Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males

doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.008

. 2021 Sep-Oct;35(5):500-508.

doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.008. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males

Affiliations

¹ Sean R. Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health; Affiliate Associate Clinical Professor and Visiting Scholar, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Electronic address: scahill@fenwayhealth.org.
² Timothy M. Wang, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL.
³ Holly B. Fontenot, Affiliated Faculty, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA and Associate Professor & Frances A. Matsuda Chair in Women's Health, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.
⁴ Sophia R. Geffen, HIV Prevention Research Project Manager, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA.
⁵ Kerith Conron, Blachford-Cooper Research Director and Distinguished Scholar, The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA.
⁶ Kenneth H. Mayer, Medical Research Director and Co-Director, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.
⁷ Michelle M. John, Health Scientist, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
⁸ Sabrina A. Avripas, Senior Research Director, Public Health, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁹ Stuart Michaels, Senior Research Scientist, Ogburn-Stouffer Center for the Study of Social Organizations, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
¹⁰ Richard Dunville, Deputy Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

PMID: 34154868
PMCID: PMC8419154
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.008

Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males

Sean R Cahill et al. J Pediatr Health Care. 2021 Sep-Oct.

. 2021 Sep-Oct;35(5):500-508.

doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.008. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Sean R. Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health; Affiliate Associate Clinical Professor and Visiting Scholar, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Electronic address: scahill@fenwayhealth.org.
² Timothy M. Wang, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL.
³ Holly B. Fontenot, Affiliated Faculty, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA and Associate Professor & Frances A. Matsuda Chair in Women's Health, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.
⁴ Sophia R. Geffen, HIV Prevention Research Project Manager, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA.
⁵ Kerith Conron, Blachford-Cooper Research Director and Distinguished Scholar, The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA.
⁶ Kenneth H. Mayer, Medical Research Director and Co-Director, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.
⁷ Michelle M. John, Health Scientist, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
⁸ Sabrina A. Avripas, Senior Research Director, Public Health, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁹ Stuart Michaels, Senior Research Scientist, Ogburn-Stouffer Center for the Study of Social Organizations, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
¹⁰ Richard Dunville, Deputy Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

PMID: 34154868
PMCID: PMC8419154
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.008

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) are at disproportionate risk of HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to assess ASMM's attitudes about sexual health, barriers/facilitators to accessing HIV prevention, and actual versus ideal interactions for receiving sexual health care and information.

Method: Two online and two in-person focus groups were conducted with ASMM from across the United States. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: Twenty-one racially diverse ASMM participated (average age = 16.4 years). Online focus groups were superior for reaching the target population. Four themes emerged: 1: identity formation and sources of support, 2: challenges to obtaining sexual health information, 3: attitudes/beliefs about sex and sexual behaviors, and 4: barriers to HIV prevention.

Discussion: These findings illustrate current gaps in sexual health knowledge, as well as barriers and facilitators to obtaining sexual health information, sexual health care, and affirming education and support for ASMM.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; adolescent health; qualitative research; sexual health; sexual minority youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None to report.

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References

1. Cahill S, Trieweiler S, Guidry J, Rash N, Stamper L, Conron K, … Lowery P (2018). High rates of access to health care, disclosure of sexuality and gender identity to providers among House and Ball Community members in New York City. Journal of Homosexuality, 65, 600–614. - PubMed
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Trends in U.S. HIV diagnoses, 2005–2014 Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/hiv-data-trends-fac...
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017a). Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveil...
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017b). HIV and African American people. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/index.html
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017c). HIV and Hispanics/Latinos. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/hispaniclatinos/index.html

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[1] Cahill S, Trieweiler S, Guidry J, Rash N, Stamper L, Conron K, … Lowery P (2018). High rates of access to health care, disclosure of sexuality and gender identity to providers among House and Ball Community members in New York City. Journal of Homosexuality, 65, 600–614. - PubMed

[2] Cahill S, Trieweiler S, Guidry J, Rash N, Stamper L, Conron K, … Lowery P (2018). High rates of access to health care, disclosure of sexuality and gender identity to providers among House and Ball Community members in New York City. Journal of Homosexuality, 65, 600–614. - PubMed

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Trends in U.S. HIV diagnoses, 2005–2014 Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/hiv-data-trends-fac...

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Trends in U.S. HIV diagnoses, 2005–2014 Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/hiv-data-trends-fac...

[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017a). Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveil...

[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017a). Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveil...

[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017b). HIV and African American people. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/index.html

[8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017b). HIV and African American people. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/index.html

[9] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017c). HIV and Hispanics/Latinos. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/hispaniclatinos/index.html

[10] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017c). HIV and Hispanics/Latinos. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/hispaniclatinos/index.html

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Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males

Affiliations

Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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