Stephen A. Flores

Explaining disparities in HIV infection among black and white men who have sex with men : a meta-analysis of HIV risk behaviors

Objective:To identify factors that contribute to the racial disparity in HIV prevalence between black and white men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Methods:A comprehensive literature search of electronic databases, online bibliographies, and publication reference lists yielded 53 quantitative studies of MSM published between 1980 and 2006 that stratified HIV risk behaviors by race. Meta-analyses were performed to compare HIV risks between black and white MSM across studies. Results:Compared with white MSM, black MSM reported less overall substance use [odds ratio (OR), 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53–0.97], fewer sex partners (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45–0.92), less gay identity (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17–0.48), and less disclosure of same sex behavior (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30–0.60). HIV-positive black MSM were less likely than HIV-positive white MSM to report taking antiretroviral medications (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30–0.61). Sexually transmitted diseases were significantly greater among black MSM than white MSM (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07–2.53). There were no statistically significant differences by race in reported unprotected anal intercourse, commercial sex work, sex with a known HIV-positive partner, or HIV testing history. Conclusions:Behavioral risk factors for HIV infection do not explain elevated HIV rates among black MSM. Continued emphasis on risk behaviors will have only limited impact on the disproportionate rates of HIV infection among black MSM. Future research should focus on the contribution of other factors, such as social networks, to explain racial disparities in HIV infection rates.

Comparisons of disparities and risks of HIV infection in black and other men who have sex with men in Canada, UK, and USA: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND We did a meta-analysis to assess factors associated with disparities in HIV infection in black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Canada, the UK, and the USA. METHODS We searched Embase, Medline, Google Scholar, and online conference proceedings from Jan 1, 1981, to Dec 31, 2011, for racial comparative studies with quantitative outcomes associated with HIV risk or HIV infection. Key words and Medical Subject Headings (US National Library of Medicine) relevant to race were cross-referenced with citations pertinent to homosexuality in Canada, the UK, and the USA. Data were aggregated across studies for every outcome of interest to estimate overall effect sizes, which were converted into summary ORs for 106,148 black MSM relative to 581,577 other MSM. FINDINGS We analysed seven studies from Canada, 13 from the UK, and 174 from the USA. In every country, black MSM were as likely to engage similarly in serodiscordant unprotected sex as other MSM. Black MSM in Canada and the USA were less likely than other MSM to have a history of substance use (odds ratio, OR, 0·53, 95% CI 0·38-0·75, for Canada and 0·67, 0·50-0·92, for the USA). Black MSM in the UK (1·86, 1·58-2·18) and the USA (3·00, 2·06-4·40) were more likely to be HIV positive than were other MSM, but HIV-positive black MSM in each country were less likely (22% in the UK and 60% in the USA) to initiate combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) than other HIV-positive MSM. US HIV-positive black MSM were also less likely to have health insurance, have a high CD4 count, adhere to cART, or be virally suppressed than were other US HIV-positive MSM. Notably, despite a two-fold greater odds of having any structural barrier that increases HIV risk (eg, unemployment, low income, previous incarceration, or less education) compared with other US MSM, US black MSM were more likely to report any preventive behaviour against HIV infection (1·39, 1·23-1·57). For outcomes associated with HIV infection, disparities were greatest for US black MSM versus other MSM for structural barriers, sex partner demographics (eg, age, race), and HIV care outcomes, whereas disparities were least for sexual risk outcomes. INTERPRETATION Similar racial disparities in HIV and sexually transmitted infections and cART initiation are seen in MSM in the UK and the USA. Elimination of disparities in HIV infection in black MSM cannot be accomplished without addressing structural barriers or differences in HIV clinical care access and outcomes. FUNDING None.

A meta-analysis of the effect of HIV prevention interventions on the sex behaviors of drug users in the United States

Summary: We examined the effectiveness of 33 U.S.‐based HIV intervention studies in reducing the sexual risk behaviors of drug users by reducing unprotected sex or increasing the use of male condoms. The studies, identified as of June 1998, through the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis project, were published in 1988 or later, measured behavioral or biologic outcomes, used experimental designs or certain quasiexperimental designs, and reported sufficient data for calculating an effect size for sexual risk reduction. Of the 33 studies, 94% recruited injection drug users; 21% recruited crack users. The mean age of participants was 36 years. Almost all studies were randomized (94%), provided another HIV intervention to the comparison groups (91%), and evaluated behavioral interventions (91%). On average, interventions were conducted in 5 sessions (total, 10 hours) during 4.5 months. Interventions compared with no interventions were strong and significant (k = 3; odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43‐0.85). Interventions compared with other HIV interventions showed a modest additional benefit (k = 30; OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.81‐1.03). When we extrapolated our result (an OR of 0.60) to a population with a 72% prevalence of risk behavior, the proportion of drug users who reduced their risk behaviors was 12.6% greater in the intervention groups than in the comparison groups. Our meta‐analysis shows that interventions can lead to sexual risk reduction among drug users and justifies providing interventions to drug users. Developing interventions with stronger effects to further reduce sexual risk behaviors among drug users must remain a high priority.

Circumcision status and risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that male circumcision reduces mens risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during heterosexual intercourse. Less is known about whether male circumcision provides protection against HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVES To quantitatively summarize the strength of the association between male circumcision and HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across observational studies of MSM. DATA SOURCES Comprehensive search of databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, Sociofile, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and correspondence with researchers, to find published articles, conference proceedings, and unpublished reports through February 2008. STUDY SELECTION Of 18 studies that quantitatively examined the association between male circumcision and HIV/STI among MSM, 15 (83%) met the selection criteria for the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION Independent abstraction was conducted by pairs of reviewers using a standardized abstraction form. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 53,567 MSM participants (52% circumcised) were included in the meta-analysis. The odds of being HIV-positive were not significantly lower among MSM who were circumcised than uncircumcised (odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.11; number of independent effect sizes [k]=15) [corrected].). Higher study quality was associated with a reduced odds of HIV infection among circumcised MSM (beta, -0.415; P = .01). Among MSM who primarily engaged in insertive anal sex, the association between male circumcision and HIV was protective but not statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-2.28; k=4) [corrected].Male circumcision had a protective association with HIV in studies of MSM conducted before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.69; k = 3).Neither the association between male circumcision and other STIs (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.15; k=8) nor its relationship with study quality was statistically significant (beta, 0.265; P=.47) [corrected]. CONCLUSIONS Pooled analyses of available observational studies of MSM revealed insufficient evidence that male circumcision protects against HIV infection or other STIs. However, the comparable protective effect of male circumcision in MSM studies conducted before the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, as in the recent male circumcision trials of heterosexual African men, supports further investigation of male circumcision for HIV prevention among MSM.

Review and meta-analysis of HIV prevention intervention research for heterosexual adult populations in the United States

Summary: A meta‐analysis was performed to examine the effects of 14 behavioral and social interventions for heterosexual adults on their adoption of safer sex behaviors or incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The intervention studies were identified through a systematic search and review strategy. Data were extracted and combined by using well‐defined methods and appropriate statistical techniques. For inclusion in this article, studies had to be based in the United States, written in English, first reported between 1988 and 1996, and aimed at reducing sex‐related HIV risks. In addition to measuring behavioral or STD incidence outcomes, studies also had used experimental or quasi‐experimental designs with control or comparison groups and reported sufficient outcome data to allow calculation of odds ratios. The meta‐analytic results show statistically significant effects in reducing sex‐related risks (10 studies; odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69‐0.95), particularly non‐use of condoms (8; OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53‐0.90). The interventions also had significant effects in reducing STD infections (6 studies; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62‐0.89). These analyses indicate that science‐based prevention interventions have positive effects among populations at risk through heterosexual transmission and that these positive effects are found with biologic and self‐reported behavioral measures.

Common roots: a contextual review of HIV epidemics in black men who have sex with men across the African diaspora

Pooled estimates from across the African diaspora show that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are 15 times more likely to be HIV positive compared with general populations and 8·5 times more likely compared with black populations. Disparities in the prevalence of HIV infection are greater in African and Caribbean countries that criminalise homosexual activity than in those that do not criminalise such behaviour. With the exception of US and African epidemiological studies, most studies of black MSM mainly focus on outcomes associated with HIV behavioural risk rather than on prevalence, incidence, or undiagnosed infection. Nevertheless, black MSM across the African diaspora share common experiences such as discrimination, cultural norms valuing masculinity, concerns about confidentiality during HIV testing or treatment, low access to HIV drugs, threats of violence or incarceration, and few targeted HIV prevention resources.

A profile of U.S.-based trials of behavioral and social interventions for HIV risk reduction.

Summary: We describe 99 (experimental and certain quasi‐experimental) U.S.‐based trials, reported or published since 1988, of behavioral and social interventions that measured prespecified behavioral and biologic outcomes and aimed to reduce risk for HIV infection. Studies identified through June 1998 by the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis project were grouped into 4 risk behavior areas: drug‐related (k [number of studies] = 48), heterosexual youth (k = 24), heterosexual adult (k = 17), and same‐sex (k = 10). We compared the studies in the 4 areas by variables key to the development, evaluation, and transfer of interventions. Participants comprised injection drug users (43% of studies), drug users out of treatment (29%), African Americans (18%), clinic patients (18%), youth in schools (10%), and drug users in treatment (10%). Most studies were randomized (85%), provided another intervention to the control or comparison groups (71%), and evaluated behavioral interventions (92%). On average, interventions were conducted in 5 sessions (total, 8 hours) during 3 months. The theoretical basis of the intervention was not noted in 57% of the reports. At least one variable from each of the 3 outcome classifications was measured in 8% of the studies: behavioral, biologic, and psychosocial. Distinct profiles exist for the 4 risk areas. Addressing gaps in research and reporting would be helpful for analytical and program activities. This sizable portfolio of evaluated interventions contributes to effectiveness reviews and to considerations of transfer to program practice.

Gay identity-related factors and sexual risk among men who have sex with men in San Francisco.

This study explored the relationship between gay identity-related factors (gay community involvement, gay bar attendance, gay identity importance, and self-homophobia) and unprotected anal sex (UA) in the past 3 months among men who have sex with men (MSM) of three different race/ethnicity groups. Four hundred eighty-three MSM (mean age 34) were recruited in the San Francisco Bay Area (33% African American, 34% Latino and 33% White). Compared with White MSM, African American and Latino MSM were less likely to identify as gay, and to attend gay bars/clubs, and more likely to report self-homophobia. Just over one third of the sample reported UA (did not vary by race). Gay community involvement was associated with receptive UA with all partners (adjusted odds ratio [AOR = 1.30, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.06-1.60). Gay bar attendance was associated with insertive UA with all partners (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01-1.43) and with HIV-discordant partners (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.08-1.69). Implications for prevention include addressing community norms and encouraging alternatives to bars as settings in which to meet and socialize with other MSM.

Alcohol and drug use in the context of anal sex and other factors associated with sexually transmitted infections: results from a multi-city study of high-risk men who have sex with men in the USA

Men who have sex with men (MSM) who use alcohol and drugs are at especially high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); more information is needed about associated factors to improve risk reduction. We assessed reported STIs and demographic and event-level alcohol and drug use characteristics associated with STIs in a diverse, multi-city study in the USA of MSM who use substances. Improved risk reduction efforts are needed for this group as well as some initiatives tailored to men who are HIV positive, younger and use drugs (not alcohol) in the context of anal sex.

HIV risk among bisexually and homosexually active racially diverse young men.

Objectives: We addressed gaps in current HIV prevention research by examining the differences between 2 groups of young men: men who have sex with men only (MSM/O) and men who have sex with men and women (MSM/W). We examined patterns and correlates of sexual risk, and considered how race/ethnicity may affect these relationships. Methods: Cross-sectional self-report data were collected from a racially diverse sample of 10,295 young MSM from 1999 to 2002. The sample comprised data from 13 urban locations across the US. Results: MSM/W reported less unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) than MSM/O, despite reporting less exposure to HIV prevention interventions, lower social support, and less awareness of antiretroviral therapies. African American men were more likely to be MSM/W and less likely to report UAI. Ever getting an HIV test was associated with less UAI only among African American participants (MSM/W or MSM/O) in racial/ethnic group-specific analyses. Conclusions: HIV prevention interventions for MSM should address differences between MSM/W and MSM/O. An important component of HIV prevention efforts designed for African American MSM/W and MSM/O should be HIV testing.