TY - JOUR
T1 - Does Stigma Toward Anal Sexuality Impede HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States? A Structural Equation Modeling Assessment
AU - Kutner, Bryan A.
AU - Simoni, Jane M.
AU - King, Kevin M.
AU - Goodreau, Steven M.
AU - Norcini Pala, Andrea
AU - Creegan, Emma
AU - Aunon, Frances M.
AU - Baral, Stefan D.
AU - Rosser, B. R.Simon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 International Society for Sexual Medicine
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are suboptimally engaged in efficacious HIV interventions, due in part to stigma. Aim: We sought to validate the Anal Health Stigma Model, developed based on theory and prior qualitative data, by testing the magnitude of associations between measures of anal sex stigma and engagement in HIV prevention practices, while adjusting for covariates. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,263 cisgender MSM living in the United States and analyzed data with structural equation modeling. We tested a direct path from Anal Sex Stigma to Engagement in HIV Prevention alongside 2 indirect paths, 1 through Anal Sex Concerns and another through Comfort Discussing Anal Sexuality with Health Workers. The model adjusted for Social Support, Everyday Discrimination, and Sociodemographics. Main Outcome Measure: Engagement in HIV Prevention comprised an ad hoc measure of (i) lifetime exposure to a behavioral intervention, (ii) current adherence to biomedical intervention, and (iii) consistent use of a prevention strategy during recent penile-anal intercourse. Results: In the final model, anal sex stigma was associated with less engagement (β = −0.22, P <. 001), mediated by participants' comfort talking about anal sex practices with health workers (β = −0.52; β = 0.44; both P <. 001), adjusting for covariates (R2 = 67%; χ2/df = 2.98, root mean square error of approximation = 0.040, comparative fit index = 0.99 and Tucker-Lewis index = 0.99). Sex-related concerns partially mediated the association between stigma and comfort (β = 0.55; β = 0.14, both P <. 001). Modification indices also supported total effects of social support on increased comfort discussing anal sex (β = 0.35, P <. 001) and, to a lesser degree, on decreased sex-related concerns (β = −0.10; P <. 001). Clinical Implications: Higher stigma toward anal sexuality is associated with less engagement in HIV prevention, largely due to discomfort discussing anal sex practices with health workers. Strength & Limitations: Adjustment for mediation in a cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal causality. Self-report is vulnerable to social desirability and recall bias. Online samples may not represent cisgender MSM in general. However, findings place HIV- and health-related behaviors within a social and relational context and may suggest points for intervention in health-care settings. Conclusion: Providers' willingness to engage in discussion about anal sexuality, for example, by responding to questions related to sexual well-being, may function as social support and thereby bolster comfort and improve engagement in HIV prevention. Kutner BA, Simoni JM, King KM, et al. Does Stigma Toward Anal Sexuality Impede HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States? A Structural Equation Modeling Assessment. J Sex Med 2020;17:477–490.
AB - Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are suboptimally engaged in efficacious HIV interventions, due in part to stigma. Aim: We sought to validate the Anal Health Stigma Model, developed based on theory and prior qualitative data, by testing the magnitude of associations between measures of anal sex stigma and engagement in HIV prevention practices, while adjusting for covariates. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,263 cisgender MSM living in the United States and analyzed data with structural equation modeling. We tested a direct path from Anal Sex Stigma to Engagement in HIV Prevention alongside 2 indirect paths, 1 through Anal Sex Concerns and another through Comfort Discussing Anal Sexuality with Health Workers. The model adjusted for Social Support, Everyday Discrimination, and Sociodemographics. Main Outcome Measure: Engagement in HIV Prevention comprised an ad hoc measure of (i) lifetime exposure to a behavioral intervention, (ii) current adherence to biomedical intervention, and (iii) consistent use of a prevention strategy during recent penile-anal intercourse. Results: In the final model, anal sex stigma was associated with less engagement (β = −0.22, P <. 001), mediated by participants' comfort talking about anal sex practices with health workers (β = −0.52; β = 0.44; both P <. 001), adjusting for covariates (R2 = 67%; χ2/df = 2.98, root mean square error of approximation = 0.040, comparative fit index = 0.99 and Tucker-Lewis index = 0.99). Sex-related concerns partially mediated the association between stigma and comfort (β = 0.55; β = 0.14, both P <. 001). Modification indices also supported total effects of social support on increased comfort discussing anal sex (β = 0.35, P <. 001) and, to a lesser degree, on decreased sex-related concerns (β = −0.10; P <. 001). Clinical Implications: Higher stigma toward anal sexuality is associated with less engagement in HIV prevention, largely due to discomfort discussing anal sex practices with health workers. Strength & Limitations: Adjustment for mediation in a cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal causality. Self-report is vulnerable to social desirability and recall bias. Online samples may not represent cisgender MSM in general. However, findings place HIV- and health-related behaviors within a social and relational context and may suggest points for intervention in health-care settings. Conclusion: Providers' willingness to engage in discussion about anal sexuality, for example, by responding to questions related to sexual well-being, may function as social support and thereby bolster comfort and improve engagement in HIV prevention. Kutner BA, Simoni JM, King KM, et al. Does Stigma Toward Anal Sexuality Impede HIV Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States? A Structural Equation Modeling Assessment. J Sex Med 2020;17:477–490.
KW - Anal Sex Stigma
KW - Anal Sexuality
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - Men Who Have Sex With Men
KW - Sexual Stigma
KW - Stigma
KW - Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85077677123&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.12.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 31932256
AN - SCOPUS:85077677123
SN - 1743-6095
VL - 17
SP - 477
EP - 490
JO - Journal of Sexual Medicine
JF - Journal of Sexual Medicine
IS - 3
ER -