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6A5 Depressive Symptoms and STI Seroprevalence Among Black MSM in the Mari Study

Friday, September 23, 2016: 10:30 AM
Salon D
Milton Dawkins Jr., MS, Center for Research, Evaluation and Environmental Policy Change, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS, Jacqueline Reese-Smith, PhD, Department of Psycholgoy, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, Darwin Thompson, BS, NAESM, NAESM, Atlanta, GA, Gerald Gibson, MA, Center for community based programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS, June Gipson, PhD, Center for Community-Based Programs, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS and DeMarc Hickson, PhD, My Brother's Keeper, Inc., My Brother's Keeper, Inc., Jackson, MS

     

Background: Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) report more depressive symptoms, and may experience more mental health disorders, than their heterosexual male counterparts and white MSM. Research also links depressive symptoms to sexual behaviors and HIV/STI seroprevalence among MSM, but the empirical evidence among BMSM is scant. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depressive symptoms and STI seroprevalence among a geographically-diverse cohort of BMSM in the Deep South.

Methods: Between 2013-2014, 465 adult BMSM who reported anal and/or oral sex with another man in the six months prior to study enrollment and residing in the Jackson, MS or Atlanta, GA metropolitan areas, underwent venipuncture, provided pharyngeal and rectal swabs and urine specimens for STI testing, and completed an electronic survey. The CES-D assessed depressive symptoms, and higher scores indicated higher depressive symptoms. Logistic regression models assessed associations between depressive symptoms and STI prevalence (Syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia) after covarying for age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic characteristics.

Results: Analyses included 362 participants with complete data (mean age: 30.4 years). Over one-half (55.5%) of participants self-identified as gay/homosexual and 38.7 % were previously-diagnosed HIV-infected. Two-thirds of participants (63.9%) reported depressive symptoms that exceeded clinical cut-offs (CES-D ≥ 16). Higher depressive symptom scores were associated with higher odds of prevalent rectal Chlamydia (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.13) after adjustment for socio-demographics. No consistent associations were observed between depressive symptoms and rectal gonorrhea as well as Syphilis and urethral and pharyngeal gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively investigate depressive symptoms with multiple STIs in a large community-based sample of BMSM in the Deep South. Findings from the current study suggest the need for culturally competent interventions that address the mental health needs of BMSM.

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