Minority Predoctoral Fellowship Program

描述（由申请人提供）：CDC最近的一份出版物做出了以下声明： “与男性发生性关系的非洲裔美国人（MSM）可能比工业化世界的任何其他人口都有更高的[艾滋病毒]感染率。“事实上，根据疾病预防控制中心最近的估计，每50名非洲裔美国男子中就有一人感染了艾滋病毒。其中37%是通过同性行为感染的。此外，研究一直显示，与白色男男性行为者相比，黑人男男性行为者的感染率更高;然而，许多研究也发现，两个人群之间的风险行为可能差异不大。鉴于这些因素，该出版物呼吁审查其他更复杂的变量。响应这一呼吁，这项研究提案的目的是获得更好的了解黑人男性的性行为和艾滋病毒感染的性风险。特别是，研究，主要采用定性方法，将试图进一步研究的影响，黑人男男性接触者的男性气概的想法和看法，他们的艾滋病毒性风险行为和风险的看法。通过焦点小组和一对一的访谈参与黑人男性，研究将寻求研究男性气质和性身份的相互作用，以及这种相互作用如何影响风险认知和艾滋病毒性风险行为在这一人群中。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A recent CDC publication made the following statement: "African American men who have sex with men (MSM) may experience higher rates of [HIV] infection than any other population in the industrialized world." Indeed, according to recent CDC estimates, one in 50 African American men are infected with the HIV virus. Of these, 37 percent were infected through same sex behavior. Furthermore, studies have consistently shown higher rates of infection among Black MSM as compared to White MSM; however many studies have also found that risk behavior may vary little between the two populations. In light of these factors, the publication called for the examination of other more complex variables. Responding to this call, the aims of this research proposal are to gain a more sound understanding of Black male sexual behavior and sexual risk for HIV infection. In particular, the research, using primarily qualitative methods, will attempt to examine further the influence of ideations and perceptions of masculinity among Black MSM on their HIV sexual risk behavior and risk perceptions. Engaging Black men through focus groups and one-on-one interviews, the research will seek to examine the interplay of masculinity and sexual identity and how this interplay affects risk perceptions and HIV sexual risk behavior in this population.