Feasibility of Recruiting Nondisclosing Black MSM/W for Drug Use/HIV Research

Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Funding Period: 2008-2010
Principal Investigator: Ellen Benoit, Ph.D.

Black men and women are six and nineteen times more likely to be infected with HIV than White men and women, respectively. While there is speculation that Black men who have sex with men and women (Black MSM/W) serve as a “bridge” population in facilitating HIV infection among Black women, there is little empirical evidence, nor has there been systematic research on patterns of their drug use and disclosure of sexual activity to partners. The project will investigate the feasibility of conducting ethnographic research on HIV risk among drug using Black MSM/W who do not identify as gay or homosexual, and do not disclose their same sex activity to their female partners. In addition, it will attempt to collect preliminary data on how Black MSM/W decide whether and what they disclose about their drug use and sexual practices. The study will recruit and interview Black MSM/W through four sources: 1) existing social networks found through previous research in low income, high HIV prevalence neighborhoods, 2) MSM venues (e.g., clubs, bars, parks, street locations), 3) internet websites, and 4) groups and organizations serving drug users and ex-offenders. If the study yields a successful strategy for recruiting and interviewing Black MSM/W, it will be used to help design future studies which can collect more extensive data that can inform appropriate risk reduction efforts.