The public health issue: In the United States, black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Numerous factors affect the burden of HIV among black MSM, including the fact that black men are more likely than men of other races/ethnicities to encounter broad social and economic discrimination.
Our contribution to the solution: With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PHMC’s Research & Evaluation Group helped conducted a multi-city study of HIV risk factors among black and Latino MSM. The study, known as Brothers y Hermanos, was led by investigators at CDC, Education Development Center at City University of New York, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Los Angeles County Department of Health, and PHMC’s Research & Evaluation Group. The study employed respondent driven sampling to recruit 2,205 MSM, including 540 black men in Philadelphia. Participants in the study completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview and were tested for HIV infection. Findings from this study helped to advance understanding of the high incidence of HIV infection among MSM of color, while also debunking myths associated with down-low identity.