Public health responses to the HIV epidemic among black men who have sex with men: A qualitative study of US health departments and communities

Am J Public Health. 2009 Jun;99(6):1013-22. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.140681. Epub 2009 Apr 16.

Abstract

In the United States, Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Thus, there is a need to understand the challenges facing health departments and community-based organizations responding to the HIV epidemic among this population. We interviewed 71 AIDS program directors, health department staff, and leaders of community-based organizations in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Participants identified psychosocial factors, a lack of capacity-building efforts, and stigma as barriers to HIV prevention responses targeting Black MSM. Participants identified culturally competent staff and culturally sensitive interventions as facilitating prevention responses. To ensure that HIV/AIDS interventions targeting Black MSM are effective, it is imperative to solicit the perceptions of frontline workers in health departments and community-based organizations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Community Health Centers / economics
  • Community Health Centers / organization & administration
  • Community Networks
  • Cultural Competency
  • HIV Infections / economics
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / ethnology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Facility Administrators
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Homosexuality, Male / ethnology*
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / ethnology
  • Mental Disorders / virology
  • Prejudice
  • Prevalence
  • Public Health / economics
  • Public Health / methods*
  • Public Health Administration / economics
  • Public Health Administration / methods
  • Public Health Administration / trends
  • Self Concept
  • United States / epidemiology