Using Syndemics Theory to Investigate HIV Sexual Risk Affecting Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in Philadelphia, PA: Findings from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance

Abstract

Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Latino MSM experienced a 13% increase in HIV diagnoses in the U.S., more than any other racial/ethnic group of MSM. Identifying the role of multiple syndemic factors associated with sexual risk behaviors is imperative for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Data for this study are derived from three cycles of the Philadelphia portion of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System and explored the impact of syndemic factors – heavy drinking, exchange sex, and homophobic discrimination – on sexual HIV risk behaviors, operationalized as number of male partners, and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with main and casual partners among Latino MSM (n=464). Analyses took two forms: a syndemic approach, using the cumulative number of conditions as an independent variable; and a non-syndemic approach, incorporating each condition as a unique predictor. In multivariable syndemic analyses, participants with two or more factors reported more male partners and more CAI casual male partners than those with none. In non-syndemic models, homophobic discrimination and exchange sex were significantly positively associated with total number of male partners and heavy drinking was associated with more casual CAI partners. Quantitative results indicate that syndemic and non-syndemic approaches vary in their relative capacity to account for sexual risk among Latino MSM.