Similar proportions of down-low MSM and non down-low MSM tested HIV positive and were unaware of their infection, but down-low MSM were significantly less likely to be HIV positive overall. Importance of keeping sex with men secretĮIncludes only participants who had a female sex partner in the past 3 months (n = 349 167 DL men 182 non-DL men).Ī majority of participants had previously been tested for HIV and there were no significant differences between down-low MSM and nondown-low MSM in HIV testing history.
Unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with female (n = 349) e Type of sexual intercourse, past 3 months What best describes men on the down low a Multivariate logistic regression assessed the contribution of down low identity to each of the sexual risk behavior outcomes among MSM reporting sex with male or female partners in the past 3 months, while adjusting for age, sexual orientation, HIV serostatus, study site, sex trade, income, and type of sexual partners.ĭo Not Identify With Down Low, No. 10) or relevant based on a priori knowledge.
Variables included in multivariate models were those found to be statistically significant in bivariate analyses ( P ≤. For all analyses, unadjusted bivariate relationships were examined first to test for differences between down-low–identified and nondown-low–identified MSM.
Risk behavior outcomes (yes or no) included insertive unprotected anal intercourse with a male in the past 3 months, receptive unprotected anal intercourse with a male in the past 3 months, or unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with a female in the past 3 months.ĭescriptive analyses and the χ 2 test were used to compare demographic and sexual risks of the full sample of down-low MSM and nondown-low MSM. Which of the following do you feel best describes men who are DL or on the down low? (check all that apply): extremely masculine always tops (men who penetrate during anal or oral sex) less likely to have HIV have fewer male sex partners than gay identified men DL only refers to Black men have wives or girlfriends only have male sex partners I don't agree with any of these I never heard of the term down low or DL.” We would like to know what DL means to you. Identification with “down low” was assessed by the question “Do you identify with any of the following terms? (check all that apply): queer same-gender loving in the life on the down low none.” Men who checked “on the down low” were categorized as “identify with the down low” all other men were categorized as “do not identify with the down low.” The meaning of down low was also asked of respondents and worded as follows: “Recently people have been talking more about the down low or DL, but this may mean different things to different people. Our analysis was restricted to data collected from 1151 Black MSM in New York City and Philadelphia.
Participants who preliminarily tested positive on the rapid test and those who disclosed during screening that they were HIV positive provided a blood specimen for confirmatory testing through Western blot assay. All participants, except those who disclosed during screening that they had previously been diagnosed as HIV positive, received pretest counseling and were tested for HIV antibodies using a rapid, oral fluid HIV antibody test. Participants completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview followed by HIV testing. Respondent-driven sampling 11, 12 was used to recruit participants. Participation was open to men who were HIV positive, HIV negative, or of unknown serostatus. Candidates had to be male (and identify as such) be 18 years or older self-identify as Black, African American, or Latino and report sexual intercourse (oral, anal sex, or mutual masturbation) with a man in the past 12 months. Men were enrolled from May 2005 to April 2006 in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and New York City. The Brothers y Hermanos study recruited Black and Latino MSM to examine factors associated with HIV risk behavior and HIV infection. Data were collected as part of a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.