Skip to main content
PMC home page
Public Health Reports logoLink to Public Health Reports
. 1997 Mar-Apr;112(2):158–167.

HIV and hepatitis B infection and risk behavior in young gay and bisexual men.

G R Seage 3rd 1, K H Mayer 1, W R Lenderking 1, C Wold 1, M Gross 1, R Goldstein 1, B Cai 1, T Heeren 1, R Hingson 1, S Holmberg 1
PMCID: PMC1381864  PMID: 9071279

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and unprotected anal intercourse among young homosexual and bisexual men. METHODS: The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective cohort of 508 young gay and bisexual men ages 18-29. RESULTS: HIV-1 seroprevalence was 2.4%, with five (1.3%) of 390 college students and seven (6.0%) of 117 non-students infected. After adjusting for confounders, HIV-1 infection was associated with having a history of a sexually transmitted disease other than HIV-1 or hepatitis B. The prevalence of hepatitis B markers in unvaccinated men was 12.9%. The presence of hepatitis B markers in unvaccinated men was significantly associated with Asian ethnicity, off-campus residence, and history of a sexually transmitted disease other than HIV-1 or hepatitis B and inversely associated with recent non-intravenous drug use. Eighteen percent of the participants reported having had sex with women during the previous 12 months, and 26.4% reported a history of unprotected anal intercourse during the previous six months. Men who reported unprotected anal intercourse were more likely to have at least one steady partner, to have met their partners in anonymous settings, and to be identified as probably alcohol dependent. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of HIV-1 infection among young homosexual and bisexual men in Boston was relatively low, the high rates of unprotected anal intercourse suggest a potential for future HIV-1 and hepatitis B transmission. Interventions should focus on young men with histories of sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol abuse, and depression.

Full text

PDF
161

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alter M. J., Hadler S. C., Margolis H. S., Alexander W. J., Hu P. Y., Judson F. N., Mares A., Miller J. K., Moyer L. A. The changing epidemiology of hepatitis B in the United States. Need for alternative vaccination strategies. JAMA. 1990 Mar 2;263(9):1218–1222. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Alter M. J., Margolis H. S. The emergence of hepatitis B as a sexually transmitted disease. Med Clin North Am. 1990 Nov;74(6):1529–1541. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30493-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Alter M. J., Margolis H. S. The emergence of hepatitis B as a sexually transmitted disease. Med Clin North Am. 1990 Nov;74(6):1529–1541. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30493-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Buchbinder S. P., Douglas J. M., Jr, McKirnan D. J., Judson F. N., Katz M. H., MacQueen K. M. Feasibility of human immunodeficiency virus vaccine trials in homosexual men in the United States: risk behavior, seroincidence, and willingness to participate. J Infect Dis. 1996 Nov;174(5):954–961. doi: 10.1093/infdis/174.5.954. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Coutinho R. A., Schut B. J., Albrecht-Van Lent N. A., Reerink-Brongers E. E., Jesdijk L. S. Hepatitis B among homosexual men in The Netherlands. Sex Transm Dis. 1981 Oct-Dec;8(4 Suppl):333–335. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dietzman D. E., Harnisch J. P., Ray C. G., Alexander E. R., Holmes K. K. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg. Prevalence in homosexual and heterosexual men. JAMA. 1977 Dec 12;238(24):2625–2626. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ewing J. A. Detecting alcoholism. The CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984 Oct 12;252(14):1905–1907. doi: 10.1001/jama.252.14.1905. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gayle H. D., Keeling R. P., Garcia-Tunon M., Kilbourne B. W., Narkunas J. P., Ingram F. R., Rogers M. F., Curran J. W. Prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus among university students. N Engl J Med. 1990 Nov 29;323(22):1538–1541. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199011293232206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Larrat E. P., Zierler S., Mayer K. Cocaine use and heterosexual exposure to human immunodeficiency virus. Epidemiology. 1994 Jul;5(4):398–403. doi: 10.1097/00001648-199407000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lemp G. F., Hirozawa A. M., Givertz D., Nieri G. N., Anderson L., Lindegren M. L., Janssen R. S., Katz M. Seroprevalence of HIV and risk behaviors among young homosexual and bisexual men. The San Francisco/Berkeley Young Men's Survey. JAMA. 1994 Aug 10;272(6):449–454. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Osmond D. H., Page K., Wiley J., Garrett K., Sheppard H. W., Moss A. R., Schrager L., Winkelstein W. HIV infection in homosexual and bisexual men 18 to 29 years of age: the San Francisco Young Men's Health Study. Am J Public Health. 1994 Dec;84(12):1933–1937. doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.12.1933. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Seage G. R., 3rd, Mayer K. H., Horsburgh C. R., Jr, Cai B., Lamb G. A. Corroboration of sexual histories among male homosexual couples. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Jan 1;135(1):79–84. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Shapiro C. N., Margolis H. S. Hepatitis B epidemiology and prevention. Epidemiol Rev. 1990;12:221–227. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a036055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. St Louis M. E., Conway G. A., Hayman C. R., Miller C., Petersen L. R., Dondero T. J. Human immunodeficiency virus infection in disadvantaged adolescents. Findings from the US Job Corps. JAMA. 1991 Nov 6;266(17):2387–2391. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Stall R., McKusick L., Wiley J., Coates T. J., Ostrow D. G. Alcohol and drug use during sexual activity and compliance with safe sex guidelines for AIDS: the AIDS Behavioral Research Project. Health Educ Q. 1986 Winter;13(4):359–371. doi: 10.1177/109019818601300407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sweeney P., Lindegren M. L., Buehler J. W., Onorato I. M., Janssen R. S. Teenagers at risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Results from seroprevalence surveys in the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995 May;149(5):521–528. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170180051007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Szmuness W., Much I., Prince A. M., Hoofnagle J. H., Cherubin C. E., Harley E. J., Block G. H. On the role of sexual behavior in the spread of hepatitis B infection. Ann Intern Med. 1975 Oct;83(4):489–495. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-83-4-489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Public Health Reports are provided here courtesy of SAGE Publications

RESOURCES