Skip to main content
Top
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 2/2012

01-02-2012 | Original Paper

Concurrent Sexual Partnerships Among Urban African American High-Risk Women With Main Sex Partners

Authors: Suzanne M. Dolwick Grieb, Melissa Davey-Rothwell, Carl A. Latkin

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 2/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

To determine correlates of concurrent sexual partnerships among high-risk low-income urban African American women, survey responses of 337 women who had main sexual partners for over 6 months and reported high-risk behaviors were analyzed; 142 of these women also reported other sexual partnerships within the past 90 days. Unadjusted analyses showed that concurrency was significantly associated with relationship status, sexual debut, forced sex, incarceration of self and partners, depression, drug use, known or suspected partner nonmonogamy, and partner drug use. Age of sexual debut, relationship status, and indicators of problem drug use remained significantly associated with concurrency when controlling for individual factors, and only indicators of problem drug use and known or suspected partner nonmonogamy remained significantly associated with concurrency when also controlling for partner characteristics. Our results suggest the presence of extensive sexual networks within this population and document the need for interventions that address drug abuse and partnership instability. Moreover, the strong association between concurrency and perceptions of partners’ nonmonogamy suggest the need for intervention to target men and women in this core group.
Literature
2.
go back to reference Aral SO, Adimora AA, Fenton KA. Understanding and responding to disparities in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in African Americans. Lancet. 2008;372(9635):337–40.PubMedCrossRef Aral SO, Adimora AA, Fenton KA. Understanding and responding to disparities in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in African Americans. Lancet. 2008;372(9635):337–40.PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Hallfors DD, Iritani BJ, Miller WC, Bauer DJ. Sexual and drug behavior patterns and HIV and STD racial disparities: the need for new directions. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):125–32.PubMedCrossRef Hallfors DD, Iritani BJ, Miller WC, Bauer DJ. Sexual and drug behavior patterns and HIV and STD racial disparities: the need for new directions. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):125–32.PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Barnett T, Whiteside A. AIDS in the twenty-first century. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan; 2006. Barnett T, Whiteside A. AIDS in the twenty-first century. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan; 2006.
5.
go back to reference Aral SO. Sexual network patterns as determinants of STD rates: paradigm shift in the behavioral epidemiology of STDs made visible. Sex Transm Dis. 1999;26(5):262–4.PubMedCrossRef Aral SO. Sexual network patterns as determinants of STD rates: paradigm shift in the behavioral epidemiology of STDs made visible. Sex Transm Dis. 1999;26(5):262–4.PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Taylor EM, Khan MR, Schwartz RJ. Concurrent partnerships, nonmonogamous partners, and substance abuse among women in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(1):128–36.PubMedCrossRef Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Taylor EM, Khan MR, Schwartz RJ. Concurrent partnerships, nonmonogamous partners, and substance abuse among women in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(1):128–36.PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ. Social context, sexual networks, and racial disparities in rates of sexually transmitted infections. J Infect Dis. 2005;191(Suppl 1):S115–22.PubMedCrossRef Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ. Social context, sexual networks, and racial disparities in rates of sexually transmitted infections. J Infect Dis. 2005;191(Suppl 1):S115–22.PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Laumann EO, Youm Y. Racial/ethnic group differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States: a network explanation. Sex Transm Dis. 1999;26(5):250–61.PubMedCrossRef Laumann EO, Youm Y. Racial/ethnic group differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States: a network explanation. Sex Transm Dis. 1999;26(5):250–61.PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference Tsui EK, Leonard L, Lenoir C, Ellen JM. Poverty and sexual concurrency: a case study of STI risk. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2008;19(3):758–77.PubMedCrossRef Tsui EK, Leonard L, Lenoir C, Ellen JM. Poverty and sexual concurrency: a case study of STI risk. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2008;19(3):758–77.PubMedCrossRef
10.
go back to reference Taylor EM, Behets FM, Schoenbach VJ, Miller WC, Doherty IA, Adimora AA. Coparenting and sexual partner concurrency among white, black, and Hispanic men in the United States. Sex Transm Dis. 2010;37(12):1–6. Taylor EM, Behets FM, Schoenbach VJ, Miller WC, Doherty IA, Adimora AA. Coparenting and sexual partner concurrency among white, black, and Hispanic men in the United States. Sex Transm Dis. 2010;37(12):1–6.
11.
go back to reference Lurie MN, Rosenthal S. Concurrent partnerships as a driver of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa? The evidence is limited. AIDS Behav. 2010;14(1):17–24.PubMedCrossRef Lurie MN, Rosenthal S. Concurrent partnerships as a driver of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa? The evidence is limited. AIDS Behav. 2010;14(1):17–24.PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Mah TL, Halperin DT. Concurrent sexual partnerships and the HIV epidemics in Africa: evidence to move forward. AIDS Behav. 2010;14(1):11–6.PubMedCrossRef Mah TL, Halperin DT. Concurrent sexual partnerships and the HIV epidemics in Africa: evidence to move forward. AIDS Behav. 2010;14(1):11–6.PubMedCrossRef
13.
14.
go back to reference Gorbach PM, Sopheab H, Phala T, Leng HB, Mills S, Bennett A, et al. Sexual bridging by Cambodian men: potential importance for general spread of STD and HIV epidemics. Sex Transm Dis. 2000;27(6):320–6.PubMedCrossRef Gorbach PM, Sopheab H, Phala T, Leng HB, Mills S, Bennett A, et al. Sexual bridging by Cambodian men: potential importance for general spread of STD and HIV epidemics. Sex Transm Dis. 2000;27(6):320–6.PubMedCrossRef
15.
go back to reference Gorbach PM, Stoner BP, Aral SO, Whittington WLH, Homes KK. “It takes a village”: understanding concurrent sexual partnerships in Seattle, Washington. Sex Transm Dis. 2002;29(8):453–62.PubMedCrossRef Gorbach PM, Stoner BP, Aral SO, Whittington WLH, Homes KK. “It takes a village”: understanding concurrent sexual partnerships in Seattle, Washington. Sex Transm Dis. 2002;29(8):453–62.PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Koumans E, Farley T, Gibson J, Langley C, Ross MW, McFarmland M, et al. Characteristics of persons with syphilis in areas of persisting syphilis in the United States: sustained transmission associated with concurrent partnerships. Sex Transm Dis. 2001;28(9):497–503.PubMedCrossRef Koumans E, Farley T, Gibson J, Langley C, Ross MW, McFarmland M, et al. Characteristics of persons with syphilis in areas of persisting syphilis in the United States: sustained transmission associated with concurrent partnerships. Sex Transm Dis. 2001;28(9):497–503.PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Potterat J, Zimmerman-Rogers H, Muth SQ, Rothenberg RB, Green DL, Taylor JE, et al. Chlamydia transmission: concurrency, reproduction number, and the epidemic trajectory. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150(12):1331–9.PubMed Potterat J, Zimmerman-Rogers H, Muth SQ, Rothenberg RB, Green DL, Taylor JE, et al. Chlamydia transmission: concurrency, reproduction number, and the epidemic trajectory. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150(12):1331–9.PubMed
19.
go back to reference Lagarde E, Auvert B, Carael M, Laourou M, Ferry B, Akam E, et al. Concurrent sexual partnerships and HIV prevalence in five urban communities of sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS. 2001;15(7):877–84.PubMedCrossRef Lagarde E, Auvert B, Carael M, Laourou M, Ferry B, Akam E, et al. Concurrent sexual partnerships and HIV prevalence in five urban communities of sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS. 2001;15(7):877–84.PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Bonas DM, Martinson FEA, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR. Concurrent sexual partnerships among women in the United States. Epidemiol. 2002;13(3):320–7.CrossRef Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Bonas DM, Martinson FEA, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR. Concurrent sexual partnerships among women in the United States. Epidemiol. 2002;13(3):320–7.CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Kraut-Becher JR, Aral SO. Gap length: an important factor in sexually transmitted disease transmission. Sex Transm Dis. 2003;30(3):221–5.PubMedCrossRef Kraut-Becher JR, Aral SO. Gap length: an important factor in sexually transmitted disease transmission. Sex Transm Dis. 2003;30(3):221–5.PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Manhart LE, Aral SO, Holmes KK, Foxman B. Sex partner concurrency: measurement, prevalence, and correlates among urban 18–39-year-olds. Sex Transm Dis. 2002;29(3):133–43.PubMedCrossRef Manhart LE, Aral SO, Holmes KK, Foxman B. Sex partner concurrency: measurement, prevalence, and correlates among urban 18–39-year-olds. Sex Transm Dis. 2002;29(3):133–43.PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Martinson F, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR, Fullilove RE. Concurrent sexual partnerships among African Americans in the rural south. Ann Epidemiol. 2004;14(3):155–60.PubMedCrossRef Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Martinson F, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR, Fullilove RE. Concurrent sexual partnerships among African Americans in the rural south. Ann Epidemiol. 2004;14(3):155–60.PubMedCrossRef
24.
go back to reference Davey-Rothwell MA, Tobin K, Yang C, Sun CJ, Latkin CA. Peer mentors and HIV/STI prevention: evaluation of the CHAT intervention. Unpublished data. Davey-Rothwell MA, Tobin K, Yang C, Sun CJ, Latkin CA. Peer mentors and HIV/STI prevention: evaluation of the CHAT intervention. Unpublished data.
25.
go back to reference Radloff LS. The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psych Meas. 1977;1(3):385–401.CrossRef Radloff LS. The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psych Meas. 1977;1(3):385–401.CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Ford K, Sohn W, Lepkowski J. Characteristics of adolescent’ sexual partners and heir association with use of condoms and other contraceptive methods. Fam Plann Perspect. 2001;33(3):100–5.PubMedCrossRef Ford K, Sohn W, Lepkowski J. Characteristics of adolescent’ sexual partners and heir association with use of condoms and other contraceptive methods. Fam Plann Perspect. 2001;33(3):100–5.PubMedCrossRef
27.
go back to reference Ford K, Lepkowski JM. Characteristics of sexual partners and STD infection among American adolescents. Int J STD & AIDS. 2004;15(4):260–5.CrossRef Ford K, Lepkowski JM. Characteristics of sexual partners and STD infection among American adolescents. Int J STD & AIDS. 2004;15(4):260–5.CrossRef
28.
go back to reference Burk RD, Ho GYF, Beardsley L, Lempa M, Peters M, Bierman R. Sexual behavior and partner characteristics are the predominant risk factors for genital human papillomavirus infection in young women. J Infect Dis. 174(4):679–89. Burk RD, Ho GYF, Beardsley L, Lempa M, Peters M, Bierman R. Sexual behavior and partner characteristics are the predominant risk factors for genital human papillomavirus infection in young women. J Infect Dis. 174(4):679–89.
29.
go back to reference Staras SA, Cook RL, Clark DB. Sexual partner characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents and young adults. Sex Transm Dis. 2009;36(4):232–8.PubMedCrossRef Staras SA, Cook RL, Clark DB. Sexual partner characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents and young adults. Sex Transm Dis. 2009;36(4):232–8.PubMedCrossRef
30.
go back to reference Zeger SL, Liang KY. Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986;42(1):121–30.PubMedCrossRef Zeger SL, Liang KY. Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986;42(1):121–30.PubMedCrossRef
31.
go back to reference Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Martinson FE, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR, Fullilove RE. Concurrent partnerships among Blacks with recently reported heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003;34(4):423–9.PubMedCrossRef Adimora AA, Schoenbach VJ, Martinson FE, Donaldson KH, Stancil TR, Fullilove RE. Concurrent partnerships among Blacks with recently reported heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003;34(4):423–9.PubMedCrossRef
32.
go back to reference Towe VL, Sikakis F, Gindi RM, Sherman SG, Flynn C, Hauck H, et al. Prevalence of HIV infection and sexual risk behaviors among individuals having heterosexual sex in low income neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD: the BESURE Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010;53(4):522–8.PubMedCrossRef Towe VL, Sikakis F, Gindi RM, Sherman SG, Flynn C, Hauck H, et al. Prevalence of HIV infection and sexual risk behaviors among individuals having heterosexual sex in low income neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD: the BESURE Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010;53(4):522–8.PubMedCrossRef
33.
go back to reference Gindi RM, Sikakis F, Sherman SG, Towe VL, Flynn C, Zenilman JM. The geography of heterosexual partnerships in Baltimore city adults. Sex Transm Dis. 2011;38(4):260–6.PubMed Gindi RM, Sikakis F, Sherman SG, Towe VL, Flynn C, Zenilman JM. The geography of heterosexual partnerships in Baltimore city adults. Sex Transm Dis. 2011;38(4):260–6.PubMed
34.
go back to reference Staples R. Changes in black family structure: the conflict between family ideology and structural conditions. J Marriage Fam. 1985;47(4):1005–13.CrossRef Staples R. Changes in black family structure: the conflict between family ideology and structural conditions. J Marriage Fam. 1985;47(4):1005–13.CrossRef
35.
go back to reference Hattery AJ, Smith E. African American families. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications; 2007. Hattery AJ, Smith E. African American families. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications; 2007.
36.
go back to reference Cherlin A. Marriage, divorce, remarriage. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1992. Cherlin A. Marriage, divorce, remarriage. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1992.
37.
go back to reference Thomas JC, Thomas KK. Things ain’t what they ought to be: social forces underlying racial disparities in rates of sexually transmitted diseases in a rural North Carolina county. Soc Sci Med. 1999;49(8):1075–84.PubMedCrossRef Thomas JC, Thomas KK. Things ain’t what they ought to be: social forces underlying racial disparities in rates of sexually transmitted diseases in a rural North Carolina county. Soc Sci Med. 1999;49(8):1075–84.PubMedCrossRef
38.
go back to reference Braman D. Families and incarceration. In: Mauer M, Chesney-Lind M, editors. Invisible punishment: the collateral consequences of mass imprisonment. New York, NY: The New Press; 2002. Braman D. Families and incarceration. In: Mauer M, Chesney-Lind M, editors. Invisible punishment: the collateral consequences of mass imprisonment. New York, NY: The New Press; 2002.
39.
go back to reference Lichtenstein B. Drugs, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS among African American men: a critical literature review and call to action. Am J Mens Health. 2009;3(3):252–64.PubMedCrossRef Lichtenstein B. Drugs, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS among African American men: a critical literature review and call to action. Am J Mens Health. 2009;3(3):252–64.PubMedCrossRef
40.
go back to reference Blankenship KM, Smoyer AB, Bray SJ, Mattocks K. Black-White disparities in HIV/AIDS: the role of drug policy and the corrections system. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2005;16(4 Suppl B):140–56.PubMedCrossRef Blankenship KM, Smoyer AB, Bray SJ, Mattocks K. Black-White disparities in HIV/AIDS: the role of drug policy and the corrections system. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2005;16(4 Suppl B):140–56.PubMedCrossRef
41.
go back to reference Nunn KB. Race, crime and the pool of surplus criminality: or why the “war on drugs” was a “war on blacks”. J Gender Race Just. 2002;6(2):381–445. Nunn KB. Race, crime and the pool of surplus criminality: or why the “war on drugs” was a “war on blacks”. J Gender Race Just. 2002;6(2):381–445.
42.
go back to reference Morris M, Epstein H, Wawer M. Timimg is everything: international variation in historical sexual partnership concurrency and HIV prevalence. PloS ONE. 2010;5(11):e14092.PubMedCrossRef Morris M, Epstein H, Wawer M. Timimg is everything: international variation in historical sexual partnership concurrency and HIV prevalence. PloS ONE. 2010;5(11):e14092.PubMedCrossRef
43.
go back to reference Morris M. Concurrent partnerships and syphilis persistence: new thoughts on an old puzzle. Sex Transm Dis. 2001;28(9):504–7.PubMedCrossRef Morris M. Concurrent partnerships and syphilis persistence: new thoughts on an old puzzle. Sex Transm Dis. 2001;28(9):504–7.PubMedCrossRef
44.
go back to reference Abreu DA, Martin E, Winters F. Money and motive: results of an incentive experiment in the survey of income and program participation. In: Paper presented at the international conference on survey nonresponse, Portland, Oregon, 1999. Abreu DA, Martin E, Winters F. Money and motive: results of an incentive experiment in the survey of income and program participation. In: Paper presented at the international conference on survey nonresponse, Portland, Oregon, 1999.
45.
go back to reference Mack S, Huggins V, Keathley D, Sundukchi M. Do monetary incentives improve response rates in the survey of income and program participation? In: Proceeding of the section on survey methodology. Baltimore: American Statistical Association, 1998. p. 529–34. Mack S, Huggins V, Keathley D, Sundukchi M. Do monetary incentives improve response rates in the survey of income and program participation? In: Proceeding of the section on survey methodology. Baltimore: American Statistical Association, 1998. p. 529–34.
46.
go back to reference Seal DW. Interpartner concordance of self-reported sexual behavior among college dating couples. J Sex Res. 1997;34(1):39–55.CrossRef Seal DW. Interpartner concordance of self-reported sexual behavior among college dating couples. J Sex Res. 1997;34(1):39–55.CrossRef
47.
go back to reference Stoner BP, Whittington WL, Aral SO, Hughes JP, Handsfield HH, Holmes KK. Avoiding risky partners: perception of partners’ risks v. self reported risks. Sex Transm Infect. 2003;79(3):197–201.PubMedCrossRef Stoner BP, Whittington WL, Aral SO, Hughes JP, Handsfield HH, Holmes KK. Avoiding risky partners: perception of partners’ risks v. self reported risks. Sex Transm Infect. 2003;79(3):197–201.PubMedCrossRef
48.
go back to reference Ellen JM, Vittinghoff E, Bolan G, Boyer CB, Padian NS. Individuals’ perceptions about their sex partners’ risk behaviors. J Sex Res. 1998;35(4):328–32.CrossRef Ellen JM, Vittinghoff E, Bolan G, Boyer CB, Padian NS. Individuals’ perceptions about their sex partners’ risk behaviors. J Sex Res. 1998;35(4):328–32.CrossRef
49.
go back to reference Friedman SR, Cooper HL, Tempalski B, et al. Relationships of deterrence and law enforcement to drug-related harms among drug injectors in US metropolitan areas. AIDS. 2006;20(1):93–9.PubMedCrossRef Friedman SR, Cooper HL, Tempalski B, et al. Relationships of deterrence and law enforcement to drug-related harms among drug injectors in US metropolitan areas. AIDS. 2006;20(1):93–9.PubMedCrossRef
50.
go back to reference Friedman SR, Cooper HLF, Osborne AH. Structural and social contexts of HIV risk among African Americans. Am J Public Health 2009. 2009;99(8):1002–8.CrossRef Friedman SR, Cooper HLF, Osborne AH. Structural and social contexts of HIV risk among African Americans. Am J Public Health 2009. 2009;99(8):1002–8.CrossRef
51.
go back to reference Wilson WJ. The truly disadvantaged: the inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; 1987. Wilson WJ. The truly disadvantaged: the inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; 1987.
52.
go back to reference Wilson WJ. When work disappears: the world of the new urban poor. New York, NY: Vintage Books; 1996. Wilson WJ. When work disappears: the world of the new urban poor. New York, NY: Vintage Books; 1996.
Metadata
Title
Concurrent Sexual Partnerships Among Urban African American High-Risk Women With Main Sex Partners
Authors
Suzanne M. Dolwick Grieb
Melissa Davey-Rothwell
Carl A. Latkin
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9954-6

Other articles of this Issue 2/2012

AIDS and Behavior 2/2012 Go to the issue