RESUMO

The global prevalence of HIV is notably higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) compared with other male populations. Unprotected anal intercourse is the riskiest sexual behavior for HIV acquisition and/or transmission among this minority population. The purpose of the study was to identify if the syndemic of psychosocial stressors and experienced stigma are predictors of unprotected anal sex in Mexican MSM. A cross-sectional analytic study was carried out. It included adults residing in Manzanillo, Mexico, with oral/anal sex practices within the last year. Informed consent was given by 142 participants selected using snowball sampling. Collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial stressors, experienced stigma, HIV knowledge, knowing a friend/acquaintance living with HIV/AIDS, and sexual risk behaviors. Adjusted logistic regression was used to identify predictors of unprotected anal sex within the last six months. Presence of syndemic of psychosocial stressors, drug use during sex, having friends/acquaintances with HIV/AIDS, and experiencing high stigma were positively associated; high level of HIV knowledge was negatively linked. Reducing psychosocial stressors and integrating stigma-mitigation strategies are key elements to reduce HIV transmission.

RESUMO

Objective: to associate network and social influence with tobacco use in high school students. Methods: comparative cross sectional study. Four hundred and eighty six students participated. A questionnaire about social networks and social influence on tobacco use was applied. Results: student tobacco users were less integrated to the student network than non-users and were perceived to be looking for greater popularity among their clasemates. Conclusions: a lower average of out closeness between the sender and the receptor and a higher average of perceived popularity were associated significantly with past and current tobacco use. Health promotion actions should include strategies encouraging greater integration of these users into the student network and change the popularity perception related to use in order to promote an environment of less consumption.

Objetivo: asociar la red e influencia social con el consumo de tabaco en estudiantes de bachillerato. Métodos: estudio transversal comparativo. Participaron 486 estudiantes en junio 2003. Se aplicó cuestionario de redes e influencia social y consumo de tabaco. Resultados: los estudiantes consumidores de tabaco estuvieron menos integrados a la red escolar que los no consumidores y percibieron buscar mayor popularidad entre sus pares. Conclusiones: el menor promedio de cercanía enviada y el mayor promedio de popularidad percibida se asociaron significativamente con el consumo alguna vez y actual de tabaco. Las acciones de promoción de la salud deberían incluir estrategias para favorecer la mayor integración de los consumidores a la red escolar y el cambio de su percepción de popularidad relacionada con el consumo a fin de promover un ambiente de menor consumo.