Funding Source and Project Period: NIMH R01; 2003 - 2006

Key HIV Center Personnel:

Principal Investigator: Theo Sandfort, Ph.D.

Collaborating Institutions:

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and OUT LGBT Well-being (Pretoria)

Project Overview:

In the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa, as in most other African countries, men who have sex with men (MSM) have largely been overlooked. While there are indications of high HIV prevalence among South African MSM, little is known about the structural, psychosocial and behavioral determinants of sexual risk behavior. Given the existence in South Africa of strong stigma against homosexuality, the maintenance of safer sex practices is theorized to be thwarted by mental health problems including substance use problems, induced by minority stress. These negative effects are expected to be buffered by social support. In collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and OUT LGBT Well-being (Pretoria), tthis project is conducting a cross-sectional study among a quota sample of 300 18 to 40 year old MSM living in the greater Pretoria metropolitan area, stratified for race (Black and White), age (18-29 and 30-40 years), and socioeconomic background (resourced versus under-resourced). The aim of the study is to explore how minority stress, mental health, and social support are related to safer sex practices. Outcomes of this study will inform prevention strategies and subsequent research. By stimulating similar research, we expect this study to have an impact in Africa beyond South Africa.