Sexual Health Communication of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men Who Met On or Offline: A Secondary Data Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob D Gordon ◽  
Andre L Brown ◽  
Darren L Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Sexual Health Communication ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Traditional Masculinity

BACKGROUND Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) continue to experience disproportionate rates of HIV/STI infection despite advances in effective prevention tools. Over the last decade the method of finding sexual partners has evolved, with BMSM increasingly using geospatial dating applications to find sexual partners. Sexual health communication between partners has been associated with safer sex practices by previous scholars, but it is unclear how sexual health communication of BMSM differs for sex partners found on or offline. OBJECTIVE The current study explored sexual health communication in relationship to how one found their last sexual partner and factors associated with poorer sexual health communication. METHODS This study used secondary data in the form of a self-administered national survey. BMSM were recruited online and in-person and answered questions about their sexual health behaviors regarding their last sexual partner. RESULTS In total, 403 individuals were included in the analysis. The majority of respondents 55.8% (225/403) were more likely to have found their last sexual partner through geospatial dating applications and online websites than offline venues 44.3% (178/225). There was not a significant difference in scores of sexual health communication between those who found their last sexual partner on or offline (P=.49). Additionally, sexual health communication was also not significantly associated (P = .25) based on the venue of their last sexual partner after controlling for covariates. Significant predictors of lower sexual health communication of BMSM were found: positive HIV status (P = .003), a casual partner type (P < .001), and endorsement of traditional masculinity ideologies (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study confirm high rates of sexual partner seeking via online venues among BMSM. The significant predictors of lower sexual health communication, endorsement of traditional masculinity ideologies and positive HIV status, suggest that stigma is a barrier to effective sexual health communication of BMSM.

scholarly journals Characterizing Sexual Agreements With One's Most Recent Sexual Partner Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Feinstein ◽  
Trey V. Dellucci ◽  
Patrick S. Sullivan ◽  
Brian Mustanski
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Sexual Agreements ◽  
Young Msm ◽  
Sexual Health Communication ◽  
Sex With Men

Men who have sex with men (MSM) often create sexual agreements with their partners, but little is known about agreements with serious versus causal partners. We used data from 472 young MSM to examine agreements with one's most recent partner, individual differences across types of partnerships and agreements, and predictors of condomless anal sex (CAS). Two-thirds of participants did not have agreements. Monogamous agreements were most common among those who were seriously dating their partner, but also present among those who were casually dating their partner and those who were not dating their partner. Participants who were seriously dating their partner reported the most frequent sexual health communication. Participants without agreements reported the lowest frequency of and comfort with sexual health communication. Participants who were seriously dating their partner and those with monogamous agreements were most likely to report CAS. HIV prevention should address communication with serious and casual partners.

scholarly journals Characterizing Geosocial-Networking App Use Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Multi-City Cross-Sectional Survey in the Southern United States (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin T Duncan ◽  
Su Hyun Park ◽  
H. Rhodes Hambrick ◽  
Derek T Dangerfield II ◽  
William C Goedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Southern United States ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Activity Spaces ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Geosocial Networking ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Geosocial Networking Apps

BACKGROUND Understanding where and how young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the southern United States meet their sexual partners is germane to understanding the underlying factors contributing to the ongoing HIV transmission in this community. Men who have sex with men (MSM) commonly use geosocial networking apps to meet sexual partners. However, there is a lack of literature exploring geosocial networking app use in this particular population. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to examine the characteristics, preferences, and behaviors of a geographically diverse sample of geosocial networking app-using YBMSM in the southern United States. METHODS Data were collected from a sample of 75 YBMSM across three cities (Gulfport, Mississippi; Jackson, Mississippi; and New Orleans, Louisiana). Multiple aspects of geosocial networking app use were assessed, including overall app use, age of participant at first app use, specific apps used, reasons for app use, photos presented on apps, logon times and duration, number of messages sent and received, and characteristics of and behaviors with partners met on apps. Survey measures of app-met partner and sexual behavior characteristics assessed at midpoint (Day 7) and completion visits (Day 14) were compared using McNemar’s test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In addition, we assessed activity spaces derived from GPS devices that participants wore for 2 weeks. RESULTS Of the 70 participants who responded to the overall app-use item, almost three-quarters (53/70, 76%) had ever used geosocial networking apps. Jack’d was the most commonly used geosocial networking app (37/53, 70%), followed by Adam4Adam (22/53, 42%), and Grindr (19/53, 36%). The mean and median number of apps used were 4.3 (SD 2.7) and 4.0 (range 0-13), respectively. Most app-using participants displayed their face on the profile picture (35/52, 67%), whereas fewer displayed their bare legs (2/52, 4%) or bare buttocks (or ass; 2/52, 4%). The mean age at the initiation of app use was 20.1 years (SD 2.78) ranging from 13-26 years. Two-thirds (35/53, 66%) of the sample reported using the apps to “kill time” when bored. A minority (9/53, 17%) reported using the apps to meet people to have sex/hook up with. The vast majority of participants reported meeting black partners for sex. Over two-thirds (36/53, 68%) reported that the HIV status of their app-met partners was negative, and 26% (14/53) reported that they did not know their partner’s HIV status. There was a significant difference in GPS activity spaces between app using YBMSM compared to nonapp using YBMSM (2719.54 km2 vs 1855.68 km2, P=.011). CONCLUSIONS Use of geosocial networking apps to meet sexual partners among our sample of YBMSM in the southern United States was common, with a diverse range of app use behaviors being reported. Further research should characterize the association between geosocial networking app use and engagement in sexual behaviors that increase risk for HIV acquisition and transmission. In addition, geosocial networking apps present a promising platform for HIV prevention interventions targeting YBMSM who use these apps.

scholarly journals Effects of a randomized controlled trial of a brief, student-nurse led, parent-based sexual health intervention on parental protective factors and HPV vaccination uptake

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Santa Maria ◽  
C. Markham ◽  
S. M. Misra ◽  
D. C. Coleman ◽  
M. Lyons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Adolescent Sexual Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sexual Health Communication ◽  
Parent Child

Abstract Background Parents play a pivotal role in adolescent sexual health and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Nurses are on the frontlines of healthcare and play a critical role in promoting HPV vaccination and parent-child sexual health communication. We enhanced the Families Talking Together (FTT) parent-based sexual health curriculum to include adolescent vaccinations herein, FTT + HPV, and trained student nurses to provide a strong HPV vaccination and parent-child sexual health communication endorsement. Methods Using a randomized attention-controlled trial design, we examined the efficacy of FTT + HPV among 519 parents and their 11–14 year old youth recruited from medically underserved communities between 2015 and 2018. Participants were recruited from 22 after-school programs (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs) and 19 charter schools. For parents, we examined protective factors including parent-child sexual health communication and parental involvement. For youth, we examined sexual health knowledge, parent-child sexual health communication, and parent-child connectedness. To assess HPV vaccination initiation and completion, we searched IMMTRAC immunization registry records for 85% of youth and used parental report for youth without registry records. Group differences were calculated using the estimated mean difference at one- and six months post-intervention with significance set at the p < 0.05 level. Results Baseline rates of HPV vaccination were low at 55.7%. No significant difference between the groups was seen in vaccination initiation or completion rates by one-month post-intervention. However, by six-months post intervention, there was a significant difference between the groups with 70.3% of the intervention group initiating the HPV vaccination series vs. 60.6% for the control group (p = 0.02). No difference between the groups was found for HPV series completion at six-months. There were significant differences in condom knowledge (p = 0.04), parent-child connectedness (p = 0.04), and communication frequency (p = 0.001) with greater improvement in the intervention vs. the control group. Rates of sexual activity remained low in both groups throughout the six-month follow-up period. Conclusion A brief parent-based adolescent sexual health and HPV vaccination intervention delivered by student nurses can improve sexual health outcomes including protective parental factors, adolescent sexual health knowledge, and HPV vaccination initiation rates. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02600884. Prospectively registered September 1, 2015.

scholarly journals Structural Bridging Network Position is Associated with HIV Status in a Younger Black Men Who Have Sex with Men Epidemic

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirav S. Shah ◽  
James Iveniuk ◽  
Stephen Q. Muth ◽  
Stuart Michaels ◽  
Jo-Anne Jose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Men ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Network Position ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals What single midlife women think about and do to protect their sexual health

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kimberly C. Hart
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Sexual Partner ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Midlife Women ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Convenience Sample

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a significant public health problem among U.S. women. Single midlife women aged 40-59 are at particular risk for STI. Little is known about the factors that contribute to low sexual health protection and condom non-use in this population. The majority of research on STI prevention has focused on populations of younger women. This cross sectional study, guided by the theory of planned behavior examined relationships between STI perceived risk, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, condom use intention and sexual health behaviors. Data were collected with a convenience sample of single midlife women at risk for STI who participated via a web-based survey. Of the 611 women who entered the survey website, eligible participants (n=285) were predominantly 40-49 years of age (65.6%), Caucasian (94.7%), college graduates, (62.1%) and employed (85.3%). Approximately one-third (31.6%, n=90) indicated a previous STI diagnosis. Half (49.5%) of the women reported they had used a condom use with the last new sexual partner. For the entire sample, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control each significantly correlated with intention to use condoms with a new sexual partner. Logistic regression analysis showed that using a condom with a new sexual partner significantly increased as attitude (p=.002) and intention (p=.001) increased. Higher level of education correlated with decreased subject norms and intention towards condom use. There was a significant decrease in condom use of women with a college degree. A positive correlation was found between STI and number of new sexual partners. However, having more new sexual partners was significantly correlated with decreased condom use. Findings indicated this sample of single midlife women had positive attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention toward condom use. Yet, a condom was used only half of the time with new sexual partners. Findings from this study can inform interventions and programs that aim to enhance sexual health outcomes and reduce STI acquisition among midlife women.

Associations between economic dependence, sexual behaviours, and sexually transmitted infections among young, Black, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men living with and without HIV in Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalysha Closson ◽  
Rachel Vickers Smith ◽  
Gbolahan Olarewaju ◽  
Richard Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Relationship Power ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Economic Dependence ◽  
Sti Prevention ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Sex With Men

Background In the USA, young Black gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (YBMSM) bear the largest burden of HIV incidence. The aim of this study is to examine the independent associations between economic dependency on a sexual partner and several HIV risk behaviours and sexual health outcomes among YBMSM living in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Methods: Baseline data from 589 YBMSM, with a median age of 22.0 years (IQR = 15–25) participating in a brief sex-positive HIV and STI prevention intervention, were used to measure the association between six sexual behaviours, sexually transmissible infections (STIs) status at baseline and economic dependence. Bivariate χ2 associations were tested and regression models adjusted for education level (≤ high school), employment and HIV-status. Results: In regressions, of the six sexual behaviours reported in the last 90 days and six STIs tested at baseline, economically dependent YBMSM were more likely to report condomless anal receptive sex (aOR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.25–3.83), ≥3 partners as a top (aOR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.17–340), ≥3 sex partners as a bottom (aOR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.24–3.45), ≥3 sex acts as a bottom (aOR = 2.10, 95%CI = 1.16–3.82) and testing positive for oral gonorrhoea (aOR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.18–4.83) after controlling for HIV status, employment and education. Conclusions: Interventions should consider how poverty, unemployment and economic dependence interact to influence relationship power imbalances, condom use and sexual positioning agency, and sexual health for key populations of MSM.

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