Background Sexual concurrency and migration have both been implicated in the spread of HIV/STI. Migrant men are highly mobile, but their level of sexual concurrency has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with sexual concurrency and to examine condom use within concurrent relationships among a group of newly arrived Latino migrant men (LMM) in New Orleans.

Methods LMM enrolled in an ongoing cohort study, who had at least one female sexual partner during follow-up were interviewed a three time points over 6 months. Concurrency was calculated by asking start and stop date of each sexual relationship as well as intention to continue. Partnerships that had overlapping dates were considered concurrent. The association between selected individual and environmental factors and sexual concurrency was examined using generalised estimated equations (GEE).

Results At baseline, LMM (n=90) were mostly Honduran (77.9%), employed (80.0%), worked in construction (55.6%), were uncircumcised (88.9%), were living with family (51.1%) and did not have a main sex partner (74.4%). Their mean age was 35.4 (SD 10.6) and they had been in New Orleans for average of 4.70 years (SD 0.89). During follow-up, 30 (33.3%) had at least one concurrent relationships, 10 (11.1%) had only concurrent relationships, and 59 (65.6%) had no concurrent relationships. In 239 observations, sexual partnering and consistent condom use was: concurrent (18.0%/53.5%), multiple but non-concurrent partners (5.9%/78.6%), and monogamous (50.6%/30.8%), while 25.5% were abstinent. Factors associated with sexual concurrency included: younger age, drug use, and living in crowed housing while belonging to organizations or sport team was protective. Of these 43 concurrent events, 21.0% included a risky partner (ie, female sex worker or casual partner) and main partner and 65.2% had at least one non-Latina partner. Of the 29 concurrent relationships that included a FSW, 5 (17.2%) did not use a condom with the sex worker.

Conclusion This sample of LMM exhibited high rates of concurrency with a potential for bridging. Drug prevention and interventions that promote social connectedness are needed to reduce concurrency among this mobile group.