Sexual Partner Selection and HIV Risk Reduction Among Black and White Men Who Have Sex With Men

The researchers examined differences in sexual partner selection between black and white men who have sex with men (MSM) toward the goal of better understanding how HIV status of sex partners and related psychosocial measures influence risk-taking in this population.

At a gay pride festival in Atlanta, the researchers collected cross-sectional surveys from self-reported HIV-negative black and white MSM.

The results indicated that HIV-negative white MSM were more likely than HIV-negative black MSM to report having unprotected anal intercourse with HIV-negative men. HIV-negative black MSM were more likely than HIV-negative white MSM to report unprotected anal intercourse with partners of unknown serostatus. Compared to black MSM, white MSM were more likely to endorse serosorting -- limiting unprotected partners to those of the same HIV status -- beliefs, and favorable HIV disclosure beliefs.

"White MSM appear to use sexual partner-related risk reduction strategies to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection more than do black MSM," the authors concluded. "Partner selection strategies have serious limitations; however, they may explain in part the disproportionate number of HIV infections among black MSM."

Back to other news for April 2010