A census tract-level examination of social determinants of health among black/African American men with diagnosed HIV infection, 2005-2009--17 US areas

CDC-Funded HIV Testing Services Outcomes and Social Determinants of Health in Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Jurisdictions

We performed an ecological analysis to examine associations between CDC-funded HIV testing services outcomes and social determinants of health (SDOH) among Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. jurisdictions. Using National HIV Prevention Program Monitoring & Evaluation (2020) and American Community Survey (2016-2020) data, we ran robust Poisson models (adjusted for race/ethnicity). In healthcare settings, a 10% absolute increase in percentage without health insurance was associated with a 40% lower prevalence of newly diagnosed positivity (aPR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.83); a $5,000 increase in median household income (aPR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06) and a 10% absolute increase in percentage unemployed (aPR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.31-2.46) were associated with 4% and 80%, respectively, higher prevalence of percentage linked to HIV medical care within 30 days of diagnosis (i.e., linkage). In non-healthcare settings, a 10% absolute increase in percentage with less than high school diploma (aPR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.96) was associated with a 47% lower prevalence of newly diagnosed positivity, whereas a 10% absolute increase in percentage without health insurance (aPR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.29-2.88) was associated with a 92% higher prevalence of newly diagnosed positivity; a 10% absolute increase in percentage with less than high school diploma was associated with a 35% lower prevalence of linkage (aPR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-0.97). Addressing SDOH in HIV prevention programs will play an important role in ending the HIV epidemic.

Sociocultural and structural influences on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Engagement and Uptake among African American Young adults

BACKGROUND

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstrates effectiveness in decreasing new cases of HIV. However, few African Americans use PrEP, despite being disproportionately impacted by HIV. Understanding the influence of sociocultural and structural factors on PrEP use among multiple priority groups of African Americans, including but not limited to men who have sex with men, may improve PrEP engagement and uptake. The social ecological model (SEM) as a framework guided the understanding of how these factors operate on multiple levels to influence PrEP use among this population.

METHODS

This study derived data from the Afya PrEP study consisting of eleven focus groups (N = 63) with 18-29-year-old African American sexual and gender minority and heterosexual individuals at heightened behavioral vulnerability to HIV. We employed constructivist grounded theory processes to inductively analyze the data. A pooled kappa score of 0.90 indicated excellent inter-rater agreement.

RESULTS

Factors impacting PrEP engagement among African American young adults included: (1) Community/social network influences; (2) medical mistrust; (3) stigma; (4) PrEP availability and accessibility, which had two sub-categories: (a) cost and (b) where to obtain PrEP; and (5) PrEP engagement strategies, which had two sub-categories: (a) current AIDS service organizations' PrEP engagement practices and (b) recommended future PrEP engagement strategies. Categories one through three represent sociocultural factors, and categories four and five represent structural factors that influence perceptions and attitudes of African American young adults regarding PrEP.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights sociocultural and structural factors that act as barriers and facilitators to PrEP engagement. The SEM guided the understanding of how these factors operated on multiple levels. One of the sociocultural factors, community/social network influences operated at the interpersonal level of the SEM; the other two, stigma and medical mistrust, operated at the community level. The structural factors (PrEP availability, accessibility, and engagement strategies) operated at the institutional/organizational level. Thus, multi-level interventions are warranted to improve PrEP engagement among various African American young adult priority groups.

Examining HIV Organizational Structures and their Influence on Engagement with Young Black Gay, Bisexual, and other Men who have Sex with Men in Atlanta, Georgia

Young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Structural influences on these disparities, including characteristics of the various organizations that serve YB-GBMSM living with HIV, remain understudied. We drew on Weick's model of organizing to conduct and analyze qualitative interviews with 28 HIV service providers representing healthcare and community-based organizations in Atlanta, Georgia. Enactment of HIV service provision was described as following simplified and standardized responses-defined as "rules", and/or more dynamic exchanges to formulate responses -otherwise known as "communication behavior cycles" (CBCs). Rules, including patient quotas and limited hours of operation, were viewed as rigid, out-of-touch, and inhibiting engagement with YB-GBMSM. CBCs, such as patient feedback loops and rejection of traditional hierarchies, fostered creative insights to combating the epidemic and increased levels of cultural awareness and community buy-in. Organizations should strive to enact CBCs, to foster culturally congruent approaches to service delivery for YB-GBMSM.

Implementation of Client-Centered Care Coordination for HIV Prevention with Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: Activities, Personnel Costs, and Outcomes-HPTN 073

BACKGROUND

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionate rates of HIV infection in the USA, despite being no more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors than other MSM racial/ethnic groups. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to reduce risk of HIV acquisition; however, rates of PrEP use among Black MSM remain low. Clinical, psychosocial, and structural factors have been shown to impact PrEP use and adherence among Black MSM. Care coordination of HIV prevention services has the potential to improve PrEP use and adherence for Black MSM, as it has been shown to improve HIV-related care outcomes among people living with HIV.

METHODS

Client-centered care coordination (C4) is a multi-level intervention designed to address clinical, psychosocial, and structural barriers to HIV prevention services for Black MSM within HPTN 073, a PrEP demonstration project among Black MSM in three cities in the USA. The current study examined the implementation process of C4, specifically investigating the activities, cost, time, and outcomes associated with the C4 intervention.

RESULTS

On average, participants engaged in five care coordination encounters. The vast majority of care coordination activities were conducted by counselors, averaging 30 min per encounter. The cost of care coordination was relatively low with a mean cost of $8.70 per client encounter.

CONCLUSION

Although client-centered care coordination was initially implemented in well-resourced communities with robust HIV research and service infrastructure, our findings suggest that C4 can be successfully implemented in resource constrained communities.

Social disorganization and new HIV diagnoses, 2013-2017, Florida: Rural-urban differences

PURPOSE

To compare the role of neighborhood social disorganization factors on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis rates in urban and rural areas in Florida, we conducted an ecologic study of HIV diagnosis rates during 2013-2017 and social disorganization components, including concentrated disadvantage, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential instability.

METHODS

Indices of social disorganization components were obtained from principal component analyses of American Community Survey variables for 910 postal codes. Rural/urban classification was based on the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Urban Commuting Area codes. Using multivariable linear regression, the relationship between social disorganization indices and HIV diagnosis rates was assessed.

FINDINGS

The only social disorganization index that was significantly higher in rural than urban areas was concentrated disadvantage. In rural areas, the concentrated disadvantage index was significantly associated with HIV diagnosis rates (P = .007) when controlling for the other social disorganization factors but was no longer significant after additionally controlling for prevalence of people with an HIV diagnosis who were not virally suppressed. In urban areas, even after controlling for prevalence of people with HIV who were not virally suppressed, lower male-to-female population ratios and higher scores of residential instability, concentrated disadvantage, and LatinX/immigrant density indices were associated with higher HIV diagnosis rates (all P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to improving community levels of viral suppression, the community contextual environment, including the rurality of the environment, needs to be considered in strategies to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Status-Neutral Interventions to Support Health Equity for Black Sexual Minority Men

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Status-neutral care, a person-centered approach to healthcare not predicated on HIV serostatus, may improve health equity among Black sexual minority men (BSMM). We reviewed current status-neutral, HIV, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) interventions, and coded each for social-ecological focus and use of six approaches: (1) person-centered, (2) anti-stigma, (3) social support, (4) the social determinants of health (SDOH), (5) community engagement, and (6) multi-sectoral partnerships.

RECENT FINDINGS

We reviewed 25 studies, of which 3 were status-neutral. Nineteen studies utilized person-centered approaches, with several employing BSMM peers. For SDOH, financial incentives and reducing clinic-level barriers to care improved cascade outcomes. Direct text messaging, anti-stigma, social support, community-engagement, and multi-sectoral partnerships also improved outcomes in some studies. Few status-neutral programs exist and additional research is needed to identify key intervention components and mechanisms of influence. Programs targeting SDOH and multiple social-ecological levels offer promise for providing holistic care to BSMM, while addressing HIV prevention and treatment and health equity.

Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Uncontrolled Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Among Persons With HIV in San Francisco, California

Background

In 2010-2014, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) established programs to rapidly link people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) to care and offer antiretroviral therapy (ART) at human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis. Such programs reduced the number of PWH out of care or with detectable HIV viral load (ie, uncontrolled HIV infection). We investigated the role of social determinants of health (SDH) on uncontrolled HIV.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from adult PWH diagnosed and reported to the SFDPH as of December 31, 2019, prescribed ART, and with confirmed San Francisco residency during 2017-2019 were analyzed in conjunction with SDH metrics derived from the American Community Survey 2015-2019. We focused on 5 census tract-level SDH metrics: percentage of residents below the federal poverty level, with less than a high school diploma, or uninsured; median household income; and Gini index. We compared uncontrolled HIV prevalence odds ratios (PORs) across quartiles of each metric independently using logistic regression models.

Results

The analysis included 7486 PWH (6889 controlled HIV; 597 uncontrolled HIV). Unadjusted PORs of uncontrolled HIV rose with increasingly marginalized quartiles, compared to the least marginalized quartile for each metric. Adjusting for demographics and transmission category, the POR for uncontrolled HIV for PWH in the most marginalized quartile remained significant across metrics for poverty (POR = 2.0; confidence interval [CI] = 1.5-2.6), education (POR = 2.4; CI = 1.8-3.2), insurance (POR = 1.8; CI = 1.3-2.5), income (POR = 1.8; CI = 1.4-2.3), and income inequality (POR = 1.5; CI = 1.1-2.0).

Conclusions

Beyond demographics, SDH differentially affected the ability of PWH to control HIV. Despite established care programs, PWH experiencing socioeconomic marginalization require additional support to achieve health outcome goals.

A Census Tract-Level Examination of Differences in Social Determinants of Health Among People With HIV, by Race/Ethnicity and Geography, United States and Puerto Rico, 2017

OBJECTIVE

Social and structural factors, referred to as social determinants of health (SDH), create pathways or barriers to equitable sexual health, and information on these factors can provide critical insight into rates of diseases such as HIV. Our objectives were to describe and identify differences, by race/ethnicity and geography, in SDH among adults with HIV.

METHODS

We conducted an ecological study to explore SDH among people with HIV diagnosed in 2017, by race/ethnicity and geography, at the census-tract level in the United States and Puerto Rico. We defined the least favorable SDH as the following: low income (<$40 000 in median annual household income), low levels of education (≥18% of residents have

RESULTS

HIV diagnosis rates increased 1.4 to 4.0 times among men and 1.5 to 5.5 times among women as census-tract poverty levels increased, education levels decreased, income decreased, unemployment increased, lack of health insurance increased, and vacant housing increased. Among racial/ethnic groups by region and SDH, we observed higher HIV diagnosis rates per 100 000 population among non-Hispanic Black (49.6) and non-Hispanic White (6.5) adults in the South and among Hispanic/Latino (27.4) adults in the Northeast than in other regions. We observed higher HIV diagnosis rates per 100 000 population among non-Hispanic Black (44.3) and Hispanic/Latino (21.1) adults than among non-Hispanic White (5.1) adults.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the importance of SDH in HIV infection and support the need for effective, targeted local interventions to specific populations based on HIV diagnoses and prevalence to prevent infection and reduce racial/ethnic disparities.

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Key Words

• HIV
• SDH
• epidemiology
• racial/ethnic differences
• social determinants of health

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MESH Headings

• Adult
• Census Tract
• Ethnicity
• Female
• Geography
• HIV Infections/diagnosis
• HIV Infections/epidemiology
• Humans
• Male
• Puerto Rico/epidemiology
• Social Determinants of Health
• United States/epidemiology

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Affiliation(s)

Shacara Johnson Lyons Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Zanetta Gant Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Chan Jin Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA ICF, Atlanta, GA, USA
André Dailey Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Ndidi Nwangwu-Ike Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Anna Satcher Johnson Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

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Neighborhood Poverty and Control of HIV, Hypertension, and Diabetes in the Women's Interagency HIV Study

Neighborhoods with high poverty rates have limited resources to support residents' health. Using census data, we calculated the proportion of each Women's Interagency HIV Study participant's census tract (neighborhood) living below the poverty line. We assessed associations between neighborhood poverty and (1) unsuppressed viral load [VL] in HIV-seropositive women, (2) uncontrolled blood pressure among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative hypertensive women, and (3) uncontrolled diabetes among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative diabetic women using modified Poisson regression models. Neighborhood poverty was associated with unsuppressed VL in HIV-seropositive women (> 40% versus ≤ 20% poverty adjusted prevalence ratio (PR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.92). In HIV-seronegative diabetic women, moderate neighborhood poverty was associated with uncontrolled diabetes (20-40% versus ≤ 20% poverty adjusted PR, 1.75; 95% CI 1.02-2.98). Neighborhood poverty was associated with neither uncontrolled diabetes among HIV-seropositive diabetic women, nor uncontrolled hypertension in hypertensive women, regardless of HIV status. Women living in areas with concentrated poverty may need additional resources to control health conditions effectively.

Does internalized racism matter in HIV risk? Correlates of biomedical HIV prevention interventions among Black men who have sex with men in the United States

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 26% of all new HIV infections in the United States. Biomedical HIV interventions have proven to reduce HIV infections however the use of these interventions by Black MSM is inconsistent. Research suggests that internalized racism may contribute to inconsistent biomedical HIV interventions (condom use and PrEP use) among Black MSM. Using a national sample of 432 Black MSM, we examined the relationship between condom and PrEP use and internalized racism. The results suggest there is some evidence for an association between internalized racism and PrEP use. In addition, internalized racism was not associated with condom use for both insertive and receptive anal sex among Black MSM. These finding suggest the relationship between internalized racism and HIV prevention strategies is not facile and more attention is needed to understand the true impact of racism, both internal and societal, on HIV prevention strategies among Black MSM. These findings underscore the nature of racism in the daily lives of Black MSM and how it impacts HIV prevention strategies adopted by these men.

Social, Clinical, and Behavioral Determinants of HIV Infection and HIV Testing among Black Men in Toronto, Ontario: A Classification and Regression Tree Analysis

Black men bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infection. These HIV inequities are influenced by intersecting social, clinical, and behavioral factors. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the combinations of factors that were most predictive of HIV infection and HIV testing among black men in Toronto. Classification and regression tree analysis was applied to secondary data collected from black men (N = 460) in Toronto, 82% of whom only had sex with women and 18% whom had sex with men at least once. For HIV infection, 10 subgroups were identified and characterized by number of lifetime male partners, age, syphilis history, and perceived stigma. Number of lifetime male partners was the best single predictor of HIV infection. For HIV testing, the analysis identified 8 subgroups characterized by age, condom use, number of sex partners and Chlamydia history. Age (>24 years old) was the best single predictor of HIV testing.

Exploring Social Determinants of Health as Predictors of Mortality During 2012-2016, Among Black Women with Diagnosed HIV Infection Attributed to Heterosexual Contact, United States

BACKGROUND

In 2016, black women with HIV infection attributed to heterosexual contact accounted for 47% of all women living with diagnosed HIV, and 41% of deaths that occurred among women with diagnosed HIV in the USA that year. Social determinants of health have been found to be associated with mortality risk among people with HIV. We analyzed the role social determinants of health may have on risk of mortality among black women with HIV attributed to heterosexual contact.

METHODS

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National HIV Surveillance System were merged at the county level with three social determinants of health (SDH) variables from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey for black women aged ≥ 18 years with HIV infection attributed to heterosexual contact that had been diagnosed by 2011. SDH variables were categorized into four empirically derived quartiles, with the highest quartile in each category serving as the reference variable. For black women whose deaths occurred during 2012-2016, mortality rate ratios (MRR) were calculated using age-stratified multivariate logistic regressions to evaluate associations between SDH variables and all-cause mortality risk.

RESULTS

Risk of mortality was lower for black women aged 18-34 years and 35-54 years who lived in counties with the lowest quartile of poverty (adjusted mortality rate ratio aMRR = 0.56, 95% confidence interval CI [0.39-0.83], and aMRR = 0.67, 95% CI [0.58-0.78], respectively) compared to those who lived in counties with the highest quartile of poverty (reference group). Compared to black women who lived in counties with the highest quartile of health insurance coverage (reference group), the mortality risk was lower for black women aged 18-34 years and black women aged 35-54 who lived in counties with the lowest 2 quartiles of health insurance coverage. Unemployment status was not associated with mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

This ecological analysis found poverty and lack of health insurance to be predictors of mortality, suggesting a need for increased prevention, care, and policy efforts targeting black women with HIV who live in environments characterized by increased poverty and lack of health insurance.

Planning area-specific prevention and intervention programs for HIV using spatial regression analysis

OBJECTIVE

The study was conducted to inform area-based prevention intervention programs and plan resource allocation to reduce new infections in the District of Columbia (DC), United States of America.

STUDY DESIGN

The analysis used spatial regression to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity of the new HIV rate and its association with sexually transmitted infection repeaters (STIREPs) and socio-economic as well as demographic characteristics. The HIV and STIREP data were obtained from the DC Department of Health surveillance data (2010-2016). Other covariates were obtained from the American Community Survey, 2016.

METHODS

Ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were used to compare global and local relationships. GWR-computed robust results were compared with other spatial regression methods such as spatial lag or spatial error methods.

RESULTS

For the OLS model, age, high school dropouts (NHSD), and the black population had an association with new HIV diagnoses (HIVDV_i). The results from the GWR model demonstrate spatial variations of association of STIREPs; mean age of each block group; and percentage of female population, NHSD, unemployment, and poverty with HIVDV_i. Akaike information criterion (AICc) value for the global model was 2770.99, and R² was 0.54 (54%). The R² and AICc of the GWR model was 0.81 (81%) and 2580.84, respectively, where the latter showed a 0.27 (27%) increase in R² and a decreased AICc.

CONCLUSION

These results will assist in planning HIV prevention and intervention strategies. These results will also be used for targeted testing, planning pre-exposure prophylaxis, and access to health care. The results will help plan resource allocation to community-based providers for prevention intervention programs and fund public health programs such as condom distribution, mobile vans, and youth-based sex education.

Racial Disparities in Invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections, 2005-2014

Background

Despite substantial attention to the individual topics, little is known about the relationship between racial disparities and antimicrobial-resistant and/or healthcare-associated infection trends, such as for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methods

We analyzed Emerging Infections Program 2005-2014 surveillance data (9 US states) to determine whether reductions in invasive MRSA incidence (isolated from normally sterile body sites) affected racial disparities in rates. Case classification included hospital-onset (HO, culture >3 days after admission), healthcare-associated community onset (HACO, culture ≤3 days after admission and dialysis, hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care residence within 1 year prior), or community-associated (CA, all others). Negative binomial regression models were used to evaluate the adjusted rate ratio (aRR) of MRSA in black patients (vs in white patients) controlling for age, sex, and temporal trends.

Results

During 2005-2014, invasive HO and HACO (but not CA) MRSA rates decreased. Despite this, blacks had higher rates for HO (aRR, 3.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.35-4.35), HACO (aRR, 3.84; 95% CI, 2.94-5.01), and CA (aRR, 2.78; 95% CI, 2.30-3.37) MRSA. Limiting the analysis to chronic dialysis patients reduced, but did not eliminate, the higher HACO MRSA rates among blacks (aRR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.72-1.96), even though invasive MRSA rates among dialysis patients decreased during 2005-2014. These racial differences did not change over time.

Conclusions

Previous reductions in healthcare-associated MRSA infections have not affected racial disparities in MRSA rates. Improved understanding of the underlying causes of these differences is needed to develop effective prevention interventions that reduce racial disparities in MRSA infections.

Census Tract Poverty and Racial Disparities in HIV Rates in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 2009-2014

Previous work has documented associations between poverty and HIV. Understanding of these relationships at local levels could help target prevention efforts; however, HIV surveillance systems do not capture individual-level poverty measures. We utilized the Public Health Disparities Geocoding Project methods to examine HIV rates by census tract poverty. HIV rates and rate ratios were computed by census tract poverty (< 5.0, 5.0-9.9, 10.0-19.9, > 20.0% of individual below the federal poverty level) for all races and stratified by Black and White race using Poisson regression. We observed higher HIV rates in the highest poverty gradient compared to the lowest poverty gradient for all races combined and among White cases. After adjustment, HIV rates were similar across poverty gradients for all comparisons. Our findings suggest that the association between poverty and HIV may differ by subpopulation, while demonstrating the potential for HIV prevention targeting residents of high poverty areas.

Incorporation of Social Determinants of Health in the Peer-Reviewed Literature: A Systematic Review of Articles Authored by the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

OBJECTIVES

Social determinants of health (SDHs) are the complex, structural, and societal factors that are responsible for most health inequities. Since 2003, the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) has researched how SDHs place communities at risk for communicable diseases and poor adolescent health. We described the frequency and types of SDHs discussed in articles authored by NCHHSTP.

METHODS

We used the MEDLINE/PubMed search engine to systematically review the frequency and type of SDHs that appeared in peer-reviewed publications available in PubMed from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2014, with a NCHHSTP affiliation. We chose search terms to identify articles with a focus on the following SDH categories: income and employment, housing and homelessness, education and schooling, stigma or discrimination, social or community context, health and health care, and neighborhood or built environment. We classified articles based on the depth of topic coverage as "substantial" (ie, one of ≤3 foci of the article) or "minimal" (ie, one of ≥4 foci of the article).

RESULTS

Of 862 articles authored by NCHHSTP, 366 (42%) addressed the SDH factors of interest. Some articles addressed >1 SDH factor (366 articles appeared 568 times across the 7 categories examined), and we examined them for each category that they addressed. Most articles that addressed SDHs (449/568 articles; 79%) had a minimal SDH focus. SDH categories that were most represented in the literature were health and health care (190/568 articles; 33%) and education and schooling (118/568 articles; 21%).

CONCLUSIONS

This assessment serves as a baseline measurement of inclusion of SDH topics from NCHHSTP authors in the literature and creates a methodology that can be used in future assessments of this topic.

Characteristics of Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.: Geographic Diversity in Socio-Demographics and HIV Transmission Risk

BACKGROUND

Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC are geographically proximate cities with high HIV prevalence, including among black men who have sex with men (BMSM). Using data collected among BMSM in CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project, we compared socio-demographic characteristics, HIV risk behaviors, and service utilization to explore similarities and differences that could inform local and regional HIV intervention approaches.

METHODS

BMSM were recruited through venue time location sampling, June-December, 2011. Participants completed identical socio-behavioral surveys and voluntary HIV testing. Analyses were conducted among the full sample and those aged 18-24.

FINDINGS

Participants included 159 (DC), 364 (Baltimore), and 331 (Philadelphia) eligible BMSM. HIV prevalence was 23.1% (DC), 48.0% (Baltimore), 14.6% (Philadelphia) with 30.6%, 69.0%, 33.3% unrecognized HIV infection, respectively. Among BMSM 18-24, HIV prevalence was 11.1% (DC), 38.9% (Baltimore), 9.6% (Philadelphia) with unrecognized HIV infection 0.0%, 73.8%, 60.0% respectively. Compared with the other 2 cities, Baltimore participants were less likely to identify as gay/homosexual; more likely to report unemployment, incarceration, homelessness, sex exchange; and least likely to use the internet for partners. DC participants were more likely to have a college degree and employment. Philadelphia participants were more likely to report gay/homosexual identity, receptive condomless anal sex, having only main partners, and bars/clubs as partner meeting places. Sexually transmitted disease testing was universally low.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses showed especially high HIV prevalence among BMSM in Baltimore including among young BMSM. Socio-demographic characteristics and HIV infection correlates differed across cities but unrecognized HIV infection and unknown partner status were universally high.