Faculty Collaboration Database

Levels and Predictors of Sexual HIV Risk in Social Networks of Men who Have Sex with Men in the Midwest. AIDS Educ Prev 2010 Dec;22(6):483-95

Date

01/06/2011

Pubmed ID

21204625

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4103004

DOI

10.1521/aeap.2010.22.6.483

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79551484172 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   40 Citations

Abstract

Past studies have primarily focused on individual-level factors influencing the HIV risk practices of gay or bisexual men. The role of one's social network has been less explored. This study identified 75 indexes in venues frequented by men who have sex with men and then recruited all willing persons named as members of each index's egocentric social network. Two hundred fifty-five unique network members completed assessments of risk-related characteristics and also sociometric measures that were used to identify the influence leader of each network. White and African American networks were composed primarily of men of the same race. Over 70% of men reported recent casual sexual partners. About one fourth of men engaged in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a casual partner or with multiple partners in the past 3 months. The social network to which a man belonged, weaker risk reduction intentions, and greater substance use independently predicted a range of high-risk sexual behaviors. There were modest but significant correlations between the risk-related characteristics of network members and network leaders. Social network-level approaches are feasible for reaching hidden subgroups of MSM at high risk for contracting HIV.

Author List

Kelly JA, Amirkhanian YA, Seal DW, Galletly CM, Difranceisco W, Glasman LR, Stevenson LY, Rosado N

Authors

Yuri A. Amirkhanian PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Wayne J. DiFranceisco Research Scientist II in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Carol L. Galletly JD, PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Laura R. Glasman PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Condoms
Drug Users
Group Processes
HIV Infections
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Risk-Taking
Sexual Partners
Social Behavior
Unsafe Sex
Urban Health
Wisconsin