Ecological and Syndemic Predictors of Drug Use During Sex and Transactional Sex among U.S. Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Secondary Data Analysis from the HPTN 061 Study.

Threats to sexual health among U.S. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) may manifest in a context of social adverse experiences.

Discrimination and sexual risk among Caribbean Latinx young adults.

Discrimination, such as being treated unfairly due to race, contributes to stress. Individuals may cope with this by engaging in risky behaviors. Consistent with this premise, prior studies found that discrimination is associated with substance use.

Economic, Legal, and Social Hardships Associated with HIV Risk among Black Men who have Sex with Men in Six US Cities.

We assessed whether economic, legal, and social hardships were associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk among a sample of Black men who have sex with men (MSM) and whether associations were moderated by city of residence. The study analyzed baseline and follow-up data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 061 (N = 1553). Binary logistic regression assessed associations between hardships and HIV risk indicators.

Relation of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, and Depression to Risk Factors for HIV Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in 6 US Cities.

Objectives: We assessed the relation of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), intimate partner violence (IPV), and depression to HIV sexual risk behaviors among Black men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: Participants were 1522 Black MSM recruited from 6 US cities between July 2009 and December 2011. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used.

Psychosocial vulnerability and HIV-related sexual risk among men who have sex with men and women in the United States.

In the U.S., HIV is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM), some of whom have had female partners (MSMW).

Binge drinking, stimulant use and HIV risk in a sample of illicit drug using heterosexual Black men.

Background: Relatively little research has examined the effects of binge drinking and HIV risk in heterosexual Black men. Even less research has explored this relationship in illicit drug using heterosexual Black men who are at an elevated risk of contracting and transmitting HIV through various vectors, including risky sexual behavior, in the Black community.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to examine the associations between binge drinking, drug use and HIV status in a community-based sample of 127 self-identified heterosexual Black men.

HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among African American Women Who Trade Sex for Drugs Versus Economic Resources.

Trading sex for money, drugs, goods, services, or a place to stay is prevalent among women who use drugs and has been associated with women's risk of HIV acquisition. There is evidence that trading sex for drugs only may be associated with elevated risk of HIV compared with trading sex for money. The purpose of this study was to assess whether HIV risk behaviors and HIV prevalence differ among African American drug using women (N = 92) who traded sex for drugs only, traded sex for economic resources (defined as money, shelter, or other resources) only, or traded sex for both economic resources and drugs.

Associations between drug use and sexual risks among heterosexual men in the Philippines.

The relationship between drug use and sexual risk behaviours among 2272 men in the southern Philippines was assessed. Over 20% of participants used drugs. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, marital status, income, occupation and geographic region revealed that compared to non-drug users, men who used drugs had earlier sexual debuts (adjusted odds ratio = 1.

Differences in substance use, psychosocial characteristics and HIV-related sexual risk behavior between Black men who have sex with men only (BMSMO) and Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW) in six US cities.

We assessed associations in substance use, psychosocial characteristics, and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors, comparing characteristics of Black men who only have sex with other men only (BMSMO; n = 839) to Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW; n = 590). The study analyzed baseline data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network Brothers Study (HPTN 061), a feasibility study of a multi-component intervention for Black MSM in six US cities. Bivariate analyses compared BMSMO to BMSMW along demographics, substance use, psychosocial characteristics, and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors.

Individual, network, and neighborhood correlates of exchange sex among female non-injection drug users in Baltimore, MD (2005-2007).

The "HIV risk environment" has been characterized as a dynamic interplay between structural and network factors. However, most HIV prevention research has not examined the independent and combined impact of network and structural factors. We aimed to identify individual, network, and neighborhood correlates of exchange sex (≥1 exchange sex partner, past 90 days) among female non-injection drug users (NIDUs).

Non-injection and injection drug use and STI/HIV risk in the United States: the degree to which sexual risk behaviors versus sex with an STI-infected partner account for infection transmission among drug users.

We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 14,322) to measure associations between non-injection crack-cocaine and injection drug use and sexually transmitted infection including HIV (STI/HIV) risk among young adults in the United States and to identify factors that mediate the relationship between drug use and infection. Respondents were categorized as injection drug users, non-injection crack-cocaine users, or non-users of crack-cocaine or injection drugs. Non-injection crack-cocaine use remained an independent correlate of STI when adjusting for age at first sex and socio-demographic characteristics (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR): 1.

Adolescent criminal justice involvement and adulthood sexually transmitted infection in a nationally representative US sample.

Criminal justice involvement (CJI) disrupts social and sexual networks, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) thrive on network disruption. Adolescent CJI may be a particularly important determinant of STI because experiences during adolescence influence risk trajectories into adulthood. We used Wave III (2001-2002: young adulthood) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 14,322) to estimate associations between history of adolescent (younger than 18 years) CJI and adult STI risk.

Towards combination HIV prevention for injection drug users: addressing addictophobia, apathy and inattention.

Purpose Of Review: Recent breakthroughs in HIV-prevention science led us to evaluate the current state of combination HIV prevention for injection drug users (IDUs). We review the recent literature focusing on possible reasons why coverage of prevention interventions for HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and tuberculosis among IDUs remains dismal. We make recommendations for future HIV research and policy.

Application of syndemic theory to black men who have sex with men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

This study analyzed data from a large prospective epidemiologic cohort study among men who have sex with men (MSM), the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, to assess syndemic relationships among black MSM in the cohort (N = 301). We hypothesized that multiple interconnections among psychosocial health conditions would be found among these men, defining syndemic conditions. Constituents of syndemic conditions measured included reported depression symptoms, sexual compulsiveness, substance use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and stress.

Predicting depression in mothers with and without HIV: the role of social support and family dynamics.

Many women with HIV are primary caregivers for their children. Social factors, including family dynamics, play a major role in women's depression. We hypothesized an impact of HIV seropositivity on greater depression mediated through poorer family functioning and social support.