This higher prevalence of HIV infection among MSM leads to a higher possibility of transmission, even with similar frequency of risk behaviors as other populations. Black/African American MSM and MSM of other races and ethnicities have an increased chance of being exposed to HIV because of the larger number of MSM living with HIV.These and other factors place black/African American MSM at higher risk for HIV. However, black/African American MSM of all ages experience racial disparities in health and are more likely than other gay and bisexual men of other races/ethnicities to encounter broader social and economic barriers 1. Published research does not provide definitive answers about why new HIV infections among young, black/African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased.
Factors Contributing to Increase in HIV Infections among Black MSM Guided by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy external icon for the United States, the CDC and its partners are pursuing a high-impact prevention approach to reducing new HIV infections by using combinations of scientifically proven, cost-effective, and scalable interventions directed to the most vulnerable populations in the geographic areas where HIV prevalence is highest.
