Perceptions of a community-based HIV/STI testing program among Black gay, bisexual, and other MSM in Baltimore: a qualitative analysis

Details

• Alternative Title:
  AIDS Care
• Personal Author:
  Hassan, Rashida ; Thornton, Nicole ; King, Hope ; Aufderheide, Gabrielle ; Silberzahn, Bradley ; Huettner, Steven ; Jennings, Jacky M. ; Evans, Kimberly N. ; Fields, Errol L.
• Description:
  Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and STIs. Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health (SS4SH), a community-informed, status-neutral HIV/STI testing intervention combines online outreach via geo-social networking apps and social media with mobile van testing. During 2018-2019, we recruited 25 participants for interviews about their perceptions of SS4SH compared to clinic-based testing. Participants were aged 21-65 years (mean 35); 22 (88%) identified as Black/African American; 20 (80%) identified as gay; and 10 (40%) were living with HIV. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a modified thematic constant comparative approach. Five themes emerged; two related to perceptions of online outreach materials (participants were drawn to eye-catching and to-the-point messages and desired more diversity and representation in messages), and three related to preference for the mobile van (participants found SS4SH provided more comfort, more privacy/confidentiality, and increased accessibility and efficiency). GBM is increasingly using geo-social networking apps to meet sexual partners, and tailored online outreach has the potential to reach historically underserved populations. SS4SH is a barrier-reducing strategy that may serve as an entry to a status-neutral approach to services and help reduce stigma and normalize accessing HIV services.
• Subjects:
  Adult Aged Baltimore Black Or African American HIV Infections HIV Testing Homosexuality, Male Humans Male Mass Screening Middle Aged Mobile Health Units Perception Qualitative Research Sexual And Gender Minorities Sexually Transmitted Diseases Social Media Social Networking Young Adult

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• Keywords:
  Black Sexual Minority Men Health Disparities HIV Qualitative Analysis SDG3 Good Health And Well-being SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Source:
  AIDS Care. 36(11):1570-1579
• Pubmed ID:
  38976576
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11511628
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01 PS005115/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  36
• Issue:
  11
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d2dc70b3da280248914599422d5b934bcfae874607254b8730943ba2b7206fe36f7560a4491ef54514300953bb305a65970cb25632ecd7a02dee14d4c331e078
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/168539/cdc_168539_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 190.03 KB ]