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There’s an App for That: Using Geo-social Networking Apps to Access Young Black Gay, Bisexual and other MSM at Risk for HIV
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1 2020
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Source: Am J Health Promot. 34(1):42-51
[PDF-208.97 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:Am J Health Promot
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Personal Author:
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Description:Purpose
Young Black gay, bisexual and other MSM (YBMSM) carry a disproportionate HIV burden in the US. Geo-social networking applications (GSN-apps) are environments that may increase HIV risk among users. This study explored the acceptability and feasibility of using these apps for HIV/STI public health outreach.
Design
Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews.
Setting
A frequently reported GSN-app for meeting sex partners by newly diagnosed HIV-infected MSM in Baltimore.
Participants
17 YBMSM age 18–24 (mean=21.5/SD=1.8) who were logged-on to the GSN app in venues or census tracts in high HIV transmission areas.
Methods
Participants completed 60–90 minute semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interview data were analyzed in NVivo10 using categorical analysis and double-coded until consistency was achieved.
Results
Participants described GSN apps as acceptable and feasible resources for public health practitioners seeking to access YBMSM to provide HIV/STI treatment and prevention services and resources. Three themes emerged: 1) the need to authenticate public health messages to distinguish from spam; 2) improved access to YBMSM including opportunities to identify and access virtual congregations of youth in non-gay-related spaces; and 3) the importance of avoiding stigmatizing YBMSM when targeting sexual health messages.
Conclusion
GSN-apps have great potential as tools for identifying and engaging at-risk YBMSM. Additional work is needed to understand limitations of this medium, to develop strategies to engage YBMSM without further stigmatizing them, and to maximize their outreach potential.
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Pubmed ID:31359764
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC11027186
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