Syndemic Factors Associated with Adult Sexual HIV Risk Behaviors in a Sample of Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City

Overview

Journal Drug Alcohol Depend

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2016 Jul 25

PMID 27449272

Citations 35

Authors

Omar Martinez

Sonya Arreola

Elwin Wu

Miguel Munoz-Laboy

Ethan Czuy Levine

Scott Edward Rutledge

Carolina Hausmann-Stabile

Larry Icard

Scott D Rhodes

Alex Carballo-Dieguez

Carlos E Rodriguez-Diaz

M Isabel Fernandez

Theo Sandfort

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Syndemic theory has been proposed as a framework for understanding the role of multiple risk factors driving the HIV epidemic among sexual and gender minority individuals. As yet, the framework has been relatively absent in research on Latinos/as.

Methods: We used logistic regression to assess relationships among cumulative syndemic conditions - including clinically significant depression, high-risk alcohol consumption, discrimination, and childhood sexual abuse - engagement with multiple partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of 176 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.

Results: In bivariate analyses, an increase in the number of syndemic factors experienced was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting multiple partners and CAI. In multivariable analyses, participants with 2, 3, and 4 factors were significantly more likely to report multiple partners than those with 0 (aOR=4.66, 95% CI [1.29, 16.85); aOR=7.28, 95% CI [1.94, 27.28] and aOR=8.25, 95% CI [1.74, 39.24] respectively; p<0.05. Regarding CAI, only participants with 3 and 4 factors differed from those with 0 aOR=7.35, 95% CI [1.64, 32.83] and OR=8.06, 95% CI [1.39, 46.73] respectively.

Conclusions: Comprehensive approaches that address syndemic factors, and capitalize on resiliency, are needed to address the sexual health needs of Latino MSM.

Citing Articles

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Sanchez-Mendoza V, Soriano-Ayala E, Vallejo-Medina P, Martinez O Acta Colomb Psicol. 2023; 26(2):141-154.

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