Gender Differences In Hiv Risk Behaviors Among Heterosexuals At High Risk For Hiv In Baltimore, Maryland In 2010

Abstract

There is evidence of a generalized HIV epidemic (>1%) among low income, African American heterosexuals in the United States (CDC, 2013d). The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to investigate the association between gender and HIV risk among heterosexuals at high risk in Baltimore. Identifying how gender may influence risk behaviors among a current high-risk population will be useful insuring the appropriateness of HIV prevention programs, especially gender specific interventions. These data were from the Baltimore arm of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) called the Behavioral Health Surveillance Research Study (BESURE) and were collected using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS). Interviewers administered a survey using a Handheld Assisted Personal Interview HAPI; and a free HIV test was offered. Chi-squared tests and regression models were used to determine gender differences in high HIV risk sexual behaviors, specific sexual partner types, concurrent sexual partners, and age discordance in sexual partnerships. The results of this study indicated that there were gender differences in HIV risk behaviors. Specifically, men reported more unprotected sex with casual or exchange partners (p=.02) and women reported more concurrent partnerships (p=.00). Income, education level, and marital status were associated with increased HIV risk behaviors. Thus, policies and programs focused on reducing HIV risk behaviors need to address these macro level issues as well as the actual behaviors. These findings provide a more in-depth view of the context in which high-risk behaviors occur, including the frequency of specific sexual partner selection behaviors other than unprotected sex.