"It's Almost Like a Crab-in-a-Barrel Situation": Stigma, Social Support, and Engagement in Care Among Black Men Living With HIV

Overview

Journal AIDS Educ Prev

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Medical Education

Date 2018 Apr 25

PMID 29688770

Citations 18

Authors

Katherine Quinn

Julia Dickson-Gomez

Michelle Broaddus

Jeffrey A Kelly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Social support is associated with improved health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), including initiation and engagement in HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Yet, stigma may negatively affect the availability and utilization of social support networks, especially among African American PLWH, subsequently impacting HIV care and health out-comes. This qualitative study examines the relationship between stigma and social support relationships among African American PLWH. We conducted 23 interviews with Black men living with HIV who reported being out of care or non-adherent to ART. Thematic content analysis revealed three primary themes including variation in social support, experiences of stigma and discrimination, and coping mechanisms used to deal with stigma. Findings reveal that although social support may be protective for some men, many African American PLWH face challenges in harnessing and sustaining needed social support, partly due to stigma surrounding HIV and homo-sexuality.

Citing Articles

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Sexual behavior stigma among cisgender gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in nine NHBS cities across the United States: Burden and associations with PrEP continuum and HIV care continuum outcomes.

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Stigma, serostatus disclosure, coping strategies, and the role of social capital resources among HIV care-nonadherent MSM in Russia: a qualitative analysis.

Amirkhanian Y, Meylakhs A, Kuznetsova A, Kelly J, Quinn K AIDS Care. 2024; 36(sup1):117-125.

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The Inherent Violence of Anti-Black Racism and its Effects on HIV Care for Black Sexually Minoritized Men.

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