The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the United States is still high despite advances in prevention and therapies. Among all races and ethnic groups, African Americans are the most severely affected and face a disproportionate burden. African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections and deaths than other races and ethnicities. In addition, one of the fastest growing segments of AIDS cases is patients more than 50 years of age. This segment receives little attention concerning HIV infection and as the U.S. population continues to age, it is important to be aware of specific HIV-related risks faced by these older African Americans and to ensure that they get information and services to help protect them from infection. This study aims to understand and compare the social network characteristics, perceived risk of getting HIV infection and HIV risk behaviors between younger (18 to 49 years of age) and older (50 plus years of age) African Americans living in high HIV prevalence zip codes of Atlanta, Georgia. The study population included 897 African Americans. Controlling for socio-demographic variables, multivariate analyses revealed that older African Americans have significant higher proportion of injection drug use, are less likely to get tested for HIV and more likely to have a risky sex partner (i.e., exchange sex for money or drugs); however, older African Americans were less likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors. Groups did not differ in terms of their perceived risk for HIV and social network characteristics. More research is necessary to understand their HIV-related risk behaviors, both sexual and drug use, and the specific needs for primary prevention effort of HIV/AIDS transmission among older African Americans.

African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) are at a greater risk of contracting HIV than any other ethnic group, subpopulation, or race. Personal, environmental, and social variables can affect risk behavior. Driven by Beck's cognitive theory of depression, this quantitative study examined the relationship between depression and HIV risk behaviors in a sample of AAMSM (n = 108). Data was gathered via the Beck Depression Inventory and the HIV Risk Behavior Questionnaire. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted to analyze the data to determine the correlation between HIV risk behavior and depression. According to study findings, there was no significant relationship found between depression and HIV risk behavior in this sample of AAMSM after accounting for the variance associated with the covariates: age, alcohol and substance use, condom attitudes, HIV knowledge, and income. While the study findings do not indicate depressive symptoms were associated with HIV sexual risk behavior, age, alcohol or drug use, and condom attitudes were significantly and positively related to HIV sexual risk behavior. Future research is recommended to identify factors specific to AAMSM for use in devising African American MSM-centric interventions. The results could inform the development of interventions targeting older AAMSM to alter behaviors associated with alcohol and drug use to impact sexual risk behaviors and reduce HIV transmission in AAMSM, thus resulting in positive social change in their lives and the lives of their families and communities.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) on Historically Black College/University (HBCU) campuses face a unique set of challenges. In addition to being disproportionately affected by HIV, Black MSM are impacted by risk behavior, stigma, and environmental policies and practices that adversely influence their experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Black MSM at a HBCU and how stigma, culture, social practices and the collegiate environment impact HIV risk-taking behavior. Utilizing the ecological framework and qualitative analysis, the behaviors of 13 Black MSM on a HBCU campus were examined. Personal interviews and risk assessment questionnaires were analyzed utilizing the phenomenological inquiry method. Data were inductively coded and combined into themes using a qualitative data analysis computer software package. The findings revealed that these 13 participants perceived that HIV-related risk behavior is occurring. They also noted a stigma within the current culture and expressed feelings of marginalization and a negative campus climate from students in the sexual majority. Implications for improving social change from this research include opportunities to (a) establish a culture of social responsibility and consciousness related to the integration and socialization of Black MSM; (b) dialogue regarding the campus climate; and (c) address conscious, unconscious, individual, and environmental stigmas experienced by Black MSM attending this HBCU.