Correlates of HIV and HCV risk and testing among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese men who have sex with men and other at-risk men.

Asian Americans are one of the more under-researched groups in the United States. This holds true with regard to research on risk assessment, screening, and testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C (HCV). Here, we address that lack by exploring correlates of risk and testing for the two diseases among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese men who have sex with men (MSM) and other at-risk men in the San Francisco Bay Area. We do so by analyzing findings from the study of a community-based prevention program, Project 3-3-3 (P333), designed to address the often comorbid conditions of substance abuse, HIV infection, and HCV infection among underserved and high-risk Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese adults, most of whom are MSM. A risk-behavior survey completed at preintervention identified risk factors related to HIV, HCV, and substance use among this population (n = 273). The study of survey data identifies and distinguishes between correlates of HIV and HCV testing. Among our findings, significant differences were found between Asian ethnic subpopulation groups with respect to number of sexual partners (p = .007), and HIV testing rates comparing MSM and heterosexual men differed significantly (p < .002). Those who spoke English at home were more likely to be tested for HIV (p < .008). With HCV testing, the number of partners was positively correlated to getting tested (p < .047), and Filipino men were significantly more likely to get tested for HCV than Chinese men (p < .022).

Substance use among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese adult men living in San Jose, Daly City, and San Francisco, and its implications on ATOD prevention services.

This intervention study collected data on Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese high-risk adults to ascertain similarities and differences in drug use patterns. Study participants (N = 126) participated in a 5-week intervention study to mitigate substance abuse and the prevalence of hepatitis C and HIV among high-risk adults in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties of California. Data reported were collected at baseline. The National Outcome Measures questionnaire was used to document individual substance use in the past 30 days. Filipinos reported higher use rates for alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and crack cocaine in the past 30 days compared with their Chinese and Vietnamese counterparts; these differences proved to be statistically significant (p ≤ .03). Data analysis also showed that the alcohol use of Filipino and Vietnamese homosexual men was significantly greater than their Chinese counterparts (p = .04). A statistically significant inverse association was found for alcohol use for those in the criminal justice system during the past 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, p = .03). In addition, a positive association for other tobacco use (OR = 11.98, p = .00) was reported for those in the criminal justice system. Age group analyses indicated a positive association for those between 18-25 years old for alcohol use (OR = 5.40, p = .00). These data confirm the importance of disaggregation of data. If collapsed into a general Asian or Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic group category, as is often the case, the unique behaviors of the individual groups would be lost.