha Beauchamp  3 , Sheldon D Fields  4 , LaRon Nelson  5 , Steven Shoptaw  6 , Leo Wilton  7 , Darrell P Wheeler  8
Affiliations

Sexual Risk Profiles Among Black Sexual Minority Men: Implications for Targeted PrEP Messaging

Derek T Dangerfield 2nd et al. Arch Sex Behav. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Black gay, bisexual, and other Black sexual minority men (BSMM) continue to experience some of the largest sexual health disparities in the U.S. Engaging BSMM in PrEP is crucial to improving sexual health outcomes and reducing disparities. However, knowledge of the profiles of sexual risk and PrEP initiation among this group is limited. This study used latent class analysis to identify HIV risk and PrEP initiation patterns among BSMM in the HPTN 073 Study (n = 226). Guided by current Centers for Disease Control screening guidelines, latent class indicators included relationship status, condom use, number of sexual partners, substance use, sexually transmitted infection (STI) history, and partner HIV status. Age and PrEP initiation were used in a multinomial regression to identify correlates of class membership. Three latent classes were identified: Single, Condomless Partners, Single, Multiple Partners, and Serodiscordant Partners. Single, Condomless Partners had the highest conditional probabilities of having greater than three male partners, substance use before sex, and receiving an STI diagnosis. Serodiscordant Partners had a 100% conditional probability of condomless sex and having a male partner living with HIV. BSMM who initiated PrEP were less likely to be classified as Single, Condomless Partners than Serodiscordant Partners (AOR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.66). Findings support the need for culturally relevant tailored and targeted messaging for BSMM with multiple sexual risk indicators.

Keywords: Black sexual minority men; Disparities; HIV; Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); Sexual health; Sexual orientation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations

Conflict of Interest. The authors report no conflicts of interests.

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