Gregorio A. Millett ^1*, John L. Peterson ², Richard J. Wolitski ¹, Ron Stall ³

¹ Centers for Disease Control
² GA State University
³ University of Pittsburgh

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gmillett{at}cdc.gov.

	Abstract

HIV rates are disproportionately higher for Black men who have sex with men (MSM) than for other MSM. We reviewed the literature to examine 12 hypotheses that might explain this disparity.

We found that high rates of HIV infection for Black MSM were partly attributable to a high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases that facilitate HIV transmission and to undetected or late diagnosis of HIV infection; they were not attributable to a higher frequency of risky sexual behavior, nongay identity, or sexual nondisclosure, or to reported use of most illicit or legal substances. Evidence was insufficient to evaluate the remaining hypotheses.

Future studies must address these hypotheses to provide additional explanations for the greater prevalence of HIV infection among Black MSM.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Persons, African Americans/Blacks, Sexual Health

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