HIV Infection, Sexual Risk Behavior, and Substance Use Among Latino Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Persons

The researchers undertook the current study to examine HIV prevalence and the socioeconomic correlates of HIV infection, sexual risk behaviors and substance use among Latino men who have sex with men and among Latino transgender persons in Chicago and San Francisco. Respondent-driven sampling and computer-assisted self-administered interviews were used to collect data from 643 people: 320 in Chicago, and 323 in San Francisco.

The results showed HIV prevalence to be higher in San Francisco (0.325; 95 percent confidence interval=0.260, 0.393) than in Chicago (0.112; 95 percent CI=0.079, 0.163). In San Francisco, HIV prevalence was higher among respondents born in the United States than among those born elsewhere; the opposite was true in Chicago. Heavy use of alcohol was noted, particularly in Chicago (0.368; 95 percent CI=0.309, 0.432; San Francisco: 0.154; 95 percent CI=0.116, 0.192). Drug use and more education were positively correlated; greater age was negatively correlated with unprotected anal intercourse.

"Heavy alcohol drinking and use of drugs remain a significant public health problem in this population," the authors concluded. "Drug use was more closely linked to HIV sexual risk behaviors than was heavy drinking."

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