HIV risk differences between African-American and white men who have sex with men

African-American men who have sex with men remain at disproportionately gre ater risk for contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Whi le high HIV seroincidence has been documented among homosexual African-Amer ican men, behavioral research has rarely studied the HIV risk issues confro nting these men. This study assessed a sample of 253 men who have sex with men to determine if African-American (n=79) and white (n=174) men report di fferent rates of HIV risk behaviors and differ in characteristics indicativ e of risk. African-American men who have sex with men were more likely to be HIV-serop ositive, to report past treatment For gonorrhea and syphilis, and to have a recent unprotected sex partner known or believed to be HIV-seropositive. M ultivariate analyses of covariance, controlling for group differences in ag e, education, and income, revealed that African-American men who have sex w ith men were less open about their sexual orientation, scored lower in HIV risk behavior knowledge, had more female sexual partners, and more frequent ly used cocaine in association with sex relative to white men who have sex with men. Human immunodeficiency virus prevention programs tailored to the needs and risk issues of African-American men who have sex with men are nee ded.