Latino MSM Community Involvement: HIV Protective Effects

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the conceptual understanding and practical application of social integration theory to health behaviors. The research aimed to investigate the protective effects of community involvement in HIV/AIDS and gay-related organizations for HIV/AIDS sexual risk behavior among Latino gay or bisexual men and transgender individuals in Chicago and San Francisco. As part of this, the study examined HIV prevalence and the socioeconomic correlates of HIV infection, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use. Further, the study tested whether community involvement in AIDS and LGBT organizations moderated the relationship of racial and homosexual stigma to sexual risk behavior. Data were collected from a sample of 643 individuals (Chicago: n=320; San Francisco: n=323) through respondent-driven sampling and computer-assisted self-administered interviews. Demographic variables included ethnic identification, sexual identification, ZIP code (only available in restricted use data), country of birth, years in the United States, employment status, income, family religion, age, and health/STD status.