The relationship between self-reported sexual orientation and behavior in a sample of middle-aged male injection drug users

Thomas Alex Washington; Noya Galai; Sylvia Cohn; David D. Celentano; David Vlahov; Steffanie A. Strathdee

doi:10.1007/s10508-006-8995-9

The relationship between self-reported sexual orientation and behavior in a sample of middle-aged male injection drug users

Thomas Alex Washington, Noya Galai, Sylvia Cohn, David D. Celentano, David Vlahov, Steffanie A. Strathdee

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Data are sparse on injection drug using (IDU) men who have sex with men (MSM). Previous literature suggests perceived taboos can result in an underreporting of atypical sexual orientation (i.e., bisexuality, homosexuality). As a result, HIV prevention programs have been difficult to mount, particularly programs for IDU-MSM. The association between self-reported sexual orientation and sexual behavior at semi-annual study visits was longitudinally assessed in a population of 1300 male IDUs in Baltimore during the period 1993 to 1998. Overall, a small minority (5%) of the male IDUs inconsistently reported their sexual orientation over time. Logistic regression analyses were performed, which yielded five significant predictors. These men tended to be older, to have been incarcerated, to have attended shooting galleries during follow-up, and were more than twice as likely to be HIV-seropositive (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.62-4.36) compared with those who consistently reported their sexual orientation. Furthermore, men reporting inconsistent sexual orientation tended to engage in higher risk behaviors, suggesting that these men should be especially targeted for interventions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67-74
Number of pages	8
Journal	Archives of Sexual Behavior
Volume	35
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-8995-9
State	Published - Feb 2006
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all the participants in the ALIVE study for their cooperation and involvement. Likewise, the authors would like to thank the ALIVE staff who have worked diligently over the many years. Dr. Washington would like to especially thank Drs. Celentano, Strathdee, and Vlahov for providing mentoring and training, and Dr. Galai and Ms. Cohn for their statistical support, throughout the writing of this paper. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2004 International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Funding for the development of this study was provided by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (Grant Numbers: DA04334 and DA12568).

Keywords

Human immunodeficiency virus
Injection drug users
Sex behavior
Sexual orientation
Substance abuse

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
General Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/s10508-006-8995-9

Cite this

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abstract = "Data are sparse on injection drug using (IDU) men who have sex with men (MSM). Previous literature suggests perceived taboos can result in an underreporting of atypical sexual orientation (i.e., bisexuality, homosexuality). As a result, HIV prevention programs have been difficult to mount, particularly programs for IDU-MSM. The association between self-reported sexual orientation and sexual behavior at semi-annual study visits was longitudinally assessed in a population of 1300 male IDUs in Baltimore during the period 1993 to 1998. Overall, a small minority (5%) of the male IDUs inconsistently reported their sexual orientation over time. Logistic regression analyses were performed, which yielded five significant predictors. These men tended to be older, to have been incarcerated, to have attended shooting galleries during follow-up, and were more than twice as likely to be HIV-seropositive (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.62-4.36) compared with those who consistently reported their sexual orientation. Furthermore, men reporting inconsistent sexual orientation tended to engage in higher risk behaviors, suggesting that these men should be especially targeted for interventions.",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all the participants in the ALIVE study for their cooperation and involvement. Likewise, the authors would like to thank the ALIVE staff who have worked diligently over the many years. Dr. Washington would like to especially thank Drs. Celentano, Strathdee, and Vlahov for providing mentoring and training, and Dr. Galai and Ms. Cohn for their statistical support, throughout the writing of this paper. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2004 International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Funding for the development of this study was provided by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (Grant Numbers: DA04334 and DA12568).",

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The relationship between self-reported sexual orientation and behavior in a sample of middle-aged male injection drug users

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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