Mother-Son Communication About Sex & Routine HIV Testing among Younger Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men

PURPOSE:

The purposes of this study were to document the HIV testing behaviors and serostatus of younger men of color who have sex with men (YMSM) and to explore sociodemographic, behavioral, and maternal correlates of HIV testing in the past 6 months.

RESULTS:

A total of 90.3% of YMSM had previously tested for HIV, and 70.9% had tested in the past 6 months. In total, 11.7% of youth reported being HIV positive, and 3.3% reported unknown serostatus. When offered an HIV test, 97.8% accepted. Of these, 14.7% had a positive oral test result, and 31.58% of HIV-positive YMSM (n = 6) were seropositive unaware. Logistic regression results indicated that maternal communication about sex with males was positively associated with routine testing. Conversely, communication about puberty and general human sexuality was negatively associated. Condomless anal intercourse and positive sexually transmitted infection history were negatively associated with routine testing; however, frequency of alcohol use was positively associated.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite high rates of testing, we found high rates of HIV infection, with 31.58% of HIV-positive YMSM being seropositive unaware. Mother-son communication about sex needs to address same-sex behavior as this appears to be more important than other topics. YMSM with known risk factors for HIV are not testing at the recommended time intervals.

Via: http://ht.ly/RXypd

By: Bouris A1, Hill BJ2, Fisher K3, Erickson G4, Schneider JA5.

• 1School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; The Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: abouris@uchicago.edu.
• 2Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
• 3The Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
• 4School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
• 5The Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.