Association of discrimination-related trauma with sexual risk among HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men

E.L. Fields, L.M. Bogart, F.H. Galvan, G.J. Wagner, D.J. Klein and M.A. Schuster

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 5, 875-880

Abstract: Objectives: We investigated whether 1 form of traumatic stress, discriminationrelated trauma (e.g., physical assault because of race), was associated with unprotected analintercourse, especially whencompared with non-discriminationrelated trauma, among African American men who have sex with men. Methods: A convenience sample of 131 HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men receiving antiretroviral treatment completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews that covered unprotected anal intercourse, interpersonal trauma, and whether trauma was because of discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, HIV serostatus, or sexual orientation. Results: Sixty percent reported at least 1 interpersonal trauma; they attributed at least 1 trauma to being gay (47%), African American (17%), or HIV positive (9%). In a multivariate regression, experiencing discrimination-related trauma was significantly associated with unprotected anal intercourse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.4;95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.0, 5.7; P =.04), whereas experiencing non-discrimination-related trauma was not (AOR = 1.3;95% CI = 0.6, 3.1; P =.53). Conclusions: HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men experience high levels of discrimination-related trauma, a stressor associated with greater risk taking. HIV prevention interventions should consider the potential damaging effects of discrimination in the context of trauma.

Keywords: addiction; adult; African American; aged; article; comorbidity; ethnology; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interview; major depression; male; male homosexuality; middle aged; posttraumatic stress disorder; prisoner; psychological aspect; social psychology; statistics; United States; unsafe sex; violence, Adult; African Americans; Aged; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major; HIV Seropositivity; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Los Angeles; Male; Middle Aged; Prejudice; Prisoners; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Substance-Related Disorders; Unsafe Sex; Violence; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300951_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300951

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