High Prevalence of Sexual Concurrency and Concurrent Unprotected Anal Intercourse Across Racial/Ethnic Groups Among a National, Web-Based Study of Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Eli S Rosenberg, Emory University; Christine M. Khosropour, University of Washington; Patrick S Sullivan, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-10
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 by the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2012&issue=10000&article=00001&type=abstract
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• ISSN: 0148-5717
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 10
• Start Page: 741
• End Page: 746
• Grant/Funding Information: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities RC1MD004370, National Institute of Mental Health R01MH085600, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development R01HD067111, and P30AI050409 – the Emory Center for AIDS Research.
• Keywords: UAI; MSM; sexual networks; racial disparities; Concurrency
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the largest HIV risk-group in the United States. Sexual concurrency may contribute to high HIV incidence, or to racial/ethnic HIV disparities among MSM. Limited information is available on concurrency and racial/ethnic differences among MSM, or on the extent to which MSM engage in concurrent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Methods Data are from baseline responses in a prospective online study of MSM aged ≥ 18 years, having ≥ 1 male sex partner in the past 12 months, and recruited from social networking websites. Pair-wise sexual concurrency and UAI in the previous 6 months among up to 5 recent partners was measured, using an interactive questionnaire. Period prevalences of concurrency and concurrent UAI were computed and compared across racial/ethnic groups at the individual and triad (a respondent and 2 sex partners) levels. Results 2,940 MSM reported on 8,911 partnerships; 45% indicated concurrent partnerships and 16% indicated concurrent UAI in the previous 6 months. Respondents were more likely to have UAI with two partners when they were concurrent, compared to serially monogamous (OR [95% CI] = 1.93 [1.75, 2.14]). No significant differences in levels of individual concurrency or concurrency among triads were found between non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic men. Conclusions Concurrency and concurrent UAI in the previous 6 months was common. Although there were no differences by race/ethnicity, the high levels of concurrency and concurrent UAI may be catalyzing the transmission of HIV among MSM in general.