HIV SEROPREVALENCE, RISK BEHAVIORS, AND COGNITIVE-FACTORS AMONG ASIANAND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN - A SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE OF EMPIRICAL-STUDIES AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES

The goals of this article are to (a) summarize and discuss published e mpirical studies addressing HIV seroprevalence rates and HIV-related b ehaviors and cognitive factors among Asian and Pacific Islander Americ an (ATI) men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, (b) exa mine existing population-based research methodologies for studying HIV and AIDS prevention, (c) describe a conceptual framework to facilitat e the identification of ecologically sound or culturally appropriate a nd competent methodologies for studying HIV prevention among API MSM, and (d) discuss methodological issues and recommend alternative method ologies to better understand this population in HIV prevention. A tota l of eight published empirical studies reported the HIV seroprevalence rates, HIV-risk behaviors, and attitudes toward HIV and AIDS among AP I MSM. Specifically, seven studies reported HIV seroprevalence rates t hat were based on either self-disclosure of HIV status or HIV test res ults among the study participants. Four studies also reported findings about the relationships between HIV-related behaviors and cognitive f actors. There are five population-based databases on HIV and AIDS epid emiology and surveillance which have been managed by the Centers for D isease Control and Prevention. Findings from the seven studies indicat e that API MSM are as likely to engage in HIV-risk behaviors as other groups. The present analysis reveals that conventional surveillance or epidemiological techniques (e.g., random digit telephone dialing), ba sed on a singular model of populations, are not appropriate to address culturally, linguistically and racially/ethnically diverse groups of API MSM. To address the diversity of this group, ecologically sound or culturally appropriate and competent research methodologies are neede d. Thus, a conceptual framework for such methodologies with examples w as reviewed. Two alternative methodologies, network analysis and venue -based sampling, were briefly discussed.