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Relationship Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior and High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: Challenges and Opportunities to Intervene on HIV Risk

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Abstract

The HIV epidemic continues to be a major public health concern, affecting communities with varying prevention and treatment needs. In the U.S., Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV incidence. While recent studies have highlighted the relevance of relationship factors for HIV transmission among MSM generally, the unique needs and experiences of Latino MSM have received relatively little attention. Consequently, associations between relationship factors and HIV risk among Latino MSM remain unknown. This mixed-method study examined relationship status and dynamics and potential HIV-related risk behaviors among Latino MSM. Quantitative analyses with 240 Latino MSM investigated associations between relationship status and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI). Focus groups with 20 Latino male couples and 10 health service providers explored the impact of relationship dynamics on sexual behaviors, as well as opportunities to intervene on HIV risk. The majority of participants were predominantly Spanish speaking, most screened positive for high-risk alcohol consumption in the past month, more than half engaged in CAI in the past 3 months, and a majority reported multiple sexual partners in this period. Among participants in same-sex relationships (n = 175), approximately half reported multiple partners in the previous 3 months and more than two-thirds reported CAI in this time period. Being in a same-sex relationship was positively associated with high-risk alcohol consumption and being age 30 or older and negatively associated with having multiple partners. Moreover, being in a same-sex relationship significantly increased the likelihood that participants would report engaging in CAI. Qualitative analyses identified themes related to relationship dynamics and sexual behavior, as well as opportunities to intervene on HIV risk. Despite the challenges encountered by Latino male couples, most participants expressed commitment to and support for their partners. As such, prevention efforts involving Latino male couples must address relationship dynamics and the role they play in sexual health, including safer sex practices.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the potential participants who completed the screening and study participants for their contribution to research. We would like to thank Dr. Patricia Warne, Mr. Masud Rahman, Ms. Hilda Mitjans, and Mr. Jimmy Liranzo for their research and administrative assistance.

Funding

This research was supported by a center grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at NY State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University (P30-MH43520; Principal Investigator: Robert H. Remien, Ph.D.). Mr. Omar Martinez was supported by a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH19139, Behavioral Sciences Research in HIV Infection; Principal Investigator: Theo Sandfort, Ph.D.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIMH or the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, College of Public Health, Temple University, Ritter Annex, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Omar Martinez, Miguel Muñoz-Laboy, Ethan C. Levine & Larry Icard

  2. Center for HIV Education Studies and Training, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Tyrel Starks

  3. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Curtis Dolezal

  4. School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Brian Dodge

  5. School of Social Work, University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

    Eva Moya & Silvia Chavez-Baray

  6. Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Scott D. Rhodes

  7. Department of Public Health, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

    M. Isabel Fernandez

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  1. Omar Martinez
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  2. Miguel Muñoz-Laboy
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Correspondence to Omar Martinez.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Martinez, O., Muñoz-Laboy, M., Levine, E.C. et al. Relationship Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior and High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: Challenges and Opportunities to Intervene on HIV Risk. Arch Sex Behav 46, 987–999 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0835-y

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