San Doval A, Duran R, Myint-U A, Blome J, Stueve A, O'Donnell L; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeD5602.

A. San Doval, Education Development Center, Inc., 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458, United States, Tel.: +1 617 969 7100, Fax: +1 617 969 3995, E-mail: asandoval@edc.org

Background: Family and community ties can be protective both in reducing HIV risks and providing opportunities for prevention. Little is known, however, about the extent to which Latino ymsm, one of the populations at highest HIV risk in the US, have confided to family and friends about their sexual partners or whether they feel part of ethnic or gay-identified communities. Methods: In 1999, a random sample of 528 ymsm were surveyed at Latino community venues of New York City outside the central gay-identified area of lower Manhattan. 47% were born outside the US, and 32% were under the age of 21. Bivariate analyses compare ymsm who report having sex only with men with those who have sex with both men and women on measures of family and community connectedness. Results: 58% of Latino ymsm said that most or all of their friends know they have sex with men. While 53% said their mothers know they have same-sex partners, only 31% said their fathers know. Those who have sex only with men or identify as gay are significantly more likely to have come out to friends, parents, and other relatives (p>.01). Overall, about one-third feel "a lot" of connection with the gay community; a similar proportion (33%) feels little or no connection. By contrast, 66% feel closely connected to an ethnic community, and only 13% feel little or no ethnic community connection. Despite their greater attachment to the gay community, men who have had sex only with men reported the same level of connection to their ethnic community. Conclusion: Despite their young age, a majority of Latino ymsm report that some relatives and friends know about their choice of sex partners. Ethnic affiliations are strong, pointing to the need to take advantage of these community ties in targeting HIV prevention services.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Data Collection
• Female
• Hispanic Americans
• Homosexuality
• Homosexuality, Male
• Humans
• Male
• New York City
• Sexual Partners

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0004731

UI: 102242228

From Meeting Abstracts