Racial disparities in social media use, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV/AIDS stigma among men who have sex with men
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Social media is increasingly being used as a tool for communication and has been associated with sexual risk.Men who have sex with men (MSM) and racial/ethnic minorities are at an increased risk for contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).Racial/ethnic minorities also use social media at a higher rate than Whites.MSM may use social media to discuss health-related matters or to find sexual partners.The aim of this study was to identify how racial and ethnic MSM minority use social media throughout the course of a twelveweek study.We also sought to explore how variations in social media between these populations might impact sexual risk behavior, such as number of sexual partners. Material and methods:Data from a Facebook-based HIV intervention in 2011 and 2012 were evaluated to determine the impact of race and ethnicity on social media use, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV/AIDS stigma.Results: Compared with Latinos, African-Americans were less likely to discuss sexual partners, having sex with men, or condom use on social media.Compared with Latinos, Whites and Asians met a greater number of sexual partners using social media and reported higher HIV/AIDS stigma.Conclusions: Future behavioral interventions must account for racial and ethnic differences in social media use and sexual risk behaviors among MSM.Intervention development suggestions are discussed.
Source: HIV & AIDS Review
Authors: Renee Garett, Evan A. Krueger, Sean Young
Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2896570142