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Learning Objective 1: Describe sexual risk factors of Hispanic men.
Learning Objective 2: Compare sexual risk factors of Hispanic men by sexual orientation.
Hispanic men in the United States experience disproportionate rates of HIV and STIs resulting from high risk sexual behaviors. Previous research with the general population of Hispanic men has identified factors that are related and may contribute to high risk sexual behaviors. Hispanic men who have sex with men (HMSM) may experience social discrimination, racism, and poverty leading to psychological distress that may promote high risk sexual behaviors. Given these additional psychosocial stressors that HMSM experience, HMSM may be at a greater risk for high risk sexual behaviors when compared to heterosexual Hispanic men. Despite the body of research on sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic men, no study to date has compared the sexual risk behaviors of Hispanic men by sexual orientation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare sexual behaviors by sexual orientation.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from 164 community-dwelling Hispanic men (i.e., 82 heterosexual men and 82 HMSM). Participants were recruited from community-based venues that cater to or provide services to Hispanic men in the South Florida area. Participants completed standardized measures of sexual risk behaviors, sexual orientation, and demographic characteristics.
Results:
Descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi-square analysis were used to compare the sexual behaviors by sexual orientation. Exact results of this study are not yet available since data analysis is in progress. Preliminary findings have suggested differences in sexual behaviors when stratified by sexual orientation.
Conclusion:
As a population, Hispanic men continue to experience health disparities in HIV/STI rates. More research is needed to understand the role that sexual orientation plays in sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic men.