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Addressing Health Disparities Among Men: Demographic, Behavioral, and Clinical Characteristics of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Puerto Rico

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW) in Puerto Rico. Data from a population-based cross-sectional study in PR (2005–2008) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study sample, and bivariate analyses were performed to identify differences of sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics between MSM and MSW. Exact logistic regression models adjusting for age were constructed for each risk behavior associated to MSM in bivariate analysis. Of the 674 men interviewed, 6.1 % (n = 41) reported ever having sex with men. Age-adjusted logistic regression models indicated that MSM were significantly more likely than MSW to have first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 (Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR) = 2.6; 95 % CI = 1.3, 5.3) and have at least 10 lifetime sex partners (POR = 2.8; 95 % CI = 1.4, 5.9). In addition, MSM were significantly more likely to report lifetime use of marijuana (POR = 2.7; 95 % CI = 1.3, 5.8), cocaine (POR = 2.5; 95 % CI = 1.2, 5.0), amphetamines (POR = 3.8; 95 % CI = 1.4, 9.2), and sedatives or tranquilizers (POR = 3.3; 95 % CI = 1.4, 7.2). In addition, MSM were 13 times more likely to be HIV seropositive as compared to MSW (POR = 13.3; 95 % CI = 1.7, 102.0). In this population-based sample of men living in Puerto Rico, self-reported same-sex behavior is strongly associated with HIV and other behavioral factors associated with HIV. Future targeted research is still necessary for the development of intervention programs among MSM in Puerto Rico.

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Acknowledgments

The project described above was fully supported by NIH grant S06-GM08224 from the NIGMS MBRS-SCORE Program and partially supported by NIH grants G12RR003051 from RCMI, U54RR026139 from NCRR and U54MD007587 from NIMHD, R03 DA027939-01 and A-START 1R03DA031590-01 from NIDA, and U54CA96297 and U54CA96300 from the UPR/MDACC Partnership for Excellence in Cancer Research, NCI. The manuscript’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the sponsors. Sponsors of this study had no part in the design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the findings of this study and did not take part in the writing of or decision to publish this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, PO Box 369067, PR, 00936, USA

    Vivian Colón-López

  2. Department of Health Services Administration, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR, USA

    Vivian Colón-López

  3. UPR/MDACC Partnership in Excellence in Cancer Research Program, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PO Box 369067, PR, 00936, USA

    Marievelisse Soto-Salgado

  4. Department of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA

    Marievelisse Soto-Salgado & Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz

  5. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA

    Erick L. Suárez & Cynthia M. Pérez

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  1. Vivian Colón-López
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  2. Marievelisse Soto-Salgado
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  3. Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz
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  5. Cynthia M. Pérez
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Correspondence to Vivian Colón-López.

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Colón-López, V., Soto-Salgado, M., Rodríguez-Díaz, C.E. et al. Addressing Health Disparities Among Men: Demographic, Behavioral, and Clinical Characteristics of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Puerto Rico. Sex Res Soc Policy 10, 193–199 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-013-0130-9

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