Partner choices may affect HIV risk among gay African-Americans

Although black homosexual males do not necessarily have more unprotected sex than Caucasian heterosexual men, a recent study presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies indicates that the differences in partner choices among these two groups may explain the difference between their levels of risk for contracting HIV.

According to the researchers, black homosexual men are five times more likely to become infected with HIV than gay males of other ethnicities. The study's results showed that participants in this demographic were more likely to select partners based on their masculine appearance. Moreover, black men who have sex with men were more likely to judge their partners' chances of having HIV based on this visual perception.

Therefore, the scientists said they believe that black homosexual men may be more likely to engage in riskier unprotected sex if they believe that their masculine-looking partners do not carry the virus. However, using protection and getting regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases can help prevent the spread of HIV.

"There may be no difference in HIV prevalence between masculine-looking and feminine-looking men, but because black [homosexual males] perceive masculine men as lower risk, their sexual encounters with such men may make HIV infection more likely," said lead investigator Jonathan Ellen.