Individual- and Census Tract-Level Factors Associated with Arrest among Men Who Have Sex with Men Open Access

Betts, Joshua Edward (2014)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/k930bx88z?locale=en
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Abstract

Introduction : Black/African American men make up more than 60% of the incarcerated male population, despite making up approximately 13% of the US male population. Among men who have sex with men (MSM), black MSM accounted for 36% of new HIV infections in 2010. The authors analyzed baseline data from InvolveMENt, a prospective HIV/STI incidence cohort, to determine if individual- and census tract-level characteristics are associated with arrest in the past 12 months, and if these associations are augmented by race.

Methods: The authors analyzed baseline data from a prospective cohort study conducted among black and white MSM in the metropolitan Atlanta, GA area. MSM were recruited from June 2010 to December 2012 via time-space venue sampling at gay venues in Atlanta and via Facebook, and 803 men met the inclusion criteria and entered the study. Data on arrest in the past 12 months, risk behaviors, and demographic information were collected via computer-assisted survey. 99.3% of men's provided home addresses were geocoded and assigned to 2010 US Census Tracts. Bivariate associations between individual/census tract-level variables and history of arrest were assessed, and those that were significant (p<0.10) were eligible to compete in the final multivariate logistic model. All two-way interactions with race were also assessed for inclusion.

Results: Black MSM were not significantly more likely to have reported arrest in the past 12 months compared to white MSM. The odds of arrest were higher among MSM who reported being homeless in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.3-4.5); also, the odds of arrest were higher among men who lived in census tracts with higher percentages of adults with a high school degree or less (aOR=6.9; CI=1.7-27.8).

Conclusion: According to our data, black MSM in Atlanta were not more likely than white MSM in Atlanta to report a history of recent arrest. This is contrary to the results of studies reported from other cities in the United States. This analysis gives evidence that, although individual-level characteristics affect one's odds of arrest, characteristics of the area in which one lives may have a stronger association with one's odds of arrest.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents


Chapter 1: Background/Literature Review……………………….………......…. 1

Chapter 2: Manuscript

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………......….. 5

Methods………………………………………………………………………………….........…… 6

Results…………………………………………………………………………………………........ 10

Discussion………………………………………………………………………………….......... 12

Limitations……………………………………………………………………………….….....…. 17

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………......... 19

Chapter 3: Public Health Implications……………………………………………….. 20

References………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22

Tables…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 27

Appendices: InvolveMENt Questionnaire & Annotated SAS Code……….33

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