Factors associated with sexual risk of HIV transmission among HIV-positive Latino men who have sex with men on the U.S.-Mexico border

Abstract

We present results from a cross-sectional, clinic-based survey of border-region Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) who are living with HIV. Among the 66 participants who reported potentially serodiscordant anal or vaginal intercourse, we examined levels of psychological distress and substance use and the association of these variables with condomless sex. Bivariate analyses indicated that MSM who reported sexual risk behavior were significantly more likely to report higher scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and trauma. They were also significantly more likely to report more days of alcohol use to the point of intoxication. In multivariate logistic regression, no variables were independently associated with sexual risk behavior, but symptoms of anxiety trended toward significance. Our study is one of few reports aimed at understanding the HIV epidemic among Latino MSM living with HIV in the border region. We found no evidence of a relation between our measures of psychological distress and substance use and sexual risk behavior in multivariate analyses. However, psychological distress and problematic alcohol use were common in the sample and are important targets for intervention in their own right.