title: Increasing HIV testing among African immigrants in ireland: challenges and opportunities.
abstract: In 2012, immigrants constitute 63% of new cases of heterosexually transmitted HIV among individuals born outside Ireland. Current strategies to encourage testing can be ineffective if immigrants perceive them as culturally insensitive. We obtained qualitative data to explore challenges to voluntary HIV-testing for immigrants in Ireland. Content analysis was undertaken to identify and describe pertinent themes. Widespread beliefs that HIV is primarily a disease of African immigrants were identified as challenges that constrain access to testing and care. The organization and location of testing services, attitude of health workers, and beliefs regarding mandatory HIV-testing for immigrants seeking access to welfare benefits were also identified. Immigrants in Ireland encounter a variety of structural, cultural and personal constraints to HIV testing. Opportunities exist in the Irish Health system to increase testing among immigrants through greater acknowledgement of cultural sensitivities of immigrant groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Harold and Muriel Block Building #515, Bronx, New York, NY, 10461, USA, adebola.adedimeji@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Adebola A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adedimeji
authors.forename: Aba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asibon
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leider
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallon
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Calderon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D003376:Counseling; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma