Circumcision Status and HIV Infection Among Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men in 3 US Cities

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Volume 46, Issue 5: Pages 643-650, 15 December 2007.

Epidemiology and Social Science

Millett, Gregorio A MPH *; Ding, Helen MD, MS, MSPH *; Lauby, Jennifer PhD +; Flores, Stephen PhD *; Stueve, Ann PhD ++; Bingham, Trista MPH, MS [S]; Carballo-Dieguez, Alex PhD [//]; Murrill, Chris PhD, MPH [P]; Liu, Kai-Lih PhD, MPH [P]; Wheeler, Darrell PhD, MPH #; Liau, Adrian PhD *; Marks, Gary PhD *

From the *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; †Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA; †Education Development Center, Inc., Boston, MA; §Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA; ?HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY; ¶New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, New York, NY; and #Hunter College School of Social Work, New York, NY.

Abstract:
Objective: To examine characteristics of circumcised and uncircumcised Latino and black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States and assess the association between circumcision and HIV infection

Methods:
Using respondent-driven sampling, 1154 black MSM and 1091 Latino MSM were recruited from New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. A 45-minute computer-assisted interview and a rapid oral fluid HIV antibody test (OraSure Technologies, Bethlehem, PA) were administered to participants.

Results:
Circumcision prevalence was higher among black MSM than among Latino MSM (74% vs. 33%; P < 0.0001). Circumcised MSM in both racial/ethnic groups were more likely than uncircumcised MSM to be born in the United States or to have a US-born parent. Circumcision status was not associated with prevalent HIV infection among Latino MSM, black MSM, black bisexual men, or black or Latino men who reported being HIV-negative based on their last HIV test. Further, circumcision was not associated with a reduced likelihood of HIV infection among men who had engaged in unprotected insertive andnot unprotected receptive anal sex.

Conclusions:
In these cross-sectional data, there was no evidence that being circumcised was protective against HIVjinfection among black MSM or Latino MSM.

Citation:

Millet GA, Ding H, Lauby J, et al. Circumcision status and HIV infection among Black and Latino men who have sex with men in 3 US cities. J Acquir Immun Defic Syndr 2007;46(5):643-50.

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