Sexual Identity, Race and HIV Risk and Prevention Behaviors among MSM

描述(由申请人提供)：男男性行为者(MSM)占男性艾滋病毒感染的大多数，并继续面临更高的艾滋病毒感染风险。尽管关于性别认同和艾滋病毒风险之间的关系的研究很少，但先前的研究表明，性别认同可能在艾滋病毒流行病学中发挥重要作用。本研究将探讨性认同与种族在男男性接触者HIV危险行为中的交集，以及性认同与男男性接触者预防行为的关系。根据艾滋病与健康和行为研究部(DAHBR)列出的高度优先领域，这项研究旨在阐明性别认同这一社会构成因素是否在个人层面上影响MSM的危险行为，以及这种关系是否会因种族而改变。利用美国疾病控制与预防中心S全国艾滋病行为监测系统(MSM)巴尔的摩子研究--行为监测研究(BESURE Study)的横断面数据，本研究旨在1)探查性认同与HIV危险行为之间的关系是否因种族而异，并控制SES和其他相关混杂因素；2)探查性认同与MSM预防服务利用之间的关系。目标1将评估一些艾滋病毒危险行为，包括：a)有临时伴侣，b)与男性发生无保护措施的性行为，c)与男性和女性发生性行为，以及d)有主要女性伴侣和次要男性伴侣。第二个目标将评估性别认同在以下方面的差异：a)进行艾滋病毒检测，b)了解艾滋病毒检测结果，以及c)利用一对一或小组预防服务。645名男男性接触者参与了BESURE研究的第一波。在这些男性中，62%是非裔美国人，37%是非同性恋。在2008年夏秋两季，另有500名男男性接触者将参与BESURE研究的第二波。公共卫生相关性：这项研究将通过扩大我们对艾滋病毒社会流行病学的理解，为公共卫生领域做出贡献。这项研究的结果将有助于艾滋病毒预防项目制定更好地满足不同MSM人群需求的项目，包括那些可能难以接触到的MSM。最后，本研究的发现可能有助于指导未来的研究方向。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for the majority of HIV infections among men and continue to be at increased risk for HIV. Though very little research has been done on the relationship between sexual identity and HIV risk, prior research suggests that sexual identity might play an important role in the epidemiology of HIV. This study will look at the intersection between sexual identity and race in the HIV risk behaviors of MSM and the relationship between sexual identity and prevention behaviors of MSM. In line with the high priority areas outlined by the Division of AIDS and Health and Behavior Research (DAHBR), this study has been designed to elucidate if sexual identity, a socially constructed factor, impacts the risk behaviors of MSM at an individual level and whether or not this relationship is modified by race. Using cross sectional data from the BESURE Study (The Behavioral Surveillance Research Study), the Baltimore sub-study of the CDC1 s NHBS-MSM (National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System- MSM), this study will aim to 1) examine if the relationships between sexual identity and HIV risk behavior differ by race among MSM, controlling for SES and other relevant confounders and 2) to examine the relationship between sexual identity and utilization of prevention services among MSM. Aim 1 will assess a number of HIV risk behaviors including likelihood to: a) have a casual partner, b) have unprotected sex with men c) have sex with men and women and d) have a main female partner and secondary male partner. The second aim will assess the differences by sexual identity in likelihood to: a) have an HIV test, b) know HIV test results, and c) utilize one-to-one or small group preventative services. Six hundred and forty-five MSM participated in the wave 1 of the BESURE Study. Of these men 62% are African American and 37% are non-gay identified. In the summer and fall of 2008, an additional 500 MSM will participate in wave 2 of the BESURE study. Public health relevance: This study will contribute to the field of public health by expanding our understanding of the social epidemiology of HIV. The findings of this study will help HIV prevention programs to develop programs that better meet the needs of a diverse population of MSM, including those MSM who might be hard-to-reach. Lastly, the findings of this research study may help to guide the direction of future research.