Public health responses to the HIV epidemic among black men who have sex with men: A qualitative study of US health departments and communities.
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.
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. pw2219@columbia.edu
Patrick A
PA
Wilson
Terrance E
TE
Moore
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D019058:Community Networks; D054521:Cultural Competency; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006270:Health Facility Administrators; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D011287:Prejudice; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology