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Behavioral Health and Social Normative Influence: Correlates of Concurrent Sexual Partnering Among Heterosexually-Active Homeless Men

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Abstract

Sexual concurrency poses significant HIV/STI transmission risk. The correlates of concurrency have not been examined among homeless men. A representative sample of 305 heterosexually active homeless men utilizing meal programs in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles reported on their mental health, substance use, and social network characteristics. Nearly 40% of men reported concurrency with one of their four most recent sex partners. Results indicated that HIV seropositivity (OR = 4.39, CI: 1.10, 17.46; P = 0.04), PTSD (OR = 2.29, CI: 1.05, 5.01; P = 0.04), hard drug use (OR = 2.45, CI: 1.07, 5.58; P = 0.03), and the perception that network alters engage in risky sex (OR = 3.72, CI: 1.49, 9.30; P = 0.01) were associated with increased odds of concurrency. Programs aimed at reducing HIV/STI transmission in this vulnerable population must take into account the roles that behavioral health and social networks may play in sexual concurrency.

Resumen

La concurrencia sexual presenta riesgos de transmisión de SIDA/ITS. Las relaciones de concurrencia no han sido examinadas entre los hombres destituidos, sin hogar. Una muestra representativa de 305 hombres heterosexuales activos destituidos utilizando los programas de comida en el área de Skid Row en Los Ángeles reportaron acerca de su salud, uso de substancias, y las características de sus redes sociales. Casi el 40% de los hombres reportaron concurrencia con uno de sus cuatro parejas sexuales más recientes. Los resultados indican que la seropisitividad del VIH (OR = 4.39, CI: 1.10, 17.46; P = 0.04), Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (OR = 2.29, CI: 1.05, 5.01; P = 0.04), uso fuerte de drogas (OR = 2.45, CI: 1.07, 5.58; P = 0.03), y la percepción que miembros de la red se involucran en actos sexuales riesgosos (OR = 3.72, CI: 1.49, 9.30; P = 0.01) fueron asociados con un incremento en las posibilidad de concurrencia. Los programas enfocados en reducir la transmisión de SIDA/ITS en esta población vulnerable deberán tomar en cuenta los roles que la salud mental y las redes sociales pueden ocupar en la concurrencia sexual.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NICHD R01HD059307 (PI: Wenzel). We thank the men who shared their experiences with us, the service agencies in the Skid Row area that collaborated in this study, and the RAND Survey Research Group for assistance in data collection. We also thank Dr. Concepcion Barrio for her translation of the abstract into Spanish.

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  1. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0411, USA

    Suzanne L. Wenzel, Harmony Rhoades & Hsun-Ta Hsu

  2. RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA, 90407, USA

    Suzanne L. Wenzel, Daniela Golinelli, Joan S. Tucker, David P. Kennedy, Harold D. Green & Brett Ewing

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  1. Suzanne L. Wenzel
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  2. Harmony Rhoades
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Correspondence to Suzanne L. Wenzel.

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Wenzel, S.L., Rhoades, H., Hsu, HT. et al. Behavioral Health and Social Normative Influence: Correlates of Concurrent Sexual Partnering Among Heterosexually-Active Homeless Men. AIDS Behav 16, 2042–2050 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0066-0

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