The Sexual Risk Behaviors of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in Jackson Mississippi

Background:  This study examined the sexual risk behaviors of  young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) by HIV serostatus. 

Methods:  Data were collected in an STI clinic of Jackson Mississippi. The men (N=207) were 15-29 years of age, identified as Black and engaged in sexual intercourse with a man in the past three months. Four risk outcomes were selected: 1) frequency of sex with an HIV+ partner, 2) unprotected anal receptive sex (UARS), 3) unprotected anal insertive sex (UAIS), 4) number of new sex partners. Bivariate associations between these outcomes and status of being HIV- (74%) or HIV+ (26%) were conducted. 

Results:  Mean age was 22.4 years (SD=2.96). Among HIV+ men, 50% reported sex with an HIV+ partner in the past 3 months. Among HIV- men, 17% knowingly had sex with an HIV+ partner in the past 3 months. When comparing HIV+ men to HIV- men, there were no significant differences in recent UARS (P=.832) and UAIS (P=.575). The number of new sexual partners among HIV+ YBMSM (M=6.69, SD=11.28) was similar to that of HIV- YBMSM (M=6.05,SD=13.08). 

Conclusions:  This group of YBMSM exhibit significant sexual risk behaviors regardless of their HIV status, underscoring the need for interventions targeted to this populations and their sexual partners.