Estimating the Roles of Racism and Homophobia in HIV Testing Among Black Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women With a History of Incarceration in the HPTN 061 Cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-157
Author(s):  
Rodman Turpin ◽  
Maria Khan ◽  
Joy Scheidell ◽  
Jonathan Feelemyer ◽  
Christopher Hucks-Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
History Of ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Prevalence Ratios

Black sexual minority men (BSMM) and Black transgender women (BTW) have disproportionately high HIV prevalence, making HIV testing critical for treatment and prevention. Racism and homophobia may be barriers to testing among BSMM/BTW, particularly in the context of previous incarceration. We analyzed a subsample (n = 655) of HIV-negative, previously incarcerated BSMM/BTW in the HIV Prevention Trials Network 061 study, generating prevalence ratios and interaction terms testing associations between experienced racism and homophobia with past-year HIV testing. Both racism (aPR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.70, 0.98]) and homophobia (aPR: 0.68, 95% CI [0.48, 0.98]) were associated with lower testing, although their interaction was associated with unexpectedly higher testing (Interaction aPR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.25, 2.49]). Among BSMM/BTW with a history of incarceration, racism and homophobia are barriers to HIV testing. Positive interactions between racism and homophobia could be explained by numerous factors (e.g., resilience, coping) and warrants further study.

scholarly journals Venturing beyond the “Behavioural MSM”: Sex, Chems, & Satisfaction in their Syndemic Contexts

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Steady Partner ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND: The health and well-being of those sexual-minority men who are often behaviourally defined as men who have sex with men (MSM) is affected by a system of interlinked factors that interact on the structural, interpersonal, and individual levels. Recently, two of the most common MSM health issues have been (a) the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mostly HIV, and (b) the sexualized use of addictive substances, known as chemsex. AIMS: On the basis of the first comprehensive Czech dataset to integrate several mutually interlinked factors on the behavioural, as well as the psychological and structural domains, we attempt to shed light on the barriers to HIV testing and adherence to safer sex practices, including the most thorough description of the chemsex phenomenon that is available. We aim to go beyond the behavioural perspective and draw links to the well-being and satisfaction of this sexual minority and their sex lives. METHODS: A series of descriptive statistical analyses was conducted on a sample of 547 respondents obtained within a self-administered online survey. RESULTS: More than half of our respondents (55%) and three-quarters (72%) of the men younger than 25 years have never been tested for HIV. One-third of the respondents considered testing services to be insufficiently friendly to gay, bisexual, or other men, and they also reported stigmatization and discrimination by healthcare workers as a problem that exists. 84% of the MSM have experience with anal sex; 43% of them always use condoms. Of all the respondents, nearly 6% have had at least one chemsex experience during their life. Only 46% of the MSM reported being satisfied with their sex lives; 52% of those who were dissatisfied attributed this to “not having a steady partner” and 49% to “not having any sex”. CONCLUSION: The sexual behaviour of MSM and their experience with HIV testing, chemsex, perceived stigma, and satisfaction with their sex lives are among the phenomena that deserve to be more regularly covered by relevant epidemiological examinations. Although our current analysis was more exploratory than in-depth, it may contribute to a better understanding of the syndemic and multifactorial conditions that influence the sexual behaviour of MSM, including the minority stress that may be rooted in deficiencies in our understanding of these populations.

scholarly journals Rapid mixed-methods assessment of COVID-19 impact on Latinx sexual minority men and Latinx transgender women

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244421
Author(s):  
Sarah MacCarthy ◽  
Max Izenberg ◽  
Joanna L. Barreras ◽  
Ron A. Brooks ◽  
Ana Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Hiv Knowledge ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
The Impact

We conducted a rapid, mixed-methods assessment to understand how COVID-19 affected Latinx sexual minority men (LSMM) and transgender women (LTGW). Using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing software, one interviewer called 52 participants (randomly sampled from a larger HIV prevention pilot study aiming to increase HIV knowledge and testing frequency; n = 36 LSMM and n = 16 LTGW) between 04/27/20-05/18/20. We quantified core domains using the Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory scale and provided important context through open-ended qualitative questions assessing: 1) COVID-19 infection history and experiences with quarantine; 2) Health and healthcare access; 3) Employment and economic impact of COVID-19. Participants reported increases in physical conflict or verbal arguments with a partner (13.5%) or other adult(s) (19.2%) due to stressors associated with the safer-at-home order. Participants also reported increased alcohol consumption (23.1%), problems with sleep (67.3%) and mental health (78.4%). Further, disruptions in access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP–a daily pill to prevent HIV–occurred (33.3% of 18 participants who reported being on PrEP). Many said they received less medical attention than usual (34.6%), and LTGW reported delays in critical gender-affirming hormones/procedures. Half of the participants lost their jobs (50.0%); many undocumented participants relayed additional financial concerns because they did not qualify for financial assistance. Though no COVID-19 infections were noted, COVID-19 dramatically impacted other aspects of health and overall wellbeing of LSMM and LTGW. Public health responses should address the stressors faced by LSMM and LTGW during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on wellbeing.

scholarly journals Online sex partner seeking and HIV testing frequency among young black sexual minority men

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-54
Author(s):  
A. Lina Rosengren ◽  
Thibaut Davy-Mendez ◽  
Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Testing Frequency ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Sex Partner

Immune compromization and disparities in cancer type among sexual minority men.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16564-e16564
Author(s):  
Charles Kamen ◽  
Arianna Aldridge Gerry ◽  
Michael A. Andrykowski ◽  
Oxana Palesh
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Lifetime History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
History Of Cancer

e16564 Background: Self-identified gay men are at higher risk for contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections than their heterosexual counterparts. Gay men are also at higher risk for reporting a lifetime history of cancer diagnoses. While certain types of cancers, specifically Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are more common among gay and sexual minority men, it is yet unclear to what extent this disparity is due to immune compromization or comorbid infection with HIV. Methods: The current study utilized data from 173 gay and 5544 heterosexual men collected as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey conducted in 2009 in California. Items assessed lifetime history of cancer diagnosis, type of cancer, sexual minority status, and presence of a weakened immune system resulting from diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Chi-square tests were used to examine differences in rates and types of cancer diagnoses by sexual minority status. Logistic regression was then used to examine risk for reporting a lifetime history of cancer based on sexual minority status and accounting for a weakened immune system. Results: In this sample, rates of cancer diagnoses differed significantly between gay and heterosexual men, with gay men more likely to report diagnoses of cancer (χ2 = 4.53, p < 0.05, OR = 1.53). In addition, types of cancer diagnoses reported differed significantly between gay and heterosexual men, with gay men more likely to report diagnoses of oral cancer (1.2% vs. 0.1%; χ2 = 23.31, p < 0.001); testicular cancer (1.2% vs. 0.1%; χ2 = 9.84, p < 0.01); and “other” cancers (1.7% vs. 0.3%; χ2 = 9.11, p < 0.01). Notably, this disparity in cancer diagnoses persisted even when controlling for a weakened immune system (χ2 = 3.95, p < 0.05; OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.03 to 3.15). Conclusions: Immune system compromization accounts for some of the disparity noted between gay and heterosexual men in rates of cancer diagnoses; however, other risk factors may be implicated. Cancer screening rates for gay men should be increased, and screening physicians should specifically assess for risk factors in gay men.

scholarly journals Characterisation of social support following incarceration among black sexual minority men and transgender women in the HPTN 061 cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053334
Author(s):  
Joy D Scheidell ◽  
Typhanye V Dyer ◽  
Christopher Hucks-Ortiz ◽  
Jasmyn Abrams ◽  
Medha Mazumdar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tangible Support ◽  
Minority Men

ObjectiveTo examine longitudinal associations between recent incarceration and subsequent social support among black sexual minority men and transgender women, and whether associations differed between those who did and did not have support prior to incarceration.DesignA secondary analysis in 2020 of data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network 061, a cohort study of black sexual minority men and transgender women recruited in 2009–2010 and followed for 12 months.SettingSix US cities (Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC).ParticipantsIndividuals ≥18 years of age who identified as black, reported being male or assigned male at birth, reported ≥1 unprotected anal intercourse event with a male partner in the past 6 months, and reported on incarceration at the 6-month follow-up visit.ExposureHaving spent ≥1 night in jail/prison in the past 6 months reported at the 6-month follow-up visit.OutcomeSocial support measured using a six-item scale assessing frequency of emotional/informational, affectionate and tangible support (range 6–30); and dichotomous indicators of low support for each item (ie, receiving that form of support none/little of the time).ResultsAmong participants who returned for the 6-month visit (N=1169), 14% had experienced incarceration in the past 6 months. Mean support score was 20.9; 18.9 among those with recent incarceration versus 21.2 among those without. Recent incarceration predicted lower support (adjusted β −2.40, 95% CI −3.94 to –0.85). Those recently incarcerated had increased risk of lacking emotional/informational (eg, no one to talk to adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.13) and affectionate (aRR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.04) but not tangible support. Effects appeared somewhat stronger among those who had support at baseline.ConclusionsIncarceration may reduce support on re-entry among black sexual minority men and transgender women, populations unequally targeted for incarceration and at risk for low support.

Using behavioral economics to increase HIV knowledge and testing among Latinx sexual minority men and transgender women

2020 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Maccarthy ◽  
Zachary Wagner ◽  
Joanna Barreras ◽  
Alice Kim ◽  
Alexandra Menodza-Graf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Economics ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Hiv Knowledge ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men
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