Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 103, Issue 5, Pages 875-880Publisher
AMER PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOC INC
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300951
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Funding
- National Institutes of Mental Health [R01 MH72351]
- Boston Children's Hospital Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine [MCH/HRSA LEAH T71 MC00009]
- Harvard Medical School
- AIDS Project Los Angeles
- Minority AIDS Project
- OASIS
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Objectives. We investigated whether 1 form of traumatic stress, discrimination-related trauma (e. g., physical assault because of race), was associated with unprotected anal intercourse, especially when compared with non-discrimination-related trauma, among African American men who have sex with men. Methods. A convenience sample of 131 HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men receiving antiretroviral treatment completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews that covered unprotected anal intercourse, interpersonal trauma, and whether trauma was because of discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, HIV serostatus, or sexual orientation. Results. Sixty percent reported at least 1 interpersonal trauma; they attributed at least 1 trauma to being gay (47%), African American (17%), or HIV positive (9%). In a multivariate regression, experiencing discrimination-related trauma was significantly associated with unprotected anal intercourse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 5.7; P = .04), whereas experiencing non-discrimination-related trauma was not (AOR = 1.3; 95% CI = 0.6, 3.1; P = .53). Conclusions. HIV-positive African American men who have sex with men experience high levels of discrimination-related trauma, a stressor associated with greater risk taking. HIV prevention interventions should consider the potential damaging effects of discrimination in the context of trauma.
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